By AARON SNYDER — The Independent
BOWLING GREEN — Rowan County girls’ basketball team will try to do something it has not accomplished in 29 years: winning two games in the state tournament.
The Lady Vikings square off against Clay County in the quarterfinal round of the Houchens Industries KHSAA Sweet 16 Girls’ State Basketball Tournament today at 2:30 p.m. (EST).
Rowan County made its first state tournament appearance in 1981, and reached the semifinals that season under Claudia Hicks.
Since then, the Lady Vikings have made eight trips to the state tournament and won one game.
That happened Wednesday night, with a 47-39 win over Breathitt County.
“This is only the second time Rowan has won in the state tournament,” said Rowan County coach Scott Tackett Wednesday night. “We beat a good Breathitt team that had very impressive wins on their resume.”
Clay County (28-6), champions of the 13th Region, is riding a 13-game winning streak, having not lost since Jan. 23 to Scott County, the 11th Region champions.
“We have an immense challenge,” Tackett said of today’s matchup.
Clay County defeated Anderson County, 70-55, in the opening round Wednesday.
Whitney Belle Jackson (6-foot-1) and Jordan Phillips (5-foot-10) provide size and scoring in the post for Clay County.
Jackson leads the Lady Tigers in scoring with 13.2 points per game on 65 percent field goal shooting. Phillips (10.2 ppg) shoots 56 percent from the floor.
One challenge for Rowan County may be keeping forwards Jenna Kiser and Adri Neely out of foul trouble against Jackson and Phillips.
Kiser fouled out against Breathitt County, and Neely had two fouls within the first 10 minutes.
However, Rowan County feels confident in achieving its main goal set at the start of the season.
“We’ve got that painted on our benches in our locker room,” Tackett said. “Playing for Saturday morning. We feel like if we can get to the state semifinals, anything can happen.”
Rebounding and free-throw shooting made a big difference early for the Lady Vikings on Wednesday, and those could prove to be important statistics today.
Clay County guards Alicia Mitchell and Kayla Smith probably create a virtual stalemate at the guard position with Lady Vikings guards Kaitlyn Muncy and Tierra Hamilton. So, for Rowan County, the advantage may lie again within the small forward spot, occupied by Natasha Kissinger.
Kissinger was named the player of the game against Breathitt County with 17 points, and Tackett has said all season long that she is the best player in the 16th Region.
Clay County lost to Breathitt County, but it was early in the season (47-44 on Dec. 14).
AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@
dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.
