The Shadow
The Covington girls are in the middle of a four-game in four-night stretch.
Tuesday, the Cougars defended their home floor with a huge 53-38 Pioneer District win over Eastern Montgomery.
Ariel Barber stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks and four assists to lead the winners, who lost in Elliston to the Mustangs in December.
“We needed a little confidence going into this stretch,” said CHS coach Tara Simmons-Brewster. “This is a huge week for us.”
It was a big first half that got the Cougars some breathing room.
A 13-0 first-quarter run was highlighted by five points and a pair of assists from freshman Cristi Persinger.
By the half the lead had grown to 16, 26-10.
“The first half, defensively, I felt like we communicated, we pulled each other through screens, we were there in help side — we did a great job.”
Behind Elli Underwood, the Mustangs (3-4 Pioneer, 4-11 overall) made a run after the break.
East Mont converted seven of their first nine shots from the field in the third quarter and sliced the lead to nine late in the period.
But a six-point run — an Amiah Hunter lay-up and two free throws each by Persinger and Elaishja Helton — was the Cougar answer.
Ten was as close as the visitors got in the final eight minutes.
Barber, an inside force, showed her full offensive skill set, stepping out and knocking down three 3-pointers.
“She’s probably the best shooter on the team realistically,” said Simmons-Brewster. “Sometimes she doesn’t have all the confidence in the world. But tonight she stepped out and hit three big threes.”
Hunter added 12 points and seven rebounds for Covington, while Persinger had 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Stacy Tacy rounded out the Cougar leaders with eight points and five boards.
“Stacy gets in there and battles and she’s not afraid to battle,” Simmons-Brewster added. “She really helps with rebounds and if she can score a little bit here and there — that helps us.
“Cristi plays hard and never quits,” she added. “She really gives us some energy.”
Underwood paced the Mustangs with 12 points, while Haley Howard added eight.
Wednesday night, Covington went to West Virginia and was defeated by James Monroe, 64-34.
Gracie Mann led the Mavericks, who improved to 15-1 on the season with the win, with 21 points.
Chylyn Fox added 14 and Madison Cox scored 11.
Hunter led Covington with nine points, Persinger had eight and Barber scored seven.
The Cougars (4-3 Pioneer, 5-11 overall) continue their busy week with a pair of home games.
Tonight it’s district power Parry McCluer coming to town and Friday Craig County visits.
Covington’s junior varsity dropped games to Eastern Montgomery and James Monroe.
The Cougars led 15-13 at the half Wednesday against the Mustangs before falling 32-24.
Lauren Bragg had 13 points for Covington, Samya Allen added seven, Paris Richmond scored three and Raven Heighter added one.
Logan Boone scored 16 for East Mont.
The Cougars lost a 56-22 decision at James Monroe.
Bragg had 11 for the Cougars, Allen scored five, while Richmond, Ciana Walker and Allison Douglas all had two.
Akayla Hughes had 18 for the Mavericks and Lilly Jackson scored 15.
