Big stakes for Cove hoopsters in tonight’s road games

By TJ MAXWELL

Cove Leader-Press

The Copperas Cove Lady Dawgs have all but locked in a playoff spot. The Lady Dawgs currently sit in third place at 9-4, 1 ½ games ahead of Killeen (8-6) two games ahead of Belton (7-6) with three games remaining in District 8-6A action.

The Lady Dawgs still have a shot at the District 12-6A title, but it would have to start with a win Tuesday night over the first-place Harker Heights Lady Knights (11-3) on the road.

The Lady Dawgs would then need to finish strong with wins over Shoemaker and Temple to end the season. They would also need a little help as the Knights finish at Shoemaker (0-12) and the Midway Pantherettes (10-3) close out the season at Shoemaker tonight, at home against Temple before closing the season at Belton.

A win by the Lady Dawgs would put them a half game out of first place with two games to go, but a win by the Lady Knights would eliminate the Dawgs from championship contention and put the Lady Dawgs on the bubble for that fourth and final playoff spot with Killeen and Belton laying chase.

The Lady Dawgs have been idle since last Tuesday’s heartbreaking 76-73 overtime loss to Midway.

Cove lost 68-55 in their round one matchup with the Lady Knights during Christmas break. The Lady Dawgs also fell to Temple in the first round in a 49-43 contest. The Lady Dawgs will need to avenge both of those losses and complete the sweep over Shoemaker to have a chance at the title.

“We just have to take care of the rest of our games,” Copepras Cove girls’ head basketball coach Eldridge McAdams said after the overtime loss to Midway. “You never know what’s going to happen in this district. On any given night, anybody can beat anybody.”

The Cove boys are locked in a battle for the fourth and final playoff spot with five other teams with just five games remaining.

The Dawgs had their chances last Tuesday against Midway, but the game got away at the end.

The no. 16-ranked Shoemaker Grey Wolves (11-1) locked in a playoff spot after a rivalry win over Ellison last Tuesday and a dominant 76-49 win at Waco High on Friday.

The Midway Panthers hold down the no. 2 spot at 9-2 with Ellison (9-3) in third and Killeen (5-7) currently holding the final spot. The Bulldawgs are locked in a three-way tie with Waco and Belton at 4-7 with Harker Heights and Temple holding on at 3-9.

Midway and Shoemaker will lock horns tonight in a battle for first place while Ellison will attempt to hold that third spot on the road at Belton, Waco will travel to Belton and Cove will travel to Harker Heights.

“We have to go on a furious run,” said Copperas Cove boys’ head coach Travis Boyce Jr. We have five games left and winning all five will put us in and 4 out of 5 will give us a good shot.

“We have some beat up guys. Hopefully, I can get a couple guys back by next Tuesday.”