©2009 NPT PHOTO BY RUSSELL LAWS

The Cosby Lady Eagles finished runner-up at the
Grace Christian Academy Invitational on Saturday night.
The Lady Eagles' Brittany Frisbee, Alyssa McMahan
and Lexi Lowery were all named to the All-Tournament Team.

KNOXVILLE-Both squads would have much rather seen a different outcome, but the tough competition at the Grace Christian Academy Invitational in Knoxville last Thursday through Saturday will certainly make the Cosby Eagles and Lady Eagles better teams as they prepare to start their District 2A schedule.

After rolling past Maryville Christian and Grace Christian to start the tournament, the Lady Eagles ran into one of the strongest teams in East Tennessee Saturday night in the tournament's championship game. The Christian Academy of Knoxville (6-0) were sporting a perfect record, and had wins over tough competition, including a 15-point victory over perennial power Knox Webb. The Lady Eagles (5-2) gave them a game through the first half, but the CAK Warriors owned the second half in pulling away with a 52-34 victory.

After a big victory over Grace Chapel, North Carolina last Thursday night, the Eagles battled Scott County toe-to-toe through three quarters before coming apart in the fourth quarter of the semifinal match-up. That left the Eagles (4-3) facing Knox Webb (6-2) in the third-place game. The Spartans took control of the game early, and the Eagles simply were unable to claw their way back as the Spartans came away with the 60-35 victory.

 

LADY EAGLES-LADY WARRIORS

Both teams came out battling for the right to be crowned tournament champions.

As both squads settled into their game plans, neither gave any leeway, and the first quarter ended in an 8-8 draw. Junior point guard Alyssa McMahan knocked down two baskets while Maddie Hall and Brittany Frisbee added a basket each to account for the Lady Eagles' scoring.

The Battle continued through the next eight minutes with the Lady Eagles gaining a slight advantage, 24-22, at the break. McMahan nailed a three-pointer, while Frisbee scored seven points in the paint, Tiffany Smelcer and Brooklyn Stuart each added baskets and freshman Lexi Lowery hit two free throws to give the Lady Eagles a two-point lead heading into the third quarter.

The Lady Warriors were lying in wait, however, and out-scored the Lady Eagles 17-5 for a 39-29 lead heading into the final frame. McMahan hit the Lady Eagles' lone basket in the quarter while Lowery hit three more free throws.

The Lady Eagles lone five points over the final eight minutes came from the free throw line as the Lady Warriors cruised away with the 18-point victory.

The Lady Eagles finished the night just 11-24 (45%) from the free throw line while the Lady Warriors were 8-12 (67%).

As the Lady Eagles were presented their runner-up trophy, it was also announced that Brittany Frisbee, Alyssa McMahan and Lexi Lowery were named to the All-Tournament Team.

COSBY (33): Brittany Frisbee 9, Alyssa McMahan 9, Lexi Lowery 5, Maddie Hall 4, Tiffany Smelcer 2, Brooklyn Stuart 2, Marlea Costner 1, Taylor Valentine 1, Haley Helton 1.

CAK (52): Alesa Hammaker 15, Brittany Hoffman 9, Kelsey Brown 8, Ruthie Edmunds 6, Bekeh Bennett 6, Kaylah Cutshaw 4, Paige Hoffman 4.

 

EAGLES-SPARTANS

The Eagles faced a tough task going up against the Spartans Saturday afternoon in the consolation game. The Eagles had a letdown in the final quarter against Scott County the night before and let the game slip away from them.

The Spartans, on the other hand, decided to take it to the Eagles early and often.

The Spartans marched off to a 16-8 first quarter lead with Robert Herzog, Andrew Adams, Corey Conard and Seth Wyatt each putting in baskets to account for the Eagle scoring.

The Eagles cut the Spartans' scoring to 13 over the next eight minutes, but managed only nine points of their own on two baskets by Conard, and free throws by Adams, Jake Green and Wyatt. The Eagles trailed 29-17 at the half.

The Spartans exploded for 20 third-quarter points to pretty much seal the Eagles fate. The Eagles got nine third-quarter points on a three-pointer by Herzog, two more buckets by Conard and an Adams deuce.

The Eagles held the Spartans to just 11 fourth-quarter points, but the Eagles managed only nine more on single baskets by Adams, Conard and Green and free throws from Conard and Adams as the Spartans coasted home with the 25-point victory.

Following Saturday's action, Corey Conard was named to the All-Tournament Team.

COSBY (35): Corey Conard 14, Andrew Adams 9, Robert Herzog 5, Seth Wyatt 4, Jake Green 3.

WEBB (60): Dwight Tarwater 25, Burton Sampson 10, Jon McCallister 6, Donovan Whiteside 6, David Wilhoite 5, Chad Nabors 5, Aaron Blance 2, Jordan Shuler 1.

 

UP NEXT

The Eagles and Lady Eagles have hit the practice floor to begin preparations for the start of District 2A play, which begins Thursday night with they welcome the Clinch Wildcats to the Eagles' Nest. Boy's junior varsity will tip things off at 5 p.m. And then on Friday, the squads will travel to archrival Hancock County. The girl's JV will tip things off at 5 p.m.