Bristol… The Lady Pioneers led by 10 after the opening quarter and went on to defeat the Fighting’ Blues 74-59.

Gracie Robinson scored 31 points for the Lady Pioneers, and Alexandria Rakes contributed 17. Fort Chiswell (24-1) now advances to the regional championship game to be held Saturday at Virginia High.

Parry McCluer faced a full court press and trapping defense by the Pioneers. The Blues went into halftime down 41-21 and just couldn’t climb their way out of the pit they were put into by the Pioneer defense. Hannah Craft led the Blues with 17 points, scoring 10 of those in the second half. Madison Dunlap had nine, and Makenzie Wheeler tossed in eight.

Sadie Smith scored eight for Fort Chiswell before she fouled out. Savannah Dunford added six; Caroline Booher and Carlie Musick both had five points each.

Head coach of the Lady Pioneers Kristen Williams said, “I thought we played well tonight. Our defense was very good, and we jumped out early on them.” She then added, “Gracie was, to say the least, on tonight. I thought Alexandria did a good job also. It’s been that way all season for us. Some one steps up for us.”

The Pioneers will head to Virginia High on Saturday to play Northwood at 4 pm for the Group 1A West Regional Championship.

 

Photography courtesy Tina Quesenberry

 

 

 

 

PM 14 7 21 17-59

FC 24 17 17 16-74

 

PM- Mohler 7, Huffman 6, Wheeler 8, Craft 17, Dunlap 9, Smith 5, Wilhelm 5, Clark 2

 

FC- Musick 5, Robertson 31, Rakes 17, Smith 8, Dunford 6, Booher 5, Harman 2

 

3 PT. Goals- FC- 4 -(Robinson2, Booher, Musick), PM- 2-(Huffman, Wilhelm)

 

 

Fouls- FC- 21, PM- 20

 

Fouled Out- FC- Smith, PM- Mohler