Newton Citizen

Staff photo: Sue Ann Kuhn-Smith Alcovy's Ashley Williams (20) pulls up and hits a jumper over East Coweta's Jasmine Williams (25) during the first round of the Class AAAAAA playoffs on Tuesday.

COVINGTON -- Alcovy's defense came out and shut down East Coweta offense while the Lady Tigers put in basket after basket to win their opening round of the Class AAAAAA playoffs 59-23 on Tuesday.

Alcovy's Ashley Williams had a double-double with 10 rebounds and a game-leading 19 points with teammate Meagan Tucker scoring 12.

The Lady Indians kept up with Alcovy early in the opening period after hitting a pair of 3-pointers. But the Lady Tigers showed that they had an outside shot as well with Daja Barnes, who had 10 points, hitting a pair of treys and Tucker and Lakeiyah Sorrells hitting as well to take an 18-8 lead in the first quarter.

"Daja in the past few games has been playing very well for us. She's been doing a lot of things that don't show up on the score book and in the stats," Alcovy head coach Kidada Holtzclaw said. "If can continue to do the things our team needs than you'll eventually get open and get to knockdown some of those shots."

After holding East Coweta scoreless in the second period, the Lady Tigers led by 27 points at the end of the first half. However, the Lady Indians started the second half scoring while keeping Alcovy off balance. But in the end the Lady Tigers managed to settle down and increase their lead.

"I thought they came out strong. We talked about not letting up and continuing to play Alcovy basketball. I felt like East Coweta didn't play the type of basketball I've seen the play in that first half," Holtzclaw said. "I knew they would come back in that third quarter and they did what I've seen them do which is attack the basket and play hard. We were able to sustain that and out score them 14-10."

The Lady Tigers will play again on Friday against Valdosta, who beat Hillgrove 59-51, at 7 p.m.