The Todd County Central girls basketball team ended a six-year postseason drought on Tuesday with a hard-fought 42-37 victory over Logan County in the 13th-District semifinals at Russellville High School. The Lady Rebels took the rubber match with the Lady Cougars and earned the program’s first district tournament win since prevailing 56-36 against Russellville in the 2017/18 season.
A close game was always in the cards after the teams split a pair of regular-season meetings, with senior Abby Williams missing the narrow road defeat through injury before scoring 17 points in a 13-point win in Elkton.
Williams would be one of four Lady Rebels in double figures, but early on it was Alexis Taylor and JaMya Kay doing the damage. Todd Central got out to a 10-4 advantage, but the lead was down to four after Brenley Adler capped a six-point first quarter with a layup with :34 left.
A Taylor bucket and one of two free throws by Jordyn Shemwell were the only points in the second quarter for the Lady Rebels. However, the Lady Cougars couldn’t take advantage, with Adler’s bucket down low with 3:22 left in the half the last of five points in the frame.
Adler scored six in the third for Logan County and Emily Borders added five straight over thirty seconds to give the Lady Cougars their first lead of the night at 30-26 with just over a minute to play in the quarter. Kay’s three-pointer out of the break pulled the Lady Rebels to within a point with eight minutes left.
Facing the possible end of her high school career, Williams posted seven points in the fourth, including a jumper to break a 33-33 tie and jumpstart a decisive 9-4 run. Shemwell followed with a three-pointer to force a timeout, but Logan was back within three points after Borders’ steal and layup.
Williams answered with a drive and layup to push it to five, and the Lady Rebels did just enough at the free-throw line ahead of a meaningless bucket for the Lady Cougars with eight seconds to play.
Williams finished with 12, followed by Taylor, Kay, and Shemwell with 10 each.
Adler scored 14 to lead all scorers, and Borders added 11 for the Lady Cougars.
Todd Central advances to Thursday’s district championship against top-seeded Franklin-Simpson, 88-22 winners over Russellville on Monday.
The Lady Rebels have dropped the last nine meetings in the series with the Lady Wildcats, including a pair of losses this season by a total of 64 points.
Todd County Central 14 3 12 13 — 42
Logan County 11 5 14 7 — 37
Todd County Central (17-11) — Williams 12, Kay 10, Shemwell 10, Taylor 10
Logan County (15-15) — Adler 14, Borders 11, Bilyeu 8, Mason 3, Wetton 1
