The No. 14 Eufaula Lady Ironheads (15-8) proved again that they can defeat anybody with great defense and outstanding shooting as they topped Mount St. Mary (MSM) 49-36 at the Perry Anderson Gymnasium in Eufaula Friday night. Mount St. Mary had no answer for the perimeter shooting of Eufaula. Kambry Williams and Maddie Ballard lit up the scoring for the Lady Ironheads as they combined for 30 points. Jadence Efurd was huge on defense as she controlled the ball in the paint on both ends of the court grabbing rebounds.
Eufaula led 31-16 at the halftime break. Eufaula head coach Nick Yarbrough did a great job of rotating players in and out of the game. Johna Bumgarner and Elaina Moore contributed to the game.
Eufaula’s defense was too much for MSM to overcome with Ballard, Williams, Allie Anderson and Efurd forcing multiple turnovers and the Lady Ironheads held on to win the District Championship.
“In the playoffs we talked all week about everyone starts fresh and all records are the same. We knew Mount Saint Mary would give us their best shot and they have a really talented point guard who we knew we had to slow down because players that good are hard to shut down completely. We threw several players at her to try and slow her down and Maddie Ballard did a phenomenal job as well as Elaina Monroe. They did what we wanted as well as we could have asked on the defensive end. Mount Saint Mary’s defensive game plan was what we thought and we knew they would try to slow down Allie and Kambry but we also know we have several girls who can step up when needed offensively. Maddie Ballard stepped up there as well with 15 big points and Kambry shot it well and had 15 points as well! Total team effort like it is every night and couldn’t be more proud of this group and the way they play hard every night. It is always great to win the district championship because it puts you in a better position to move on deeper in the playoffs and we have goals every year and winning the district championship is one goal we have,” Eufaula head coach Nick Yarbrough said.
Rockets win District Title over Eufaula
The Eufaula Ironheads found themselves in a hole after Mount St. Mary’s offense went on a scoring feast in the opening period leading 19-2 at one time before ending the period 22-9. The Ironheads chipped away at the Rockets lead by outscoring them 1612 in the second period and 13-7 in the third period.
It was a battle on every possession with Maddox Bridges and Keaton Parish driving to the basket and Draven Gragg and Landon Mills posting up in the paint and grabbing rebounds.
The Ironheads’ defense began to box out Rocket big postman Jodie Shavers and with 3:10 in regulation Dusty Eby hit a three-pointer to cut the lead 47-45. After two possessions the Rockets led 48-46 until Gragg hit a long perimeter shot to give Eufaula their first lead of the game 49-48 with 48 seconds on the clock. Both teams pressured each other and with 25 seconds on the clock Ty Sparks got fouled and went to the free throw line where he made one of two to give the Ironheads a 50-48 lead. However on the next play Shaver slid toward the basket and scored as the horn sounded sending the game into overtime 50-to-50. In the extra period Eufaula missed opportunities Eli Jones got fouled by Parish and scored one of his free throws to make the score 53-51. Bridges then fouls and gives the ball back to the Rockets with 36.3 seconds left on the clock. On the next play Sparks fouls Jones who makes both free throws, 55-51. With 13.4 seconds Mills gets fouled and makes his shots 55-53. Then the Rockets put the ball into play and time ran out as Mount St. Mary survived Eufaula and won the district championship.
Eufaula Lady Ironheads roll over Wolverines 57-36
The Eufaula Lady Ironheads dominated the Vian Lady Wolverines 57-36 Tuesday night at Vian. Eufaula led 41-20 at the halftime break and made 10 three-point buckets in the game. Kambry Williams was on fire from the perimeter as she made four three-point shots in the first half.
Vian struggled against the high-pressure defense of Eufaula. Allie Anderson forced several turnovers along with Kate Pippenger and Williams.
Eufaula led 54-31 to end the third period. Eufaula head coach Nick Yarbrough put in his reserves and the Lady Ironheads went on to win 57-36. Allie Anderson had 13 points, Williams 14, Adi McKinzie six and Pippenger had five points in the victory.
Bridges scores 38 to lead Eufaula over Vian Eufaula point guard Maddox Bridges
scored 38 points to lead the Ironheads over Vian 69-60. Bridges was unstoppable in the paint as he sliced and diced the Wolverine defense. The Ironheads only had three players score over eight points. Keaton Parish 18 and Dusty Eby finished with eight points in the win.
