Dateline – Roswell, Ga: For the second time in program history, the Lady Cougars played hostess to Atlanta Classical Academy. The GHSA member school brought their pass happy act to the hardwoods, as the Lady Cougars looked to pick up a win to kick off the Thanksgiving recess.
In the first quarter the Lady Cavaliers used off ball movement and crip passing to gain sound looks at the hoop. Relying on tandem scoring from their two forwards, ACA jumped out to an early 6 point bulge. Markswoman Ana Mills halved the lead when she swished a baseline three pointer from the left side of court. The visitors retaliated with another string of three baskets, when Alyssa Briggs buried a three ball of her own from the top of the arc.
The second and third quarters offered more of the same storyline, as the Lady Cavaliers ground out 10 points, in each quarter with the longball serving as the Cougar’s only consistent method of retaliation. Atlanta Classical entered into the final frame with an 18 point lead, when the tempo of the game took a sharp turn from 33 rpm to 45 rpm. Students as your parents – or grandparents, to explain that reference. Bringing a much more animated man defense, your home town Cougars piled on steals, and forced turnovers as they locked down the Cavaliers to a mere 4 points. Unfortunately, tight rims coupled with an equally staunch defensive effort combined to limit Cottage’s damage to 2 last period points.
After 6 games inside of eight days, the Lady Cougars look forward to a Thursday practice in preparation for the second third of the season.
GAME NOTES
Hannah Katz and Julia McCauley of “Youth Movement” fame anchored the short bench for the contest. Katz did not score on this evening but took a couple of fine shots at the goal. In the defensive struggle of the fourth quarter, her active arms and fine positioning forced turnovers on two separate occasions, while she also recorded a rebound. McCauley spotted virtually every position on the court. In a game where points came hard, the freshman also did not splash home any points of her own, but she also rounded up a pair of rebounds.
Lillian Travis took a hiatus from her typical backcourt perch to play the post with junior Celeste Jeoffroy. Travis squeezed off a few jump shots, banged her way to an offensive rebound, and gathered a steal. Jeoffroy excelled in the area of transition defense, using her speed and quick hands to knock away several fast break opportunities. She finished the contest with a team high 7 rebounds, to go along with 4 steals, and 2 points – scored from the paint.
Ana Mills played point forward, where she nailed the first quarter three pointer. Mills also blocked 2 shots, poked away a ball for a steal, passed for an assist, and gained 5 rebounds.
Finely Love and Alyssa Briggs held down the guard duties for the night. Love did not score, but she chased down 3 rebounds (2 offensive), earned a trip to the foul line after following an offensive bound, and stole 2 balls. Briggs led her team with 11 points, on the strength of three separate three balls. Briggs also recorded 2 assists, stole 5 balls, pulled down 5 boards, blocked one shot.
