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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 three players averaging in double figures, placed five on the All-Fourth Region team and allow only 40 points a game. Perkins and Ray are solid senior leaders, while Smith is an athletic sophomore who shoots 57 percent from the field. Glover has been called the best eighth- grader in the state by some experts. The Lady Scotties broke the school record for wins and should have a large following. » Key player: Perkins is one of two seniors on the roster and the team leader. She averaged more points (15) last season, but Stinson said she has sacrificed some scoring to make the team better and more bal- anced. She’s getting college looks from Volunteer State, Union, Missouri-St. Louis, Asbury, Georgetown and Freed-Hardeman. » Coach-speak: “My seniors only won four games as freshmen, so for them to get to this point is pretty amazing,” Stinson said. “We feel like we are blessed, and we definitely feel like we belong and that we can make a little run.” BUTLER » Coach: Larry Just. » Last trip to State: 2011 (lost to Marion County 41-26 in quarterfinals). » What to look for: The No. 19 Bea- rettes shocked No. 3 Mercy on Saturday to capture their third straight Sixth Re- gion title and sixth in 10 years. Even Coach Just admitted some surprise for a team that he said has been up and down all season and lacked focus at times. He can lean on the luxury of a senior backcourt in Martinez and Moore, and the frontcourt of Lawrence, Smith and Stallard is one of the most athletic in the state. Just is concerned about his team’s zone offense and said he plans to see plenty of it against Glasgow. » Key player: Smith is the top scorer and rebounder, but Martinez makes the Bearettes go as the point guard. The left-hander has signed with Morehead State and played a key role in the regional final against 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 it around 10 times because they’re resting so they can go the other way. I’m trying to get our kids to think more about being in attack mode.” — Jody Demling and Jason Frakes MANUAL » Coach: Stacy Pendleton. » Last trip to State: 2011 (lost to Rockcastle County 62-60 in overtime in state final). » What to look for: The Lady Crimsons have never lost a first-round game and are the favorite to win their first state title. Pendleton has 14 of 15 players averag- ing more than two points a game. Manual led the state in scoring margin (31.6), was second in scoring (71.3 points) and was fifth in scoring defense (39.7). Pendle- ton has used as many as 10 players in the first half, and so many games have been blowouts that many times the reserves have gotten more minutes that the start- ers. Wilson has signed with Purdue, Kara Wright with Southeast Missouri State and Lauren Bodine with Maine. 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 year but has been playing her best ball in the postseason. She is the second-leading scorer (by one point) and leads 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 it everything we have got,” Pendleton said. “We feel it’s ours to take, and we plan on doing that. The kids have stayed on course. Take a kid like Erica Hawkins or Morgan Allen; they’re as good as other teams’ starters and they’re seeing little or no minutes. Tabitha Mitch- ell would start for more than 90 percent of the teams in the state. But they all still come to practice every day and work their tails off. We don’t care who gets it done as long as Manual gets it done.” PERRY COUNTY CENTRAL » Coach: Randy Napier. » Last trip to State: 2011(lost to Butler 42-40 in the first round). » What to look for: The Lady Commodores are the only Kentucky team that has scored more than Manual this season, averaging 71.9 points. They led Manual by double digits in the first half before losing 70-61 in the LIT in late January, and they’ve won 11 in a row since. Noble and Rankin have been one of the best tandems in the state, while Smith is a solid role player along with Back 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 16 last year but has come back strong, posting at least five triple-doubles, including 18 points, 12 steals and 10 rebounds in the 14 th Region final. » Coach-speak: “I don’t blow our own wind a whole lot, but those two (Noble and Rankin) are just good,” Napier said. “It’s so much fun to watch and work with this group. I am old and have been doing this a long time, but having these two together is so much fun.” — Jody Demling April