The way they won was different, but both the Russellville Lady Panthers and the Logan County Lady Cougars won their opening games in the First Southern
National Bank/Roy's Bar-B-Q Christmas Classic Monday at Russellville's Jim Young Gymnasium..
As a result both teams not only advanced to Tuesday's semifinals but also remained undefeated in the brief history of the women's division of this
tournament. The Lady Panthers went 4-0 and the Lady Cougars 3-0 in a round robin format of last year's inaugural tournament.
Logan County 67, Menifee County 48
With Kayla MacAllister and Miranda Rone each scoring six points and Michelle England five, the Lady Cougars jumped out to a 24-5 first-quarter lead
over Menifee County. They were ahead 34-16 at the half and were up 50-26 late in the third quarter.
Menifee made a run and cut the lead to 60-43 before Jaylin Jones hit an 18-footer for Logan. Tall sophomore Chelsea Walker hit a 3-pointer for the Lady
Cats, her only goal of the game, but Menifee could get no closer.
Sarah Speck pulled down a rebound and sped downcourt with it. She kicked it back out to Victoria Elliott, who hit a 12-footer. Then a few seconds
later, Elliott went inside-out to England, who canned a 3-pointer and Logan had put the game away, winning 67-48.
Rone led Coach Scot MacAllister's winners with 16 points while England and Kayla MacAllister each had 14 and Speck 10. Also scoring were Jones, Elliott
and Meagan Williams. Also playing were Markita Pheal, Shannon MacAllister, Meg Brown and Kate Brooks. Key player Ann Dorris is not available because of
an ankle injury she suffered in the Ballard Memorial tournament before Christmas.
Leanne Mullins led Menifee County with 17 points and Samantha Munday added 11.
Russellville 45, Australioan Vikings 36
No one knew what to expect from the Australian travel team which arrived in Logan Couinty Sunday, staying in the homes of many of the Lady Cougars.
They are tall and young. A couple of players are about six feet tall with a 6-3 center, Daniela 'Ducky' Stosic. Standout player Hayley Douglas is a
5-10 guard. They are all freshmen and sophomores except for tall eighth grader Rebecca Lee.
While Russellville gave up two to five inches at most positions, the Lady Panthers were quicker than their guests, especially with their hands. They
forced the Vikings into a number of turnovers, often by knocking the ball loose. But the Lady Panthers made plenty of turnovers on their own, usually
by trying to force the ball downcourt too quickly.
Australia went up 8-4, but Leandrea Hooiser hit a shot for RHS and Amber Sydnor scored on an assist by 6-foot freshman Kesi Neblett to tie it. Then
Sydnor hit a pair of free throws and Brittany Hampton one to put RHS ahead 11-8 at the half.
The Vikings kept cutting the lead to one but could never forge ahead. The Lady Panthers led 19-16 at the half.
Sydnor scored to make the lead 24-18, Hampton scored after a Sydnor steal, and Sydnor swished a 3-pointer on an assist from Imani Hampton to make it
29-18.
Still Australia wouldn't go away and pulled to within 32-28 on a flashy, spinning move by Douglas and then her 18-footer. Imani Hampton scored on an
assist by Nakia Daniel to make the RHS lead 34-28 entering the fourth quarter.
There was very little scoring in the fourth quarter. Russellville's quickness and conditioning wore down the international team. Douglas was obviously
winded and was still having to withstand the persistent RHS press of Coach Dedra Adler's Kentuckians.
Tameeka Rippy and Sydnor each finished wiht 11 points while Imani Hampton added 7, Brittany Hampton and Neblett 5 each, Daniel 4 and Hoosier 2. Also
playing were Nikki Rose and Victoria Hampton.
Douglas led the Vikings with 14 points and Sophie Anderson added 9.
The Lady Panthers play Middlesboro at 6:30 Tuesday, followed by the Lady Cougars against Garrard County. Middlesboro won over Russell County and
Garrard knocked off John Hardin in the tournament opener.