BASKETBALL: Lady Hawks overcome early deficit, win 47-40 over Green County

By KENDRICK BRYAN

Terry Sandidge

Alexis Brewer

For the fourth time this season, the LaRue County Lady Hawks found a way to win at home.

The Lady Hawks overcame early difficulties to notch a 47-40 victory over the visiting Green County Lady Dragons on Friday night.

The win marked the first time the Lady Hawks (12-2 overall, 2-1 in district) have defeated the Lady Dragons (2-12, 1-4) in Hodgenville since the 2005-06 season. The victory also helps the program remain in contention for the No. 1 seed in the 18th District.

“It was an ugly win, but a win,” said senior forward Lyndsay Whitlock. “At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”

The Lady Hawks trailed 10-4 with 2:47 remaining in the first quarter, but rallied and captured the lead after a 3-pointer by freshman forward Ivy Brown. LaRue County did not relinquish the lead after the 1:19 mark in the first quarter.

The Lady Hawks closed the first quarter on 10-0 run thanks to seven points from Whitlock and Brown’s triple. LaRue County led at the half, 20-14.

The victory also helped the team in its goal of winning 22 games, which would match the 1994-95 squad that won that many games en route to a berth in the 5th Region Tournament semifinals.

“That’s what we’re aiming for,” Whitlock added. “Ten more wins.”

Green County was paced by sophomore guard Rachel Marr’s game-high 15 points. The Lady Dragons were playing without senior guard Micah Jones, a perennial All-District and All-Region selection.

LaRue County was powered by Whitlock’s team-high 13 points. Brown added 11 points and eighth-grader Alexis Brewer chipped in with 10 points. Brown and Brewer combined for 14 rebounds.

Whitlock emphasized the offensive significance of Brown, Brewer and sister Valerie Whitlock.

“If we get three out of four in double digits, we always win.”

She concluded by emphasizing how the team must remain focused on upcoming contests with the Hart County Lady Raiders, who sit atop the district standings at 5-0, and the Caverna Lady Colonels, who took the Lady Hawks to overtime Dec. 17.

“We definitely need to win district games. Teams are just familiar with each other,” said fifth-year head coach Travis Wootton. “It is kind of a grind.”

LaRue County lost Thursday’s junior varsity game to Green County, 27-22.

LARUE COUNTY 47, GREEN COUNTY 40

Green County 12 2 10 16 - 40

LaRue County 14 6 16 11 - 47

GREEN COUNTY (2-12)

Rachel Marr 15, Kali Hedgespeth 8, Allie Ingram 6, Kayla Bale 6, Cheyenne Gettings 4, Brooke Estes 1. FG: 16-47. FT: 7-18. 3-pointers: 1-10 (Marr 1-4, Gettings 0-2, Baylee Shofner 0-2, Bale 0-1, Estes 0-1). Rebs: 40 (Hedgespeth 11, Ingram 10). Assists: 7 (Estes 2).

LARUE COUNTY (12-2)

Lyndsay Whitlock 13, Ivy Brown 11, Alexis Brewer 10, Valerie Whitlock 5, Allison Evans 4, Nancy Howell 2, Haley Holt 2. FG: 13-44. FT: 20-34. 3-pointers: 1-9 (Brown 1-4, Brewer 0-2, Howell 0-2, V. Whitlock 0-1). Rebs: 40 (Brown 7, Brewer 7). Assists: 7 (V. Whitlock 5).

UP NEXT:LaRue County hosts 18th District rival Hart County at 6:30 Friday night in the first game of a girl/boy doubleheader.