Copper Basin’s Lady Cougars earned the school’s first ever trip to the state basketball championship playoffs with a 57-49 win Saturday night.
The Lady Cougars defeated the Lady Bulldogs from Clay County High School on Basin’s home court.
Copper Basin heads to Murfreesboro for a Wednesday, March 12, matchup against Richland at Middle Tennessee State University. They are among eight teams left chasing the state championship.
The Lady Cougars used a come-from-behind third quarter then dominated the last eight minutes of the game for Saturday’s win.
Alexis Hyatt, who managed only four points in the first half, came out after halftime to pour in 17 points and lead the effort.
The game was close in the early going with the first quarter ending with the visitors on top 17-16. Kendra Deal and Cora Kimsey divided scoring honors with seven points apiece, and Riley Akens added a basket.
The Lady Bulldogs continued to inch ahead in the next eight minutes, outscoring Basin 10-9 for a 27-25 lead at the break. Hyatt scored her four points of the first half, Kloie Ballew added three and Zoe Green tossed in a pair of free throws for the Lady Cougars.
Then the comeback started with the third quarter. The Lady Cougars racked up 15 points including five each from Hyatt and Green, two each from Deal and Kimsey, and a free throw from Ballew.
Meanwhile, the defense held the Lady Bulldogs to 11 points, leaving the Lady Cougars ahead 40-38 at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter belonged to Hyatt offensively as the Basin junior tossed in 12 of the team’s 17 points. Ballew added four and Akens tossed in a free throw.
Meanwhile, the Lady Cougar defense continued its tenacity and held Clay County to 11 points.
After having allowed 17 points in the opening eight minutes, the defense held the visitors to 32 points the rest of the night.
Behind a 21-point performance from Hyatt were Kimsey and Deal with nine points each, Ballew with eight points, Green with seven and Akens with three points.