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If Thursday night’s Central Region girls’ basketball semifinal matchup between Hanover and Cosby could have started in the second half, the Lady Hawks would only have been down by three at the end. But a stifling defense by the Lady Titans held Hanover to 12 first-half points en route to a 66-38 loss.

“It was really difficult for us to get shots,” Hanover coach Kevin Brooks said. “We took some shots pretty early in the game that looked pretty uncharacteristic, but … it happens in a game like this, and you’ve just got to move on. There’s nothing you can do about it. I’m really proud of the kids, and the effort they put forth, the conditioning, open gyms. It’s been a really good year.”

Hanover, which took Thomas Dale by storm in Tuesday’s quarterfinal, were hoping to come out strong against Cosby, but just couldn’t find an offensive spark. The Lady Titans applied a stiff, man-to-man defense and shut down passing lanes, which resulted in eight tipped or stolen balls in the first quarter and a 24-9 lead for Cosby going into the second quarter. Hanover applied defensive pressure of their own and forced four turnovers in the second quarter, but the buckets weren’t falling their way. The Lady Hawks got only four of 21 attempts to fall in the first half, taking a 37-12 deficit into the locker room.

“They’re really good, and they’re really talented, and they played well, and we didn’t make very many shots,” Brooks said. “When you shoot 19 percent in the first half, it’s going to be extremely difficult to win in a regional semifinal.”

Still, the Lady Hawks had come back from a 21-point deficit during the season and took the court in the second half looking to make the offense click. Hanover got the ball in the hands of four different players and went on an 11-4 run to end the third quarter. Amanda Wollard got the Hanover crowd back on its feet with a 3-pointer from the right corner at the buzzer.

“One of the things we talk about is competing,” Brooks said. “You’ve got to compete, and you look at the second half, the difference in the score is three points, but when you’re down 25 at halftime, it’s very difficult, and I’m proud of our kids’ effort. They played really hard, they played together. It just didn’t bounce our way tonight.”

Hanover scored six of their 12, fourth-quarter points from the free throw line in, but couldn’t overtake their opponents. Hanover ends their season at 19-8. Wollard led the Lady Hawks’ semifinal effort with 14 points and Chelsea Coward added nine points and 12 rebounds.

Cosby was led by Andrea Bertrand with 20 points, Becca Wann with 19 points and Jazmin Pitts with 19 points and 13 rebounds. The Lady Titans will play Atlee Monday night at 6 p.m. in the Central Region Tournament final at the Siegel Center.

Sara Page is Sports Editor for the Midlothian Exchange.

COSBY 66, HANOVER 38

HANOVER (19-8) Coward 9, Hill 1, Jordan 0, A. Woolard 14, Browning 6, T. Woolard 0, Dillich 2, Cox 0, Throckmorton 0, Douglas 4, Brace 2, Webb 0. Totals:
12 11-18 38.
COSBY (27-1) Conyers 3, Wann 19, Katzman 0, Bertrand 20, Pitts 19, Christian 2, Nichols 3, Foster 0, Lennox 0, Barnett 0, Gillespie 0. Totals: 27 9-17 66.
Hanover…........................... 9 3 14 12 — 38
Cosby….............................. 24 13 11 18 — 66
3-point goals: H – A.Woolard

Semifinals, last night
At Siegel Center, $7
_ Cosby 66, Hanover 38
_ Atlee 53, Mills Godwin 48

Final, Monday
At Siegel Center, $7
_ Cosby vs. Atlee, 6 p.m.

2009 All Central Region Basketball Teams

GIRLS 
First team
Ruthanne Doherty		L.C. Bird
Shay Bentley		Manchester
Jasmin Pitts		Cosby
Michelle Foley		Mills Godwin
Kalia Johnson		Thomas Dale	Player of the Year
Rachel Mead		Cosby		Coach of the Year

Second team
Chelsea Coward		Hanover
Richelle Price		Atlee
Candice Silas		Monacan
Crystal Smith		Meadowbrook
Becca Wann		Cosby

Honorable Mention
Kyra Coleman		Highland Springs
Elaine Derricott		Henrico
Alyssa Frye		Thomas Dale
Sydney Henderson		Atlee
Taylor Huber		Patrick Henry
Jorden Lykes		Prince George
Sarah Parsons		J.R. Tucker
Andrea Sisson		Mills Godwin
Amy Turner		Deep Run
Ashley Whitaker		Petersburg

BOYS
First Team
Josh Brinley		Douglas Freeman
Trey Davis		Henrico
Travis McKie		John Marshall
David Robinson		Cosby
Cadarian Rianes		Petersburg	Player of the Year
Frank Threatts Jr. 	John Marshall	Coach of the Year

Second Team
David Brown		Huguenot
Jake Eastman		Douglas Freeman
Antone Exum		Deep Run
Scott Drejon		Petersburg
Natwan Young		Highland Springs

Honorable Mention
Luis Albalat		Manchester
Cameron Colquitt		Atlee
Jonathan Crawley		Huguenot
Che’von Davenport		Varina
Grant Diechman		James River
Milton Gohlson		Hopewell
Xaiver Parham		Highland Springs
Andrew Simmons		Meadowbrook
Randall Ward		John Marshall
Andrew White		Thomas Dale