Topic: Basketball
2018ALLAG
Murray vs. Shelby Valley (Girls) (Championship)
2018 Kentucky All “A” Classic
McBrayer Arena
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY
January 28, 2018
Murray coach Wayne Foust started the following lineup: 5-6 Jr. Alexis Curtis, 5-6 Jr. Parker Greer, 5-10 Sr. Alexis Burpo, 5-7 Sr. Lex Mayes, and 5-7 Sr. Macey Turley. Shelby Valley coach Rodney Rowe countered with 5-7 Sr. Kayla Newsom, 5-5 So. Tori Hampton, 5-7 Sr. Kyleigh Tackett, 5-3 Sr. Summer Rose, and 5-4 8th Grade Cassidy Rowe.
There were a lot of story lines about this team even before the opening tip. Rechelle Turner the previous coach at Murray resigned with a 460-178 record over the last 21 years at Murray High including the 2016 All “A” Classic championship to take over the reins at Murray State University and was replaced by Wayne Foust. However, there has been heartbreak at this event as they lost the 2015 title game 47-46 to Covington Holy Cross and lost in the 2017 quarterfinal 60-57 to eventual champion Monroe County. The cupboard is not bare as the Lady Tigers return the trio of Alexis Burpo, Lex Mayes, and Macey Turley who will all continue their basketball careers next year under their former coach Rechelle Turner at Murray State. Coach Foust has led his team to a 21-2 record and enters this event as the favorite.
Shelby Valley under Rodney Rowe is led by 8th Grader Cassidy Rowe and is one of the best passing teams either boys or girls I have seen at the high school level and as one of the coaches stated “we are nothing without each other.” This statement accurately sums up the team closeness and the true understanding of team concept.
Murray captured the championship today with a 53-40 victory but the score does not reflect the competiveness of the game. Shelby Valley led 27-22 at halftime led by 5-9 8th Grade Alyssa Elswick with eight points and Kyleigh Tackett with seven points. Lex Mayes and Elizabeth Curtis kept Murray within striking distance with seven and six points respectively. Murray came out in the third quarter and clogged the passing lanes forcing Shelby Valley to shoot from outside and dominated the quarter 13-3 to earn a 35-30 lead and extended the lead in the final quarter to earn the victory.
Murray shot 36.4% from the field including eight of 21 from the three point line. The Lady Tigers connected on 13 of 19 free throws, pulled down 36 rebounds, and scored 18 points off 10 Shelby Valley turnovers. Shelby Valley shot 28.9% from the field including four of 15 from beyond the arc. The Lady Kats connected on 10 of 10 free throws, pulled down 27 rebounds, and scored 16 points off 14 Murray turnovers.
Lex Mayes led Murray with 22 points including five three point baskets and eight rebounds. Macey Turley added 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Alexis Burpo recorded seven points, 13 rebounds, and three steals. Elizabeth Curtis chipped in with six points on two three point baskets. Parker Greer added five points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals with several of her big plays coming in the decisive third quarter.
Summer Rose, a diminutive guard with a big heart, led Shelby Valley with 10 points including two three point baskets, two rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Kyleigh Tackett added nine points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Alyssa Elswick recorded eight points, five rebounds, and two assists. Tori Hampton chipped in with six points, two rebounds, and two assists. Cassidy Rowe added five points, five rebounds, and two assists. Kayla Newsom pulled down five rebounds.
Murray,5,17,13,18,53
Shelby Valley,10,17,3,10,40
Murray (53) – Curtis 6, Greer 5, Burpo 7, Mayes 22, Turley 13.
Shelby Valley (40) – K. Newsom 2, Hampton 6, Tackett 9, Rose 10, Rowe 5, Elswick 8.
All Tournament Team: Alexis Burpo (Murray), Elizabeth Curtis (Murray), Lillie Hall (Williamsburg), Peyton Martin (Edmonson County), Hayley Neeley (Walton-Verona), Kayla Newsom (Shelby Valley). Summer Rose (Shelby Valley), Cassidy Rowe (Shelby Valley), Caitlin Simon (Edmonson County), Sidney Thomas (Covington Holy Cross), Macey Turley (Murray), Kelsey Tye (Williamsburg), and MVP Lex Mayes (Murray).
A special thanks to the event stats crew for providing the comprehensive statistics for today’s game.