Another title for Cougars

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POLO – Eastland started slowly Saturday night, and finished sluggishly.

In the time between, the Cougars showed why they won the Class 1A championship last year and are favored to repeat later this month.

Eastland won its 11th regional championship in the past 12 years, topping Milledgeville 25-17, 25-13. The Missiles proved pesky, especially in the first game, when they took a 3-2 lead and stayed in front until Eastland tied the score 12-12.

“I don’t know if we were as focused as we needed to be,” Eastland junior Courtney Blair said. “Pretty soon, though, we were able to get it back.”

Blair took over midway through the first game, with scoring plays on five consecutive points and eight of 12. The 6-foot-1 blocker had five kills and three blocks in that stretch, which began with the Cougars (35-2) down 12-10 and ended with them ahead 20-14.

“When she gets like that, it takes a lot of pressure off us,” Eastland senior Karissa Pierce said. “She calls for the ball, and you know she’s going to put it down.”

Eastland’s momentum carried into a 9-0 lead in Game 2, and the Cougars led 23-9 before Milledgeville went on a four-point run that forced Eastland coach Kristy Pierce to call timeout.

Blair finished with nine kills and four blocks, both match-highs in Eastland’s 21st straight win. Megan Bunyer added eight kills for the Cougars, and Hope Linker had 20 assists and five aces.

“They are who we thought they were,” Milledgeville coach Jody Engelkens said with a laugh. “We were just looking to come in here tonight and have fun, and we definitely did that.”

The Missiles (21-14) were out-killed 24-14, but stayed close by avoiding mistakes. Milledgeville made only four point-costing miscues in the first game.

Andrea Herin had 12 assists for the Missiles. Brianna Herin had six kills, and Keali Engelkens added four.

“They’re the state champs, and we played the best we could,” Andrea Herin said. “It was a good way to end a good season.”

The Cougars advance to their own sectional, where they will meet Lena-Winslow in Tuesday’s semifinal. The Panthers gave Eastland one of their two early-season losses, and the Cougars returned the favor last week.

“We’re excited to see them again,” Blair said. “When we get together, you know it’s going to be a good game.”

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