Your GRC Lady Cardinals are headed to Rupp Arena to play in the girls KHSAA Sweet 16 after their 57-38 win over the Montgomery County Indians Saturday night. 

After last year’s loss to Bishop Brossart in the Region tournament, Coach Graham is thrilled to be headed back to Rupp. 

“It means a lot,” said Graham, who has led the girls to six region titles in the last nine years. “We have great kids that were determined all year to get back. I’m so proud of these young ladies. I’m very thankful and appreciative of our coaches for all they do.” 

The Lady Cards came out firing, hitting on all cylinders to take a quick lead.

The Byars sisters were able to get some quick buckets to start, but it was Trinity Gay who helped the Cards jump out to a 13-5 lead. Toward the end of the first quarter, Gay hit her third three and gave the Cards a huge cushion to take an 18-5 lead at the end of the first.

Gay had nine points just in the first quarter, all from beyond the arch. GRC just had more energy and Montgomery had no answers. 

After the incredible start, things slowed down for the Cards in the second quarter. GRC couldn’t buy a bucket, only scoring six points. They struggled to find an open shot or create any sort of offense. 

It was the defense though that allowed them to maintain the lead and keep the Indians from making a comeback. 

Late in the quarter the Indians were able to force a few Cardinal turnovers to chip away at the deficit.

The 13-point Cardinal lead was 8 going into the break, 24-16.

The Cardinals still found themselves cold offensively coming out of the half, which allowed the Indians to cut the lead to five after an Elaine Purvis three. 

Coach Graham called a timeout and had to settle his ladies down if they were going to keep their lead. Whatever was said in that huddle worked because after that timeout it was all GRC from that point on. 

Brianna Byars made a couple baskets to extend the lead, then it was Gay again from deep to put the Cards up 10. 

After the Graham timeout GRC went on a quick 10-0 run to regain a 11 point lead and force Coach High to take a timeout at the three-minute mark. 

With two minutes remaining in the quarter, Ciara Byars knocked down one from behind the arc that extended the Cards lead. The stellar play from the Lady Cards put them up 39-23 at the end of the third. 

The 16-point Cardinal lead was just too much for the Indians to overcome in the fourth. Montgomery cut it to 14 with three minutes to go but it wasn’t enough. 

C. Byars and Gay were able to knock down some buckets to extend the lead to 18 and at that point the Cardinals were able to drain the clock and force the Indians to foul. 

The Lady Cards were able to secure the Region victory after a huge third quarter to get back to Rupp. 

Gay led the team with 16 points, including four threes. This team is already dangerous going into the state tournament but if she can step up like she did last night, then they’ll be tough to beat. 

Coach Graham was thrilled with the way she played and what she did for the team 

“It was definitely a big lift having her step up in the biggest game of the year so far,” he said. “She is definitely capable; she just needs to be confident. It was a big night for her.”   

Four GRC Lady Cardinals were named to the All-Tournament team: Ciara and Brianna Byars, Tyra Flowers, and Trinity Gay. 

The GRC Hoops team will play on Thursday night at 6:00 versus the Corbin Redhounds in the first round of the Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena.  

Smugmug Link to photos by Editor-in-Chief Cameron Anderson from the Championship game, free to download