Pleasant Home School’s annual basketball homecoming was marked by a win over McKenzie in varsity basketball on Friday, January 13, and senior Hope Warthen was named queen.
Varsity Girls Pleasant Home 41, McKenzie 30, Pleasant Home took a 16-0 lead over McKenzie and held off a valiant McKenzie fight for a win of 41-30 in the varsity girls’ match.
Hailey Ward was the star of the first period, scoring 12 points. Lana Watson scored two more Lady Eagles points to take a 14-0 lead. Latianna Williams scored four points, while Watson added two. With just six minutes left in the first half, the Lady Tigers were able to get on the scoreboard and pull within 18-11 at intermission. Trenady Pierce had four points, Charisa Bullard leading with seven.
MHS continued to fight back and reduced the deficit to 24-22 in third period. Bullard scored six more points, Pierce made a three-pointer, and Pierce converted two free throws. PHS responded with an 11-1 run, taking a lead of 35-24 with eight minutes left in the contest. Ward scored two goals from beyond the arc, and had nine total during the period. Emma Grace Anderson was the fourth scorer. Each team finished the final frame with six points. Ward and Anderson combined to produce Pleasant Home’s output. McKenzie was represented by Ballard and Pierce.
Ward led the Lady Eagles’ scoring with 25 points. Anderson and Watson were next with six each. With 17 points, Ballard was the Lady Tigers’ top scorer. Pierce finished with 11 points, which was also double-digits.
Varsity Boys: Pleasant Home 72 and McKenzie 60
Pleasant Home won the varsity boys’ match 72-60 in a close battle.
Luke Gatewood scored six points in the first period, scoring six off two three-pointers. Mason Anderson scored a shot from downtown, while Dillan Purifoy added four points. Jaylen McMillian had seven points and Jahmarren Jack had six. This helped the Tigers take a 16-13 lead following one. Purifoy made a three-pointer, and scored five points in the second. Anderson and Brodie Griffin each scored four. PHS responded with 15 offensive points and a narrow 28-25 lead at the half. McMillian scored five more points than his nine-point team before the break.
In the third period, the offenses broke out and scored 45 combined points. Anderson and Purifoy each scored a pair three-pointers. McKenzie was also helped by Ziquayvion Jackson, who drained two long-range shots. Pleasant Home held serve, and led 51-47 into the fourth period. Purifoy scored 13 points to match McMillian’s and J. Jackson’s 13 points. The Eagles won the sweep with five points from McMillian and J. Jackson thanks to Gatewood.
Purifoy, who scored 30 points, was the Pleasant Home’s top scorer. Anderson and Gatewood had double-digit performances in the win, scoring 20 and 17 points respectively. Griffin finished the scoring with five. McKenzie’s top scorer was McMillian with 24 points. J. Jackson came in second at 22.
Pleasant Home will be traveling to the area for matchups at Georgiana on Thursday, January 19, and McKenzie on Friday, January 20. Both days, games will start at 4:30 p.m.
The post Pleasant Home wins homecoming victories over McKenzie originally appeared on The Andalusia-Star-News.
