The 2011-12 season won't go down as one of the most successful in the history of East Coweta Lady Indians basketball. There have heartbreaking losses and frustrating moments this winter.
But Friday in front of a loud and spirited overflow home crowd at John Thrower Gym, East Coweta's girls completed a sweep of the their arch rivals, knocking off the Newnan for the second time this season, 55-45.
The result was similar to the first Region 2-AAAAA meeting between the two teams, a 54-47 win by the Lady Indians, who solidified their standing in the middle of the division at 10-13 overall and 4-8 in region play.
East Coweta captured its second straight region victory and won for the fourth time in its last six games.
"This was fun. To win at their place and then here tonight it's special," said East Coweta head coach Paula Jones. "We are playing hard and we are playing together."
(To view or purchase photos from this game, visit http://photos.times-herald.com/mycapture and click on Sports / Basketball for the gallery.)
After five ties through the middle part of the second quarter, East Coweta seized the momentum at the end of the first half with an eight-point outburst.
The spurt gave East Coweta a 24-16 lead heading into the third quarter.
East Coweta threatened to put the game out of reach early in the third quarter when Cierra Davison opened the second half by drilling a 3-point shot.
Her trey gave the Lady Indians a 27-16 lead.
Newnan (8-15, 1-11 in 2-AAAAA), however, made its best run of the game from there as Katia Roberts and Durnecia Hill helped to rally the Lady Cougars by hitting four free throws each. Hill finished with 17 points to lead Newnan and Roberts added 15.
Roberts and Davison also had 3-pointers to help Newnan manage to cut a double-digit deficit to just four, down 35-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
But East Coweta's depth and defense was too much. The Lady Indians finished with three players in double figures led by Jasmine Williams' 16. Lexy Zelczak added 12 and Desha Zackery tossed in 10.
With East Coweta clinging to a four-point lead at the end of the third quarter, Williams and Zelczak stepped up their play in the final eight minutes.
Williams had 11 of her 16 points in the final quarter, while Zelczak scored six points.
"It was good to see us spread the wealth tonight," Jones said. "We had several players hit some really big shots in the fourth quarter."
East Coweta put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter holding the Cougars to just three field goals. The team also helped hold dangerous Newnan 6-footer Tiara Calloway to just two points.
Roberts converted a pair of shots and Chaycie Goggins knocked down a 3-pointer, but it wasn't enough for the Lady Cougars to piece together a second-half rally.
