MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The third time was the charm for Wade Goodman and the Pickens Academy girls basketball team.
Pickens Academy won the AISA Class AA state championship in Goodman”s third season as head coach by beating Laikeside Christian 53-39 at Huntingdon College on Friday.
“It”s really the combination of three years of hard work,” Goodman said. “The girls deserve everything they got.”
Pickens Academy (28-3) won its 12th game in a row to dethrone Lakeside as the state champion.
The Lady Pirates led 12-11 at the end of the first quarter and extended their lead to 31-19 at halftime.
After having its lead cut to 39-32 after the third quarter, Pickens Academy outscored Lakeside 14-7 in the fourth.
“It was by far our best offensive game of the year,” Goodman said. “We scored more points in other games this season, but we really played well on offense.
“We had great possessions. I told them before the game that would be the key. We had to run great possessions and we did. We didn”t; turn the ball over or take quick first shots. We shot mostly layups. We didn”t jack up the first long shot we saw.”
Pickens Academy was led by Callie Minor with 18 points and seven rebounds, Catherine Johnson with 13 points, Tate Fuller with 11 points and Lincoln Pearson with 19 rebounds.
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