(by Don Meador, january 21, 2019)
The general belief among some girls basketball followers from outside Allen County this season was that the District 15 race would just be between Glasgow and Barren County. To borrow a phrase often used by ESPN college football analyst Lee Corso when rebuffing the opinions of his colleagues, “Not so fast.”
Friday night, the Allen County-Scottsville
Lady Patriots entered the discussion with a 47-39 statement win over the Barren
County Trojanettes. The Lady Patriots snapped their two-game losing skid with a
strong second half to record the come-from-behind win in front of a loud and
excited crowd at Patriot Gym.
The win was a direct result of one stat
line---18 points and 17 rebounds. No, those were not the numbers for Sarah Sutton
or Mason Towery---all though each player is very much capable of such lofty
numbers. The 18 points, 17 rebounds were the combined numbers of sophomore
Taylor Carter (11 points, career-best eight rebounds) and freshman Chloe Cook
(seven points, nine rebounds).
The Trojanettes---the top-ranked team in Region 4 from preseason until a loss to Glasgow in late December---built their game plan around the strategy of stopping Sutton and Towery. Barren’s defensive tactic slowed the pair’s effectiveness but could not account for the play of Carter and Cook. In addition, a solid game from starter Jae McReynolds, relief minutes from Kaylee Bullington and Abby Willoughby, and the energized bench helped the Lady Patriots avenge December’s 47-38 loss to the Trojanettes.
“All year we have been encouraging our younger, less experienced players to step up and contribute,” coach Greg Dunn said. “As the season has progressed we have seen a lot of growth in that group of players. They have been given the green light to shoot when they have a good, open shot. They continue to gain confidence and have contributed to many of our wins. The key to our success the remainder of the year and in to post season is largely dependent on these players stepping up which in turn will open things up for Sarah and Mason.”
Barren County raced to an early seven-point lead after Madison England’s basket at the 4:55 point of the opening period lifted the Trojanettes to a 9-2 lead. Towery followed with a pair of buckets to trim the lead to three with 2:34 left in the first. With just under a minute, Towery drove toward the basket, dished the ball to Carter, who swished the nets with a jumper to pull AC-S to within one, 11-10. However, two baskets in the final 30 seconds lifted the Trojanettes to a 15-11 lead after the first.
“This was a big game and it doesn't surprise me that one team or the other might get off to a good start like Barren did,” Dunn added. “Our players don't seem to get rattled easy and they settled in and started playing like they are capable of. We were able to stay close and then pull away a little toward the end. Our team has a lot of pride and heart and desire to win, and they showed that against Barren Friday night.”
Cook took a pass from Carter and drained a 3-point basket at the 4:47 mark in the second---a hoop that brought the hosts to within one, 19-18. The Trojanettes’ Bailey Pedigo sank her own 3-pointer to extend Barren’s lead to four. Cook again countered to which England answered---part of a back-to-back exchange of points in the final minutes of the second. Mallory Pedigo’s lay-up with 39 seconds left in the first half enabled the Trojanettes to carry a four-point lead to the locker room at the break, 26-22.
Midway through the third, an AC-S turnover---one
of 12 for the game---led to a Barren County score and a 32-26 lead. On the next
trip down the court, Sutton missed on a jumper but the Lady Patriots retained
possession after controlling the rebound. Carter scored moments later. The
Trojanettes failed to answer on their next possession. AC-S took advantage as
Towery took a pass from Bullington and drilled a 3-point basket to pull AC-S to
within one at the 2:30 mark of the third. The teams traded baskets with Barren
leading 34-33 to start the fourth.
Less than a minute into the final eight
minutes, a pair of Cook free throws gave AC-S their first lead of the night,
35-34. As the pace slowed, a pair of Barren County free throws over the next
two minutes enabled the visitors to retake the lead, 36-35. With 4:34 left,
Carter found Sutton open for a jumper lifting AC-S to a 37-36 lead---a lead
they would not relinquish.
Going to battle on the glass, a pair of offensive boards by Sutton led to a foul. Sutton’s two throws at the 3:53 mark gave AC-S a three-point lead, 39-36. A Trojanettes turnover led to a Sutton jumper and a five-point lead. Barren County pulled to within three but three free throws from Carter and three from Towery the rest of the way enabled the Lady Patriots to record the upset.
Towery finished with 16 points with Sutton
chipping in 13.
The AC-S win---their second District 15 win of the season--came in a game in which both teams struggled to find their touch. The Lady Patriots made 16 of 47 shots (34%). Barren County was 15-50 from the floor (30%). The Lady Patriots were 13-20 at the foul line compared to Barren County’s six of 16 shooting.
“A big district win against a very good Barren County team is huge for us.” Dunn explained. “We had lost the previous two games to very good teams but were able to bounce back in probably the biggest game of the year for us so far. I believe this win has given us the confidence and energy to work hard and prepare to finish the regular season strong in preparation for the post season. Our goal has always been to win the 15th District Championship and the 4th Region Championship. It won't be easy, but we believe we are getting better and will be in the mix come tournament time.”