2020DMRG2

2011 Houchens Industries/KHSAA Girls Sweet 16® Basketball Tournament

Rockcastle County (35-1) vs. DuPont Manual (33-4) (Championship)

Diddle Arena

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY

March 12, 2011

This season ended up rather abruptly with the postponement of the championship due to the corona virus pandemic so I was looking back through some of my files remembering some of the happier memories.

Rockcastle County coach Chrysti Noble started the following lineup: 5-9 Sr. Shanlee Burton, 5-6 Sr. Sydney Arvin, 6-2 Sr. Sara Hammond, 5-6 Sr. Kristin Abney, and 5-5 Sr. Angie Lawrence.  DuPont Manual coach Stacy Pendleton countered with 6-1 So. Kayla Styles, 5-11 Jr. Kara Wright, 5-10 Sr. Mechael Guest, 5-7 Jr. Leasia Wright, and 5-3 Sr. Raven Hester.

Angie Lawrence hit a jumper with 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock to give Rockcastle County a 62-60 victory over DuPont Manual in an overtime thriller tonight.  Manual led 37-28 early in the third quarter but Rockcastle County rallied and held a 53-49 lead with 1:38 left in regulation.  Rockcastle County missed the front end of a one-and-one and had a costly turnover allowing Manual to tie the game at the end of regulation.  Kayla Styles hit a field goal in the closing seconds to tie the game at 55-55 and force overtime.

Manual was shorthanded in overtime as Raven Hester fouled out late in regulation and Mechael Guess fouled out midway through the overtime period.  The score was tied 60-60 setting the stage for Angie Lawrence’s last second heroics as the Lady Rockers would not be denied tonight in this classic battle for the championship. (Note: tonight’s attendance is a new record for the championship and also helps set a new record for total attendance for the tournament).

Rockcastle County shot 50% from the field including six of nine from the three point line.  The Lady Rockets connected on 10 of 14 free throws, pulled down 30rebounds, and scored seven points off seven Manual’s turnovers.  Manual shot 43.1% from the field including three of 10 from beyond the arc.  The Lady Crimsons connected on seven of 12 free throws, pulled down 31 rebounds, and scored 11 points off 10 Rockcastle County turnovers.

Sara Hammond led Rockcastle County with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocked shots.  Hammond had 19 points in the first half which was instrumental in keeping her team in the game at that point.  Angie Lawrence added 18 points including four three point baskets.  Sydney Arvin chipped in with nine points.  5-8 So. Michaela Hunter had a big game off the bench with seven points, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals.

Leasia Wright led DuPont Manual with 19 points including seven of nine free throws, five rebounds, and three assists.  Kayla Styles added 11 points, five rebounds, and four blocked shots.  Mechael Guess recorded 11 points and eight rebounds.  Kara Wright tallied 12 points and four rebounds.

Rockcastle County,13,17,15,12,7,62

DuPont Manual,16,16,13,10,5,60

Rockcastle County (62) – Burton 2, Arvin 9, Hammond 26, Abney 0, Lawrence 18, Hunter 7.

DuPont Manual (60) – Styles 11, K.Wright 12, Guess 11, L.Wright 19, Hester 4, Bodine 3.

All Tournament Team – Adrienne Tarrence (Bowling Green), Heather Wheat (Butler), Katelyn Newsome (Sheldon Clark), Whitney Belle Jackson (Clay County), Makayla Epps (Marion County), Kyvin Goodin-Rogers (Marion County), Averee Fields (Calloway County), Alyssa Cunningham (Calloway County), Mechael Guess (DuPont Manual), Kara Wright (DuPont Manual), Leasia Wright (DuPont Manual), Michaela Hunter (Rockcastle County), Angie Lawrence (Rockcastle County), and Sara Hammond (Rockcastle County) (MVP).

A special thanks to WL Stats and the KHSAA for providing the up-to-date results of this event.