Kapreshia Powell and Maegann Hardison are in their fifth season of high school basketball, and their experience was on display in a 66-38 win at Russellville Friday in the first Clash of the Cats this season. Powell scored 21 points, pulled down 5 rebounds, and recorded 2 each of steals and assists. A guard, Hardison had 10 rebounds, 4 each of assists and deflections, and 2 steals and a blocked shot.
These seniors are Cougar legacies. Powell’s mother, the former LeAnn Meguiar, was a cheerleader in the early years of LCHS, her uncle, Eric Meguiar, was a standout on the first Cougar baseball team, and her cousin, Erica Meguiar, is one of the top two or three softball players in LCHS history. Hardison’s dad, Chad, is one of the Cougars’ all-time best shooters, and he went on to play college ball.
Three juniors with rich Logan bloodlines contributed mightily. Torrie Pollard’s mom, the former Pam Collins, was the defensive stopper on the first Lady Cougar regional championship team in 1989. Torrie was a varsity starter for Muhlenberg County the last two years before moving to Logan County. Brooke Barnes’ mom, the former Gwen Dawson, was a starter on the second state quarterfinal team the following season, her uncle, Karl Wayne Dawson, was a starter on the state championship basketball team in 1984, and her cousin, Sara Speck, was one of the Lady Cougars’ most productive players of this century. Taleia Mason’s dad, Lonnie Mason, was a member of the 1993 Cougar regional finalist basketball team and also a key member of the football and track teams. He’s in his third year as the LCHS boys basketball team.
Barnes piled up 14 points, 9 rebounds, blocked shots, 2 steals and an assist. Pollard had an impressive stat line of 9 points, 4 each of rebounds, deflections and blocked shots, and 2 each of assists and steals. Mason had 4 rebounds, 3 deflections, a steal and an assist.
Junior Cierra Johnson, the daughter of Kandi Chyle Slaton, who played basketball for both Logan and Russellville, had 6 points, 3 steals and 2 deflections along with an assist and a rebound. She’s a cousin of former players Tina and Sheila Chyle, who both played college basketball.
Coach Calvin Head’s Lady Panthers, on the other hand, are very young. No seniors are on the roster. Devonya Bryant and Raegan Wilkerson are the only juniors. Everyone else is younger. Each game, each play is a work in progress. And it’s obvious they are progressing under his guidance.
There are some strong bloodlines, too. Loreal Cheaney, who is often the team’s leading scorer, is the daughter of Sarah Higgins Cheaney, who played for both RHS and LCHS, was a Kentucky All-Star when her Lady Cougar days ended, and played collegiately for Murray State. Her aunts Catherine and Jane were good players for the Lady Panthers, her Uncle Joe Higgins was a winning football lineman, her Kennedy cousins have been good players at RHS, and her Miller cousins have been standout volleyball players at LCHS. Freshman post player Carleigh Phillips is the daughter of Brooke Milam Phillips, who was a tough inside player for the Lady Panthers, and the granddaughter of James Milam, who was a football lineman for the Panthers. Sophomore Addie Henley is close kin to the Noes who have played football well for the Panthers, including Henry, Steve and Greg.
Bryant scored 16 points and Cheaney 12 on this night.
The Lady Panthers made a second-quarter run, outscoring their guests 16-15 in the second quarter and cutting the LCHS lead to 5, but the second half entirely belonged to the visitors.
Score by quarters: 1) LCHS 18-7, 2) 33-23, 3) 46-29, Final) Logan County 66, Russellville 38
LCHS (66) Kapreshia Powell 21, Brooke Barnes 16, Torrie Pollard 9, Cierra Johnson 6, Rachel Barnett 4, Jessica Hines 4, Maegann Hardison 3, Taleia Mason 3, Ann Meguiar Bouldin, Amber Carroll, Kechera Palacios
RHS (38) Devona Bryant 16, Loreal Cheaney 12, Deshale Leblanc 4, Denise Stovall 3, Jalonda Wells, Tiffany Gray, Victoria Day, Sarianna Allen, Addie Henley