Titans dash past Bird to win Dominion championship

Cosby High's girls seem to have a gear other teams don't have.

Last night the Titans sped away from L.C. Bird early and never tapped the brakes en route to a 67-49 victory in the Dominion District final in the nearly packed Cosby gym.

Cosby, now 24-1, will play host to Prince George in the first round of the Central Region tournament Monday (6 p.m.).

"Yes, I consider us the Region favorites," said 6-1 junior center Jazmin Pitts. "I know that's putting the pressure on us, but we're up for it."

Along with her 15 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots, Pitts held Bird standout Ruthanne Doherty to six points in the second half.

"I told Jazmin we didn't want Ruthanne getting those shots," said Cosby coach Rachel Mead. "Ruthanne was looking to shoot outside (12 points first half) and I asked Jazmin to stay on her. Our defense has really stepped up."

Junior Andrea Bertrand led Cosby with 25 points, benefiting from numerous back-door layups off passes from Pitts, Becca Wann and playmaker Kelsey Conyers.

Wann, with 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, set the early tone with two treys in the first period and some spirited floor play.

Bird, 18-7, handed the Titans their only loss (by one point) in January, but the Skyhawks have now lost to Cosby three times.

"Our defense just wasn't there," said Bird coach Chevette Waller. "We were a step slow all night. It wasn't Cosby's shooting that beat us. It was those backdoor layups and foul shots, and they can make them.

"We had layups and foul shots, too, but we didn't take advantage."

Bird was 7-for-15 at the foul line and missed at least 20 shots within five feet. Doherty finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Monacan transfer Victoya Ricks had nine points, 11 boards.

Davidson-bound point guard Barbara Sitton had 14 points and seven steals for Bird, which plays host to Petersburg at 7 p.m. Monday in a Central Region first-round game.

Cosby's "big three" of All-District Pitts and Wann and second-team Bertrand combined for 61 of the Titans' 67 points.

"It's not like we decide who's going to be the high scorer," said Wann. "We just play our game and whatever happens happens."

For Cosby, the victory salves the lingering pain from last year's double-overtime loss to Monacan in the District finals.

Contact Fred Jeter at (804) 739-2219 or .

L.C BIRD (18-7)

Cruz 0, Miles 0 , Robinson 0, Walton 3, Rosamont 0, Smith 0, Doherty 18, Sitton 14, Tunstell 3, Coles 0, Hines 0, Tweedy 2 , Gilliam 0, Ricks 9. Totals. 21 7-15 49

COSBY (24-1)

Kirshner 0, Christian 0, Nichols 1, Conyers 5, Wann 21, Foster 0, Lennox 0, Katzman 0, Bertrand 25, Barnett 0, Horton 0, Gillespie 0, Pitts 15. Totals. 22 20-27 67

L.C. Bird ------------------------- 10 12 13 14 -- 49
Cosby ------------------------- 20 10 19 18 -- 67

3-point goals: C -- Wann 2 , Conyers 1.