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Michelle Meyer receives the game ball after scoring her 1,000th career point.
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Caitlin Sargent is swarmed by Trail players as she scrambles for a loose ball.
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Team
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CCC
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ALL
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Franklin Monroe
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11-0
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15-5
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Covington
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10-1
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20-4
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Tri-Village
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9-2
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16-5
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Arcanum
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8-3
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17-4
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Mississinawa Valley
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7-4
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10-11
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Twin Valley South
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6-5
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9-11
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National Trail
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4-6
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7-11
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Bradford
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3-8
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7-11
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Ansonia
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3-8
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4-15
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Bethel
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2-7
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5-12
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Tri-County North
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1-9
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3-15
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Newton
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0-10
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0-19
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February 3, 2005 – COVINGTON
With 4:09 left on the clock, the Lady Buccs were tied 40-40 with National Trail in a Cross County Conference battle. That's when junior, Michelle Meyer stamped her name into the Covington history books along with her brother, Jason, and her father, Jay.
National Trail's Christy Gibbons had just hit a big three to tie the score in a back-and-forth contest. Meyer responded by drilling a three-pointer of her own for her 1,000th career point. Covington coach, Chris Besecker immediately called a timeout so Meyer could be presented the game ball to a standing ovation.
"I knew I was getting close (to 1,000)," said Meyer after joining her father and brother in the elite club. "Everyone at school was asking me how close I was. I wasn't sure exactly, but I knew I was getting close."
The three-pointer Meyer canned for her 1,000th point came in the same fashion as her brother's 1,000th point. Both came on three-pointers, but Michelle reached her historic mark quicker than both Jason and her father.
The timing of the shot couldn't have come at a better time. The Lady Buccs were struggling with National Trail's defensive pressure and needed a spark down the stretch.
After Meyer's shot, the Lady Buccs held National Trail scoreless, while scoring the final 14 points of the contest for a 54-40 win.
"That was a big shot," said Covington coach, Chris Besecker in regards to Meyer's historic trey. "We were struggling from behind the arc and that's a big part of our game. That shot gave the girls a lift and they picked up the intensity a bit."
Meyer couldn't have agreed more.
"It really sparked me and I think it sparked the rest of the team," she said. "It's nice getting the recognition (for 1,000 points), but it was more important to win the game. It was way too close and we were just focused on winning the game."
National Trail made things difficult for Covington throughout. The Lady Blazers' pressuring defense prevented Covington from getting easy looks at the basket. When Covington did get open looks, the shots would not fall on a regular basis.
National Trail opened the contest by taking an 8-5 lead with 1:40 left in the opening stanza. In the meantime, the Lady Blazers shut out Meyer to that point.
But, Meyer scored five points in 40 seconds to give Covington a 10-8 lead. Both teams then traded baskets to close out the period with Covington holding a slim 12-10 lead.
Meyer continued to be the Covington offense in the second stanza by scoring eight of Covington's nine points in the period, but Trail eventually tied the score at 21-21 at the half.
"We were really struggling with our shooting," described Besecker. "Plus, National Trail really played solid defense."
The trend continued in the third period as Michelle Meyer again managed most of Covington's points. The junior standout scored nine points in the stanza, including a trey, while Andrea Meyer and Mandy Kuharik both connected on short jumpers.
National Trail took advantage of Covington's cold shooting by pulling down rebounds and pushing the ball up the floor for many easy baskets in transition. The Lady Blazers received 10 third-period points from Megan Kyle, which led to a 35-34 lead with 8:00 to play.
National Trail increased its lead to 37-34 on a lay-up by Jennifer McWhinney to open the fourth, but Michelle Meyer tied the score with her second trey of the contest.
A free throw by Alex Christian, plus a steal and a lay-up by Chelsea Tebbe gave Covington a 40-37 lead. Christy Gibbons then responded with a trey to tie the score at 40-40 as Covington couldn't shake the feisty Blazers.
Until...4:09 was left on the clock and Michelle Meyer sparked a 14-0 run with her historic three-pointer.
"It told the girls before the game that National Trail was a very dangerous team, and they were," said a relieved Covington coach. "They (Trail) can put a lot of points on the board and when they are playing defense like they played tonight, they are very tough to beat."
Leading the way for Covington was Michelle Meyer with a game-high 34 points. National Trail was led by an outstanding performance by Megan Kyle with 20 points, including two treys.
Covington improves to 16-3 on the season and 10-1 in the Cross County Conference. The Lady Buccs close out the regular season Saturday as they host New Bremen in a make-up game.
Scoring by quarters:
Covington ...........12........21.......34.......54
National Trail ......10.......21.......35.......40
Covington Scoring:
Michelle Meyer – 34
Mandy Kuharik – 7
Alex Christian – 5
Chelsea Tebbe – 4
Andrea Meyer – 2
Ashley Johnson – 2
National Trail Scoring:
Megan Kyle – 20
Chelsea Halderman – 7
Christy Gibbons – 5
Jennifer McWinney – 4
Rebecca Eyer – 4
3-point shooting:
Covington: Michelle Meyer (3)
National Trail: Megan Kyle (2), Christy Gibbons (1)
