They had to wait two extra days, but the Parklane Pioneers finally opened their 2014 postseason run Thursday with a 66-57 win over Washington School in the opening-round of the MAIS AAA Div. I tournament. The tournament was scheduled to begin Tuesday at Jackson Prep, but inclement weather throughout the state forced tournament officials to move Tuesday’s games to Wednesday and eventually Thursday.
Nevertheless, when the Pioneers were finally able to take the court again, they made it count.
“I thought we played with a lot of intensity, a lot of heart,” Parklane head coach Chris Weaver said after the win.
Parklane led early, but Washington rallied to tie the game at 25-apiece by halftime. Facing elimination with their backs against the wall, the Pioneers charged out of the gate in the second half to pull away from the Generals.
“We slowed down in the first half, we wanted to play a little faster than we did,” Weaver said. “We played a lot faster and a lot more aggressive in the second half. We guarded a lot better on the defensive end.”
Parklane was led Thursday by its seniors, especially senior forward Brady Lea.
Lea led the Pioneers with 25 points in the victory, and Weaver said his aggressive playing-style helped break down Washington’s matchup-zone in the second half.
Fellow senior Matthew Artigues, who suffered an injury in last week’s game at Bowling Green and then sat for the team’s final regular season game against Jackson Prep, battled through the pain Thursday to help his team in a winning effort.
“Our seniors really led us. They did some good things out there and helped us in a win-or-go-home game,” Weaver said. “They understood we could’ve gone home and led our team in that situation.”
Sophomore Quartez Brown, one of the team’s leading scorers, sat for most of the first half in foul trouble, forcing his Pioneers teammates to pick up the slack. Junior Sanders Ott responded, hitting a handful of early 3-pointers to pace Parklane through a difficult early stretch.
Parklane will not have long to celebrate the win. The Pioneers will turn around and take the court again in the AAA Div. I semifinals against Madison-Ridgeland Academy. That game is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. at Jackson Prep.
Whether they win or lose, the Pioneers will be in action Saturday as well on the final day of the Div. I tournament. Should Parklane win Friday, it would play for the tournament championship at 6:15 p.m. And if it loses tonight, Parklane will play a consolation game Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. The games Saturday will also be held at Jackson Prep.
After the Div. I tournament comes to a close, the Pioneers will advance to the overall MAIS AAA tournament next week.
Lady Pioneers fall 62-29
The Parklane Lady Pioneers were over-matched by Jackson Academy in the opening-round of the MAIS AAA Div. I playoffs Thursday, losing 62-29 to end their season.
The Lady Pioneers fell behind early, finishing both the first and second quarters at the wrong end of 18-7 deficits.
Trailing 36-14 at halftime, things did not get better for Parklane. Jackson Academy led 54-25 through three quarters before letting its foot off the gas.
Carrington Jeffcoat led the Lady Pioneers with 11 points in a losing effort. Parklane finished the season with a 4-18 record.
