Covenant Christian Warriors

Girls Varsity Basketball · Anderson 3 Allows GBB Survive and Advance to Sectional Final

Sophomore Hana Anderson. Photo courtesy of McIntyre Imaging.

The Girls Basketball team (17-8) survived a very sloppy game, holding on to defeat Speedway HS (16-6) 38-36 in the IHSAA Sectional #43 semifinal at SHS.

Former Covenant Coach Joe Smith had his Lady Sparkplugs prepared and ready to play, and they kept it close throughout the game.  Despite a slow start and some sloppy play, Covenant held an 8-7 lead after the first quarter, and 19-15 at halftime.  A 6-0 start to the second half gave the Lady Warriors their biggest lead of the game at 25-15.

But Speedway continued to battle back, fighting to take a 34-33 lead with roughly a minute to play on a 3-pointer from the corner.  Junior Ilani Williams-Harris was able to drive to the hoop to take the lead back at 35-34, before two Sparkplug free throws made it 36-35.  With no timeouts remaining, Williams-Harris looked to drive to get to the basket, but was cut off by three Speedway defenders.  She kicked the ball out to Sophomore Hana Anderson, who drained the game-winning 3-pointer with nine seconds left.  Speedway missed two shots in the waning seconds that could have won or tied the game.

Senior Bailey Everett scored a game-high 16 points, while Sophomore Bonnie Ludlow and Junior Sania Borom chipped in six points each.  Williams-Harris had five, while Anderson’s game-winning 3-pointer was her only basket of the night.  On the night, CCHS hit nine 3-pointers.

The game last night snaps Speedway’s 12-game winning streak and propels Covenant into Saturday’s Sectional #43 semifinal versus Shortridge HS at Speedway at 7:30 pm.  Shortridge (15-8) knocked off Scecina Memorial HS (6-18) 63-51 in last night’s other semifinal.  CCHS defeated Shortridge 74-18 in the second round of sectional play in 2017.  This will be the eleventh time in the last twelve years that the Lady Warriors will play in their sectional final.