Traveling Titans happy to be home

The top-ranked Cosby girls basketball team bypassed defense of its Times-Dispatch Invitational Tournament title for a trip to a four-game tournament in Greeneville, Tenn., during the winter break.

The Titans defeated Greeneville 43-40 in the first round. It was the first time in four years the host team lost on opening day. Cosby hammered Cleveland, Tenn., 81-48 in the quarterfinals behind Becca Wann, who scored 35 points (24 in the first half), snared 16 re bounds and handed out seven assists. University of Virginia signee Jazmin Pitts collected three fouls in the first four minutes and scored just four points.

The Titans lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Mount Juliet, Tenn. (64-49), and in the third-place game to South Greene (59-46). Wann, who got whacked in the face in the quarterfinal and still has a black eye and sore nose, was a unanimous selection for the all-tournament team. Andrea Bertrand averaged 17 points in the last three games, and Kelsey Conyers and Pitts scored in double figures twice.

"We are definitely glad to be home," Cosby coach Rachel Mead said. "The team that won was very good and deserved to win. It was also obvious that no out-of-state team was going to get to the final."

Cosby (8-2) re-entered the local fray with victories over No.5 Meadowbrook and Dominion District foe Huguenot earlier this week. The Titans play at James River tonight and have three games again next week.