By Jeff Devine, Editor-in-Chief, Dale County Chronicle.
OZARK— A tightly contested matchup came down to the final moments as Abbeville’s varsity girls pulled out a 57–55 victory over the Carroll High Lady Eagles on Friday night.
Despite the narrow loss, Carroll delivered a strong overall performance and nearly completed a late rally to force overtime. Zymirra Glanton led all scorers with an outstanding night, pouring in 27 points while adding seven rebounds and five steals. Glanton continued her season-long defensive consistency as well, recording at least two steals in every game she has played this year.
Makynzye Bonner also turned in a key effort for the Lady Eagles, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds, and six steals. Her activity on both ends of the floor helped keep Carroll within striking distance throughout the entire game.
The contest featured multiple lead changes and remained a one-possession game deep into the fourth quarter. Carroll had opportunities in the closing seconds but was unable to convert, allowing Abbeville to escape with the two-point win.
The Eagles also celebrated Senior Night on Friday, honoring the seniors and their contributions to the team. Zymirra Glanton was among the seniors honored. Glanton is frequently the top scorer for the Lady Eagles and surpassed her 1,000 career points milestone during the last time the team played Abbeville in November. Glanton also received great news on Friday, receiving offers from two colleges that hope she will play basketball for them. Enterprise State Community College (ESCC) head women’s basketball Coach was at the game Friday night to deliver the official offer. Glanton also received an offer from Labette Community College. Glanton has not yet announced which college she will sign.
Senior Frankasia Glover, who plays as a forward for the team, was also honored Friday night. Glover, who is known for snatching boards for the team, recently achieved a major milestone, grabbing her 500th career rebound during the game against Pike Road. Her family accompanied her during the ceremony.
Finally, Katlynn Mills was also honored for her many contributions to the team during Senior Night and was joined by her family during the ceremony. Mills also has the distinction of being honored as a student as well as an athlete. She was Carroll High School’s Student of the Month last month, an honor that shows her character both on the court and in the classroom.
There was one other surprise in store Friday night. Mackynzie Bonner, a junior guard, received an early offer from ESCC. The fact that she was offered a position on a college team while she is still a junior in high school highlights her strengths as an athlete and a student.
While the final result didn’t go their way, the Lady Eagles had plenty to be joyful about on Friday, and the team showed grit and perseverance throughout the entire game, which has been common for the team this season.
The Lady Eagles, who are the 5A Area 4 Champions, will look to fine tune their gameplay as they prepare to face off in the area championship games that begin on February 9. More information about the championship games will be released next week.
