The Shadow
AREA GIRLS BATTLE — Lady Cougar Kayla Campbell (dark jersey) is defended by Alleghany’s Beth Mason Monday night at AHS. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
AREA GIRLS BATTLE — Lady Cougar Kayla Campbell (dark jersey) is defended by Alleghany’s Beth Mason Monday night at AHS. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
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After losing Autumn Phillips to graduation a year ago, Covington coach Mark Pifer has been looking for a third scorer to complement his inside-outside combination of Leteashia Clarke and Sa’Mone Moore.
He may have found that third scorer Monday night.
Clarke delivered her customary double-double — 17 points and 19 rebounds — while freshman Kayla Campbell came off Pifer’s bench to contribute 15 points, as the Cougars withstood a third quarter flurry by Alleghany to post a 50-38 win at Mountaineer gym.
Despite an off night shooting, Moore added 11 points and 11 boards. Her three-quarters court bank shot at the final horn was the only 3-pointer either team hit all night.
The Cougars improved to 5-1 on the season, and Campbell’s performance caught Pifer’s attention.
“Kayla is going to be a tremendous player over the next four years,” he said. “She is getting more comfortable with every game.”
Sophomore La’Tisha Chambers paced the Mountaineers with nine points, while Mauri Deeds and Savannah Beard added seven apiece. Beth Mason had a big night on the boards, pulling down 17 rebounds for the Mountaineers.
Alleghany trailed 28-18 at the half, but an 11-1 run by the Mountaineers to open the third quarter knotted things at 29-29.
Deeds started the Alleghany spurt with a layup, and Karleigh Thompson’s 12-footer tied it later in the quarter.
But tied at 29, the Cougars answered. Campbell scored on a runner and another Campbell bucket on a Moore assist gave the Cougars a 33-29 lead.
They wouldn’t relinquish that advantage.
Clarke scored on another Moore assist to up the Covington lead to 36-31 before Laurel Burdette’s layup just beat the third quarter buzzer, cutting the Alleghany deficit to 36-33.
Campbell started the fourth quarter with a conventional three-point play that increased the Covington lead to 39-33.
They stretched that cushion to 44-35 on a Moore free throw with 1:59 remaining in the game.
The Mountaineers were held to five fourth-quarter points and hit only 8 of their 18 free throw attempts.
“We had a lot of blown opportunities,” said Alleghany coach Danny Keene. “We played hard and played good defense, but we just missed some chip shots and didn’t shoot great from the free throw line.”
Clarke had 12 points and eight boards in the first half, while Campbell also scored eight points in the first half as the Cougars built their 28-18 lead at intermission.
Next up for the Cougars is a Wednesday night home game with Glenvar, while Alleghany, now 4-2 on the season, travels to Rockbridge County Wednesday to open Blue Ridge District play.
In Monday’s jayvee opener, Murray McClung scored 16 points and Rachel Hepler carded 12 to lead Alleghany to a 45-25 win over the Cougars.
Sarah Loving and Allison Fox added four points apiece for the Mountaineers, while Casey Burgess, Taylor Poague, Karleigh Entsminger and Breanna Tingler scored two each and Addy Honaker had one.
Lauren Gillespie’s seven points led the Cougars, while Lakin Tucker and Ambria Moore had six each. Morgan Tucker contributed four, while Lizzie Baker scored two.
