It started off badly, but the Pulaski County Lady Cougar basketball team found a way to overcome an early deficit and earn a fourth consecutive Class 4, Region D Championship on the road against the Louisa County Lions Friday.
“It sure wasn’t the game I hoped we play, but I’ll take a win,” Lady Cougar Head Coach Scott Ratcliff said. “Man, we made plenty of mistakes, but these girls fought through it and found a way to get it done. I’m proud of the heart they showed out there. It’s great to bring home another trophy to Pulaski County.”
Louisa County (23-3) started the game on a five-point run. Then Paige Huff hit a layup. Tori Vest added a short jumper. Huff hit another layup after a steal, and the Lady Cougars led 6-5 with 4:29 remaining in the first. Louisa took the lead again on a short jumper to retake the lead, 7-6, twenty seconds later.
Huff hit another layup in transition and then Keslyn Secrist hit another short shot to put Pulaski County up 10-7. After yet another steal, the ball was passed to Huff. She drilled a three-pointer to put Pulaski County up 13-7 and the Cougar faithful in attendance went wild. Pulaski County never trailed again.
By the end of the first quarter the score was 13-9 for the Lady Cougars. They went on to outscore the Lions 22-13 in the second quarter to lead 35-22 at the half.
Louisa County fought back, winning the third quarter 17-12 to bring the score to 47-39 after three. Pulaski County was forced to sit several players for large portions of the third and fourth quarters due to foul trouble, but continued to push the issue.
The fourth quarter saw the Lady Cougars, despite Jaden Lawson being called for her fifth foul early, outscore the Lions 19-13 to earn the 66-52 win and the Region Championship.
Huff hit six three-pointers on her way to a team and game high 26 points. She had at least one in each quarter, with three in the second. Keslyn Secrist hit 12-of-14 free-throws, including 9-of-10 in the fourth quarter, to add 22 points. Hannah Keefer had a tough assignment for the night, playing under the basket against some of the toughest and most physical opposition the team has played against all season. Despite that and being called for three fouls, she still hit double digits with 10 points. Tori Vest was good for four points despite being hit with four fouls. Jaden Lawson fouled out early in the fourth quarter but was still able to add two points. Kenzlee Jones added two more points and four more fouls to the list.
With the win, the Lady Cougars move to 24-3 on the season and have now won 16 games in a row.
“This is always a tough game,” Coach Ratcliff said. “It’s even tougher when you come down here. This place is a great environment for a high school basketball game. It’s loud and exciting. The fans all really get into it. They had a great crowd, but we were all really glad to see a ton of Pulaski County people here too. We’re happy to get the win, and we’re happy to be Region Champions again. We’ll take a day or so off, then start getting ready for the state tournament.”
That state tournament will begin Friday, March 3. Pulaski County will play the 22-4 Sherando High School Warriors, who finished as the Region C runners-up after falling to the 25-2 Tuscarora Huskies in the Region C Championship 43-29 Friday.
The time and location of that game has not been announced at this time.