Winfield Pirates break in Colts in regional semi-final game

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
HANCEVILLE — Severe weather wasn’t enough to stop the Pirates’ winning streak on Thursday night, Feb. 17, at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville.
The Pirates faced off against the Clements Colts in the 3A Northwest Regional semi-finals.
The Colts took the lead in the first quarter, leading the Pirates by five points, 17-12. But the Pirates turned up the heat in the second quarter, scoring 21 points while holding the Colts to eight.
At the half, the Pirates were leading 33-25.
The Colts narrowed the distance in the third quarter, but the Pirates held their lead and ended the quarter ahead 45-39.
The Colts scored again at the beginning of the fourth quarter, closing in on the Pirates 45-42.
The Pirates took off again, hitting several 2-point shots that gave them room to breathe as they ran the clock down. The Colts hit a few threes that whittled down the Pirates’ lead slightly, but it was too little too late.
With 23 seconds left in the game, the Colts hit their final 3-point shot, but it was followed with another 2-pointer from Winfield.
The clock hit zero, and the Pirates won 62-50.
Ja’borri McGhee led the Pirates in scoring with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block.
Logan Feltman was next with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks.
Will Beasley scored 7 points. Tyler Mays scored 5 points and recorded 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
Seth Kemble also scored 5 points, grabbed 2 rebounds and made 1 assist.
Phoenix Sandlin and Preston Nelson each scored 2 points. Sandlin got 3 rebounds and got away with 1 steal. Kade Estill made 2 assists.
The Pirates’ victory on Thursday advanced them to the final round of the 3A Northwest Regionals, where they faced the Lauderdale County Tigers on Monday, Feb. 21.
(Editor’s note: The results of the final game will be in the next issue, since this