C4 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012 | THE COURIER-JOURNAL SPORTS | courier-journal.com/sports MT

GIRLS’ SWEET 16 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

GLASGOW» Coach: Justin Stinson.» Last trip to State: First visit.» What to look for: The Lady Scotties have threeplayers averaging in double figures, placed five on theAll-Fourth Region team and allow only 40 points agame. Perkins and Ray are solid senior leaders, whileSmith is an athletic sophomore who shoots 57 percentfrom the field. Glover has been called the best eighth-grader in the state by some experts. The Lady Scottiesbroke the school record for wins and should have alarge following.» Key player: Perkins is one of two seniors on theroster and the team leader. She averaged more points(15) last season, but Stinson said she has sacrificedsome scoring to make the team better and more bal-anced. She’s getting college looks from VolunteerState, Union, Missouri-St. Louis, Asbury, Georgetownand Freed-Hardeman.» Coach-speak: “My seniors only won four games asfreshmen, so for them to get to this point is prettyamazing,” Stinson said. “We feel like we are blessed,and we definitely feel like we belong and that we canmake a little run.”

BUTLER» Coach: Larry Just.» Last trip to State: 2011 (lost to MarionCounty 41-26 in quarterfinals).» What to look for: The No. 19 Bea-rettes shocked No. 3 Mercy on Saturdayto capture their third straight Sixth Re-gion title and sixth in 10 years. Even CoachJust admitted some surprise for a team thathe said has been up and down all season and lackedfocus at times. He can lean on the luxury of a seniorbackcourt in Martinez and Moore, and the frontcourtof Lawrence, Smith and Stallard is one of the mostathletic in the state. Just is concerned about histeam’s zone offense and said he plans to see plentyof it against Glasgow.» Key player: Smith is the top scorer and rebounder,but Martinez makes the Bearettes go as the pointguard. The left-hander has signed with MoreheadState and played a key role in the regional finalagainst Mercy by handling the Jaguars’ trade-mark pressure.» Coach-speak: “Glasgow doesn’t play an over-active zone,” Just said. “They’ll let you throw itaround 10 times because they’re resting so theycan go the other way. I’m trying to get our kids tothink more about being in attack mode.”

— Jody Demling and Jason Frakes

MANUAL» Coach: Stacy Pendleton.» Last trip to State: 2011 (lost to Rockcastle County62-60 in overtime in state final).» What to look for: The Lady Crimsons have neverlost a first-round game and are the favorite to win theirfirst state title. Pendleton has 14 of 15 players averag-ing more than two points a game. Manual led the statein scoring margin (31.6), was second in scoring (71.3points) and was fifth in scoring defense (39.7). Pendle-ton has used as many as 10 players in the first half, andso many games have been blowouts that many timesthe reserves have gotten more minutes that the start-ers. Wilson has signed with Purdue, Kara Wright withSoutheast Missouri State and Lauren Bodine withMaine. LeAsia Wright has several Division I offers,while Styles is considered one of the state’s top juniors.» Key player: Wilson is the Lady Crimsons’ engine.She was injured during the state tournament last yearbut has been playing her best ball in the postseason.She is the second-leading scorer (by one point) andleads the team in assists, steals and 3-point field goals.She should get plenty of support for Miss Basketball.» Coach-speak: “We have been focused and giving iteverything we have got,” Pendleton said. “We feel it’sours to take, and we plan on doing that. The kids havestayed on course. Take a kid like Erica Hawkins orMorgan Allen; they’re as good as other teams’ startersand they’re seeing little or no minutes. Tabitha Mitch-ell would start for more than 90 percent of the teams inthe state. But they all still come to practice every dayand work their tails off. We don’t care who gets it doneas long as Manual gets it done.”

