BOWLING GREEN TAKES 28-7 RECORD INTO LEXINGTON
The Bowling Green High School girls basketball team have become a top-flight KHSAA program under veteran coach Calvin Head.
The Lady Purples (28-7) won their third consecutive 14th District and 4th Region championships last week, sending Head’s team into a first-round matchup with Letcher County Central (26-9) at 10 a.m. CDT on Thursday inside Rupp Arena.
“We got into Lexington yesterday afternoon,” Head said Wednesday, “and just got into our hotel, looked at some film, got the kids off their feet. We had a good practice (Wednesday) morning, at Berea College.
“We really don’t know much about the 14th Region. They’ve got some kids inside who can put the ball on the floor and take it to the basket, and they have a couple outside shooters, too.
“We really just focus on ourselves, coming into a tournament like this, just making sure we’re ready to play.”
If Bowling Green can knock off Letcher County Central, the Lady Purples will be paired in the Sweet Sixteen quarterfinals against either Pikeville (31-2) or Cooper (22-4) on Friday at 6 p.m.
Then, if they get to the semifinals, they’ll need two victories on Saturday to capture the first state championship, in girls basketball, in BGHS history. The other half of the bracket will have a logistical advantage there, too, as their semifinal will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by the other two teams at approximately 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Calvin Head is just hoping to get to Saturday’s games, and has no problem with the format, either.
“It’s very unique,” he said, “to have that schedule for the final four. However, I truly believe it would make winning it that more special.”
The Lady Purples are led by junior forward Meadow Tisdale, the 4th Region Player of the Year. Tisdale is averaging 16 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Junior guard Tanaya Bailey averages 12 points per game.
Kaylee Banks leads Letcher County Central — known as the Lady Cougars in the southeastern part of the state, near the Virginia state line with 13.5 points per game. Teammate Keira Couch is next with 12 points and six rebounds per game.
