Payton Golden (4) led the Lady Aggies with 12 points in their 45-43 win over Hanceville Thursday night. (Bill Piper for The Cullman Tribune)
HANCEVILLE – In our night cap from the Cullman County Tournament, (2) Fairview squared off against (3) Hanceville for a chance to play (1) West Point in the varsity girls championship game on Saturday. The game was tight for all four quarters but in the end, it was Payton Golden’s buzzer-beating layup that secured a 45-43 win for the Lady Aggies.
Neither squad was able to create separation in the opening period and the score was locked at eight midway through the first. Kelly Pickett broke the tie at with less than a minute to play in the first by knocking down a pair of free throws that put Hanceville in front 10-8. That lead held for the Lady Bulldogs going into the second quarter.
Hanceville took a 14-10 lead early in the second and stretched it to 18-13 by the last two minutes of the half. A jumper from Pickett made it 22-15 with less than a minute in the second quarter and the Lady Bulldogs maintained a 24-19 advantage at the half.
The Lady Aggies quickly cut into the lead once the second half started and Golden tied the game at 26 with a three-pointer midway through the third. Lauren Roberson responded with a three of her own on Hanceville’s next possession to get back in front but a three from Molly McKelvy gave Fairview a 30-29 lead with just over two minutes to play in the third quarter. McKelvy added another three to put the Lady Aggies on top 36-31 late in the quarter but the Lady Bulldogs were able to cut the lead to 36-33 by the start of the final period.
Kierra Merriweather added a pair of free throws and laid one in on a fast break midway through the fourth to tie the game at 39. Merriweather scored her sixth straight point for the Lady Bulldogs on their next possession and put Hanceville ahead 41-39. Daisy Manasco tied the game at 41 with a basket around the 3:00 mark and a layup from Isabella McGukin put the Lady Aggies back on top 43-41 with less than two minutes to play. Pickett went to the free throw line with 50 seconds remaining and tied the game at 43. With 10 seconds remaining, Fairview inbounded the ball with a chance for the final shot and Golden was able to drive past the defense and get a layup to drop as time expired, giving the Lady Aggies a dramatic 45-43 victory.
Golden led the way for Fairview with 12 points, followed by Manasco with nine points. For Hanceville, Pickett finished with 16 points, followed by Merriweather with 10.
Fairview will advance to take on (1) West Point in the varsity girls’ championship game Saturday night at 5:30.
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