Photo - Kelly Phillips
After pulling off the big comeback against Metcalfe County in the 4th Region semifinals, you realized that anything was possible for the Todd County Central Lady Rebels as they headed into Saturday night’s 4th Region championship game at Diddle Arena. Anything was possible, that is, as long as the Lady Rebels did not have just a bitterly cold shooting night and could contain the Lady Purples on the boards.
Problem is, Todd County Central had one of those cold, cold shooting nights and the Bowling Green Lady Purples won the battle of the boards, including some critically big rebounds in the second half. That combination was just too much for a game and gritty Lady Rebels squad as they fell to Bowling Green 49-35 and saw their state tournament dreams come up just one step short.
The Todd County Central Lady Rebels had the tempo very much to their liking in the opening quarter of the contest. With Bowling Green having not scored more than 59 points in game this season, it did not figure to be a shootout, but the more controlled the tempo, the better it figured to be for the Lady Rebels.
Todd Central took its first lead of the game at 3-2 on an Alexis Taylor 3-pointer just over a minute into the game. From there, the offense for both teams slowed down as the Lady Rebels and the Lady Purples were working to play lockdown defense. Plus, neither could find their shooting eye in the first eight minutes.
The game was tied twice and there were four lead changes in the opening quarter. A NaTaya Wardlow basket with 30 seconds to go in the quarter gave the Lady Purples a 9-7 lead.
The Lady Rebels hit just 33.3 percent from the field in the first going 3 for 9. The Lady Purples were even colder. Bowling Green got up five more shots but ended up just making 4 of 15. The difference in the close quarter was Bowling Green winning the battle of the boards 10 to 7.
The teams continued to go back and forth for much of the second quarter. The game was tied at 9, 12, and 15 and there were two early lead changes. Todd County Central appeared to gain some momentum midway through the quarter when Daymea Garrett ignited a quick five-point spurt to put the Lady Rebels up 20-15 with 2:15 to go in the half.
But then the Lady Purples started to find their shooting eye over the final moments of the first half. Bowling Green got big plays from Ryleigh Campbell and NaTaya Wardlow as the Lady Purples closed out the half with a game-changing 11-0 run to take a 26-20 lead into the break.
Cold shooting continued to plague the Lady Rebels in the second. They got six more shots up in the second quarter, but still hit just 33 percent. Meanwhile, Bowling Green started to find the range and went 6 for 13 in the quarter. Additionally, the Lady Purples were increasing their control of the boards, extending the rebounding margin to 21-15.
Alexis Taylor and Abby Williams were doing their best to keep the Lady Rebels in the game at the break, combining to score 13 points in the first 16 minutes.
As the teams came out of the break, the Todd County Central Lady Rebels appeared to be ready to make their charge for a historic run to Rupp Arena. After a free throw, back-to-back baskets from Alexis Taylor brought the Lady Rebels to within a single point at 26-25. It was the first of three times where the Lady Rebels got right on the verge of going back in front. But on this night, it just did not happen.
The Lady Rebels had third-quarter struggles at the free-throw line and made a couple of timely ball-handling mistakes. There was also the issue of trying to keep the Lady Purples off the glass.
Still, with less than two minutes left in the third, Todd Central was down just six and had the ball. However, the next 90 seconds would be the turning point of the night and the moments that would send Bowling Green on to the regional title.
Abby Williams drove to the basket and drew contact trying t+o get off a shot, but there was no call. The Lady Purples went down the floor and missed a shot, but JaSiyah Franklin got the offensive rebound and scored the basket. Bowling Green got the ball back and went for the last shot of the quarter. Again, the Lady Purples missed and again it was Franklin with the putback, this time a split-second in front of the buzzer, giving Bowling Green a 42-32 lead and ripping any momentum away from the Lady Rebels.
JaMya Kay scored for Todd Central to open the final quarter, cutting the lead to eight. Over the next four minutes, the Lady Rebel defense did the job, holding Bowling Green scoreless, but on the offensive end Todd County Central was in a shooting ‘freezer.’
Todd County Central would score just one free throw the rest of the way as Bowling Green pulled out to the final 14-point win. The Lady Rebels shot just 16.7 percent from the field in the final quarter. Bowling Green shot only 30 percent but that was enough to get the regional championship.
Several numbers tell the story of the night for the Lady Rebels. They ended up shooting just 26.7 percent from the field. They also struggled at the free throw line, making just 9 of 19. Bowling Green also outrebounded the Lady Rebels 42-33.
Alexis Taylor was the only Todd County Central player to reach double figures with 15 points. Taylor also had 11 rebounds. Abby Williams finished with 7 points and Jordyn Shemwell had five.
JaShiyah Franklin led all scorers in the game with 17 points in leading the Lady Purples to the regional title. She also had 8 big rebounds. Point guard NaTaya Wardlow ended the game with 15 points.
Todd County Central ends the season with a record of 19-13.
Bowling Green goes to 23-10 and advances to the Girls’ Sweet 16 Wednesday at Rupp Arena where they will take on Owsley County, the champions of the 14th Region, in the first game of the tournament.
TCCHS — 7 13 12 3 – 35
BGHS — 9 17 16 7 – 49
Todd County Central – Taylor 15, Williams 7, Shemwell 5, Garrett 3, Kay 3, Smith 2
Bowling Green – Franklin 17, Wardlow 14, Potter 8, Macy 3, Campbell 2, Smiley 2, Alexander 1
