CARROLLTON — The Colony’s girls basketball needed to win consecutive games just to earn the fourth seed and qualify for the playoffs out of District 9-4A.

Now that they’re in, they don’t plan on going anywhere.

The Lady Cougars (7-7 and fourth in 9-4A) never trailed Tuesday as the knocked off District 10-4A champion Newman Smith (13-1), 62-46.

The Colony raced out of the gates in the first quarter behind a pair of 3-pointers by Libby Waddell to claim a 15-5 advantage entering the second.

“That was huge for us,” said Jason Weese, The Colony head coach. “Libby was hot early and Taylor (Holley) hit another big shot. Those two sophomores really stepped up.”

Point guard Dasia Johnson spurred a Smith rally in the ensuing frame, recording six points and three assists in the quarter as the Lady Trojans drew even at 21-21.

“We wanted to pack in the zone and make them shoot it from the cheap seats,” Weese said. “That’s what we did. I’m proud of them and it was a great team effort.”

However, Waddell’s hot shooting continued, including a 3-pointer from well beyond the arc at the buzzer to send the Lady Cougars to the break with a 26-22 lead. Waddell scored 17 of her game-high 21 points in the first half, while Terra Ellison chipped in five.

Ellison was at her finest in the third quarter, where she recorded 11 points to help The Colony pull away. The North Texas commit finished with 20 points (15 in the second half) and scored on a variety of up-and-under moves in the paint and also contributed to a layup for Waddell when she winged the ball down court while saving it from going out of bounds under their own basket.

“Terra had a phenomenal game and really closed it out,” Weese said. “Rebounding and guarding and boarding. She did it all.”

Smith would creep to within 11 in the fourth quarter following a basket by Amanda Wilson via Johnson and a free throw from Wilson.

But the Lady Cougars were able to salt the game away in the final minutes, including five free throws from Kylie Covington.

The dagger came with 2:14 remaining when Covington received the ball off a steal and scored an and-1 to put The Colony in front, 57-42.

“Kylie played great at the end taking care of the ball and forcing them to foul,” Weese said.

Alexis Nezianya paced the Lady Trojans with 12 points, while Dajia Styles had 10 and Johnson scored nine.

The Colony continues at a time and place to be determined Friday against the winner between Kimball and Wilson.

“I talked to the girls after the game about how they’ve taken ownership of the team,” Weese said. “There’s nothing more special than that. It’s not my team as a coach. It’s their team and they’ve taken control the last couple of weeks. It’s real fun the ride we are on right now.”

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