E.A. Sports Today

Another close one

Piedmont girls win second nail-biter as Kirk hits two free throws with 0.6 left on the clock

Friday’s results
Boys Games

Holiday Hoopsgiving
Aquinas 38, Sacred Heart 32
Girls Games
Piedmont 65, JB Pennington 63

By East Alabama Sports Today

CROSSVILLE – Through the first two games of the season, the Piedmont girls basketball team is really proving to be clutch at the free throw line down the stretch.

The Lady Bulldogs pulled out their second nail-biter in as many games Friday, edging J.B. Pennington 65-63 in the Crossville Hardwood Classic, and for the second game in a row they won it with points at the line.

Kayley Kirk’s two free throws with six-tenths of a second left provided the latest victory. Sydney Prater hit a free throw in the final 30 seconds to beat Douglas 50-49 in their tournament opener Wednesday.

“These younger girls are really filling the spots,” Piedmont coach Terrace Ridley said. “Having young girls and knowing how to come out of a situation like we had to do, that was great.”

With Prater fouling out a few seconds earlier, the Lady Bulldogs looked to Kirk to get the critical points at the end of the game.

“I told her in the time out the ball is in your hands now, you’ve got to get to the rim, you’ve got to draw contact,” Ridley said. “She did exactly what I wanted her to do.”

Kirk finished with 23 points and provided the Lady Bulldogs their outside spark while Prater and Pennington’s Madison Lipscomb battled inside.

Kirk had four 3-pointers. Meanwhile, Prater had 26 points, hitting eight of 22 from the floor and 10 of 15 free throws, and Lipscomb led all scorers with 28 (hitting 14 of 29 from the line). Prater had 17 in the first half.

Lele Ridley had nine points and 10 rebounds for Piedmont. Prater also had 11 rebounds and six steals.

GIRLS GAMES
Crossville Hardwood Classic
Piedmont 65, JB Pennington 63
PIEDMONT (2-0) –
Kayley Kirk 8-25 3-5 23, Lele Ridley 4-8 0-0 8, Armoni Perry 1-3 0-0 2, Z’Hayla Walker 3-5 0-0 6, Sydney Prater 8-24 10-15 26, Kiara Jackson 0-1 0-0 0, Madison Tyree 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-68 13-20 65.
JB PENNINGTON – Lessie Allison 3 0-1 6, Kindle Weems 1 0-0 3, MaKayla Head 7 0-0 16, Kayla Putman 3 0-0 7, Amber Hall 1 0-0 2, Madison Lipscomb 7 14-19 28, Kylee Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 14-20 63.
Piedmont 13 17 20 15 – 65
JB Pennington 19 12 14 18 – 63

3-point goals: Piedmont 4 (Kirk 4); JB Pennington 5 (Weems, Head 2, Putman 2). Technical fouls: Piedmont coach Ridley. Fouled out: Prater. Total fouls: Piedmont 16, JB Pennington 18. Officials: Moon, Wheeler, Johnson.

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