Coffee County downs Lady Tigers
In Friday’s first game at the Warren Lodge Elementary Tournament the Irving College Lady Tigers took on Coffee County Middle School in semi-final action. Missed shots from the foul line by the Lady Tigers gave the Lady Raiders the 44-29 win and the right to move on and face Cannon County in the finals Saturday night.
Irving College’s Catherine Hill provided all the offense in the first period for the Lady Tigers with five points. Nicole McWhorter put the Lady Raiders on the board and helped them to a 8-5 lead by the end of one period of play.
In the second quarter both teams heated up from the floor. Jenna Smith was the go-to person for Coffee County as she hit for 12 of the Lady Raiders’ 16 points in the period. Irving College did its share of damage in the paint with Elizabeth Lavoie and TaNisa Butzback combining for 12 of Irving College’s 13 points. At the end of the first half Coffee County held a 24-18 lead.
In the third period Irving College struggled from the floor as aggressive defense by the Lady Raiders created several turnovers which resulted in eight points in the period for Coffee County. The Lady Tigers had only two points in the quarter and trailed by the end of the period 32- 20.
In the final period of play Irving College stepped its defense up and created the much-needed turnovers from Coffee County. Hill and Lavoie added nine points on the period, but the Lady Raiders made a late run with just under two minutes to play, scoring four unanswered points to take the win.
For Irving College Hill and Lavoie had 10 points each. Megan Hobbs and Butzback hit for four points each and Micaela Grieves added one point. For Coffee County, Jenna Swanson led all scores with 24 points followed by Jessica Taylor with 11.
Coffee County beat the Lady Bulldogs of Eastside 51-5 in the first round of play Thursday night.