By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP
Advance Managing Editor
After one half of play in the Monroe Academy Christmas Tournament, it appeared the Escambia Academy Lady Cougars might not make it too far. But, after a half-time gut check, the girls never looked back as they brought home the Monroe Academy Christmas Tournament Championship.
Sparta Academy, who had almost defeated the Lady Cougars earlier in the year, had the EA team on their heels throughout the first half. When the halftime buzzer sounded, the Lady Cougars were behind by seven points, 23-16.
But, after a halftime challenge presented by head coach Chad Pruett, the Lady Cougars came back out in the third period and outscored Sparta 16-4 and took a 32-27 lead into the final period. The Lady Cougars went on to win the game by a score of 50-38.
Leading scorers were Holly Mack with 17, Jessica Gibbs with 14 and Jennifer Martin finished with 10.
The win setup a championship game with 3A school Kingwood Christian Academy which EA won, 48-36.
Gibbs scored 22 points, Mack had 14 and Emily Hardy finished with five.
The Lady Cougars will host their United Bank Tournament on Dec. 29 and 30.