Wilson is Manual’s No. 2 scorer and leads the team in assists, steals and 3-point field goals. SCOTT UTTERBACK/THE C-J BOONE COUNTY » Coach: Nell Fookes. » Last trip to State: 2010 (lost to Scott County 67-66 in overtime in quarterfinals). » What to look for: The Lady Rebels made it out of the tough Ninth Region, which included four top-20 teams, for the second time in three years. Moss is the key, but Fookes said the rest of her team has improved and that’s taken some of the load off her star. Nash is not 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 Jones is the point guard and decision-maker. Fookes is the fourth-winningest coach in state history and recently picked up her 600 th victory. » Key player: Moss is the leading candidate for Miss Basketball, and the University of Florida signee is a top-50 player nationally. She’s the daughter of NFL All-Pro wide receiver Randy Moss and is the school’s all-time leading scorer. She has almost 3,000 points and more than 1,600 rebounds, including eighth grade at Heritage Christian and as a freshman at Ryle. » Coach-speak: “Everybody does know about Sydney, and certainly they prepare to contain her and try to stop her,” Fookes said. “But we have what I consider good athletes that know their role on the team and play it well. They step up when they are needed, and Sydney does what she’s supposed to do.” PAUL DUNBAR » Coach: Sarah Van Horn. » Last trip to State: 1997 (Lost to eventual champion Hazard 53-49 in semifinals). » What to look for: Van Horn is the team’s third coach in three years, but she said the success has come be- cause the players bought into her system and have been balanced. Three players average in double fig- ures, and each of the five starters has led the team in scoring at some point this season. The Lady Bulldogs are averaging only 22.1 rebounds a game, so they have to get a team effort to keep opponents off the glass. They don’t shoot a lot of 3-pointers — they have made 84 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. Van Horn 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’m the 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 hard and they have come together as a family here in the last few months.” — Jody Demling Boone County’s Sydney Moss is the leading candidate for 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 quickness and versatility. Fueller and Summers provide the scoring, while Marigny is a stalwart on defense, often guarding the opponent’s top post player. Harper said Marigny is “the heart and soul” of the team. The junior recovered from multiple injuries suffered in a car accident just before the season and has provided a big boost on the boards. The Mustangs employ a tough man-to-man defense. » Key player: Point guard Fueller tallied 20 points and made 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 couple of games,” Harper said. “She’s also one of our better 3-point shooters.” » Coach-speak: “I’m just happy for the kids to be able to go (to the Sweet 16),” Harper said. “That’s been their goal all season long. Even through all the ups and downs, they stayed focused on that goal.” MONTGOMERY COUNTY » Coach: Janie Robinson. » Last trip to State: 2011(lost to Marion County 55-41 in first round). » What to look for: The Indians boast an 11-game winning streak and were 18-0 in their region. They prepared 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 is dangerous from the 3-point line at 41 percent. “We’re very balanced,” Robinson said. “There’s not really one player we rely on.” » Key player: Veteran guard Olivia Colliver can play anywhere on the floor. “She’s the foundation of our team,” Rob- inson said. » Coach- speak: “It’s a little different than last year, when it was unexpected. They were thrilled to be going,” Robinson said. “This season they’re not just happy to be going; they want to play well and compete. They’re a 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 GLASGOW Starters 34/25-Haley Perkins 5-9, Sr., 12.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg 14/22-Shelby Ray 5-4, Sr., 6.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg 3-Kelsey Greer 5-4, Jr., 12.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg 24-Shalika Smith 6-1, So.,11.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg 44-Breanna Glover 5-11, 8 th , 6.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg Key reserve 4/10-Emily Alexander 5-7, So., 3.3 ppg BUTLER Starters 32-Mackenzie Martinez 5-7, Sr., 7.