Atlanta Adventist Squeaks Out Nailbiter Over Tough Cougar Squad 35-30
On Wednesday night, the Cougars journeyed to downtown Atlanta to play GAPPS conference powerhouse Atlanta Adventist (GAAA) team on their home floor. Playing on the road early in the season often presents challenges, particularly for team reliant on younger players. Instead of being intimidated by the moment, Cottage stormed out to an early 11-2 lead on the strength of some outstanding moves by senior Captain Alyssa Briggs and Junior Captain Finley Love. 8th-grader point guard phenom Gabby Presnall also nailed a three off of the high glass to launch the Cougars to a 9 point advantage.
However, the extremely talented, savvy bunch from Atlanta Adventist chipped away at the lead. In spite of a stifling 2-1-2 Manhattan zone that forced GAAA to settle for outside shots. Early in the game, the Cougars not only forced outside shots, but they managed to keep the larger GAAA team off of the glass, limiting many of the possessions to one missed shot. Senior forward Kendall Betzer was a big part of this, using her strength and court savvy to take keep potential rebounders at bay. This was a significant improvement from last week’s game against St. John Bosco where the Cougars were unable to take barely away second chance opportunities. As the game progressed, Cottage allowed more offensive rebounds which led to GAAA taking a 5 point lead. According to Coach Spillett, “The game was a step forward for the team in terms of rebounding, but this is an area where continued growth will have a huge impact on our ability to succeed. We still have a long way to go in this aspect of the game, but it’s a long season and if we show growth from game to game, this could be an area of strength for us.”
In spite of trailing in the fourth quarter, the Cougars showed tenacity and bravery down the stretch. Alyssa Briggs showed an incredible knack for handling defensive pressure, weaving through defenders after GAAA went to an aggressive full court look in the second half. Her sensational ability to out think defenses was on full display as she managed to get the ball over half court again and again regardless of how many defenders were on her, using a nearly endless supply of clever moves and uncanny court vision to give the Cougars an opportunity to claw back.
Just when it looked like the game was starting to get away from Cottage in the last six minutes, 7th grader Bonnie Bolton-Hogg stepped up and had the biggest moment of her Cougar career to date, taking an outstanding pass from Finley Love and firing in a perfect three pointer to re energize the team. The Cougars accelerated their defensive pressure in the waning minutes and with less than 2 minutes on the clock, they had the ball within one possession of tying the game. Unfortunately, they were unable to connect on several looks at the basket and the game concluded as a 35-30 victory for GAAA. However, it was truly impressive to see the Cougars go toe-to-toe with a formidable opponent for 32 minutes on the road. This is clearly a team on the rise and brimming with potential to coalesce into an unstoppable force in AAC conference play.
Game Notes:
Alyssa Briggs continued to show her remarkable talent on the floor, using her on court brilliance to move the ball up the floor and to get several of GAAA’s best players into foul trouble. She finished with a balanced line of 11 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 assists and a block which is a testament to her impact on all facets of the game.
Finley Love continued to be the fiercest player in Georgia high school basketball, flying around the court, making play after play. Her offensive game continues to develop quickly and she managed 10 points along with 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists.
Senior Kendall Betzer showed significant growth as a defender and rebounder in the game. She snared 3 rebounds and was a constant presence in the paint.
Sophomore Eleanor Gaffneystone provided continued energy in her time on the floor and continues to dive after loose balls, using her toughness to make difficult hustle plays.
Sophomore Malia Richards threw in a gorgeous seventeen foot mid-range jump shot and made several outstanding plays on defense, finishing with 3 points.
8th grader Gabby Pressnall and 7th grader Bonnie Bolton-Hogg both hit key three pointers at critical moments in the game.
6th grade sensation Grace Workman logged the most minutes of her Cottage career, showing a flair for ball handling and forcing GAAA players into mistakes with her blinding speed and unyielding determination.