Lady Cougars are ranked #8 in State 2A polls
The Lady Cougars continue to roll and have now earned a top ten state ranking after reeling off two more wins last week to improve to 13-0 on the season.
Ranked # 8 in the 2A polls, Mountain Heritage won the Tuscola Christmas Tournament over the Holidays and topped both North Buncombe and Owen this past week to remain as the only undefeated girls team in the area.
The Lady Cougars were really tested is their opening round game of the Holiday tournament against Asheville High where an off night on the defensive end of the court caused the game to go down to the wire.
Heritage started off well enough against the Lady Cougars from AHS, building an eight point lead at the intermission before a lull in the third quarter allowed Asheville to get back into the game.
Heritage went to the foul line to hold on for a 55-53 win and advance to meet tourney host Tuscola in the finals.
Kaylon Johnson scored 16 points to lead the Lady Cougars who also got good point production from Samm Chandler (11 pt's), Destiny Elkins (10 pt's) and Brianna Woody  who tallied 9.
It was a different story in the title contest against a very good Lady Mountaineer squad as Heritage  gave a great team effort with everyone really focused and ready to play.
"Everyone did a great job of moving the ball and setting other people up for easy
baskets," Lady Cougar Coach Susie Shelton said of her teams performance in the 77-61 victory." The girls really played well as a team, she said.
Samm Chandler had a career high 29 points to pace the Lady Cougars who also got double figure scoring from Destiny Elkins (12 points) and Nyssa Freeman (10 Points) while Brianna Woody chipped in 9.
The Lady Cougars got off to another fast start in a 71-55 win over North Buncombe as Brianna Woody matched Samm Chandler's scoring feat with a 29 point performance of her own in the win over the Lady Hawks.
Sammy Chandler netted 14 points and Destiny Elkins recorded 10 as the Lady Cougars finished off their non-conference campaign unbeaten.
Heritage put away the Warlassies from Owen early in a WHC game in Swannanoa on Friday night, cranking up the defensive pressure to run out to a 20-5 lead after the first eight minutes of play.
The Lady Cougars forced Owen into 13 turnovers in the first half as Heritage constructed a 35-23 lead by the intermission.
Owen cut the lead back to eight points before the Lady Cougars pulled away behind the three point shooting of Nyssa Freeman and Abby Renfro and inside prowess of Brianna Woody.
Freeman nailed three treys and finished with 15 points while Renfro finished with five and Woody lead the team with 16.
By David Grindstaff
david@wkyk.com
yanceysports.com