The GCHS Lady Cougars opened their season Thursday evening in the Cougar Den with a 44-31 victory over the visiting Ohio County Lady Eagles. The JV squad lost their opener 30-13.
Senior Hannah Saltsman just missed a double-double night as she scored a game-high 15 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the varsity. Sophomore Kenzie Renfrow joined Saltsman in double figures with 12 points, and she led the team with three steals.
The Lady Cougars never trailed in the game, though they were tied once, at 7-7 following a three-pointer by Ohio County’s Kelsey Kennedy at the 4:07 mark of the first period. The Lady Cougars scored the final four points of the period and led 11-7 heading into the second quarter.
An old-fashioned three-point play by sophomore Laura Vincent with 1:50 remaining in the second period saw the Lady Cougars holding their largest lead of the first half, nine points at 18-9. Grayson County led by seven, 19-12 at the half.
The Lady Eagles closed to within three points of the lead twice in the third quarter, the final time coming at 25-22 at the 3:01 mark. The Lady Cougars led by eight points, 30-22 at the start of the fourth quarter.
A Kate Edge three-pointer at the 7:17 mark of the final period closed the gap to five points, 30-25, but the Lady Cougars responded with an 11-0 run that pushed the lead to 16 points, 41-25 with 3:36 left to play, and effectively decided the game.
Edge led the Lady Eagles with 13 points, including three shots from behind the arc.
In addition to her points and rebounds, Saltsman added an assist and two steals, and Renfrow added five rebounds.
Sophomore Bailey Snyder scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds. Vincent finished with five points five rebounds and two assists, while freshman Rachel Snyder scored four points and pulled down four rebounds.
The JV girls led just once in their game, 2-0 following Gracie Franklin’s lay-in at the 4;24 mark. The Lady Cougars trailed 3-2 after the first period and trailed 15-7 at the half.
Ohio County increased its lead to 15 points, 24-9 at the start of the fourth quarter before finally winning by 17 points.
Ella Robinson led the Lady Cougars with four points and she added five rebounds. Franklin finished with three points, while Maddie Edwards and Brianna Dennis had two each. Hailey Woosley and Rachel Snyder both scored a point to complete the scoring, and Woosley led the team on the glass with seven rebounds.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k105.com
Hannah Saltsman scored 15 points
and grabbed nine rebounds in the
Lady Cougar win.
Kenzie Renfrow scored 12 points, grabbed five
rebounds and led the Lady Cougars with three steals.
