Defense leads CCHS to girls ACA tourney crown
Published 12:34 pm Wednesday, November 23, 2022
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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer
A stellar defensive display on Nov. 22 at the Alabama Christian Academy Thanksgiving Tournament powered the Chilton County High School varsity girls’ to a 45-36 win. The Tigers allowed just 11 points in the first half. CCHS won its first game 52-48 on Nov. 21 over Smiths Station High School to punch its ticket to the title game and eventual championship.
“Our keys are to play defense, and we give our players a number that we try to hold every team under, normally 40 points,” CCHS coach Rickey Pulliam said. “Our confidence carried over from game one into the championship game, and our girls came out ready to play.”
Trinity Pulliam led the Tigers with 22 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocks in the title game, followed by Iasia Anderson with 15 points, nine rebounds, four steals and four assists.
The Tigers rode Anderson and Pulliam in game one of the tournament as well on Nov. 21 against Smiths Station High School to a 52-48 win. Both Anderson and Pulliam posted triple doubles in the Tigers opening win. Anderson posted a triple double with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 steals, and Pulliam posted 19 points, 19 rebounds and 11 blocks. Anderson added six assists, shot 6-for-13 from the field and knocked down four 3-pointers.
“Trinity and Iasia really set the tone in game one,” Pulliam said. “They really set the tone for the whole team, and that carried throughout the tournament.”
Smiths Station held a three-point lead at halftime at 26-23 over the Tigers, but a massive third quarter catapulted CCHS in front.
Chilton County went from down three points to up seven points going into the fourth quarter. The Tigers were able to maintain their lead in the fourth quarter to hold on for the narrow four-point win.
“The other players are playing well with Trinity and Iasia, but I think they are both elite players, and that gives us an opportunity to win,” Pulliam said. “They just always set the tone.”
Chilton County (3-4) hosts Opelika High School on Nov. 28 for the next game on the Tigers schedule.