Lady Mohawks split with Brookland

Basketball season got underway this week, with the Piggott Lady Mohawks hosting the Bearcats of Brookland in a full set Monday night. The contests also mark the debut of new girls head coach Alan Rabjohn, who joined the staff last year as an assistant and took over the top job in the offseason.

Seventh Grade

The Lady Mohawk seventh grade squad had the chance to begin this year's basketball season, and behind a big night from Bailey Pollard notched a 33-32 overtime win.

The seventh grade girls got off to a good start, and took an 18-12 lead into the locker room for intermission. But in the second half the Lady Bearcats battled back and the score stood 24-21 at the end of the third.

In the fourth quarter the visitors took a brief lead, only to have the Tribe battle back. Pollard tied the game at 31-31 with less than 30 seconds to play in regulation. And following a couple of free throws the contest ended in a 32-32 tie.

During overtime neither team could find the basket, and the game came down to free throws. With less than 20 seconds to play Pollard hit one of two to give the Mohawks the win. She finished with 13 points leading all scorers as the seventh grade team starts at 1-0.

Junior Lady Mohawks

The junior girls also jumped out to an early lead on the visiting Lady Bearcats, but saw that lead dwindle and evaporate as the game progressed as they fell 24-32.

With a hot shooting hand early, the junior girls extended their lead to 11-4 by the end of the first quarter. But Brookland rebounded in the second period and outscored the Tribe 11-2 to take a 15-13 lead into the locker room at the half.

In the third and fourth quarter both teams played even, but the Bearcats pulled away down the stretch thanks to free-throws as they post the conference win by a final of 32-24.

Kacie Crossfield led the Mohawk offensive attack with 14 points. But the big disparity on the night was in free-throws, as the Lady Mohawks only made five trips to the free throw line and converted on two of those attempts. Meanwhile, the Lady Bearcats visited the charity stripe 27 times and made 12 of those free throw attempts.

With the loss the junior girls fall to 0-1 overall and 0-1 in 3A-3 conference play.

Senior Lady Mohawks

This year's senior Lady Mohawk basketball team is a young bunch, with leadership at the point guard position provided by freshman Mallory Wright who was moved up from the junior high team. But despite their short numbers, the Tribe made a good showing in their season opener against the Bearcats.

As the contest got underway the Lady Mohawks jumped out to an 11-6 lead by the end of the first quarter, and enjoyed a 10 point lead at the halftime break as they took a 28-18 score into the locker room at intermission.

But in the third quarter the Bearcats battled back, and by the start of the final frame the Piggott lead had shrunk to two points as they led 37-35.

In the fourth quarter Brookland took advantage of a 10-0 run as they pulled out the win by a final of 53-45 over the Tribe.

Leading the way for the Mohawks was freshman guard Mallory Wright with 15 points, while Penny McCluskey and Jana Corter finished with seven points each, Taylor Coomer had six points and Sheleen Johnson finished with three. Leading the way for the Bearcats in the win was Jennifer Tolewitzke with 11 points.

With the loss the Lady Mohawks begin the campaign at 0-1 overall and 0-1 in conference. They're scheduled to play a non-conference set at Marmaduke beginning at 5:30 p.m. this Thursday and will visit Corning next Monday, Nov. 16.