CLINTON - Pillow Academy's hopes for a record sixth MPSA Overall Tournament title began to fade when Leake Academy turned to its full-court press.
It was a move Leake coach Doyle Wolverton didn't want to make but felt he had no choice with his team down by 10 points to start the fourth period.
It proved to be the right decision as Leake outscored the Lady Mustangs 27-12 in the final eight minutes to rally for a 54-49 victory here Friday in the Overall semifinals before an estimated crowd of 2,200 at Mississippi College's A.E. Wood Coliseum.
"We were trying to match up against Pillow in a zone. We stayed away from the press early because I only play seven girls, and they play 10," Wolverton said. "But we had to try something to get back in it, and our girls really got after them."
"(Leake) came out real aggressive (in the fourth quarter) pressing us and trapping us, and we just didn't make the right passes," Pillow coach Durwin Carpenter said. "And when we did, we weren't able to make our shots."
The AAA champion Lady Mustangs had their 26-game win streak snapped by Leake and finished the season at 34-6. Leake, the AA runner-up, lost 72-67 Saturday to undefeated Brookhaven in the Overall championship game, finishing the year at 38-3.
Thanks to turnovers created by its swarming press, Leake scored the first five points of the fourth period - 1 more point than it scored the entire third period.
Pillow senior Stribling Whites hit a jump shot with 1:30 left in the contest to tie the game at 49-all. Then 40 seconds later, sophomore Greggina Tadlock put Leake ahead to stay with a layup.
After a free throw made it a three-point game, Pillow had one last chance, inbounding the ball under its goal with 12 seconds left.
The Lady Mustangs were unable to get a 3-point shot off, and Whites missed a leaning jump shot in the lane.
Leake looked like it might run away with things early, jumping out to a quick 8-0 lead. The Lady Mustangs missed five shots and had four turnovers before scoring their first points, which came at the 3:38 mark on a layup by senior Amy Beckwith.
Leake led 16-2 before Pillow closed the first period with an 8-0 run. PA got within one late in the second before
Leake took a 30-27 lead into the dressing room at the half.
Pillow senior Meg Flanagan drained a 3-pointer early in the third to tie the game at 23-all, and took its first lead at the 5:19 mark on a Beckwith layup.
Pillow dominated the third period, outscoring Leake 17-4, but couldn't hold off hard-charging Leake in the final eight minutes.
The Lady Mustangs struggled putting the ball in the basket, hitting just 14 of 59 field goals (24 percent). They were also hurt by 22 turnovers.
Junior post player Meagan Webb had a team-high 12 points and pulled down four rebounds. She scored in double figures in seven of eight postseason games.
Whites was the only other Pillow player in double figures with 11 and had a team-high 10 rebounds. Clansey Flautt had nine points, four steals and three rebounds. Beckwith finished with eight points, seven rebounds, five steals and two assists.
Carpenter was obviously upset with the officiating at the end of the game but declined to comment. But he did say he was proud of the season his team put together.
"This group of girls improved the entire season and played with a lot of heart and character," said the 10-year PA coach. "We lost six seniors last year, and these girls did an outstanding job taking over the program.
"Our four seniors really did a tremendous job of leading this team and keeping everybody bonded together."
