The Lady Cougars lost to Lewis Cass 40-27 behind terrible shooting and poor defense. Cass jumped out to an early 9- 0 lead and never looked back. The Cougars could not find a rhythm offensively and struggled to close out the Kings defensively.

Kate Hickner broke the ice for the Cougars late in the first quarterwitha3pointerandthe Cougars trailed 9-3 at the break. The second period was no better for the Cougars as they managed 5 points in the quarter behind 4 from Carly Kingery and a free-throw from Hickner. Meanwhile, Cass was continuing to distribute the ball and find good looks at the basket. The Cass halftime lead was 16-8.

The Cougars opened the second half offensively with a strong drive and layup from Hickner and the crowd felt that maybe the real Cougars had arrived. Alas, it was not them. The Kings hit 4 three-pointers in the quarter and scored 15 points to open a 31-16 advantaged at the break. Hickner and Paige Spesard scored 4 each for the Cougars in the quarter.

The Cougars started the fourth quarter strong with a 3- pointer from Hickner followed bya2fromPaigeBarnes.The Cougars had some life. The Kings countered with drives to the basket that Carroll struggled to defend and so the Kings maintained their advantage and closed the game with a 40-27 victory.

Hickner led the Cougars with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals; Spesard added 4 points, 4 rebounds; Kingery had 4 points and 4 rebounds; Kaitlin Ragan added 3 points; Barnes had 2 points, 4 rebounds; and Sydney Pencek addeda3pointer. Carroll vs Rossville

Carroll opened its Coaches vs. Cancer game with the Rossville Hornets with something to prove. Having just lost to Lewis Cass, these ladies needed to show they could play hard-nosed defense and run their offense. It was evident that they were on a mission and they proved it with a convincing 43-25 victory over the Hornets.

The Cougars opened the quarter with a swarming defense that the Hornets could not handle. With high-scoring senior Adrian Koehler-Marsh looking to follow her 35-point explosion the previous night, the Hornets were no match for the Cougars. Koehler-Marsh could not find shots and did not attempt a field goal until late in the third quarter. She finished with a season-low 3 points from the defense played by Carly Kingery, Shelbi Fisher and Kaitlin Ragan.

Meanwhile, the Cougars did everything they wanted on the offensive side of the floor – Bailey Worl and Barnes scored inside and rebounded well, while Hickner, Kingery and Ragan were connecting from the outside. The Cougars opened an 18-5 first quarter lead and never looked back. Carroll continued to pound the Hornets building a solid 26-10 halftime advantage.

Carroll opened the second half a little sluggish and the Hornets responded with 4 quick points. A Cougar timeout and the Cougars came out with the same first-half focus and put this game away. The Cougars pushed their lead out to 36-18 at the end of the third quarter. The Hornets could not find an answer for Worl as she owned the post with 6 points in the quarter and several offensive rebounds.

Carroll finished strong in the fourth quarter, expanding its lead to 43-21 before two baskets in the final minute by the Hornets closed the final margin to 43-25. Worl led the Cougars with 12 points, 6 rebounds; Hickner had 11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals; Ragan added 6 points with 4 steals; Barnes had 6 points with 6 rebounds and Kingery had 6 points.

Carroll played at home Tuesday against Tri-County and Thursday will be at home with Frontier. In sectional pairings, Delphi will play Clinton Central Feb. 7 in a first round Sectional game. The winner of that game will play the Cougars on Feb. 10, with a berth in the championship game Saturday the 11th.