Pisgah, Section cap off-season with state victories
Story by Cinthia Rico
Molly Heard led Pisgah with a game-high 25 points, 16 rebounds, four blocks, three steals and three assists, as the Eagles crushed St. Luke’s Episcopal 74-54 to capture their fifth consecutive Class 2A state championship title at the BJCC Legacy Arena.
Molly Holcomb scored 23 points, including four 3-pointers, Lila Kate Wheeler added 13 points, Campbell Barron had four points, Kallie Tinker contributed three, and Madeline Flammia, Kinsey Dalton, and KK Wilborn chipped in two points apiece.
The Eagles, under the direction of coach Carey Ellison won 3A titles in 2018, 2019, and 2020 before moving to Class 2A to capture the state title in 2021.
The 2022 win marks the Eagles’ 10th overall and the eighth state title under Ellison.
“To win that many in a row is just insane,” Heard said, who finished her high school career with 2,696 points passing 2019 Miss Basketball Annie Hughes becoming Pisgah’s all-time leading scorer with her 24 point game last Friday.
“I’m so proud of my seniors,” said Ellison. “My seniors stepped up to the challenge. They led us all year.”
Chloe Gilmore paced St. Luke with 19 points, Iamunique Bowie added 17 points and 15 rebounds and Arbany Holder scored 14 points, as they closed out their season 21-9.
Pisgah’s Molly Heard (MVP), Lila Kate Wheeler, Molly Holcomb, and St. Luke’s Episcopal’s Iamunique Bowie and Chloe Gilmore were named Class 2A girls state all-tourney team.
Logan Patterson led Section with a game-high 36 points and 12 rebounds, as the Lions clinched the Class 2A state championship beating Mars Hill Bible 77-61 at the BJCC Legacy Arena.
The title is the first state boys basketball championship since 2003 and Sections third overall.
Section found its groove by the end of the first quarter after an early scoring drought, leading 39-29 at halftime. The Lions later extended their lead by 24 in the fourth.
“I just told them to breathe. We needed to just hoop,” “ said Section Coach Derek Wynn. “These guys found a way, and they never quit.”
Alex Guinn added 15 points, Dominik Blair 10 points, Jacob Cooper contributed seven, Drake McCutchen six points, and Kaden Bradford chipped in three.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been dreaming about this moment,” said Alex Guinn.
Connor Pigg led Mars Hill with 20 points and seven rebounds, and Hugh Hargett added 14 points.
Section’s Logan Patterson (MVP), Jacob Cooper, Alex Guinn, Mars Hill Bible’s Connor Pigg and Hugh Hargett were named Class 2A boys state all-tournament team.
