After five straight losses to start the season, Central Coosa’s girls basketball team was in dire straits heading into Class 2A Area 8 play on Thursday night. But the Cougars proved they were up to the challenge, taking down Fayetteville, 46-29, in their first area showdown.

“It was great to get a win; we needed that,” Coosa coach Syreeta McKinney said. “I think that this will give us some momentum back and this is just a start. This is one of many more, so it gives us something to look forward to.”

Lizi Arbogast is the sports editor at Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.