Lady Panther
punch ticket
to Sweet 16
PIKEVILLE – Pikeville runs through the 15th Region Tournament was rock solid.
The Lady Panthers went wire-to-wire, never trailing in its three-game run to capture the school’s first title in 39 years and only the third in school history with a 53-35 victory over defending champion Johnson Central Tuesday night.
Pikeville, now 27-7, ran out to an 11-0 lead after one period and led 17-2 early before the Lady Eagles (18-15) climbed to within five in the second half.
The Lady Panthers pushed the lead to 20 in the game’s final minute.
Trinity Rowe came off the bench to score a game-high 12 points. Kelsey Jo Tackett followed with 11 and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Kirsten Cole-Williamson added 10 points and eight rebounds.
Grace Bartley and Leslie Stewart followed with nine apiece.
Morgan Hopson led the Lady Eagles with 11 points while Alaina Castle finished with nine.
Pikeville will face Barren County at noon on March 14 at Rupp Arena in the girls’ Sweet 16.
At Pikeville
(15th Region championship)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
PK (27-7)…..11 11 15 16 – 53
JC (18-15)……0 12 15 8 – 35
Scoring:
Pikeville (53) – Grace Bartley 1(1) 4-4 9; Kelsey Jo Tackett 1(3) 0-0 11; Leslie Stewart 1 7-8 9; Alivia Gearheart 1 0-0 2; Kirsten Cole-Williamson 4 2-3 10; and Trinity Rowe 3(1) 3-4 12. Totals: 11(5) 16-19 53.
Johnson Central (35) – Alaina Castle 3 3-4 9; Sammi Sites 0(1) 0-0 3; Ashlee Belcher 0 1-2 1; Katelyn Fitch 2 3-3 7; Farrah Montgomery 1 0-0 2; Morgan Hopson 1(3) 0-0 11; and Hannah Fitch 1 0-0 2. Totals: 8(4) 7-10 35.