Lady Mavs challenged by championship foes
Anderson County High School girls basketball Coach Mitch Cupples knew his team was facing a daunting challenge last week.
The Lady Mavericks squared off against both Class AAA state finalists from a season ago, hosting Northview Academy on Tuesday, Dec. 9, before traveling to Heritage on Friday. Heritage went on to win the state championship in Murfreesboro last March.
“We played the state championship game last week,” Cupples said. “We played both teams that were in the state championship game last year.”
Anderson County dropped both contests, including a 52-32 loss to Heritage on Friday.
“We gave up too many offensive rebounds against them, but we but shut down their best player,” Cupples said. “But they had a girl who made seven 3-pointers. She had made two all year.
“That’s 21 points, so that was the difference in the game.”
Bethany Lowe led the Lady Mavericks with 12 points against Heritage.
Earlier in the week, Anderson County fell to Northview Academy, 58-51, despite a strong start. The Lady Mavericks endured a prolonged scoring drought late, managing just two points over the final eight minutes and failing to make a field goal during that stretch.
“We got off to a good start and we had a lead,” Cupples said. “But we only had two free throws in the fourth quarter.
“We battled hard in both games.”
Macy Basford scored 25 points against Northview, while Khloe Johnson added nine and Addison Grooms finished with seven.
Ace Dunagen | The Courier News
Anderson County’s Elijah Johnson scored 18 points in the Mavericks’ 60-58 win over Northview Academy on Dec. 9.