The Shadow
GREENVILLE – For three quarters of Wednesday night’s season opener, everything was falling in place for the Covington girls basketball team.
They were nursing a 45-37 lead over host Riverheads heading into the final eight minutes of the first game of the Augusta County Tip-Off Classic, but the Gladiators switched to a man-to-man defense and outscored the Lady Cougars 15-3 in the final period to come from behind to win, 52-48.
The Lady Cougars (0-1) got 24 points from sophomore point guard Sa’Mone Moore. Moore knocked down five threes and added six rebounds in the losing effort.
Mary Woodson addded five points and six rebounds, while Autumn Phillips tallied eight points as well. Leteashia Clarke chipped in five points and hauled in a team-high eight rebounds, Montanna Hall added two points and Brittany Keyser rounded out the Lady Cougars scoring with one point.
Covington trailed 12-11 after the opening quarter, but outscored their hosts 16-6 in the second quarter to take a 27-18 lead after the first half.
Carly Casto led Riverheads with 16 points, while senior Katie Coffey added 14 for the Gladiators.
The Lady Cougars will return to the court Friday when they take on Stuarts Draft in the final day of the Augusta County Tip-Off Classic. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
