ADRIAN – With less than 30 seconds left in the game, free throws by Adrian’s Mesa Zimmerman and Lizzie Morford enabled the Adrian girls’ basketball team to walk away with a 49-46 victory over the Pine Eagle Spartans at the Gene Mills Gymnasium on Friday, January 3.
Behind the sharp shooting of Adrian’s Stella Nichols, the Antelopes jumped out to a 19-11 first quarter lead. Feeding the ball into the paint, the Spartans battled back and led at the half, 28-23.
Pine Eagle maintained their five-point margin, leading 38-31 heading into the final quarter. Adrian battled back, retaking the lead, 39-38 with 5 minutes, 58 seconds left in the game.
With the two teams tied at 46, Zimmerman was fouled and headed to the free throw line for two shots. Making one of the two, Adrian led 47-46. A shot attempt by Pine Eagle could not find the mark and making the rebound, Morford was fouled. Making both from the line, the Antelopes kept the home fans happy with the non-league victory.
“We worked hard and the girls stepped up on defense and hitting the boards,” said Adrian head coach LaDawn Bayes. “Working as a team, we did a great job of communicating.”
Zimmerman led Adrian with 16 points in the win. Nichols ended her day with 14 points and Sydney Davis added 8 points.
“We had been struggling the last few weeks, but today, all our hard work paid off,” said Nichols.
“I think we took good shots today and our intensity really shot up,” said Lizzy Nielson. “Stella was just on fire.”
In the loss, Pine Eagle was led by senior Maddie Morgan’s 16 points. Jodi Graven and Cameron Chetwood both added 11 points.
“I liked how we worked hard from the beginning all the way to the end,” said Pine Eagle head coach Stephanie Peterson. “We played with a fat lip and bloody nose and stayed tough.”
Photo Gallery – Pine Eagle v Adrian – John Braese
