Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHEROKEE, N.C. — It was all about control.
Unfortunately, the Coal Grove Lady Hornets weren’t the ones in control.
The Northview Academy (TN) Lady Cougars were able to control the tempo and held on to beat the Lady Hornets 48-44 in the Cherokee Holiday on the Hardwood Classic on Thursday.
“We came out flat and played slow,” said Coal Grove coach Rick Roach. “We knew they wanted to slow the game down and they did. We didn’t adjust and allowed them to control the tempo.
“They had a six-foot post player who altered a lot of our shots. We got down 10 in the third but battled back and tied it up. Hopefully, we will get over the loss and come back and get a win tomorrow.”
Emily Compliment scored 16 points to lead the Lady Hornets (6-2). Alexis Hall scored 12 and Kasey Murphy added eight.
Ashton Funderburg scored 17 points while Campbell Penland and Taylor Cotner-Brabson scored 10 each for Northview (3-0).
Hall scored six points in the first quarter while Cotner-Brabson scored six points and the game was tied at 12.
Funderberg and Penland scored five points each and Bailey Murrell had four points in the second quarter as the Lady Cougars went up 28-22 at the half.
Compliment scored six and Hall four to account for Coal Grove’s points.
The Lady Hornets cut the deficit to 36-31 in the third quarter as Kasey Murphy scored six points including 4-of-4 at the foul line and Compliment was 3-of-4 at the line. Funderburg hit a 3-pointer for the Lady Cougars.
Bailey McKnight scored all five of her points in the fourth quarter including a 3-pointer and Compliment also had five points that included a 3-pointer. But Funderburg scored six points and the Lady Cougars were 6-of-8 from the foul line to hold on for the win.
Coal Grove will play again on Friday.
Coal Grove    12    10    9    13    =    44
Northview    12    16    8    12    =    48
COAL GROVE (6-2): Addi Dillow 0 0 0-0 0, Bailey McKnight 1 1 0-1 5, Emily Compliment 4 1 5-6 16, Kasey Murphy 2 0 4-4 8, Alexis Hall 5 0 2-2 12, Destiny Dolen 1 0 1-4 3, Lauren Crum 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 2 12-17 44. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.
NORTHVIEW (3-0): Taylor Thick 0 0 0-0 0, Ashton Funderburg 5 1 4-7 17, Campbell Penland 1 1 5-8 10, Breanna Daniels 0 0 0-0 0, Emma Loy 2 0 3-5 7, Taylor Cotner-Brabson 5 0 0-0 10, Bailey Murrell 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 15 2 12-20 48. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.