The AGWSR girls basketball team knocked down 13 three pointers but a double digit first half deficit proved too much to overcome, as the Cougars fell 53-42 at GMG in a Class 1A Region 5 first round matchup on Thursday, as aired on 104.9 KLMJ.
GMG by attacking the rim never trailed in the first half, leading 14-6 after the first quarter and 29-11 at halftime. The Wolverines maintained a double digit lead, up 41-24 heading to the fourth. In the fourth quarter, the Cougars heated up from beyond the arc with an 18-9 scoring run to rally to within a 50-42 deficit with just under two minutes to go. The Wolverines were able to seal advancement at the free throw line. Head Coach David Koop reflects on the Cougars fourth quarter comeback.
“I haven’t seen us play with a passion and a fire like that in the second half. We didn’t quit. We started making shots left and right. We played defense, we got rebounds, and we just couldn’t complete the comeback,” says Koop. “For how the season’s gone, the girls never quit, and they never rolled over. You never would have thought watching the game and not knowing us, that we’re 0-22. I can’t be more proud to be their coach and it just didn’t work out this year.”
Natalie Sizemore had 15 points including five threes and Carlie Hoodjer added 12 points including four threes to lead the Cougars. Koop highlights the duo’s growing confidence and their future leadership.
“Towards the end of the year, the confidence is starting to grow in those girls. Understanding that they can dribble, take care of it and they can shoot it with confidence, even if there’s a hand in their face, little things like that. I look to them as leaders next year and people that really need to keep us motivated the next seven months. We don’t want to have this feeling at the end of the year again. We need to work harder, get better and we’re gonna do that I think.”
AGWSR with the loss closed out their 25-26 season.
