Stopping CHS girls a ‘tall’ orderCookeville’s post players dominant in 41-point win

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard

Warren County’s Heather Frazier (20) tries to work her way to the basket while being defended by Cookeville’s Erin Helton during Tuesday night’s second half. Helton had a dozen points. (Rob Nunley photo)

COOKEVILLE ? The Lady Pioneers had gotten into the habit of either winning, or coming away with very close losses, over their past few games.

That all came to a crashing halt on Tuesday, when they were thrashed by Cookeville’s Lady Cavaliers, 73-32.

With the loss, the Lady Pioneers fell to 8-13 overall, and 3-6 in District 7-AAA play. Cookeville improved to 16-10, and 5-4 in league play.

Tough defensive pressure, and an offense keyed by a powerful inside game, keyed the Lady Cavs’ victorious efforts against the Lady Pioneers, who have now lost their last three games.

Lanky freshman Erin Helton posted a dozen points, while Nikki James helped patrol the paint, turning in a game-high 18. Pounding the ball inside helped the Lady Cavaliers to an early 12-4 lead, and the first quarter ended on a Rochelle Davidson basket which gave the home squad a 16-6 advantage.

Down 22-8 midway through the fourth, the Lady Pioneers got a 3-pointer from Brittany Frazier, but Cookeville answered with an 11-point run, including an open 3-pointer from Andrea Copeland and two baskets from James. Warren County closed the half with a 10-point run, featuring two 3-pointers from Brittany and a pair of inside baskets from Heather Frazier, but still trailed at intermission by a 33-21 margin.

Cookeville’s defense ? including a strong presence on the boards ? kept WCHS in check throughout the second half. The Lady Cavs, who were led in rebounding by Helton’s 10 boards and James’ eight, kept the Lady Pioneers off the scoreboard for a period of 5 minutes and 44 seconds during the third quarter, helping their team to a 54-26 lead heading into a fourth quarter which saw Brittany Frazier and Brooke Bowman hit a 3-pointer each for Warren County’s only points of the period.

The Lady Cavs cleared their bench, but still poured on the points, with Ali Masters scoring all 11 of her total over the game’s final eight minutes.

Brittany Frazier led the Lady Pioneers with 14 points, while Amanda Locke had six and Heather Frazier chipped in four. Bowman and McKenna rhea had three apiece, while Lauren Patterson netted two.

WCHS is at home against Riverdale tonight at 6:30.