Cougars roll to victory on senior night

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Bailey Tabeling and Liza Froedge wanted to make sure Kailene Cockerham and the other seniors on the Trinity Lutheran girls basketball team had a positive experience for senior night Tuesday against Greenwood Christian Academy.

Tabeling poured in a game-high 24 points and Froedge scored 18 to spark Trinity (11-5) to a 67-50 win in the Bollinger Athletic Complex.

Seniors Cockerham, Kayla Goecker, Hannah Durham, Emma Schepman and Katelyn Schepman and their parents were introduced between games.

Head coach Mike Lang said, “It’s not just them being seniors. We’ve been around these kids since they’ve been in sixth and seventh grade when we were running AAU programs with them. You’ve watched them grow up. They’re great kids, they’re going to be successful and I’m completely proud of them.”

The five seniors started, but they didn’t get off the quick lead Lang was hoping for, trailing 6-4 after four minutes.

Tabeling and Froedge were called on to do their thing, and both responded with 3-point baskets to help the team to a 14-12 lead at the end of the period.

Cockerham hit two 3-pointers in the second period, and Tabeling stayed hot with five baskets and 12 points to help the Cougars to a 34-23 lead at the half.

“We got off to a little bit of a slow start. Once we were able to get out and start running, I thought our legs were back under us pretty good,” Lang said. “We got ourselves into a little foul trouble, but I don’t think we slowed down offensively one bit. Coming back out (from the Toby Yoho Classic), 67 points on the night, I’ll take it. I’m proud of them.”

Goecker made both of her free throw attempts in the first period and added a basket in the third period when Trinity outscored GCA 23-16.

She said being introduced on senior night meant a lot to her.

“It was really special to see all the people in the stands supporting us. They’ve been here all four years supporting us,” Goecker said. “I love getting in there shooting, being with the girls, being able to bond with the coaches and work hard to accomplish the same goal. It was special to start on senior night.”

Goecker has been a four-year member of the basketball team and played volleyball her freshman and sophomore years and soccer her junior year, and she has been a part of sectional championship teams in all three sports.

She said she has enjoyed attending Trinity Lutheran High School.

“I’ve loved the atmosphere of the Christian education and having a place that is so small you get to know everyone,” she said.

Cockerham finished with 15 points, while Ellie Bigelow led GCA (7-7) with 23 points.

Tabeling had 10 of Trinity’s 44 rebounds.

The Cougars will travel to West Washington tonight and will be home to Christian Academy Saturday night before hosting powerful 16-1 Lanesville Tuesday night.

“We know we’ve got a strong schedule coming up,” Lang said. “It’s going to be a tough second half, and we’ve got to get these first three because we know it’s tough coming up at the end.”

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