By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
The Carroll High Lady Eagles showed late-game grit on Tuesday night but couldn’t complete a furious fourth-quarter comeback, falling to Pike Road after trailing by more than 20 points entering the final period. Pike Road won, 61-56.
Carroll battled back to cut the deficit to just four in the closing minutes, displaying the kind of determination Head Coach Johnson said she knows her team is capable of. However, a combination of early-game struggles and missed opportunities ultimately proved too much to overcome.
Coach Johnson acknowledged her team’s fight but expressed frustration with both execution and officiating throughout the matchup.
“We were down 20-plus at the end of the third quarter and fought extremely hard in the fourth to get within just four points,” Johnson said. “The officiating wasn’t the best… we had multiple players foul out who don’t usually foul out, and there were a lot of missed calls. But at the end of the day, we can’t miss layups and free throws as we do. That continues to kill us.”
Despite consistent work in practice, Johnson said missed high-percentage shots have become a mental hurdle her team must overcome. She also emphasized the need for stronger starts and more consistent play against opponents Carroll is capable of beating.
“We’re giving games away due to our errors, mental mistakes, and lack of focus,” she said. “As a coach, it’s making me realize it’s time to dig into my bench more and make some adjustments. I’m praying this team begins to change their mindset and play every single game looking to win—regardless of who they’re up against.”
Even in the loss, several Lady Eagles stepped up with notable performances. Zy Glanton led the team with an impressive 22 points, along with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Zuri Steele added 8 points and dominated the glass with 13 rebounds and 5 steals, while Steele and Frankasia Glover combined for 26 total rebounds, providing a strong presence in the paint as the coaching staff challenges them to do each night.
The Lady Eagles, now 6–3 for the season, will look to regroup quickly as they travel to Rehobeth for a much-needed bounce-back opportunity on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
