The Shadow
COUGAR SENIOR — Covington’s Mary Woodson brings the ball up the floor in Thursday night’s district opener. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
COUGAR SENIOR — Covington’s Mary Woodson brings the ball up the floor in Thursday night’s district opener. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
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Echoing the sentiments of his Covington Lady Cougars, coach Mark Pifer’s message after Thursday’s game was clear. “Our goal right now is to win a district title.”
Led by the junior duo of Sa’Mone Moore and Leteashia Clarke, Pifer’s squad took that all important first step with a 59-44 victory over the Parry McCluer Fighting Blues in the Pioneer District opener for both teams.
Clarke scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 10 boards, while Moore, the floor leader, scored 20 points and handed out six assists.
“Sa’Mone (Moore) and Leteashia (Clarke) are our horses – they are really good players,” remarked Pifer. “They, along with the complimentary kids that we have, make us pretty competitive.”
Covington got off to a slow start offensively, leading by only five, 9-4, late in the opening quarter.
“Our offense needs to run through Leteashia,” explained Pifer. “They (Parry McCluer) collapsed on her and weren’t going to let her get the ball.”
A Syndall Moats three-ball pushed the Lady Cougars’ advantage to 12-4 after one.
Quickening the pace of the game early in the second quarter, Covington reeled off 12 unanswered points to claim a 20 point lead, 24-4.
“I went to see them play last night,” said Pifer. “I think that we were able to get them (Parry McCluer) to play at an uncomfortable pace. I don’t think that they want to play at the pace we want to play, and I think that kind of took them out of their rhythm.”
Moore scored eight points and knocked down a pair of shots from behind the arc during the spurt.
“Sa’Mone had to open things up,” added Pifer. “She had turned down one or two looks early in the first quarter, and she can’t do that. She’s a scorer. She hit some shots in the second quarter and that opened things up for Leteashia inside.”
Parry McCluer’s Logan Staton stopped the Lady Cougar run with a jump shot at the 4:32 mark of the period.
“Logan Staton is a good player,” complimented Pifer. “Tonight, we tried to take her away from their offense, and Samone did a decent job of that.”
By intermission, Covington’s lead had swelled to 22, 35-13.
The Lady Cougars’ first half success can be attributed in part to their ability to take care of the basketball.
Pifer’s team committed just six first-half turnovers.
“I think that we are doing a little better job with that,” commented Pifer. “I set a realistic goal of trying to stay in the teens as far as the number of turnovers. We stress that, but sometimes it doesn’t always work out.”
With the win, Covington improves to 9-3 overall (1-0 in the Pioneer District), and now set their sights on a Tuesday match-up with Craig County in New Castle.
Parry McCluer (0-1, 5-7) was led by Staton’s 11 points and Katy Patterson’s nine.
The Blues were a 36-20 winner in the junior varsity game.
Kayla Campbell had 12 points for Covington, Ambria Moore had four, while Lakin Tucker and Shalia Notice added two each.
Kieshia Jackson had a game-high 14 for Parry McCluer, while Reba Wilhelm added 10.