PERRY COUNTY CENTRAL» Coach: Randy Napier.» Last trip to State: 2011 (lost to Butler 42-40 in thefirst round).» What to look for: The Lady Commodores are theonly Kentucky team that has scored more than Manualthis season, averaging 71.9 points. They led Manual bydouble digits in the first half before losing 70-61 in theLIT in late January, and they’ve won 11 in a row since.Noble and Rankin have been one of the best tandems inthe state, while Smith is a solid role player along withBack and Crawford. Napier is No. 2 on the state’s all-time victory list and led M.C. Napier to the 1994 title.» Key player: Noble blew out a knee in the Sweet 16last year but has come back strong, postingat least five triple-doubles, including 18points, 12 steals and 10 rebounds in the14th Region final.» Coach-speak: “I don’t blow our ownwind a whole lot, but those two (Nobleand Rankin) are just good,” Napiersaid. “It’s so much fun to watch andwork with this group. I am old and havebeen doing this a long time, but havingthese two together is so much fun.”

— Jody Demling

April Wilsonis Manual’sNo. 2 scorerand leads theteam inassists, stealsand 3-pointfield goals.SCOTT

UTTERBACK/THE

C-J

BOONE COUNTY» Coach: Nell Fookes.» Last trip to State: 2010 (lost to Scott County 67-66 inovertime in quarterfinals).» What to look for: The Lady Rebels made it out ofthe tough Ninth Region, which included four top-20teams, for the second time in three years. Moss is thekey, but Fookes said the rest of her team has improvedand that’s taken some of the load off her star. Nash isnot flashy but is consistent in the paint. Hill is a trans-fer from Virginia Beach, Va. Alexis Switzer is the lead-ing outside shooter with 47 three-pointers, while Jonesis the point guard and decision-maker. Fookes is thefourth-winningest coach in state history and recentlypicked up her 600th victory.» Key player: Moss is the leading candidate for MissBasketball, and the University of Florida signee is atop-50 player nationally. She’s the daughter of NFLAll-Pro wide receiver Randy Moss and is the school’sall-time leading scorer. She has almost 3,000 points andmore than 1,600 rebounds, including eighth grade atHeritage Christian and as a freshman at Ryle.» Coach-speak: “Everybody does know about Sydney,and certainly they prepare to contain her and try tostop her,” Fookes said. “But we have what I considergood athletes that know their role on the team and playit well. They step up when they are needed, and Sydneydoes what she’s supposed to do.”

PAUL DUNBAR» Coach: Sarah Van Horn.» Last trip to State: 1997 (Lost to eventual championHazard 53-49 in semifinals).» What to look for: Van Horn is the team’s third coachin three years, but she said the success has come be-cause the players bought into her system and havebeen balanced. Three players average in double fig-ures, and each of the five starters has led the team inscoring at some point this season. The Lady Bulldogsare averaging only 22.1 rebounds a game, so they haveto get a team effort to keep opponents off the glass.They don’t shoot a lot of 3-pointers — they have made84 all season — but get to the rim on offense.» Key player: Muhammad is third on the team in scor-ing, the stopper on defense and leas in assists. VanHorn said she “just does so much for our team.”» Coach-speak: “We have a little bit of everything,which makes us pretty good,” Van Horn said. “I’mthe third coach these kids have had in three years,and there were some struggles early on with dis-cipline and things. But they have worked so hardand they have come together as a family here in thelast few months.”

— Jody Demling

Boone County’s Sydney Moss is the leading candidatefor Miss Basketball. JOSEPH FUQUA II/CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

MUHLENBERG COUNTY» Coach: Mike Harper.» What to look for: What the Mustangs lack in size(no player over 5 feet 9) they make up for in quicknessand versatility. Fueller and Summers provide thescoring, while Marigny is a stalwart on defense, oftenguarding the opponent’s top post player. Harper saidMarigny is “the heart and soul” of the team. The juniorrecovered from multiple injuries suffered in a caraccident just before the season and has provided a bigboost on the boards. The Mustangs employ a toughman-to-man defense.» Key player: Point guard Fueller tallied 20 points andmade 13 of 14 free throws in the Mustangs’ 56-46 vic-tory over Grayson County for the regional champi-onship. “She’s really played well for us the last coupleof games,” Harper said. “She’s also one of our better3-point shooters.”» Coach-speak: “I’m just happy for the kids to be ableto go (to the Sweet 16),” Harper said. “That’s beentheir goal all season long. Even through all the ups anddowns, they stayed focused on that goal.”

