Escambia County Blue Devil Cedric Pierce finished his career with ECHS last Friday at the Class 4A South Regional Tournament in a loss to the Andalusia Bulldogs.

In that game, Pierce was the leading scorer for both teams as he recorded 16 points against the Bulldogs. Twelve of those points came in the second half.

As a reward for his performance, Pierce was selected to the AHSAA Class 4A South Regional All-Tournament Team last Saturday at the conclusion of the tournament.

For Pierce, the honor of being selected to the team is one he will not forget.

“It’s really one of the best feelings I’ve ever had,” Pierce said. “I think my hard work in that game really helped me make the team.”

The match up against the Bulldogs was one that Pierce and his teammates felt good about going into the game.

Pierce said he was confident in his team and thought they could pull it out.

“I felt like we could win that game when we were getting ready for it,” he said. “We had a late start playing our game against them though, but I was very excited to being playing at South Alabama for that regional game.”

Falling by two points to Andalusia was a heartbreaking loss for the Blue Devils and Pierce.

Being his final game, Pierce said he felt the tough emotions that come with a loss.

“I was disappointed that we didn’t play as well as we should have,” he said.

Now that Pierce has finished his senior season, he will always be a player that head coach Anthony Hayes remembers.

Hayes showers Pierce with praise when he speaks of him.

“In my time here, CJ is probably the best player I have coached or been around,” Hayes said. “I’ve told him that a couple of times just because I’ve been proud to see him grow from a freshman to a senior. It’s great seeing a kid mature like he has on and off the court.”

With his high school career over, Pierce now eyes to play at the next level.

He said he would love to play college basketball.

“I want to try and make it on the college level,” Pierce said. “My top choice right now is Wallace State, but I’ll keep looking to see what is offered to me.”