
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.
GBB gets a late 3-pointer from So. Hana Anderson to hold off a very scrappy @LadySparkplugs team, 38-36 in @IHSAA1 Sectional 43. #surviveandadvance @JohnRHarrell @indyhsscores @indsportstalk pic.twitter.com/VK9tI7t4En
— CCHS Athletics (@athletics4cchs) February 2, 2019
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 VOTE IS LIVE! Who's your pick for the Shelbourne Knee Center Shot of the Game: Hana Anderson of @athletics4cchs or @jhordanmcguire of @UniversityGBB? Vote here @FOX59 —–> https://t.co/VpiYumHZ6X pic.twitter.com/FCVXr9Q4ZP
— Dave Griffiths (@DaveG_Sports) February 2, 2019
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.