Pirates move into regionals

Pirates move into regionals Brian Smith Tue, 02/27/2024 - 8:14 pm   Perrin’s Jack McCormick (10) drives inside on Saint Jo defenders during the bi-district game. Photo/Brian Smith   Perrin’s Ryan Richerson (33) avoids Saint Jo defenders during the bi-district game. Photo/Brian Smith Perrin won its _rst two basketball games last week as the march through the Class A playoffs continues. Brief summaries of both games follow: Pirates 83, Panthers 37 Perrin opened the Class A boys basketball playoffs Tuesday, Feb. 20 with a convincing 8437 win over Saint Jo at Chico High School. Perrin had a slow start offensively but managed to break things open in the second quarter. Perrin led just 2-0 four minutes in. After the Pirates missed eight of their _rst nine shots, junior guard Jack McCormick converted from both inside and out on the next two possessions to put the hosts up 7-0. Cole Keeney and Case Lambert combined for the _nal seven points of the quarter, Perrin _nishing 5-8 shooting for a 14-5 lead after one. The Pirates broke things open in the second, scoring 28 points on 11-22 shooting from the oor. A 14-2 run was paced by three-pointers from Ryan Richerson, Lambert and McCormick as Perrin led 28-7 with 4:20 left in the _rst half. Saint Jo missed eight of its _rst nine shots in the second but buried consecutive threes to close the half, which ended with Perrin up 42-13. Perrin led by nearly 40 before Saint Jo used a quick run to knock the de_cit to 28 late in the third. With a 61-31 lead to open the fourth, Perrin used a 20-0 string to go up 81-31. McCormick led four Perrin players with 35 points, Lambert had 19, Keeney 13 and Richerson 10 points along with a game-high 14 rebounds. Pirates 65, Bears 31 In Friday’s area round game against Sulphur Bluff, the Pirates used a 15-point third quarter from McCormick to break the game wide open. Perrin led 28-15 at the half before Lambert opened the frame with a three-pointer. The Bears (27-10) would make a final push, getting within 12 before McCormick came through with the final 15 points of the frame, including a perfect 6-6 at the free throw line. Perrin, which shot just 5-15 in the third quarter, led 46-23 heading into the final frame. The squads traded points for the first half of the fourth stanza. Using nifty passes from their teammates Keeney and McCormick had easy layins to take a 57-28 lead with 3:08 remaining. The Pirate reserves came in with just under three minutes to go. Noah Morris led the final charge for Perrin, getting a free throw, a basket and a three-pointer late. Joe Welch had a basket late as well. McCormick had 34 points and Lambert 11 for Perrin. ThePiratesthefaced Dodd City yesterday in the regional quarterfinals in Sanger. No results were available as of press time.