Kentucky 2A girls state final: Lions get Frank with Wildcats: Boyd County wins 2A state crown
Jan. 14—OWENSBORO — Boyd County didn't experience a sophomore slump.
The Lions enjoyed their second year in the Kentucky 2A field and celebrated their first 2A state championship on Sunday with a 70-61 win over previously undefeated Franklin-Simpson at the Owensboro Sportscenter.
Boyd County achieved its goal with stellar shooting and forcing takeaways on the defensive end. The Lions were 22 of 44 from the field and 75% from the 3-point line, hitting six of their eight attempts from downtown.
Boyd County also forced 16 Wildcat turnovers.
The Lions led from start to finish and held its biggest lead at 16 midway through the final quarter before holding off a Franklin-Simpson rally. Boyd County made 11 trips to the free throw line in the fourth frame, connecting on eight.
The Lions collected several statistical championship records. Boyd County made the most free throws with 20, the most assists (14), the most steals (11) and their final tally of 70 was the most points ever scored in the finals.
The Wildcats were only 8 of 16 at the free-throw line.
Audrey Biggs posted the most made free throws with 12 as she spent a lot of time at the charity stripe against the Wildcats. The senior was 12 of 20 from the line and netted a team-high 20 points. Jasmine Jordan and Jada Ray each tallied 16 points. Ray hit four 3-pointers. Bella Opell and Sophie Stevens both connected from long range. Taylor Batrum battled foul trouble but managed to record three steals along with Biggs.
The five starters, a group that included Ray, Bartrum, Opell, Jordan and Biggs, made the All-Tournament team. Biggs was named the Most Valuable Player.
The quintet contributed to the Lions' fast start. All five scored in the opening quarter to spring Boyd County to a 23-12 lead. The margin grew to 14 by the end of three quarters as Franklin Simpson (16-1) couldn't keep the Lions off the free throw line in the second half.
The Wildcats had three players in double figures. LaReesha Cawthorn led her team with 15 points, 11 rebounds and four steals. Kloie Smith added 14 points and Naja Nolen finished with 10.
Boyd County (14-4) returns to action on Thursday night at Ashland.
F. SIMPSON FG FT REB TP
Brown 2-7 1-2 3 5
Cawthorn 5-17 2-5 11 15
Smith 6-9 2-5 5 14
McAlister 0-4 2-2 0 2
Savage 3-5 0-0 3 9
Ray 1-4 1-2 1 3
Nolen 4-7 0-0 1 10
Downey 0-0 0-0 0 0
Team 6
TOTAL 24-53 8-16 30 61
FG Pct: 45.3. FT Pct: 50.0. 3-point FGs: 5-16 (Cawthorn 0-3, McAlister 0-4, Savage 3-5, Nolen 2-4) Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None. Turnovers: 16.
BOYD CO. FG FT REB TP
Ray 6-9 0-0 1 16
Bartrum 2-3 2-4 5 6
Opell 2-4 1-2 3 6
Jordan 6-10 4-4 6 16
Biggs 4-15 12-14 5 20
Stevens 2-3 1-1 4 6
Moore 0-0 0-0 0 0
Team 5
TOTAL 22-44 20-25 29 70
FG Pct: 50.0. FT Pct: 80.0. 3-point FGs: 6-8 (Ray 4-5, Bartrum 0-1, Opell 1-1, Stevens 1-1) Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Bartrum. Turnovers: 15.
F. SIMPSON 12 18 11 20 — 61
BOYD CO. 23 16 16 15 — 70
Officials: Adam Kendall, Jody Mouser, Meghan Goode
SEMIFINALS
Boyd County 63
Boyle County 43
Boyd County started quickly before the style of play started to 'Boyle' over for its opponent. It allowed the team to pick up a semifinal victory on Saturday.
The Lions had a 17-7 advantage heading into the second quarter and finished strong with an 11-point differential in the final stanza.
Audrey Biggs led all scorers with 27 points and was 8 of 8 from the foul line. Jada Ray had 17 points and Jasmine Jordan dropped in eight.
Payton Bugg had 13 points for the Rebels.
BOYD CO. 17 15 13 18 — 63
BOYLE CO. 7 15 14 7 — 43
Boyd County (63)—J. Ray 17, Bartrum 6, Opell 2, Jordan 8, Biggs 27, Stevens, Moore 3, Hamilton, Gilbert. A. Ray. 3-pt FGs: 4 (J. Ray, Bartrum, Biggs, Moore) FT: 13-15. Fouls: 18.
Boyle County (43)—Yates 3, Tarter 8, K. Bugg 2, P. Bugg 13, Coffey 2, Burke 12, Leffew, Russell, Glasscock, Lemonds, Young 3. 3-pt FGs: 5 (Tarter 2, P. Bugg 2, Burke) FT: 8-10. Fouls: 19.
BOYS
Lexington Catholic 74
Boyd County 59
Tyler Doyle racked up 22 points and Rowan Williams supplied 15 as Lexington Catholic advanced to the championship game with a state semifinal win on Saturday.
The Knights thwarted a potential Boyd County comeback with 24 points in the final quarter. Doyle was 6 of 6 at the free throw line over the last eight minutes of play.
John Reinhart and Owen Kennedy each collected 14 points.
The Lions had three players in double figures. Jacob Spurlock had 18 points, Cole Hicks added 17 and Griffin Taylor tallied 11.
Drew Smith and Hicks represented Boyd County (14-4) on the All-Tournament team.
Reinhart splashed nine 3-pointers, a finals record, against Fleming County on Sunday to lead Lexington Catholic to the Kentucky 2A state title.
Lucas Jolly, Seth Hickerson and Adam Hargett earned All-Tournament honors for the Panthers.
BOYD CO. 12 10 19 18 — 59
L. CATHOLIC 17 15 18 24 — 74
Boyd County (59)—Hicks 17, Spurlock 18, Ellis 5, Taylor 11, Holbrook, Martin 6, Smith 2. 3-pt FGs: 6 (Hicks 3, Spurlock 2, Taylor) FT: 7-10. Fouls: 15.
Lexington Catholic (74)—Gambrell, Clements 4, Doyle 22, Reinhart 14, Harwood 3, R. Williams 15, M. Williams 2, Kennedy 14. 3-pt FGs: 6 (Reinhart 4, Harwood, Kennedy) FT: 12-15. Fouls: 17.