MONTGOMERY COUNTY» Coach: Janie Robinson.» Last trip to State: 2011 (lost to Marion County 55-41in first round).» What to look for: The Indians boast an 11-gamewinning streak and were 18-0 in their region. Theyprepared with a tough schedule that included Mercy,South Oldham and Boone County. A powerful inside-outside game and a balanced offense are strengths.Spence, a center, is shooting 64 percent, and Rogers isdangerous from the 3-point line at 41 percent. “We’revery balanced,” Robinson said. “There’s not really oneplayer we rely on.”» Key player: Veteran guard Olivia Colliver can playanywhere on the floor. “She’s the foundation of ourteam,” Rob-inson said.» Coach-speak: “It’s alittle differentthan last year, when it wasunexpected. They werethrilled to be going,” Robinsonsaid. “This season they’re notjust happy to be going; they wantto play well and compete. They’rea little bit more serious.”

— J.J. Hysell

School W-L Nickname Location Region Enrollment Litrating Sweet 16

GLASGOW 28-4 Lady Scotties Glasgow Fourth 576 95.2 First trip

BUTLER 23-9 Bearettes Louisville Sixth 1,666 93.0 14th (21-10)

GAME 1: GLASGOW VS. BUTLER, 1 P.M. TODAY

School W-L Nickname Location Region Enrollment Litrating Sweet 16

BOONE COUNTY 30-3 Lady Rebels Florence Ninth 1,368 100.4 12th (10-11)

PAUL DUNBAR 28-6 Lady Bulldogs Lexington 11th 2,120 89.3 2nd (2-1)

GAME 2: BOONE COUNTY VS. PAUL DUNBAR, 2:30 P.M. TODAY

GLASGOWStarters

34/25-Haley Perkins5-9, Sr., 12.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg

14/22-Shelby Ray5-4, Sr., 6.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg

3-Kelsey Greer5-4, Jr., 12.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg

24-Shalika Smith6-1, So., 11.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg

44-Breanna Glover5-11, 8th, 6.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg

Key reserve4/10-Emily Alexander

5-7, So., 3.3 ppg

BUTLERStarters

32-Mackenzie Martinez5-7, Sr., 7.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg

1-Cora Moore5-3, Sr., 9.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg14-Danielle Lawrence5-10, So., 9.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg

23-Aareon Smith5-10, Jr., 13.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg

3-Alexis Stallard5-9, Jr., 7.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg

Key reserves33-Miah Casey

5-10, Fr., 2.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg20-Taylor Snyder

5-8, Sr., 2.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg13-Brooke Pearson

5-8, Jr., 2.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg

Aareon Smith is the top scorer and rebounderfor Butler, in the Sweet 16 for the thirdconsecutive year. JIM ROSHAN/SPECIAL TO THE C-J

BOONE COUNTYStarters

50-Zuri Hill5-9, Sr., 5.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg

13-Jessica Jones5-4, Jr., 3.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg

40-Sydney Moss5-11, Sr., 22.8 ppg, 10.1 rpg

42-Lydia Nash5-11, Sr., 12.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg

20-Alexis Switzer5-7, Fr., 6.1 ppgKey reserves

21-Kathleen Murphy5-11, Jr., 2.5 ppg

43-Elizabeth Switzer5-9, Sr., 4.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg

PAUL DUNBARStarters

3-Kierra Muhammad5-2, Sr., 10.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg

2-Jordin Fender5-2, Jr., 12.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg

21-Brooke Todd6-2, So., 6.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg

23-Morgan McEldowney5-9, Sr., 11.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg

