Scott Sivills believes McCracken County can make a deep push in the state tournament. (Les Nicholson Photo)
McCracken County came into the state tournament with a 31-2 record and a scoring margin of 30.9 points per game.
Guess what? The Mustangs didn’t hurt that scoring margin average in their win over Bethlehem Thursday because they crushed the Banshees — a team that was playing in its third straight state tourney — 71-41 to advance to Friday’s quarterfinal against Ashland.
“We have held teams to 38 points (per game) but you have got to put the ball in the basket up here to win games,” McCracken coach Scott Sivills said.
His team did that Thursday making 27 of 50 shots from the field, a 54 percent mark. Miss Basketball candidate Destiny Thomas was unstoppable as she had 27 points on 12-for-16 shooting, seven rebounds and four assists while guard Clair Johnson had 23 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field and 7-for-8 at the foul line along with four assists.
“I do feel like we are one of the best teams up here and today we proved that,” Sivills said.
Bethlehem coach Jason Clark certainly did not disagree after watching what McCracken did to his team when it built a 23-point lead in the first half.
“Give McCracken credit. They took us to the woodshed. We just couldn’t stop them,” Clark said. “We watched a lot of film on them. I thought we were quicker but I am not sure they are not quicker than us.”
McCracken’s versatility, depth and length will take a toll on most teams.
“We are very blessed to have a lot of versatility,” the McCracken coach said. “We stretch people defensively. We have got great guard play. All five players can handle the basketball for us and that’s big. We just have toughness.
“They also love hanging out together. In my 28 years of coaching this is probably the best group of girls I have ever coached because of the senior leadership.”
The 5-10 Thomas, a Murray signee, averages 18.4 points per game and can play inside or outside.
McCracken had 21 assists on 27 field goals led by senior Jordan Bufford’s seven assists. All five starters had at least three assists.
“We do a really good job making extra passes. They do a tremendous job finding teammates,” Sivills said. “I put them through a gauntlet of a schedule to prepare us for tough competition. We are getting the ball in the right people’s hands. Getting the floor spread and finding open shooter is important to us.”
McCracken had only one loss last year coming into the state tourney but was eliminated in the first round.
“We were more comfortable this year,” Thomas said.
So comfortable that Sivills is feeling really good about what lies ahead.
“We are a team that can push and possibly make a deep run,” the McCracken coach said.
Two-time defending state champion Sacred Heart remains the team to beat but is in the other bracket. McCracken could only play Sacred Heart if both made the title game.
The two teams met in a preseason scrimmage and Sivills would love another chance to play Sacred Heart.
“It would be great for that to happen because that would mean we were in the championship game,” he said.