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg 1-Cora Moore 5-3, Sr., 9.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg 14-Danielle Lawrence 5-10, So., 9.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg 23-Aareon Smith 5-10, Jr., 13.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg 3-Alexis Stallard 5-9, Jr., 7.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg Key reserves 33-Miah Casey 5-10, Fr., 2.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg 20-Taylor Snyder 5-8, Sr., 2.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg 13-Brooke Pearson 5-8, Jr., 2.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg Aareon Smith is the top scorer and rebounder for Butler, in the Sweet16 for the third consecutive year. JIM ROSHAN/SPECIAL TO THE C-J BOONE COUNTY Starters 50-Zuri Hill 5-9, Sr., 5.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg 13-Jessica Jones 5-4, Jr., 3.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg 40-Sydney Moss 5-11, Sr., 22.8 ppg, 10.1 rpg 42-Lydia Nash 5-11, Sr., 12.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg 20-Alexis Switzer 5-7, Fr., 6.1 ppg Key reserves 21-Kathleen Murphy 5-11, Jr., 2.5 ppg 43-Elizabeth Switzer 5-9, Sr., 4.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg PAUL DUNBAR Starters 3-Kierra Muhammad 5-2, Sr., 10.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg 2-Jordin Fender 5-2, Jr., 12.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg 21-Brooke Todd 6-2, So., 6.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg 23-Morgan McEldowney 5-9, Sr., 11.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg 44-LaKeena Parks 5-10, Jr., 9.4 ppg, 7.1rpg Key reserves 20-Lexus Edwards 5-6, Jr., 5.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg 25-Indya Raglin 5-6, Sr., 3.3 ppg 11-Shakeema Jackson 5-0, 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. 21-10 Lady 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 MANUAL Starters 15-Lauren Bodine 5-8, Sr., 6.4 ppg 10-Kayla Styles 6-1, Jr., 6.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg,1.4 bpg 20-April Wilson 5-8, Sr.,12.6 ppg, 4.7 spg, 3.2 apg 12-Kara Wright 5-11, Sr., 12.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg 23-LeAsia Wright 5-7, Sr., 9.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.5 spg Key reserves 24-Destony Curry 5-7, Jr., 6.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg 33-Katie Long 5-7, Jr., 3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg 42-Tabitha Mitchell 6-0, So., 5.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg 22-Morgan Allen 5-7, Jr., 4.9 ppg PERRY COUNTY CENTRAL Starters 15-Whitney Back 5-6, Jr., 7.6 ppg 11-Tamara Crawford 5-7, Sr., 7.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg 1-Kendall Noble 5-11, Sr., 14.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 7.5 spg 44-Kayla Rankin 6-0, So., 21.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg 22-Katelyn Smith 5-10, Sr.,10.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg Key reserves 3-Whitney Evans 5-4, Fr., 1.4 ppg 12-Randi Carol Napier 5-10, Jr., 3.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg 25-Cassie Napier 5-10, Sr., 1.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg Macie Spence, a 6-foot-1 junior, is shooting 64 percent for Montgomery County and a key to the Indians’ inside-outside game. JOE IMEL/AP MUHLENBERG COUNTY Starters 1-Aliah Fueller 5-7, Jr.,13.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.5 apg 11-Amiea Summers 5-6, Jr. 13.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.5 apg 12-Hope Marigny 5-7, Jr., 7.1ppg, 6 rpg 22-Brittany Brothers 5-9, Sr., 10.5 ppg, 5 rpg 20-Christina McDonald 5-7, Sr., 7.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg Key reserves 10-Kaitlyn Walley 5-3, Sr., 5 ppg 13-Torrie Pollard 5-8, 8th, 1.8 ppg, 2 rpg 15-Kristen Casey 5-2, Fr., 1.5 ppg 2-MaKayla Sampson 5-5, 8th, 1.5 ppg MONTGOMERY COUNTY Starters 35-Macie Spence 6-1, Jr.,12.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg 4-Erica Rogers 5-6, So.,11.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg 3-Olivia Colliver 5-10, Jr., 9.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg 23-Destiney Taul 5-7, Sr., 7.4 ppg, 6 rpg 12-Keria Lockett 5-6, Jr., 6.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg Key reserves 2-Caitlin Conyers 5-5, So., 2.8 ppg 40-Schyler Tipton 5-9, So., 3.4 ppg, 3 rpg 10-Sarah Arnett 5-7, 8th, 1.1 ppg Time: 03-07-2012 00:05 User: jpatterson PubDate: 03-07-2012 Zone: MT Edition: 1 Page Name: C4 Color: Cyan Magenta Yellow Black
