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| Andrea Meyer drives the basket. |
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| Alex Christian is surrounded by Southeastern defenders. |
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March 4, 2006 – VANDALIA
By Rob Kiser, Piqua Daily Call
It was the end of the season for the Covington girls basketball team with a 43-40 loss to Southeastern in a Division IV district final Saturday at the Student Activity Center at Vandalia High School.
But, beyond that, it was the end of an era.
Michelle Meyer, who along with Amanda Furrow player her final game Saturday, leaves an indelible imprint in Covington girls basketball lore.
She played on two league champions, three sectional champions and one district champion and leaves as Covington‚s second all-time leading scorer. She also played on three teams that won at least 20 games.
"It definitely is (an end of era)," Covington coach Chris Besecker said. "She played in more games than any Covington girls has before. She had a great deal to do with all the success we had.
"Her work ethic and leadership. She set an great example. Hopefully, we can learn from that, work hard in the off-season and get back down here next year."
As for Saturday's contest, it was a game that went back-and-forth throughout. And in the final two minutes, Covington had three chances trailing by three. The Lady Buccs, who had stayed in the game with hot shooting from the perimeter, could not convert.
"What it came down to was, we didn't execute in the fourth quarter," Besecker said. "When that happens, you are not going to win."
With 4.1 seconds remaining, after Alex Christian grabbed the rebound of a missed free throw, Covington had one last shot. The Lady Buccs called timeout, trailing 43-40.
But, a misconnection on a pass as the Lady Buccs brought the ball up the floor following the timeout, ended any hopes Covington had. It gave Southeastern the ball with .3 seconds remaining and the Lady Trojans ran out the clock.
"We wanted to get Ashley Johnson the ball (on the inbounds)," Besecker said. "We wanted her to build some momentum going down the floor and look for Andrea (Meyer) or Michelle (Meyer) on the wings. Obviously, that is not what happened."
The first half began with an Andrea Meyer three and the junior ended the half with an NBA three. In between, she shot the lights out...literally.
After an Andrea Meyer field goal closed Covington to within 15-14 with 2:49 remaining in the first half, there was a brief power outage and play was delayed for 15 minutes.
When play resumed, Southeastern went on a 7-0 run and Covington, who had led 7-2 at one point, found themselves trailing 22-14 before Andrea Meyer hit from long range at the first half buzzer.
"Andrea (Meyer) hit some big shots for us," Besecker said. "She shot the ball pretty well today."
That and two threes by Ashley Johnson helped keep Covington in the game. Alex Christian had two baskets in the third quarter and when Michelle Meyer hit two baskets late in the quarter, Covington led 27-26 going to the fourth quarter.
But, Southwest District Player of the Year Alison Lemon, who Covington held scoreless in the third quarter, scored 10 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter.
"She (Alison Lemon) had a big fourth quarter," Besecker said.
After a putback by Furrow, Andrea Meyer tied the game with her final three, on a kickout pass from Christian, 40-40 with 2:10 remaining. But, Bonnie Hupp answered with a three for Southeastern 15 seconds later. That would turn out to be the final points either team would score.
"We thought if we held Lemon around 20, we had a good shot," Besecker said. "But, they had some other kids step up. That was a big shot by (Bonnie) Hupp. You have to give Southeastern credit. They are a good team."
A Southeastern turnover gave Covington a chance, but a 3-point shot was off the mark. Southeastern got the ball back with :42 remaining and Covington in a difficult situation.
With just one team foul, Covington had to foul the Trojans six times to send them to the line. They managed to do that in just 11 seconds.
"We did a good job of that, but we had to," Besecker said.
Hupp missed the front end of a one-and-one with 31.5 seconds remaining and Christian grabbed the rebound. The Buccs worked the clock under 10 seconds trying to find a shot, before missing a three.
"In the end, we either turned it over or didn't take a good shot," Besecker said. "But, you have to give Southeastern credit for playing good defense."
Lemon was fouled with 5.4 seconds remaining and missed the front end of a one-and-one, but it was not meant to be for the Lady Buccs.
"Michelle (Meyer) was nursing that hip (injury) until Wednesday," Besecker said. "She got two fouls early and just never got into any kind of rhythm shooting the ball.
"We tried posting her up inside in the first half, because she had a 5-3 girl on her. "But, they (Southeastern) just did a great job of help defense for the most part."
Andrea Meyer scored 16 points for Covington and Michelle Meyer added 12.
Lemon was the only Trojan in double figures, while Chelsey Banion scored six rebounds.
Covington was 17 of 37 from the floor for 46 percent and missed its only free throw attempt. Southeastern was 19 of 33 from the floor for 58 percent and two of four from the line for 50 percent.
Both teams had 18 rebounds and Covington had 11 turnovers to Southeastern's 13.
Now, the Lady Buccs will return a strong group of juniors and underclassmen...and look to start a new era.
BOXSCORE
Covington (40)
Andrea Meyer 6-0-16, Ashley Johnson 2-0-6, Michelle Meyer 6-0-12, Chelsea Tebbe 0-0-0, Alex Christian 2-0-4, Amanda Furrow 1-0-2, LauriKate Bayman
0-0-0. Totals: 17-0-40.
Southeastern (43)Chelsey Banion 2-0-4, Alison Lemon 9-2-21, Kim Workman 4-0-9, Stephanie Roach 1-0-2, Bonnie Hupp 3-0-7, Amber Hayslip 0-0-0, Samantha Sparks 0-0-0.
Totals: 19-2-43.
3-point field goals _ Covington: Meyer (4), Johnson (2). Southeastern: Lemon, Workman, Hupp.
Score by quarters
Covington ..........7......17.....27.....40
Southeastern .......11.....22.....26.....43
Records: Covington 20-4, Southeastern 20-4.
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