COVINGTON – Thursday night’s TRC matchup between Covington and Bethel was a battle between the two teams who shared the league title a year ago. With many of the players returning on both teams, there was plenty of anticipation for an exciting game.
The game turned out exciting for Bethel as it got out to a fast start, pulled away in the second quarter and cruised to a convincing 62-42 victory.
The fast start began immediately after the opening tip as the Lady bees surged out to a 10-2 lead, which forced a Covington timeout. Two of the big shots that sparked Bethel were three-pointers by Kerigan Calhoun.
The Lady Buccs were able to cut into the deficit on back-to-back treys by Gracie Anderson and a bucket by Maggie Anderson, but Bethel held a 15-10 lead after one.
The wheels fell off for Covington in the second quarter as it could only manage on field goal by Maggie Anderson and two free throws by Gracie Anderson for four points in the frame. Bethel took control of the game by scoring 19 points in the stanza to take a commanding 34-14 lead at the break.
Bethel continued its hot shooting to start the second half and outscored Covington 16-12 in the third to push its advantage to 50-28 wit one quarter to play. Both teams rotated their bench in the final frame as the game concluded with Bethel walking away with a 62-42 win.
For Covington, Maggie Anderson led the way with 16 points and Gracie Anderson scored 12 points. The Lady Buccs’ leading scorer Carlie Besecker was held scoreless by the Bethel defense.
Covington drops to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the TRC. The Lady Buccs travel to face a much-improved and very athletic Northridge team on Saturday.
Kerigan Calhoun led Bethel with a game-high 18 points, 12 of those coming on four treys. Karley Moore scored 16 points and six other Lady Bees contributed points in an all-around team effort.
Bethel moves to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the TRC. The Lady Buccs look to carry their momentum into Saturday’s contest at Lehman.
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
Bethel: 15 – 19 – 16 – 12 = 62
Covington: 10 – 4 – 12 – 14 = 42
COVINGTON SCORING:
Maggie Anderson – 16
Gracie Anderson – 12
Avery Koffer – 4
Erika Gostomsky – 3
Meg Rogers – 2
Delaney Murphy – 2
Hannah Alexander – 2
Gabrielle Hartwig – 1
BETHEL SCORING:
Kerigan Calhoun – 18
Karley Moore – 16
Rhyan Reittinger – 8
Maddie Montgomery – 6
Isabella Halleg – 6
Emma Evans – 4
Zoie Drummond – 3
Ellie Larkins – 1
THREE-POINT SCORING:
Bethel: K. Calhoun (4), Z. Drummond (1), R. Reittinger (1)
Covington: G. Anderson (2), M. Anderson (1)
