Lady Dawgs look to keep momentum as 12-6A opens
By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press
The Copperas Cove Lady Dawgs are off to a strong start to their 2019 basketball campaign, losing just one game in 14 tries on their way to a 13-1 record in non-district action.
Cove’s lone loss of the season came against San Antonio O’Connor during the Marble Falls Tournament where the Lady Panthers’ sophomore point guard Carleigh Wenzel went off with 25 points, four assists and seven rebounds.
“That San Antonio O’Connor team was amazing,” said Copperas Cove girls’ head basketball coach Tiffney Barnes-Graham. “Their 6-foot-1, point guard is one of the best I’ve seen in a long while. It woke us up and taught us some good things and we have progressed from that game. We learned a lot from the tournament. Hopefully we start district next week doing what we know we need to do.”
Coach Barnes-Graham will be experiencing a bit of déjà vu when she travels to Belton to face former mentor Brenda Gomez where she was an assistant for several years before landing the head coaching job at her Alma Mater Copperas Cove.
Despite none of the District 12-6A teams cracking the top 25 rankings, coach Barnes-Graham knows the Lady Dawgs have their work cut out for them in the always competitive district.
“We have no choice but to be ready,” she said after their final non-district game before the Thanksgiving break. “We still have some kinks to figure out. We’re still a little undisciplined. We’re trying to get on the same page and just play smarter not harder.
“We just need to do the little things that we’re in control of. The little things add up to big things.”
The Lady Dawgs are just finding their rhythm as a pair of volleyballers were late editions to the team, including senior spark plug Leah Powell who brings more height and energy into the paint to join double-double machine senior Kaysha McCloud.
“She’s added speed and height because Lord knows we need height,” said Barnes-Graham. “She’s a great addition and she brings that energy. She’s becoming a vocal leader as well. We just need her to continue with that.”
The freshman tip off at 5 p.m. while the junior varsity will get underway at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity will follow around 7:00 p.m.
The Lady Dawgs will then return home for their district home opener against the always tough Ellison Lady Eagles next Tuesday and will travel to Killeen to face the Lady Roos next Friday.
The Bulldawgs boys’ basketball team hits the road tonight for a matchup with the Bryan Eagles before heading to Marble Falls for the Subway Classic beginning Thursday with matchups against Waco La Vega and McCallum High School before opening District 12-6A play on the road at Ellison next Tuesday.