Kierra Merriweather (5) attacks the basket in Hanceville's 55-52 win over Glencoe Friday night. (Nick Griffin for The Cullman Tribune)
HANCEVILLE – The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs hosted the Yellow Jackets of Glencoe for a pair of area matchups Friday night and Hanceville came away with the clean sweep. The Lady Bulldogs topped Glencoe in a back and forth thriller 55-52 while the Bulldogs cruised past the Yellow Jackets 65-51.
(9-6) Hanceville 55 – Glencoe 52 (varsity girls)
The Lady Bulldogs jumped out to an 11-3 lead in their area matchup with the Lady Yellow Jackets, but the momentum shifted several teams throughout this one. Glencoe cut the Hanceville lead to just 15-13 by the end of the first quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs answered with a 6-0 run to begin the second.
Both teams struggled to put points on the board for most of the period, but a 6-0 run from Glencoe in the final couple of minutes cut the lead to 21-19 going into the half. The Lady Yellow Jackets took their first lead of the night 28-26 early in the third quarter and stretched that lead for the rest of the period. Hanceville fought back to keep it close but trailed 38-34 going into the fourth.
The Lady Bulldogs stayed within a possession of Glencoe for most of the final frame until Cassidy Campbell nailed a mid-range jumper with less than two minutes to play to put Hanceville back in front 50-49. The Lady Bulldogs maintained their lead the rest of the way and Kelly Pickett knocked down two free throws with 12 seconds remaining and two more with two seconds remaining to put the game out of reach.
Pickett led all scorers with 23 points in the win. Jessica Thompson posted 10 points, eight of which came in the fourth quarter. Campbell and Victoria Stanley each added eight points. The Lady Bulldogs will be back in action when they host Good Hope on Tuesday.
(14-3) Hanceville 65 – Glencoe 51 (varsity boys)
Both teams got off to a slow start in this one, going scoreless for the first two minutes of the game, but the Bulldogs did set the tone in the opening frame with a fast-break dunk from Romain Ponchon. Hanceville led the Yellow Jackets 16-11 at the end of the first quarter, but the Bulldogs kept Glencoe at arm's length the rest of the way.
Hanceville stretched its lead to 36-22 by the half, and Raiden Morgan started the third quarter with two big blocks on the Yellow Jackets’ first two possessions. The Bulldogs dominated the glass in the second half and held a 12-14-point lead for most of the period. Hanceville continued to turn Glencoe over and pulled away in the fourth quarter to win it 65-51.
Several Bulldogs finished with big nights, offensively, led by Fred Ellis and Zeke McDonald who posted 14. Damian Johnson and R.J. Evans finished with nine and Ponchon added eight of his own. The Bulldogs will be back on the floor Tuesday night when they host Good Hope in a showdown for the no. 1 seed in the Cullman County Tournament.
Other Friday scores:
Cold Springs 56 – Cleveland 28 (varsity girls)
Holly Pond 62 – Brindlee Mountain 30 (varsity girls)
Winston County 54 – Vinemont 31 (varsity girls)
West Point 60 – Russellville 28 (varsity girls)
Hueytown 93 – Cullman 73 (varsity boys)
Holly Pond 80 – Brindlee Mountain 60 (varsity boys)
Winston County 40 – Vinemont 33 (varsity boys)
West Point 70 – Russellville 69 (varsity boys)
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