The Christoval Lady Cougars downed the Whiteface Lady Lopes 27-26 in the Area Round of the UIL Class 2A Division 2 High School Girls’ Basketball Playoffs last Thursday in Lamesa.
The Lady Cougars were able to slow the Whiteface juggernaut in a way that no other team has been able to do this season, but still had to contend with a stiff and pesky Lady Lope defense.
The first quarter finished with both teams tied at five. The Lady Lopes’ Kambry Sanders had the only points with a trey and basket, but only two Lady Cougars were able to put up a trey and a basket between them.
Things opened up slightly in the second. The teams went to the locker room with Christoval leading by the thinnest margin, 14-13.
Whiteface was able to pull ahead, 19-17 in the third quarter with scores from both Emily and Hannah Blankenship.
The fourth quarter saw Christoval take the lead, 26-24 and Whiteface turnover with just 10 seconds left. The Lady Lopes, however, were able to get a steal and Lainey Sanders put the ball up for a tie at the buzzer.
Overtime saw neither team able to get a basket, but the Lady Cougars went 3-for-4 from the charity stripe against 2-for-6 for Whiteface.
Whiteface Head Girls’ Basketball Coach Jason Blankenship had high praise for his team after the game.
“I’m super proud of this team and all they accomplished this season by going 32-3 and going undefeated in district after making the move to 2A,” he said.