44-LaKeena Parks5-10, Jr., 9.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg

Key reserves20-Lexus Edwards

5-6, Jr., 5.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg25-Indya Raglin5-6, Sr., 3.3 ppg

11-Shakeema Jackson5-0, So., 5.9 ppg

School W-L Nickname Location Region Enrollment Litrating Sweet 16

MANUAL 33-2 Lady Crimsons Louisville Seventh 1,893 111.6 8th (15-7)

PERRY CO.CENTRAL

30-2 Lady Commodores Hazard 14th 978 101.7 8th (1-7)

GAME 3: MANUAL VS. PERRY COUNTY CENTRAL, 6:30 P.M. TODAY

School W-L Nickname Location Region Enrollment Lit Sweet 16

MUHLENBERG CO. 21-10Lady Mustangs Greenville Third 1,392 82.6 First trip

MONTGOMERY CO. 28-6 Indians Mt. Sterling 10th 1,272 87.6 11th (10-10)

GAME 4: MUHLENBERG CO. VS. MONTGOMERY CO., 9 P.M. TODAY

MANUALStarters

15-Lauren Bodine5-8, Sr., 6.4 ppg

10-Kayla Styles6-1, Jr., 6.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.4 bpg

20-April Wilson5-8, Sr., 12.6 ppg, 4.7 spg, 3.2

apg12-Kara Wright

5-11, Sr., 12.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg23-LeAsia Wright

5-7, Sr., 9.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.5 spgKey reserves

24-Destony Curry5-7, Jr., 6.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg

33-Katie Long5-7, Jr., 3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg42-Tabitha Mitchell

6-0, So., 5.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg22-Morgan Allen

5-7, Jr., 4.9 ppg

PERRY COUNTYCENTRAL

Starters15-Whitney Back

5-6, Jr., 7.6 ppg11-Tamara Crawford5-7, Sr., 7.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg

1-Kendall Noble5-11, Sr., 14.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 7.5

spg44-Kayla Rankin

6-0, So., 21.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg22-Katelyn Smith

5-10, Sr., 10.9 ppg, 4.5 rpgKey reserves

3-Whitney Evans5-4, Fr., 1.4 ppg

12-Randi Carol Napier5-10, Jr., 3.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg

25-Cassie Napier5-10, Sr., 1.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg

Macie Spence, a 6-foot-1 junior, isshooting 64 percent for MontgomeryCounty and a key to the Indians’inside-outside game. JOE IMEL/AP

MUHLENBERGCOUNTY

Starters1-Aliah Fueller

5-7, Jr., 13.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.5apg

11-Amiea Summers5-6, Jr. 13.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.5

apg12-Hope Marigny

5-7, Jr., 7.1 ppg, 6 rpg22-Brittany Brothers5-9, Sr., 10.5 ppg, 5 rpg

20-Christina McDonald5-7, Sr., 7.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg

Key reserves10-Kaitlyn Walley

5-3, Sr., 5 ppg13-Torrie Pollard

5-8, 8th, 1.8 ppg, 2 rpg15-Kristen Casey

5-2, Fr., 1.5 ppg2-MaKayla Sampson

5-5, 8th, 1.5 ppg

MONTGOMERYCOUNTY

Starters35-Macie Spence

6-1, Jr., 12.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg4-Erica Rogers

5-6, So., 11.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg3-Olivia Colliver

5-10, Jr., 9.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg23-Destiney Taul

5-7, Sr., 7.4 ppg, 6 rpg12-Keria Lockett

5-6, Jr., 6.8 ppg, 3.1 rpgKey reserves

2-Caitlin Conyers5-5, So., 2.8 ppg

40-Schyler Tipton5-9, So., 3.4 ppg, 3 rpg

10-Sarah Arnett5-7, 8th, 1.1 ppg

Time: 03-07-2012 00:05 User: jpatterson PubDate: 03-07-2012 Zone: MT Edition: 1 Page Name: C 4 Color: CyanMagentaYellowBlack