BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Eden won two games back-to-back to come away as C-team champions on Oct. 18 at Inez Elementary.
Eden vs. Warfield — Two-seed Eden faced three-seed Warfield in the first round of C-team tournament action and the Wildcats battled for an 8-3 win.
Skylar Linley broke the ice for the Wildcats when Sarah McCoy dished the rock to her, and she scored from the block.
Defense prevailed and neither team scored until the third quarter when McCoy dribbled down the left side and found Linley, who scorched a turnaround jumper. Eden Wildcat Martha Maynard drove to the middle, kicked it to the right to McCoy, who banked in a shot from the wing.
Warfield saw the light when Elizabeth Dials swished in a basket. Bella Robinson went 1-for-2 at the line to pull the Red Devils within three points.
McCoy clinched the game for Eden when she broke past the defense for a right-hand layup over outstretched arms.
McCoy punched in four points with two steals, two assists and a rebound. Linley fired in four points and pulled down a board for Eden. Maynard had a team-high five steals to go with two rebounds and an assist. Isabella Jude brought down two rebounds and had a steal. Aubry Wilson picked up a steal.
Dials led Warfield with two points and two rebounds. Robinson had one point for the Red Devils. Morgan Dove stole the ball twice and had a rebound. Abigail Hillsberg and Baylee Hall each pulled down a board.
Inez vs. Eden — Eden held the Indians scoreless in the first half and dominated in a 9-3 championship victory.
Skylar Linley was the first to score after she pulled down an offensive board off the glass and floated in a shot from the left block for Eden. Wildcat Sarah McCoy swiped a pass and took it coast-to-coast for a 4-0 lead to end the first quarter.
Eden stayed hot after Isabella Jude sank a basket in the second quarter.
McCoy kept Eden rolling after halftime when she dribbled in for a right-hand layup over three defenders. Aubry Wilson sank a free throw.
Inez jumped on the board when Macie Callaham tallied in a corner jumper. Paisley Mooney nailed one from the charity stripe.
Inez’s fourth-quarter surge would not be enough as Eden prevailed to cut down the nets.
Eden Wildcat Charlie Mollett was “excited” to win a championship. Her teammate Martha Maynard said, “It’s like I’m on top of the world.”
McCoy led the way with four points, a steal, an assist and a block for the Wildcats.
“It feels powerful to get this win,” McCoy said.
Linley picked up a bucket along with three steals and two rebounds. Jude added two points with a steal and rebound. Wilson had four steals and a rebound to go with her one point. Martha Maynard racked up a game-high six steals and one rebound. Juliana Horn and Charlie Mollett each pulled down a board.
Inez Indian Emily Mooney was disappointed to lose but was optimistic about the future.
“I loved meeting new people and having our team movie night this season,” Mooney said. “I enjoyed it because I know I’ve gotten better since last year and I can’t wait to get back to it.”
Callaham led Inez with two points, three rebounds and three steals. Paisley Mooney added a free throw and had three steals and two rebounds. Layla Cline reeled in four steals. Jaylea Maynard pulled in a rebound and snatched a steal. Bre Kellough, Aubrey Maynard and Alivia Bowen each brought down a rebound for the Indians. Kenadi Todd swiped a steal for Inez.