Pirates win first district title in 7 years with nail-biter

Lady Pirates fall to Clever in district title game, ending 13-game win streak, season
 
The Ash Grove boys’ and girls’ basketball teams continued Class 3, District 12 play last week, one moved on to sectionals, while the other saw the end of their season.

Boys
    For the first time since 2014, the Pirates are district champions, after knocking off host Diamond in the championship game of the Class 3, District 12 Tournament, 44-43 on Saturday, Feb. 26.
    It was a low scoring, ugly first half, as Ash Grove trailed 10-7 after the first quarter and 17-13 at the break. The Pirates started to find their shooting touch in the third quarter, outscoring Diamond, 14-13 to cut the lead to 30-27 at the start of the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Ash Grove finally tied the score on a Brady Nicholson free throw with less than two minutes to play. Moments later, down two points, Nicholson completed a three-point play in the paint with 11.9 seconds left, erupting the Ash Grove crowd.
Diamond had some magic of its own, though. The Wildcats bolted down the court and made a jumper with 5.5 seconds left, taking a one-point advantage. After a timeout, sophomore Nicholson again found himself with the ball and again came through like a champ, a district champ, making a bucket in the paint and getting the foul with four tenths of a second left. With a one-point advantage, Nicholson intentionally missed the free throw and time expired.
    "This one can be added to the list of incredible finishes we've already had this season,” said head coach Grant Williamson. “We had to overcome some really poor shooting, but ultimately our guys did what they've done all year, which is find a way to win. I am proud of this group and all they have accomplished and topping it off with a district championship sure is fitting."
    Brady Nicholson led Ash Grove with 27 points and Sam Moreland added 12 points in the win.
    Ash Grove reached the championship game by defeating Clever, 72-38 in the semifinals on Friday, Feb. 25.
    "Our guys came out not wanting to overlook anyone and they did a great job of executing,” said Williamson. “They played well on both ends of the floor and set themselves up to play in the district championship game."
    Nicholson paced Ash Grove with 30 points, Moreland added 13 points and Nate Trammell ended the game with 11 points.
    The Pirates are now 23-3 on the season and will play at Willard in the Class 3 sectional game against Strafford, tonight. The quarter final round is scheduled to be played on Saturday, March 5, in Bolivar.
Girls
    After winning 13 games in a row, the 2021-22 season has come to end for the Lady Pirates after they fell to Clever in the championship game of the Class 3, District 12 Tournament in Diamond on Saturday, Feb. 26, 65-50.
    Ash Grove led 14-9 after the first quarter, but after an injury to Brittany Gilliland in the second quarter, Clever took a 33-21 lead and all the momentum into the half. Clever increased that lead to 41-34 by the end of the third quarter and the Lady Pirates never recovered.
    Khloe Moad led Ash Grove with 19 points and Gilliland added 11 points in the loss.    
    Ash Grove knocked off host Diamond in the semifinals on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 47-33.
    Moad led Ash Grove with 16 points and Emma McClelland added 14 points in the win.
    The Lady Pirates end their season with a 20-8 record.