Bulldogettes win Bi-District championship
It’s been a long time since the Coahoma girls basketball team came home with a gold ball. On Friday that drought ended when the Bulldogettes claimed the bi-district championship with a come-from-behind 51-47 victory against Ballinger.
“That’s the special thing about them, they don’t ever give up,” said Bulldogette head basketball coach Jim Kinnear. “At one point, I looked up at the scoreboard, and we were down eight or nine, but then we went into halftime down by one. We got down in the second half by four or five and fought back again. Then we got the lead. They do what they need to do. You have to give them credit.”
Early on the Bulldogettes found themselves in foul trouble but managed to keep most of the damage off the scoreboard.
“You have to contribute that to our bench,” Kinnear said. “We have girls sitting on the bench that when it’s time for them to play, they know their role, and they do an outstanding job.”
Early in the first quarter, the Bulldogettes found themselves in a sevenpoint hole before Julia Cox connected back-to-back 3-point goals to put Coahoma back in the game at 6-7 by midquarter.
With 2:50 left in the first, Coahoma went on a 5-point run that culminated with Post MaKynlee Overton scoring a basket to push Coahoma into the lead (11-9) for the first time in the game. However, the resilient Lady Cats surged back to end the quarter ahead by one point (13-14) and continued the momentum in the second quarter with a 10-point run to push ahead by 9 points forcing Coahoma to once again dig out of a hole. The Bulldogettes went on a 12-4 run to end the half down by one, 27-28.
Returning from the locker room, both teams went into defensive mode with little luck at the net. By the end of the third quarter, the Lady Cats were still on top by two points, 32-34 and pulled away by four points at the start of the fourth.
Then, Overton was fouled completing a successful field goal and nailed the extra point to close the gap within one once again. The CHS senior soon followed by burying two more at the free throw line to propel Coahoma ahead on the scoreboard.
By mid-quarter, the Lady Cats retook the lead for the last time after burying a 3-point goal, however, 17 seconds later Cox answered with her fourth 3-point basket of the night to send Coahoma back over the top by one, 43-42. Six points later, the Bulldogettes were smelling victory after finding themselves up 49-42 with 1:48 left in the game.
Shaken but determined, Ballinger scored with less than a minute left and converted the extra point to pull within four points. However, Madison Rodgers found herself at the charity stripe with 33 seconds left, and she didn’t disappoint. The CHS junior buried both shots to pad Coahoma’s score, 51-45. The Lady Cats made two more penalty baskets with 20 seconds left, but the Bulldogettes held them off to claim the victory.
Courtesy Photos
Cox led Coahoma to victory amassing 24 points. Overton chipped in 11. Madison Rodgers and Kenzi Canales had seven points each.
Next: Coahoma faces Peaster in for the area round at 6 p.m. Monday in Clyde.
COAHOMA 51, BALLINGER 47
Coahoma: 13, 14, 5, 19 -- 51 Ballinger: 14, 14, 6, 13 -- 47
Coahoma — Julia Cox 24, Shae Lang 2, Madison Rodgers 7, Kenzi Canales 7, MaKynlee Overton 11.
Ballinger — Addison Martin 10, Jewel Klaras 8, Emma Toliver 7, Cynthia Camarillo 5, Jenna Battle 14, Chelsea Martinez 3.
Free Throws — Coahoma 15-28, Ballinger 14-24; 3-Point Goals — Coahoma 4 (Cox); Ballinger 3 (Toliver, Camarillo, Battle); Fouls — Coahoma 21, Ballinger 20.