A COACHING LEGEND...is Covington coach Chris Besecker as he has won nearly 16 games per year in 19 years as the Lady Bucc's coach.

Story provided by BuccsHoops.com
JANUARY 10, 2008 – ARCANUM
Thursday's 38-28 victory over Arcanum was sweet in so many ways for the Covington Lady Buccs.

First, it was proof that Covington has come a long way since the season started.

Second, it was win number 300 in the coaching career of Chris Besecker - all 19 years at Covington High School.

"It (300 wins) just shows what kind of kids I've had the pleasure of coaching over the years," said Besecker in an attempt to divert the attention from himself. "We're averaging around 16 wins a year over 19 years because we've been blessed with great kids and talent."

Besecker couldn't have been more happy to capture number 300 on a night where his young team played perhaps their best basketball of the season in a tough environment.

"This (Arcanum) is always a tough place to play because they have a solid program," Besecker said. "I'm proud of the way the girls played tonight. They executed very well at both ends of the floor."

Over the years Besecker's teams have been known to play solid defense and tonight was no different as Covington held Arcanum without a field goal in the first quarter. The Lady Trojan's only two points of the frame came on two free throws.

Meanwhile, Covington poured in 12 points in the stanza on a runner by Renee Otte, two baskets by Shelby Hoblit, a trey by Kayla Fissel and three free throws.

"Our defense is coming together," Besecker said. "Getting out to a fast start helped and much of that was due to our defense."

The Lady Buccs were held without a field goal throughout most of the second quarter, but still managed to get to the free throw line four times and converted on five of eight attempts.

A lay-up by Otte with eleven seconds left in the half was Covington's lone field goal of the frame, but the Lady Buccs still held a 19-11 lead at the half.

"When you can get to the free throw line like that, you are doing something right," Besecker said of his team's 12 free throw attempts in the first half.

Arcanum opened the second half on a 6-2 run to force a Covington timeout just 2:50 into the third.

But Covington responded by outscoring Arcanum 9-3 over the remainder of the stanza to push the lead back to double digits, 30-20.

The Lady Trojans made one final attempt to get back into the game early in the fourth as Jessica Rauscher scored on a stick back and Angie Cates knocked down a free throw to cut the Covington lead to 30-23.

But Shelby Hoblit responded for the Lady Buccs with five straight points as Covington cruised to the 10-point win.

"Shelby had a real solid game," Besecker praised his post player who scored 15 points before fouling out with 2:52 left in the game. "She picked up a couple silly fouls, but other than that she played a very nice game."

Hoblit's performance, along with solid efforts from Alyssa Angle, Katie Dickey, Kayla Fissel and Halley Roberts, was gratifying for Besecker as it took some of the pressure off of leading scorer Renee Otte.

"Shelby got a lot of good looks because the other kids got her the ball," Besecker explained. "The girls did a nice job of handling the pressure, keeping their heads up and finding Shelby under the basket."

Otte still managed to score a game-high 16 points, but it was due to her effort and hustle as 8 of her points came at the free throw line on 12 attempts.

"Renee sets the tone," stated Besecker. "She's aggressive with the basketball and isn't afraid to take a pounding."

And the team as a whole is improving with each outing.

"We played pretty well on Saturday against South and played well tonight," said Besecker. "We are definitely improving. We just have to keep playing well and taking that next step every day."

The victory improves Covington's record to 4-12 on the season and 4-5 in the Cross County Conference, while Arcanum drops to 7-8 overall and 5-4 in the CCC.

Covington host Bradford next Thursday.

Scoring by Quarters:
Covington ..........12......19......30......38
Arcanum ..............2.......11......20......28

Covington Scoring:
Renee Otte - 16
Shelby Hoblit - 15
Alyssa Angle - 4
Kayla Fissel - 3

Arcanum Scoring:
Emily Shellhaus - 9
Megan Hughes - 8
Angie Cates - 5
Jessica Rauscher - 4
Devon Meyer - 2

Three-Point Scoring:
Covington: Kayla Fissel (1)
Arcanum: Megan Hughes (1)