Final statistics for Logan County’s regional semifinals loss Saturday attest to the belief that Bowling Green’s win was predicated on the Lady Cougars’ inability to shoot straight on and the Lady Purples’ taking advantage of camping on the free throw line.
Even though Coach Finley Baird’s team managed to get off 59 shots—more than twice the Lady Purples’ 26 field goal attempts, BGH won 46-39.
One of the problems was that Logan shot atrociously, hitting just 17 of those 59 shots for 28.8 percent. That included 15 of 45 from short range and 2 of 14 from 3-point territory. Take out the 8 of 14 shooting by junior center Brooke Barnes, and the Lady Cougars were 9 of 45 for 20 percent.
The other deciding factor involved fouls and free throw shooting. The Lady Cougars went to the foul line just eight times in the game, hitting a paltry three. On the other hand, the Purples were awarded 30 free throws and Coach Lavonda Johnson’s team hit 20 of them.
So, LCHS outscored the Lady Purples 36-26 from the field and still lost by seven points.
Senior Kapreshia Powell fouled out while Maegann Hardison, Torrie Pollard and Rachel Barnett were whistled for four personals each. That limited their playing time while First Region officials struggled to tell the difference between a charge and a block. Best wishes to them as they continue their search for understanding of the rule book.
Still Logan made the game close. After falling behind 31-14, the Lady Cougars came back. A goal by Powell cut the lead to 39-36, and Pollard’s free throw returned that 3-point margin with 20 seconds, but Lady Purple star Oneisha Turner hit a pair of free throws to clinch the win.
Defense was a key for both teams. BGH shut down Powell and Pollard. Logan held Oneisha Turner to four points and Keely Vincent to five.
Sophomore Markizjah Mimms led BGH with 12 points by hitting three 3-pointers. Last year she scored 12 and 10 points in her last two games against the Lady Cougars while playing for Todd Central. Center Ta Mia Matthews scored five points for the Lady Purples. She is the daughter of Logan County native Stephanie Mason.
The star of the game was Logan’s Barnes, who totaled 17 points and 10 rebounds. She also blocked five shots and had a steal.
In her last game as a five-year Lady Cougar (as was Powell), Hardison had six points on the only two 3-pointers the Lady Cougars managed, and added 4 each of assists, rebounds and deflections.
Taleia Mason scored 7 points and had 2 steals, 2 rebounds, an assist and a deflection. The other junior guard, Pollard, had 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 deflections. Powell and Barnett each had 3 rebounds.
The Lady Cougars finished with a 21-10 record along with their second straight district championship and their second First Southern National Bank Christmas Classic championship in three seasons. Hardison and Barnes were named all-regional tournament.
Bowling Green improved to 26-7 before losing to Allen County-Scottsville in the championship game the next afternoon.
Score by Quarters: 1) BGH 10-4, 2) 22-11, 3) 35-25, Final) Bowling Green 46, Logan County 39
BGH (46) Markizjah Mimms 13, Deja Moore 8, Ta Mia Matthews 5, Keely Vincent 5, Oneisha Turner 4, Taylor Hunter 2, Nataia Martin 2, Heavyn Gray 2
LCHS (39) Brooke Barnes 17, Taleia Mason 7, Maegann Hardison 6, Rachel Barnett 6, Kapreshia Powell 2, Torrie Powell 1, Cierra Johnson, Jessica Hines