Sometimes it takes focus, other times it takes letting go.

In this case it took the latter, as Priceville High finished with a 49-42 win over Decatur Heritage girls basketball.

With minutes left on the clock, Priceville coach Terrie Nelson told her team to cut frustration from a lacking third quarter and put aside thoughts of the 30 turnovers the team totaled in the game.

“We came out flat,” Bulldogs Jada Beverly said. “Usually we come out flat in the third quarter, but we just pushed through.”

Beverly helped the Priceville (7-15, 3-2 in Class 4A, Area 14) start strong, adding three 3-pointers in the first half to grab momentum early. The team led by as many as 11 points in the first half, before leading 28-21 at halftime.

“I just try to shoot a lot, put them in,” she said.

“I knew they were going to be guarding me, so I was looking for my other teammates.”

Decatur Heritage suffered under Priceville’s pressure, with 14 turnovers in the first half.

“That’s the game right there,” said Decatur Heritage coach Paula Armstrong.

“It’s disappointing because we’re a better team than that. I know we’re a 1A team and they’re a 4A team, but it doesn’t matter.

The Eagles (12-8, 3-1 in Class 1A, Area 14) picked up the speed after the half, coming within three points at the end of the third quarter, with a jumper from Rebekah Voss, but Priceville came back into the game with a 3-pointer from McKenzie Parker, followed by a jumper from Emilee Cunningham, leaving Decatur Heritage trailing for the rest of the game.

Priceville was led by Beverly, who scored 17 points with three rebounds, followed by Cunningham with 12 points and three rebounds. Parker added seven points, while Alexandria Moore and Shyanne Stackhouse added six points each. Moore led the Bulldogs with nine rebounds, followed by Kayla Lucas with eight.

For Decatur Heritage, Peyton Barthel led scoring with 10 points, followed by Savanna Naylor with nine and Madelynn Vinton with eight. Macy Ladner added six points, while Voss totaled five.

Meredith Qualls can be reached at 256-340-2395 or mqualls

@decaturdaily.com.