With an effective mixture of high percentage shots and a physical style around the basket, the Letcher Central Lady Cougars have the look of a team ready to make a deep postseason run.
The Lady Cougars shot 62 percent (21 of 33) from the field Tuesday in a 62-50 over a Harlan County squad that knocked off Hazard, the 14th Region’s top-rated team, two days earlier.
“We shoot right at 50 percent for the season. We take one or two bad shots sometimes, but most of the time our kids take shots they can make,” Letcher Central coach Keith Baker said. “We’ve told them if they don’t play physical they will get left behind. Only chance you have of getting to Rupp is to be physical.”
Junior guard Molly Caudill scored 21 points, senior forward Alli Bailey tossed in 13 and junior center Sadie Johnson came off the bench to add 12 as the Lady Cougars improved to 18-9 on the season.
Harlan County was led by eighth grade guard Taylynn Napier with 15 points and freshman guard Reagan Clem with 13.
The Lady Bears were their own worst enemy for much of the night as they missed numerous layups and hit only eight of 22 from the free throw line.
“They are a really good team, and I knew we’d have some issues, but when it comes down to it when miss layups and free throws like we did you can’t win, especially a team like that,” Harlan County coach Gary Greer said.
After leading 12-7 after one quarter, Letcher connected on seven of eight shots in the second period to extend its lead to 34-20 at the break.
Harlan County got as close as six in the third quarter as Clem, Jaylee Cochran, Kylee Runions and Napier each scored in an 11-0 run. The Lady Cougars pushed the lead back to 11, at 48-37, heading into the fourth period with the help of two 3s by Caudill.
The Lady Bears fought back once more in the fourth quarter to get as close as eight on a 3 by Napier. Baker called a timeout with 5:41 left and Letcher went to its spread offense. The move worked as HC as only able to force one turnover while the Lady Cougars ran down the clock with impressive percision that could help in a balanced 14th Region.
“We have good guards who can spread the floor,” Baker said. “I really just wanted to see if they could. You never know when we might need that. Hazard, Knott, Breathitt, Perry and Leslie are all good. It’s what tournament time is for.”
Harlan County closes its regular season schedule Friday at Leslie County.
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Eight grade guard Riley Lucas scored 17 points to lead Letcher Central to a 34-27 win in junior varsity action. Bailey Howard scored 10 followed by Allena Tyree with three and Lauren Reynolds and Paris Cook with two each.
Vanessa Griffith scored 10 to lead the Lady Bears. Raegan Landa tossed in eight. Kelsie Middleton and Shasta Brackett added four. Natalie Moore scored one.
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Letcher Central (62) — Allie Bailey 13, Scarlett Stamper 8, Kalee Baker 3, Molly Caudill 21, Marah Dixon 5, Sadie Johnson 8, Kennedy Anderson 0, Anna Hatton 0, Bailey Howard 0.
Harlan County (50) — Jaycee Simpson 6, Reagan Clem 13, Jaylee Cochran 8, Whitney Noe 0, Lacey Robinson 1, Taylynn Napier 15, Kylee Runions 7, Reagan Landa 0, Shasta Brackett 0.