Girls roll past Eagles in semis, advance to 10th Region championship
The Lady Cardinals are one win away from their second straight region title and trip to Rupp after a 75-46 win over the Scott High Lady Eagles this afternoon in Maysville.
The Lady Eagles were able to hang around with the Cards in the first half, trailing by just one after the first quarter.
The Cards slowly built their lead to eight with Kennedy Stamper driving to the lane repeatedly and putting up 7 points by the half. It was the Byars sisters, though, who led the team with 9 points each at the half.
Both Ciara and Brianna had a much more height advantage down low, where they both were able to work in the paint and get what they wanted.
After the half, the Eagles jumped on the Cardinals knocking down two 3s to cut the lead to just one after a 7-0 run to begin the half.
The Cardinals then created a big lead with a 25-2 run that put the game away. Freshman Anaya Chestnut knocked down two 3s that helped build the GRC lead. She finished with 13 points.
Most teams may have been a little rattled by an opponent’s hot start but head coach Robbie Graham was very pleased with how his team responded.
“The team responded like I knew they would,” he said. “We talk about being steady. Never too high or never too low. One possession at a time.”
Ciara Byars led the team tonight with 21 points, imposing her will in the paint. She also led the teams in rebounds with 7. Both Kennedy Stamper and Brianna Byars finished with 11 points each along with Stamper leading the team in assists with six.
Now the Lady Cards will see their rival the Montgomery County Indians for the fourth time this season with the chance to repeat titles and return to Rupp.
The Hoops team has swept the Indians this year, winning all three games and with a 10-point win being the closet margin. Coach Graham is interested to see what kind of defense the Indians may play but he knows his team will be prepared.
“They may play some junk defenses like a triangle and two or a box and one,” he said. “They may even sag off in the paint to clog it up. All things we will be ready for and have prepared for.”
The crowd seemed a little thin today, in what was a big game for the Cards not a lot of fans made the trip. The Lady Cards would love to have a great crowd tomorrow afternoon to help them to a victory.
The Hoops team will tip at 3 o’clock for the region title. Hopefully the Cardinal nation will fill the stands with lots of students and fans from the community to help cheer on the Lady Cards in their postseason run.
Photos by Marissa Gilchrist
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