By By LARRY BONDS
Sports Writer
Throughout the year, each Senior Lady Cougar has taken her turn to step-up. Saturday, it was Holly Mack's turn.
Against a very talented Abbeville team she scored 4 of the first 5 E.A. points to set the tone for what was to come. The Abbeville Lady Generals proved to be one of the best defensive teams that the Lady Cougars had faced all year. As the first quarter horn sounded, the score was tied at 7 each. E.A.'s usually solid outside shooting was taken away by Abbeville's very fast man-to-man defense.
The Lady Cougars had very few open looks at the basket all game, so Holly Mack knew that she would have to drive to the basket. She helped lead E.A. to a very hard fought 24-21 halftime lead.
During the break, E.A. Coach Chad Prewett decided to switch his defense to a triangle and two. With three post players playing zone and two guards playing man-to-man on Abbeville's best players, E.A.'s ladies played perhaps their best quarter of defensive basketball this season.
With a complete team effort, they shut down the Lady Generals holding them to just 2 points in the decisive third quarter. The Lady Cougars took a comfortable 37-23 lead into the final period. When the final buzzer sounded, the Lady Cougars advanced to the Final Four with a hard fought 41-34 victory.
Offensively, Holly Mack led all scorers with 23 points, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Jennifer Martin contributed 10 points and 7 rebounds with no turnovers. Jessica Gibbs added 9 rebounds, while Meagan Jackson put up 3 points with 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Bethany Hawkins came up with 4 rebounds and a steal. Anna Parrish and Brooke Young recorded a rebound and Heather James added 1 assist.
The Lady Cougars will play again Thursday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. against the Autauga Lady Generals at Huntington College in Montgomery.
With a win, they will play for the state championship Friday at 5:30 p.m. Coach Prewett stated that he knows the girls are focused and while he can't guarantee a win, he can guarantee one thingwhen his Lady Cougars hit the court they will give it their best effort.