The Copper Basin Lady Cougars topped the Sale Creek Lady Panthers 38-25 to punch their ticket to the District Championship game against Tellico.
The Lady Cougars played well from the start, outscoring the Lady Panthers 10-4 in the first quarter. Skyler Nipper and Sapporiah Ross were a dominant force down low, combining for eight points in the first on two, two-point baskets each. Raegan Higdon scored a two-point basket as well as the Lady Cougars led 10-4 at the end of the first quarter.
Copper Basin kept the lead in the second, outscoring the Lady Panthers 9-5 in the second quarter. Laney Jory and Higdon combined for six points with Higdon draining a three-ball and Jory netting a two-point bucket and a free throw. Ross muscled in a two-point bucket, while Nipper made it to the charity stripe and converted a free throw as Copper Basin led 19-9 at the half.
The Lady Panthers started to battle back in the third quarter, out-scoring the Lady Cougars 10-8. Nipper led the Lady Cougars in the third with two, two-point buckets for four points. Higdon got a two-point bucket to drop, while Jory netted two free throws as the Lady Cougars clung to a 27-19 lead to start the final quarter.
Copper Basin’s defense was phenomenal in the fourth, holding the Lady Panthers to six points. The Lady Cougars scored 11 points with Riley Smith leading the way, scoring three points on a two-point bucket and a free throw. Sydney Hickey, Ross and Nipper netted a two-point basket each, while Jory converted two free throws to cap the scoring in the fourth as the Lady Cougars knocked off Sale Creek 38-25.
CB 10 09 08 11 - 38
SC 04 05 10 06 - 25
Lady Cougars summary:
Points: Nipper 11, Ross 8, Higdon 7, Jory 7, R. Smith 3, Hickey 2.
Free throws: Jory 5-6, R. Smith 1-3, Nipper 1-3, Ross 0-1, G. Smith 0-2.