Cougars end year in second round

By J. Mike Blake, mblake@newsobserver.com

DURHAM - At the season's outset, Apex coach Nikki O'Connell thought that inexperience might become a problem for her defending 4A state champions. Yet the Cougars, despite starting two freshmen and returning three contributors from the 2010 team's 27-0 run, didn't suffer as many growing pains as they may have anticipated.

But against a senior-laden Riverside team -- a team that like Apex a year ago, had a little bit of everything -- the Cougars' inexperience came into play as it lost in the second round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A playoffs.

The Pirates, champions of the PAC-6 Conference, trailed only for a point it its 25-19, 25-17, 25-11 home triumph against Apex.

"Playoffs bring out pressure situations, and on an inexperienced team, it showed," Apex coach Nikki O'Connell said.

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Cougars end year in second round