COSBY-For three quarters an even match-up was on hand between the fifth-ranked Cosby Lady Eagles and Unaka.

However, a quick burst of 10 unanswered points in the first 1:44 of the second half was enough to put Cosby on top for good in a 51-38 win in the Region 1-A tournament quarterfinals on Friday night.

The Lady Eagles advance to the Region 1-A semifinals on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. against Cloudland High School.

The 10-0 run was a pivotal moment for the Lady Eagles, which saw them outscore Unaka 20-7 over the course of the third period to take a commanding 13-point lead into the final quarter. Unaka and
Cosby had played to an 18-all draw headed into the locker room.

Cosby coach Richard Coggins, who gave the team a fiery speech at halftime, said the difference in the second half from the first half was his team’s desire to play coming out of the locker room.

"Offensively we would pass the ball, catch it and hold it, we wouldn't drive," Coggins said. "I go in here at halftime and jump all over them and they decide to play - we didn't change anything and they played a different way."

For the full story, see the February 23rd-24th weekend edition of the Newport Plain Talk.

COSBY (51): Tiffany Smelcer 7-13 1-2 20; Dessie Shaffer 5-7 0-0 13; Lexi Lowery 1-7 7-8 9; Bethanie Williams 2-4 1-4 5; Leixey Williams 2-4 0-0 4; Sarah Conard 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 17-39 9-14 51.

UNAKA (38): Alicia Colbaugh 4-14 1-2 10; Kassie Winters 2-10 2-4 8; Jesse Matheson 2-8 2-2 7; Brandi Ensor 2-7 1-2 5; Hannah Tipton 1-2 1-2 3; Brittany Lawson 1-4 1-2 3; Kelsey Campbell 1-5 0-1 2; Lexi Perry 0-1 0-0 0; Brooklyn Searfoss 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-51 8-15 38.

3-point goals--Unaka 4-17 (Kassie Winters 2-8; Jesse Matheson 1-5; Alicia Colbaugh 1-4), Cosby 8-18 (Tiffany Smelcer 5-9; Dessie Shaffer 3-4; Bethanie Williams 0-2; Lexi Lowery 0-3). Fouled out--Unaka-None, Cosby-None. Rebounds--Unaka 29 (Brandi Ensor 7), Cosby 39 (Dessie Shaffer 9). Assists--Unaka 3 (Alicia Colbaugh 2), Cosby 9 (Lexi Lowery 6). Total fouls--Unaka 13, Cosby 16. Technical fouls--Unaka-None, Cosby-None.<