COVINGTON — The Covington girls basketball team had never lost a game in the Buccaneer Holiday Classic.

But, Lady Buccs coach Brandon Studebaker new it was going to be a tall order to continue that this season.

And he was correct.

Led by post players Kate Sherman and Ella Hoehne, the Russia girls basketball team came away with a 45-30 win over Covington.

Russia improved to 9-2 and Covington dropped to 9-3.

“They are a really good team,” Covington coach Brandon Studebaker said. “That is why I wanted them in the tournament. I told the girls, we may see them again — so, it is good to see where stand. They do a great job with their defense. We knew that was going to be a challenge.”

Sherman, a 6-foot-2 junior and Hoehne, a 6-foot senior — combined for 27 points and 14 rebounds for the Raiders.

“Kate (Sherman) had a big game tonight,” Bremigan said. “And her and Ella (Hoehne) kind of feed off each other).”

Claudia Harrington kept Covington close in the early going, scoring all six Buccs points in the opening quarter and hitting a 3-pointer early in the second quarter.”

But, Russia was able to stretch a 7-6 first quarter lead to 23-16 at halftime and 38-27 after three quarters.

“I thought we did a really good job on defense,” Bremigan said. “We were able to take take away their post players. The Harrington girl hurt us early, but we were able to switch some different kids on her. And when you get a six or seven point lead in this game, it is a little bigger than most games.”

All five of the Covington starters played all 32 minutes.

“I am just so proud of my kids,” Studebaker said. “It is not easy to go out there and never come out. But, there is no quit in our kids. We just had too many turnovers. But, I couldn’t be prouder of my kids.”

Sherman finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Hoehne had nine points and seven rebounds.

Simone Puthoff added six points and six rebounds.

Hoehne was named tournament MVP and Sherman and Cece Borchers were named to the all tournament team for Russia.

Harrington and Maggie Anderson were named to the all-tournament team for Covington, while Bradford Austy Miller — who tied the single game and tournament record for points scored — was also named to the all tournament team.

Harrington had 13 points for Covington and Maggie Anderson added eight.

Carlie Besecker and Claire Fraley both grabbed eight rebounds.

Covington was 12 of 30 from the floor for 40 percent and five of six from the line for 83 percent.

Russia was 19 of 52 from the floor for 37 percent and five of nine from the line for 56 percent.

The Raiders won the battle of the boards 24-21 and had eight turnovers to Covington’s 25.

BOYS

Russia 68,

Covington 53

In the only game in the boys tournament Wednesday, Covington gave Russia all they wanted for most of the game before the Raiders came away with the win.

The Buccs dropped to 1-8 after the hard-fought loss.

Carter Maxson had a huge first half for the Buccs, scoring points.

He hit a 3-pointer to tie the game 11-11, before Russia opened a 23-13 lead after one quarter.

The Buccs opened the second quarter with five straight points by Maxson to get within 23-18, before Russia took a 38-27 lead at the break.

Covington got down by 16 in the third quarter, but got back within 10 before Russia eventually pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Bryson Hite buried two 3-pointers in the final two minutes to provide the final margin.

Maxson had 16 points and five rebounds for Covington, while Britton Miller scored 12 points and dished out five assists.

Owen Boehringer had six points, five rebounds and three assists, Tyler Alexander and Hite scored six points and Izeke Benedict had three steals.

Hayden Quinter led Russia with 15 points.

Ross Fiessnger scored 11 points and Brayden Monnin had 10 points and six rebounds.

Braylen Cordonnier scored 10 points and Xavier Phlipot added nine points.

GIRLS

Bradford 52,

Newton 31

In the girls consolation game, Bradford improved to 9-3 on the season, while Newton dropped to 4-6.

Austy Miller tied two tournament records and was named to the all-tournament team for the Railroaders.

Miller had 27 points to tie the single game record and 49 points in the two games to tie the tournament record, both held by Samantha Whiteman.

Rylee Canan had broken the steals record for one game Tuesday, with nine and set the tournament record for steals in a tournament with 14.

Miller also had 13 rebounds, four assists and five steals for the Railroaders, who led 10-4, 22-13 and 38-19 at the quarter breaks.

Canan had 13 points, eight rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots.

Bradford had broken the game open with a 13-0 run to start the second half, with Miller and Canan combining for all the points.

Brooklyn Crickmore had six rebounds and blocked two shots, Megan Wood pulled down six rebounds and Isabella Hamilton had five.

Reese Hess led Newton with 13 points and eight rebounds.

Camryn Gleason scored 10 points and had five rebounds and Mercedes Craig had seven points and seven rebounds.

Emma Szakal had eight rebounds and five assists.