After dropping three games each last week, both the Ethel Tigers and Lady Tigers both began Region 5-1A Tournament play this past Tuesday in Coffeeville against Montgomery County and French Camp respectively and will play again on Thursday if victorious in either contest.
Both the Tigers and Lady Tigers fell to Durant twice and Pisgah once with the Tigers record falling to 7-13 while the Lady Tigers fell to 12-10.
In the Tigers’ matchup with the Durant Tigers last Tuesday night, Durant grabbed a quick 24-10 lead after one quarter of play and led 42-25 at the half. Durant increased the lead to 64-31 after three quarters of play appearing to be cruising to an easy win. Ethel scored 31 fourth quarter points, but that would not be nearly enough, and fell to Durant by a final of 79-62.
The Ethel Lady Tigers fell 79-46 to Durant after leading 17-13 after one quarter of play. Durant took a 40-22 lead into the half after outscoring Ethel 27-5 in the second quarter and never looked back, taking the Region 5-1A win. The leaders for Ethel were Dotty Townsend with nine points; Akilah Erving with 23 points and Carlye Pender with five points.
There were no stats for the Thursday night Durant game for Ethel, but the Lady Tigers fell once again by a score of 69-39. Ethel fell behind 18-7 after one quarter of play and trailed Durant 42-19 at the half. Durant poured it on in the second half as well, outscoring the Lady Tigers 27-20 to take the win. The leaders for the Lady Tigers were Townsend with 12 points; Bridges Pinkard with three points; Erving with 18 points and Pender with six points.
On Friday night, the Tigers fell once again to the Pisgah Dragons by a score of 60-52. The Dragons took a 13-10 first quarter lead and lead 29-24 at the half. The Tigers fell behind 43-36 after three quarters of play and were outscored 17-16 in the fourth quarter, taking the loss. The leaders for the Tigers were D’Ayres Merritt with nine points; Akeem Erving with 20 points; D’Aquannay Dotson with 12 points and Kendol Dotson with four points.
In the Lady Tigers 48-45 loss to the Lady Dragons, Ethel fell behind 12-4 after one quarter of play and trailed 25-18 at the half. The Lady Tigers outscored the Lady Dragons in the second half 27-23 but that would not be enough to overcome the loss. The leaders for the Lady Tigers were Townsend with six points; Erving with 23 points; Amiracle Edwards with three points; Takia Miller with seven points and Pender with six points.
