Manual girls basketball, behind Ashlinn James, tops Central for 25th District crown
For the second consecutive year, Manual’s girls basketball team defeated Central in the 25th District Tournament.
The prize was bigger this time, though: The Crimsons (21-7) won the championship in front of their home crowd.
Sophomore Ashlinn James and senior London Sweeney helped lead Manual to a 62-55 victory Thursday night.
The Yellow Jackets (23-9) were led by Destiny Jones, who scored 26 points before fouling out with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter.
Manual controlled the pace offensively. The Crimsons’ defensive strategy was to keep the ball out of Jones' hands, so they double-teamed her in the post on almost every possession.
Thirteen of Sweeney’s 16 points came in the first half, and at one point, she outscored Central by herself.
“We've been challenging her the last few days to come out at the beginning of the game instead of waiting to see how the game is going to go. So tonight, she did exactly what we asked her to do,” Manual coach Ashley Franklin said. “If she can continue doing that, she's gonna be amazing for us.”
When Sweeney got in foul trouble late in the second quarter, James took over for Manual.
“Ashlinn is the general on the floor. She steps up, especially when we need her,” Franklin said.
“I knew they were going to try to face-guard me … So I was trying to let her (Sweeney) take over because she was feeling it, but then she fouled out, and I was like, ‘OK, it's my turn now,’” James said.
James scored 14 points for the Crimsons in the second half and finished with 26 points.
Early in the fourth quarter, James scored to extend Manual’s lead to eight points. In the last minute, she scored six points on free throws and a midrange jump shot to put the game out of reach.
Sweeney and senior Alana Smith fouled out late in the fourth quarter.
Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA basketball: Manual girls defeat Central for 25th District title
