Tiger Lily

Pierce bomb rallies AMS Lady Tornadoes

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

The neat thing was watching Layten Flatt’s reaction.

The Alcoa Middle guard cupped her hands under her chin in anticipation as a Lily Pierce halfcourt shot at the third quarter horn tracked true.

When it banked in, snatching the lead back from rival Heritage, Flatt exploded, Alcoa riding the momentum the rest of the way to a 40-35 win over the Lady Mustangs in a District 5AA tournament semifinal on Friday at Vernon Osborne Gymnasium.

Alcoa hosts Gatlinburg-Pittman in a weather-delayed district championship game tonight at 6.

“I normally shoot halfcourt shots at the end of practice for fun,” Pierce said, “and I knew that would work.”

“After that, she really picked it up and played really well for us,” Alcoa coach Dyran Bledsoe said.

Pierce and Flatt led the scoring for the Lady Tornadoes with 11 points each in the semifinal win, Flatt knocking down a pair of threes. Jayla Dean wasn’t far back of the duo with seven and a trey. Hayden Overton (two 3s) and Jazmine Barrett finished with six each.

“I think Lily’s halfcourt shot gave us a confidence boost,” Flatt said. “That kind of sent everyone through the roof, and we just knew we had to get the ball to the right people.”

Brytt Coker had the big night for the Lady Mustangs, the talented young guard dropping a game-best 12, including a strike from downtown. Audrey Powell had six for Heritage, Millie Myers, Jaycee Boring and Jaelynn Phillips four each.

Greta Rippetoe tacked on three, Savannah Gamble two as Heritage stayed right there until the Pierce bomb sparked Alcoa’s fourth-quarter surge.

“We started strong,” Bledsoe said. “We started dribbling too much and not getting the ball inside to Jaz.”

Barrett, a right-handed player who made impressive use of her left hand in getting to the basket, put to good use the shift in tactics.

“There was definitely pressure in getting open,” she said. “My teammates getting me good passes helped me get good shots.”

Pierce scored six of her 11 in the decisive fourth, adding a pair of assists, a big steal and two free throws late. Key were the two helpers, both finding Overton open on the right wing for threes. The eruption helped the Lady Tornadoes claim the winning quarter by a 15-11 margin.