2020DMRG3

2012 Houchens Industries/KHSAA Girls Sweet 16® Basketball Tournament

Marion County (34-4) vs. DuPont Manual (36-2) (Championship)

Diddle Arena

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY

March 10, 2012

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.

Marion County coach Trent Milby started the following lineup: 5-9 Jr. Logan Powell, 5-9 Sr. Bre Elder, 6-1 Jr. Kyvin Goodin-Rogers, 5-7 Jr. Patrice Tonge, and 5-11 Jr. Makayla Epps.  DuPont Manual coach Stacy Pendleton countered with 5-11 Sr. Kara Wright, 5-8 Sr. Lauren Bodine, 6-1 Jr. Kayla Styles, 5-7 Sr. Leasia Wright, and 5-8 Sr. April Wilson

DuPont Manual defeated Marion County 58-54 in a classic battle between No.1 DuPont Manual and No. 2 Marion County.  These two basketball powers had met twice earlier this season with each team notching a victory.  DuPont Manual raced out to a 24-13 lead with 4:58 remaining in the second quarter but Marion County stormed back to only trail 42-41 entering the final quarter.  Marion County took a 47-46 lead on a tip in by Kyvin Goodin-Rogers with 5:30 left in the game.  DuPont Manual took the lead for good 50-49 on a free throw by Kayla Styles with 4:12 left on the clock.  The Lady Crimsons took a 56-51 lead but Makayla Epps nailed a three point shot with 14 seconds left to cut the deficit to two; 56-54.  April Wilson iced the game for DuPont Manual with two free throws with nine seconds left on the clock.  There were 11 lead changes and nine ties on the game.

DuPont Manual shot 42.9% from the field including five of 16 from the three point line.  The Lady Crimsons connected on 11 of 15 free throws, pulled down 28 rebounds, and scored 13 points off 10 Marion County turnovers.  Marion County shot 40.5% from the field including four of 13 from beyond the arc.  The Lady Knights connected on 16 of 17 free throws (94.1%), pulled down 27 rebounds, and six points off five DuPont Manual turnovers.

April Wilson led DuPont Manual with 23 points including four three point baskets.  This was sweet redemption for Wilson who missed last year’s championship game with an injury as the Lady Crimsons lost in overtime to Rockcastle County.  Leasia Wright added 21 points and six rebounds.  Kayla Styles recorded nine points including five of seven free throws, nine rebounds, and two blocked shots.

Makayla Epps led Marion County with 23 points including nine of 10 free throws and three steals.  Logan Powell added 11 points and seven rebounds.  Kyvin Goodin-Rogers recorded nine points and nine rebounds.  Bre Elder chipped in with nine points and five rebounds.

Marion County,13,10,18,13,54

DuPont Manual,14,16,12,16,58

Marion County (54) – Powell 11, Elder 9, Goodin-Rogers 9, Tonge 2, Epps 23.

DuPont Manual (58) – K. Wright 5, Bodine 0, Styles 9, L. Wright 21, Wilson 23.

All Tournament Team – Cora Moore (Butler), Macie Spence (Montgomery County), Christy Soldo (Hopkinsville), Jamie Castle (Magoffin County), Kierra Muhammed (Paul L. Dunbar), Brooke Todd (Paul L. Dunbar), Emily Fox (Lincoln County), Sydney Harris (Lincoln County), Makayla Epps (Marion County), Bre Elder (Marion County), Logan Powell (Marion County), Kara Wright (DuPont Manual), Leasia Wright (DuPont Manual), and April Wilson (DuPont Manual) (MVP).

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