By Erik Harris
PINSON – In the final Class 6A, Area 12 contest of the season, Clay-Chalkville went through host Pinson Valley on Tuesday night. The Cougars jumped out to an early lead and rode it to a, 61-43, win in Mike Dutton Gymnasium.
Clay-Chalkville dominated on the boards throughout. The home team struggled to contain Cougars’ forward Alex Johnson, who got her hands on several offensive rebounds.
Johnson rebounded her own miss and went back up with it to give her team a 14-2 lead late in the first quarter. She repeated that process in the second half to secure a 33-18 lead with 5:30 remaining in the third frame.
That bucket started an offensive flurry that sent Clay-Chalkville into the fourth quarter with a 47-28 advantage. The visitors went 7-for-9 from the field to end the third frame, putting the Area 12 clash out of reach.
Cougar junior Raven Omar did some of her best work from the outside. She connected on a pair of 3-pointers, both from the same opening on the baseline, in the second half. Her second make came with 6:15 remaining in the fourth quarter and gave her team a 24-point lead.
Omar finished with a game-high 13 points. Johnson added another 11 points for Clay-Chalkville, and Cierra Taylor pitched in with eight.
The Cougars finish area play with a 3-1 record. Pinson Valley ended its area run at 0-4.
Erik Harris is the Sports Editor for the Trussville Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @jeharris2 or email him at jmseharris2@gmail.com.