Kaylee Young got the key steal and layup late in the game to propel Southwestern to victory over Franklin County. (Les Nicholson Photo)
Southwestern coach Junior Molden knows a lot of people think his team lives and dies by the 3-pointer — and the Warriors often make a lot of 3’s. However, Southwestern proved Friday it could do more than just shoot 3’s in a 47-40 win over Franklin County in the opening state quarterfinal game to advance to Saturday’s semifinal against Bullitt East, a winner over Meade County.
“We have got other ways to win,” Molden said. “I knew he (Franklin County coach Joey Thacker) was going to dictate pace. We just had to adjust. He switches defenses and does a lot of things.”
Southwestern was only 6-for-23 from 3 — but Franklin went 2-for-17 and many came late in the game when it was trying to catch up. Franklin used its size and length to outscore Southwestern 16-5 at the foul line but the Warriors got 17 points off Franklin turnovers.
Two of the biggest points off those turnovers came late when junior Kaylee Young got a steal and drove the length of the court to finish after Southwestern had made two straight turnovers to let Franklin cut the lead to three.
Young had taken only two shots — she did have five rebounds and one assist — and debated not going to the basket.
“Coach was screaming to go to the rim. I wasn’t going to go,” Young admitted.
Senior Makayla Noritis came up big for the second straight game with 17 points on 7-for-14 shooting, eight rebounds against the bigger Flyers, and two assists despite being in foul trouble most of the game.
“She was the player of the game. She left it all on the floor,” Molden said.
Noritis hurt her ankle in the final minute and limped off the floor but Molden said she wanted to keep playing.
“I knew if this kid came to play we would be good,” the coach said.
But will she be ready for the semifinal?
“We got some tricks up our sleeve,” Noritis, who admitted the ankle hurt, said.
“We are going to use the Tubby Smith trick with Jeff Sheppard (at the 1998 SEC Tournament),” Molden said. “We got some ideas.”
Sheppard, the father of North Laurel star Reed Sheppard, hurt his ankle but not only played in the SEC tourney but went on to be Final Four MVP.
Southwestern did get some magic from freshmen Kinsley Molden, the coach’s daughter. She had 14 points, including three of the six 3’s that the Warriors had, along with six rebounds and three assists.
“One of the plays of the game was when she hesitated, made a move and got a layup. That got the crowd into it when we needed it,” the Southwestern coach said.
“It’s tough to talk about your own kid. The first half I benched her because of a small body language issue. But then I looked and she was leading us at halftime in rebounds. She deserves more (credit) but because her daddy is head coach he does not give her enough props.”
The good thing about Southwestern, which is in the semifinals for the second time in four years, is that who gets the props doesn’t matter.
“If we are down, we stay positive and that helps us,” Young said.
