In an impromptu gathering following our 52-49 loss to Paris, Coach Garren Parker stated accurately that our girls had given their very best effort and had nothing to regret in coming up just short. It was a premier game, well played, and came down to the last shot of the game to determine the winner.
Paris opened the contest by running out to a 9-6 first quarter lead, while I was scurrying to re-establish an internet connection and get some form of a meaningful live broadcast, knowing that a large listening audience would be on hand to follow the goings on in Brooksville.
Five Lady ‘Stangs put points on the scoreboard in the second quarter as we battled the Lady Hounds to a 14-14 stalemate, to trail 23-20 at intermission.
In the third quarter Molly Kramer put the team on her shoulders, hitting a pair of 3s and contributing 11 points in the stanza, spearheading a 19 point period, that saw our girls take a 39-35 lead with eight minutes to Richmond. Unfortunately, we would only muster a single field-goal, a 3 pointer on an inbounds play, in the fourth quarter. While we did knock down 7 of our 12 free-throw attempts, Paris cashed in on an 8 point performance by Freshman Tori Dumphord, and a 7 point contribution from Sania Jackson to outscore our team 17-10 and prevail 52-49.
There were some controversial calls and no-calls in the final 8 minutes. I personally thought that Lauren Macht’s fourth foul was bogus, and her fifth, a player-control foul, at best, questionable. Ultimately, the difference in the game was at the free-throw line where Paris hit 19 of 23 and we knocked down 13 of 21. Molly Kramer finished with 21 Points. Sania Jackson countered with 21 for the Lady Hounds and Tori Dumphord added 11. Jamie Cowan 10. For Paris, this is their first 10th Region “A” Championship since 2009, and 8th overall. They will play Covington Holy Cross at 11:30am on Wednesday, January 26th in McBrayer Arena at EKU. We wish them the best of luck.
JOHN COLLINS – BRACKEN COUNTY NEWS / KARI BEZOLD – PEGGY SCHULZ PHOTOS
In the Boys 10th Region Championship game, that preceded the girls game, Bracken County broke open a close 16-10 first quarter advantage by outscoring the Cougars 21-12 in the second period and ran off to a 72-50 victory, to secure Bracken County’s third overall 10th Region “A” Title and their first since 1998. They will play Walton-Verona on Thursday, January 27th at 5pm at EKU.