Both teams still alive

GROVE HILL — Escambia Academy’s boys and girls lost to Pickens Academy today in the AISA Class 2A Regional at Clarke Prep School.

The boys fell 57-55 on a buzzer beater, while the girls missed a last-second 3-pointer to go down 40-37 to the top-ranked team..

Even with the losses, the Cougars aren’t out. The girls earned a berth to the Elite 8 State Tournament next week after dispatching Russell Christian 45-39 on Thursday in the first round of the regional.

Regional action continues tomorrow, Sat., Jan. 27, with the girls and boys playing South Choctaw at noon and 1:45 p.m., respectively.

 

Pickens Academy boys 57, Escambia Academy boys 55

Nyc Gann penetrated the paint, waited to avoid contact and got a layup with 0.4 seconds left to break a 55-55 tie and help PA to advance to the semifinals.

Gann drained a pair of free throws earlier to make it 55-52, PA advantage.

Louie Turner then laced a 3-pointer for the tie with 11 seconds left to squander a lead Pickens had for most of the fourth period.

With less than 7 minutes to go, PA led 41-39 and as much as 48-41 with more than 4 minutes left.

Gary Campbell, a clutch 3-point shooter, got an and-one with 3:18, but missed the free shot; however, Cameron Armentor dished a rebound back in for a pair to cut the lead to 50-46.

Campbell drained a jumper with 2:41 left, and Fred Flavors took advantage of a PA miss to cut the game to 52-50 after trying for a 3-point play.

PA took a timeout at 1:13 left.

EA coach Hugh Fountain said the Cougars didn’t do the things they needed to do to win the game.

Earlier in the game, the Cougars led 21-7.

Gann led PA with 24 points, and Will Jones chipped in 11.

Campbell led EA with 15 points, Turner had 11 points and Kainoa Gumapac had 10.

 

Pickens Academy girls 40, Escambia Academy girls 37

EA coach Cale Thompson said the girls played good defense, but rebounding was an issue.

“We made a few too many turnovers, but I was proud of our defense,” Thompson said. “We just didn’t rebound, and it hurt us.”

Thompson said PA made a lot of free throws, and the Lady Cougars didn’t.

EA made it back down by 8 points, stole an inbounds shot and had a tie game situation, but missed the shot.