Lady Pirates pick up 3 more wins, Moad reaches 1,500 career points

Pirates get 21st win of regular season, grab No. 1 seed in district tournament
 
The Ash Grove High School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams continue to put up impressive numbers as the girls went 3-0 last week, while the boys’ won their 21st game of the season.
Girls
The Lady Pirates traveled to Diamond for a first round Class 3, District 12 tournament game on Saturday and easily dispatched Southwest (Washburn), 62-16.
Ash Grove secured an easy 36-5 lead by halftime. The Lady Pirates added another 23 points in the third quarter to take a 59-16 lead into the final quarter of play. With the clock running, the Lady Pirates still outscored Southwest, 3-2 to take the game by 46
points.
Emma McClelland led Ash Grove with 18 points, Brittany Gilliland added 13 points, Meagan Hawkins had 12 points and Khloe Moad ended the game with 11 points.
In a make up game from earlier in the season, Ash Grove traveled to Fair Grove on Tuesday, Feb. 15, and came home with a 59-51 win.
The Lady Eagles bested the Lady Pirates in the first half, but it was a tie game, 39-39, by the start of the fourth quarter. Ash Grove turned up the offense scoring 20 in the final stanza for the
win.
Moad led Ash Grove with 20 points and Gilliland added 18 points in the win.
The Lady Pirates opened the week by traveling to Pleasant Hope on Valentine’s Day, Monday, Feb. 14, but Ash Grove wasn’t feeling very loving as they knocked off Pleasant Hope by 35 points, 67-32.
Moad led Ash Grove with 20 points, McClelland had 14 points and Julianna Torbett ended the game with 11 points.
The Lady Pirates are now 19-7 on the season and were scheduled to play Diamond in the semifinals of the district tournament at Diamond last night, with the winner playing in the championship game tomorrow night.
Boys
The Ash Grove boys’ basketball traveled to Pleasant Hope on Tuesday, Feb. 15, and didn’t need any overtime this game, as they more than doubled up the host Pirates Pleasant Hope 73-36.
“Our guys played a really solid game and executed,” said Ash Grove head coach Grant Williamson. “We set a goal at the start of the season to be conference champions and we were able to achieve that last night. Our community is proud of this group. Now we set our focus on districts.”
Sam Moreland paced Ash Grove with 23 points and Brady Nicholson added 20 points in the win.
Ash Grove is now 21-3 on the season and will play the winner of Sarcoxie/Clever in the semifinals of the Class 3, District 12 Tournament tonight in Diamond. The championship game will take place on Friday night.