BAILEY FUELS LADY PURPLES’ 70-32 VICTORY OVER RUSSELLVILLE
The Bowling Green High School girls basketball team made short work of Russellville on Monday night in quarterfinal play of the KHSAA 4th Region Tournament at WKU’s E.A. Diddle Arena.
Likewise, the Barren County Trojanettes, who rolled to a 61-32 victory over Clinton County, setting up an anticipated matchup between Bowling Green and Barren County on Friday night, with the winner having the opportunity to play for a Sweet Sixteen berth, one night later.
Bowling Green has managed to knock off Barren County in each of the last three 4th Region tourney championship games, but Coach Piper Lindsey’s Trojanettes are back, looking for a road to Lexington’s Rupp Arena once more.
The Lady Purples stormed past Russellville 70-32, limiting the Lady Panthers to 10 points in the first half while improving to 26-7 on the season. Junior guard Tanaya Bailey took an aggressive approach on the offensive end of the floor, looking for the high-percentage shot as Bowling Green quickly took control.
“We have a tremendous amount of respect for Barren County,” BGHS coach Calvin Head said afterward. “Their kids play hard, they execute. They always have a well-designed game plan. We’ve got three days to go to work and get ready.
“Regardless of how many times you come (to E.A. Diddle Arena), it’s different. The lighting, the size of the floor, the environment. You have to be glad to get the first one out of the way.”
The Lady Purples won for the ninth time in their last 11 games, including a hard-fought 40-34 victory over Barren County at the BGHS Arena on February 7.
“We pulled it out the last time,” Bailey said. “I think we’re going to be better prepared this time.”
Head liked several things he saw from the Lady Purples on Monday night, but suggested it was a little bit of an uneven performance. Russellville quickly fell behind as Bowling Green pushed the tempo at times on its way to a 34-10 halftime lead.
BGHS junior forward Meadow Tisdale, the KHSAA 4th Region Player of the Year, had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Purples. Junior guard Saniyah Shelton finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Amiyah Carter led Russellville with 12 points, but the Lady Panthers shot just 18 percent from the field.
“Bowling Green had a lot to do with that,” Russellville coach Dennis Pardue said. “With their size and length inside, it altered quite a few shots. We had several we thought we should have made and we didn’t, but that’s the way the game went.
“Again, we give a lot of credit to Bowling Green. They had a lot to do with that.”
Raven Ennis and Barren County led Bowling Green by 7 points in the late going of their non-district game last month at BGHS, and Calvin Head believes the key to the Lady Purples’ chances may be their mental approach.
“We’ll both tweak some things from the last time we played,” Head said. “The first time to realize it’s just a basketball game, and can get ahead in that respect, will have the best chance to win.”
Russellville finishes its season with a 9-16 record.
BARREN COUNTY 61, CLINTON COUNTY 32
Clinton County managed just six points in the first half, and the Trojanettes coasted to victory, improving to 22-6 on the season.
Barren County, the KHSAA’s 15th District champion, had little trouble with Clinton County at either end of the floor.
Senior forward Raven Ennis led Barren County with 16 points and sophomore guard Abigail Varney added 12.
“It was a tough night,” Clinton County coach Tim Moons said. “We’ve got two seniors (Makenzie Cope and Sarah Turner) and they just played their last game here. It’s been a long time since Clinton County has been here, at Diddle Arena. We really panicked a little when we saw that press for the first time.
“We didn’t give ourselves much of a chance, shooting the ball.”
Landree Moons led Clinton County with 12 points. The Lady Bulldogs finish their season with a 12-20 record.
Piper Lindsey said the Trojanettes will embrace the challenge of their semifinal matchup with Bowling Green.
“We did a good job of sharing the basketball,” Lindsey said. “We basically said, ‘Let’s go inside-out, and shoot with confidence.’ This is what we work for …. everyone knows (Bowling Green), they’re the team to beat.”
