GOODRICH — The Shepherd Lady Pirates emerged victorious at the Goodrich Christmas Classic Basketball Tournament, dominating their competition with three-straight wins.
The Lady Pirates began their run with an impressive 56-29 victory over Leggett in a thrilling three-point shootout. Shepherd’s scoring prowess and defensive strategy overwhelmed Leggett, setting the tone for the rest of the tournament.
Key contributors for Shepherd included Kiona King, who sank three three-pointers and tallied a total of 11 points; Aaliyah Thomas, who led all scorers with an impressive 24 points, including two from beyond the arc; and Maraya Davis, who added 14 points, also connecting on two three-pointers.
By halftime, Shepherd had built a commanding 35-14 lead, effectively putting the game out of reach. The Lady Pirates maintained their intensity in the second half, continuing to dominate both offensively and defensively.
In the second matchup, Shepherd faced Hull-Daisetta and delivered a commanding performance with a staggering 68-12 win. The Lady Pirates’ teamwork and precision shooting were on full display as they outpaced their opponents with ease.
The championship round saw Shepherd go head-to-head with Colmesneil in what initially seemed like a tightly contested game. The first quarter ended with a close score, but the Lady Pirates managed to stage an 8-point lead that steadily grew throughout the game.
Shepherd’s scoring breakdown highlighted their consistency and strength: 15 points in the first quarter, 13 in the second, 4 in the third, and a strong finish with 20 points in the fourth quarter. This scoring effort secured their 52-28 victory.
Colmesneil’s performance dwindled as the game progressed, with their scoring falling from 18 points in the first quarter to only 3 points in the final quarter.
Leading the charge for Shepherd was Jaz Richardson, who scored 15 points, closely followed by Aaliyah Thomas with 12 points. The Lady Pirates also showcased their sharpshooting skills by sinking five three-pointers during the game, a crucial factor in their championship win.
Coach Eldridge McAdams praised the team’s efforts, saying, “It was good to take three games over the weekend, with District Play staring us in the face next. We have been having trouble with our shot totals, and it was good to see the girls hitting their shots this weekend.”
Coldspring
A clutch layup by Shantel Goffney’s sealed a win for the Lady Trojans over West Hardin on Dec. 3.
In a game that had fans on the edge of their seats, Shantel Goffney delivered the play of the night, scoring a crucial two points in the final seconds to secure a dramatic 48-46 victory for the Lady Trojans.
With the game clock winding down and the score tied, Goffney found an open lane in the paint and confidently launched a game-winning layup, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Her composure under pressure was the highlight of a nail-biting finish, as the Lady Trojans held off a determined opponent in the final quarter.
The scoreboard reflected the intensity of the matchup, with both teams trading leads throughout the last two quarters. Despite the back-and-forth action, it was Goffney’s late-game heroics that made the difference.
“I was glad we could get the win,” said Coach Monique Whittaker after the game. “It’s always exciting to end a game like this, but it was definitely a close one.”
Ella Phillips led the Lady Trojans’ offensive charge, putting up an impressive 21 points while shooting 1-for-3 from the free-throw line. Camiyah Hines contributed 7 points, with Akiah Harwig adding another 6. Shantel Goffney finished the night with 6 points, including 1-for-2 at the line, but it was her decisive layup that defined the game.
On Friday, the Coldspring Lady Trojans faced significant challenges during the Big Sandy tournament, particularly struggling with the overwhelming noise from the home crowd. The Big Sandy supporters turned out in droves, creating a 100-to-1 home crowd advantage that visibly impacted the visiting team’s performance.
Coldspring lost 49-32.
Despite the tough conditions, Ella Phillips led the Lady Trojans in scoring, contributing 12 points and standing out as the team’s high point scorer. Shantel Goffney added four points and was efficient at the free-throw line, making two of four attempts. Robin Richard made her mark with six points, all from two three-point shots hit from downtown.
