Lady Cougars end season with 60-56 loss to Beech in Region 5-AAA semifinal

The Dickson County Lady Cougars’ remarkable season came to a close Monday night after a 60-56 loss to Beech in the Region 5-AAA semifinals. Beech used turnovers and a poor shooting effort from Dickson County to build a 12-point halftime lead. Falon Baker led the Lady Buccaneers with 13 at the break. In the second half Dickson County struggled but seemed more focused, avoiding the costly turnovers and tightening up on the defensive end. The Lady Cougars found their game in the the fourth quarter when Lainey Reed and Megan Billingsby attempted to bring them back from as many as 16 points down. Billingsby played the final seven minutes of her season with four fouls before fouling out with 60 seconds left and Dickson County down by one. Two straight trips came up empty after Reed had her shot blocked by the Lady Bucs’ Shelby Brown, Beech took a three-point lead following free throws by Bailey Taylor. Then Brown appeared to foul Lea Lea Carter as Carter drove to the rim but the officials saw no contact and Beech would convert to take a four-point lead after Taylor hit one of two free throws. Dickson County couldn’t muster another shot and ended the season at 25-4. Reed led Dickson County with 16 points while Baker finished with 25 for the Lady Bucs. Beech goes on to face Mt. Juliet Wednesday for the Region 5-AAA championship.