Lady Pirates claim second place at Lady Comet Classic

Ash GrovePirate basketball defeats School of the Ozarks, will host Pierce City Eagles Friday night
 
 
The Class 3, fourth ranked Ash Grove girls basketball team traveled to Marionville last week to take part in the Lady Comet Classic.
On Friday, Jan. 23, the Lady Pirates lost to the Class 2, fifth ranked host Marionville, 50-43 in the championship game of the Lady Comet Classic.
Ash Grove led 15-9 after the first quarter and held a 24-21 halftime lead. In the third quarter, the Lady Comets began to make their move, outscoring the Lady Pirates 15-14 to cut the deficit to 38-36. Great defense by Marionville in the fourth quarter, held Ash Grove to just five points and secured the seven-point victory for the Lady Comets.
Millison Sapp led Ash Grove with 18 points and Bristol Lathrop added 15 points in the game.
The Lady Pirates reached the championship game by defeating Reeds Spring, 57-35 in the semifinals on Thursday, Jan. 22.
The game was tied 13-13 at the end of the first quarter but in the second quarter, the Lady Pirates defense held the Lady Wolves to just five points, while they took a 28-18 halftime lead. The third quarter saw both teams score 10 points each but Ash Grove took off in the fourth, scoring 19 points while just allowing seven points to secure the 22-point victory.
Sapp led all scorers with 30 points and Lathrop added 13 points in the win.
The Lady Pirates opened the tournament on Monday, Jan. 19 with a 35-22 win over Mt. Vernon.
Ash Grove led 11-4 after the first quarter and 15-8 at the half. Ash Grove would add eight points in the third quarter and 12 points in the fourth quarter to win the game by 13 points.
Lathrop led Ash Grove with 15 points and Sapp added 12 points in the victory.
The Lady Pirates are 14-5 on the season and were scheduled to play at Lockwood on Monday night before hosting Pierce City tomorrow night.

Boys basketball    
The Pirates basketball team traveled to Point Lookout to compete in the Patriot Winter Games but was only able to play one game before inclement weather cancelled the rest of the tournament.
Ash Grove defeated School of the Ozarks, 47-38 on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
The Pirates led 11-9 after the first quarter before heating up for a 17-point second quarter to take a 28-17 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Ash Grove added another 13 points to increase their lead to 41-27. The Patriots outscored Ash Grove 11-6 in the final quarter of play.
The Pirates are 10-7 on the season and were scheduled to play at Lockwood on Monday night before hosting Pierce City this Friday night.