By: Ashlee Mullis
The Christiansburg High School gym could have been mistaken for the Cougar Den if you looked up at all the green and gold in the stands. Patrick County fans were out in full force to support the Lady Cougars, but not even strength in numbers was enough to get a win over Lord Botetourt.
The Lady Cavaliers got the tip and scored on the first possession. They took a quick 6-0 lead, and they never looked back. At the end of the first quarter Patrick County was down 10-16. At the half, Lord Botetourt had expanded the lead to 18. The Lady Cougars were never able to find their groove, and it was obvious the Cavaliers had done their homework. They left little room for error, and held the four seniors to 25 points combined, with Izzy Beasley, Hannah Roberson, Lindsey Marshall, and Riya Patel scoring only one three pointer each.
The score at the end of the third was 51-33, Lord Botetourt. The Lady Cavaliers scored 18 in the final quarter and took the win over Patrick County 69-40.
Sierra Hubbard fouled out early in the fourth, but not before scoring a team high 13 points and pulling down 10 rebounds for the Cougars. “We knew we couldn’t just walk in the gym thinking we had it. They were a really good team. We had good runs on them, but they shot the lights out on us. It was sad to see the final seconds count off the clock because we knew it was our last game. We just have to remember all the good things that happened and get ready for next season, said Hubbard, a sophomore. Although the season is over, the Cougars had an amazing run, going 24-4. Coach Donnie Rakes said, “We played the best team in Lord Botetourt tonight that I have personally ever seen. They have no real weaknesses, and they really expose the weaknesses of the other team. Hats off to them. They are the real deal. However, we had an outstanding year. I wouldn’t trade my kids for anybody. They played hard, they played together, and they believed in one another. Our seniors led us and will be impossible to replace. They are just outstanding individuals and basketball players. Patrick County has amazing fans who really supported this great ride this year. I am extremely proud of what the young ladies accomplished this year.”
