Cold Springs' Emme Willoughby drives the lane for a left-handed shot during Tuesday's county clash. The UAH signee had 16 points in the win. 

WEST POINT — Even the best of coaches know when to simply step aside and watch greatness unfold.

And that’s exactly what Tammy West did on Tuesday night.

With her team locked in a fierce battle with West Point, the longtime Cold Springs coach turned to her freshman playmaker Elizabeth Hill for a spark during the third quarter of a back-and-forth affair between a pair of county unbeatens.

Showing experience beyond her years, Hill didn’t disappoint.

The ninth-grader poured in 19 of her game-high 33 points in the decisive frame — sinking a trio of 3-pointers and driving to the basket at will — to help the Lady Eagles fight off an early deficit and storm back for a sensational 72-59 road win versus the Warriors to improve to 8-0 on the season.

After the performance, West could only laud her next superstar’s efforts.

“They were focusing on Emme … Elizabeth, she just took over,” the coach said. “I don’t know that I’ve seen something like that from someone her age. Being a freshman, and we’ve had some great ones, she went inside and outside and had a great quarter. They eventually had to get out and guard us when we made some shots. That just opened the floor for Liz.”

West Point came out hot and shot its way to a 23-16 advantage after the opening frame. Olivia Ball buried two treys, while teammates Bailee Yearwood and Miriam Oldacre each drilled one to get the home crowd rocking.

The Maroon and White led by as many as 12 points midway through the second quarter before the Blue and Gold began to find their offense.

Camryn Crider sank a couple of 3-pointers, Sadie Terry made some key free throws off the bench and Emme Willoughby bagged a trio of big baskets to keep the game within reach.

Then Hill came to life, crying out with measured emotion after a huge three-point play that followed an offensive rebound. She later hit from beyond the arc to close her squad’s gap to just four points entering halftime.

“We couldn’t get into a bigger hole than we were,” Hill said. “We picked up our energy late in the second quarter and made sure we didn’t.”

Hill then made sure her team took home the win, scoring all but three of its points in the third frame to quickly turn the momentum around.

A couple of Neely Ellison triples early in the fourth quarter gifted Cold Springs, which didn’t lead until the second half, an 11-point cushion.

Game. Set. Match.

“I did not want to lose,” Hill said. “So I did whatever I could to score. Shoot, get to the basket. I got more confident toward the end. I loved it. Tonight with the crowd and it being a county game, it was really, really exciting.”

Perhaps a bit too exciting for West, who was torn between enjoying the win and lamenting the fact it came against her little brother.

“It wasn’t comfortable until the final minute or so,” she said. “They came out on fire and hitting everything. But … I hate this. They work really hard over there for John, and I don’t like playing him. Even though we’re both super competitive.”

While John Welborn may not share the same sentiments as his sibling, he doesn’t exactly like competing against her program, either.

“They’re just so hard to defend,” he said. “If you play man-to-man, they’ll post you up or drive past you with Emme or Elizabeth. But we really just quit moving the ball there late and started settling for shots. I was proud of them, though. They’re upset, but I told them that one game is unlikely to make our season. We played hard, and I was telling them it was one of the funnest games I’ve ever been a part of.”

Hill added 12 rebounds and six assists to her dossier, while Emme Willoughby (16 points), Crider (11) and Ellison (six) all had fine showings.

Cold Springs (8-0) will travel to Winston County on Friday for an area tilt.

West Point, which fell to 10-1, was paced by Oldacre’s 19 points. Yearwood (11), Ball (10), Lexi Shadix (10) and Mackenzie Carter (nine) all contributed to the scoring ledger in the loss.

The Lady Warriors host Hayden for an area matchup on Friday.

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Varsity Boys

% Cold Springs 59, West Point 55: Jesse Lee and Blake Wood poured in 16 points apiece, Eli Hamby contributed 15 and the Eagles made nine free throws in the fourth quarter to squeak by the Warriors for a tight road win.

Cold Springs, which improved to 3-4, used a 23-point second quarter to grab a small lead heading into halftime before West Point wrestled it right back with an 18-11 third frame.

The Blue and Gold didn’t quit, though, and made just enough plays down the stretch to come away with the victory.

Coach Tim Willoughby saw the win as a step in the right direction.

“Those guys are always a tough out, so it was good for us to get a road win,” he said. “That’s probably what I’m most happy about. We are playing pretty well together right now. We’re playing hard.”

West Point’s Kolton Sapp paced his program with 19 points, while Colby Sullins and Brandon Farley each added seven in the loss.

The Warriors are now 3-7 on the season. 

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Junior Varsity Boys

% West Point 56, Cold Springs 5: The Warriors scored early and often en route to the blowout win.

Stats were unavailable. 

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Junior Varsity Girls

% Cold Springs 39, West Point 28: Kylon Hamby collected a game-high 13 points, while teammate Hannah Stricklin amassed nine to propel the Lady Eagles to a road victory.

Other top contributors for Cold Springs included Emily Williams (six points); Hayden Goodwin (five); Toni West (four) and Makayla Pearl (two).

Lexi Farley led the Lady Warriors in scoring with 11 points. Goga Drowning Bear (six) and Carson Talley (five) also had nice outings.