Entering Tuesday, Henderson County had won nine of the last 10 girls’ region basketball titles and had been victorious in 29 of its last 30 region tourney games. And they are the favorites to repeat as region champs.
Someone forgot to tell Madisonville.
Henderson County led wire-to-wire in claiming a 56-44 quarterfinal win at Union County to advance to Friday’s semifinal against Christian County.
The Lady Colonels built a double-digit lead by the second quarter and extended it to 19 points in the third quarter.
But the Lady Maroons cur the deficit to 49-43 with 38 seconds left. Madisonville, who came into the game averaging six 3-pointers a game, was held without one through three quarters Tuesday. Riley Sword knocked down three of them in the fourth quarter to spur the Lady Maroon comeback.
Henderson County hit 6-of-8 free throws in the fourth quarter to stave off Madisonville’s rally.
Sword finished with nine points, and Amari Lovan, the lone senior starter for Madisonville, added 13 points.
Henderson County got 16 points off the bench from sophomore Shalyn Sprinkles. Jarie Thomas added 13 points.
Henderson County has won 15 straight region tourney games over Madisonville dating back to 1987.
Madisonville 11 7 10 16– 44
Henderson County 17 15 10 14– 56
Madisonville (19-12) – Lovan 13, Sword 9, Whitsell 7, Johnson 5, Nelson 4, Noffsinger 4, Barber 2
Henderson County (24-4) – Sprinkles 16, Thomas 13, Lacer 7, Kemp 6, Veal 5, Gibson 5, Risley 4,
