In a matchup between two Class 3A, Area 7 opponents, the Gordo Greenwave girls basketball team defeated the American Christian Academy Patriots in the form of a commanding 56-25 victory.
The Greenwave (11-5) were dominant from start to finish as coach Tray Gilbert’s team raced out to a 17-6 lead in the first period and continued to build on that lead for the remainder of the contest.
“We had to take care of our business and luckily we came over here and anytime you come to ACA and play at their home place it’s a tough place to play," Gilbert said. “Just controlling the game from start to finish showed that we played really well.”
Keionni Prude and Corley Sellers set the tone early on the offensive end for the Greenwave, with seven and six points in the first half.
Sellers added three more points in the second quarter followed by an additional eight points after intermission to lead the team in scoring with 18 points. Sellers did the bulk of her damage at the free throw line where she wnt 11-for-13. Pride also finished in double figures with 10 points.
As a team, the Greenwave converted on 18 of 25 free throws.
“I’ve told the team that down the stretch we have to shoot free throws better or we won’t win,” Gilbert said. “Mentally making free throws anywhere you go is big so it was huge for us to be successful from the free throw line.”
The Patriots were led in scoring by Maggie Sullivan with eight points.
For Gordo, the win in the final game of area play forces a tiebreaker with Greene County. Both Gordo and Greene County finished the season with a 3-1 area record, splitting the two games played between them.
The tiebreaker will come down to a coin flip to will determine the host of the area tournament.
The Patriots finished their area season 0-4.
Both ACA and Gordo will continue their seasons at home on Monday. Gordo will have a home contest against Lamar County while the Patriots host Northside.