Lady Dawgs hold off late Lady Dragon surge Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 25 2009 05:10 AM By Angel Verdejo
Killeen Daily Herald

COPPERAS COVE – Nondistrict games are normally used as a time to learn and build on heading into the more important district games, coaches say.

They're not games to just throw away however, as winning is just as important in building a team's confidence, Copperas Cove coach Richard Herbst said. He wants his Lady Bulldawgs to win their games, but learn from them along the way.

The lesson Tuesday night at home was finishing a game. Cove (5-4) used its aggressive defense to control Round Rock for most of three quarters, then had to hold off the Lady Dragons in the final period. Round Rock scored more points in the fourth quarter (26) than in the first three combined (24), but came up short as the Lady Dawgs won 58-50.

"That's part of the learning process and we're still in the classroom a whole bunch," Herbst said.

Cove looked to be in total control heading into the fourth quarter, leading 37-24 as the Lady Dragons struggled not only with their shots not falling (Round Rock had just five made field goals until then) but also simply moving the ball around on offense. Cove's defense was a reason for Round Rock's struggles, as the Lady Dawgs jumped into the passing lanes and kept pressure on whoever had the ball.

Round Rock (4-4) turned the ball over on its opening two fourth-quarter possessions, lost it on the third on a jump ball and a fourth time on a traveling violation. Cove, getting a Jessica Best layup and Destinee Webb 3-pointer, pushed its lead to 18 before Round Rock made its charge doing so while taking advantage of the Lady Dawgs' inexperience.

Of the 11 Lady Dawgs suited out, only four have previous varsity experience, including guard Desiree Nelson, a four-year letterman. Round Rock's rally came in large part to their guards getting to the basket and free-throw line after getting fouled, while the Lady Dragon defense pressured Cove's younger guards and forced turnovers.

In talking about his younger guards, Herbst made reference to Best, who saw time late in the game but was also taken out after the junior picked up her third foul. She'll be counted on later in the year, Herbst said.

"We're bringing Jessica along," Herbst said. "You have to put her in those situations, keep teaching her and she has to do it because if we just depend on Des in the district, they'll just double-team her.

"But we won. We'll take wins."

Round Rock scored nearly half of its points from the foul line, including all nine in the second quarter. The Lady Dragons cut Cove's lead to seven with three minutes to play, 49-42, scoring five points on three straight possessions while forcing a pair of turnovers and Cove timeout.

Twice Cove pushed the lead back out to the nine, only to have Round Rock answer and make it a seven-point game, the second time on two Ladaziye Martin free throws following two from Cove's Angelique Campbell. Round Rock called timeout and the teams traded layups before Cove took possession on a jump ball.

Nelson hit 1 of 2 foul shots and Jasmine Sborov put back a Round Rock miss with 15 seconds to play. Cove broke through Round Rock's full-court defense and the Lady Dragons ran out of time trying to foul.

"Games like this help a lot because we get to know what people can do and certain situations," said Nelson, who along with Webb led Cove with 12 points each. "This will show us what we need to do."

Contact Angel Verdejo at averdejo@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7564.