The Copper Basin Lady Cougars hosted the Polk County Lady Wildcats Tuesday, February 4. The in-county rivals battled back and forth, but Polk County was able to jump out to a 21-4 lead in the first and Copper Basin could not recover as they fell to the Lady Wildcats 57-29.
Skyler Nipper and Hailey Brackett were the only two Lady Cougars to score in the first, with both working the paint to net a two-point basket each.
After the first quarter, Polk County led 21-4, but Copper Basin started to find a rhythm, outscoring the Lady Wildcats 12-7 in the second. Riley Smith erupted for six points on a three-point basket, a two-point bucket and a free throw. Sapporiah Ross was able to bully her way to four points on two, two-point baskets, while Hailey Brackett scored a two-point bucket to cap the 12-point quarter for Copper Basin. The Lady Cougars trailed Polk County 28-16 at halftime.
Riley Smith led Copper Basin in the third, scoring three points on a two-point basket and a free throw. Ross was able to use her height to rattle in a two-point jump shot over a defender to give the Lady Cougars five points in the third quarter. Polk County scored 12 points to increase their lead 40-21 at the end of the third quarter.
Copper Basin tried to comeback in the fourth, but the Lady Wildcats outscored the Lady Cougars 17-8. Brackett tallied three points in the fourth on a two-point bucket and a free throw, while Riley Smith and Gracie Smith scored a two-point basket each.
Sydney Hickey fought her way to the free throw line and was able to convert one free throw, but the comeback effort was not enough as Copper Basin fell to Polk County 57-29.
CB 04 12 05 08 - 29
PC 21 07 12 17 - 57
Lady Cougars summary:
Points: R. Smith 11, Brackett 7, Ross 6, Nipper 2, G. Smith 2, Hickey 1.
Free throws: R. Smith 2-4, Hickey 1-2, Brackett 1-3, Hemming 0-2.