Holy Cross lost a heartbreaker in the state semifinals of the All “A” Classic girls basketball tournament Saturday afternoon at Eastern Kentucky University’s McBrayer Arena in Richmond.
The Holy Cross girls team lost to Owen County, 37-36, after sophomore Haley Logan made the first free throw of a one-and-one bonus with no time remaining to break a 36-all tie.
MORE: Five storylines for the All "A" Classic.
She drew the foul after picking up the loose ball following a missed 3-pointer by Holy Cross senior Hanna Robinson. Logan fell on Owen County’s side of the midcourt stripe while trying to pass the ball to a teammate into the frontcourt for a buzzer-beating shot. Holy Cross sophomore Julia Hunt, who was trying to get the ball, was called for the foul.
After a timeout by Holy Cross and much discussions between coaches of both teams and the officials, Logan, a 61-percent shooter from the free-throw line, sank the foul shot to win it.
It was a tough finish for the Indians, who were looking for their second All “A” state championship. They lost in the semifinals for the fifth time in team history.
Holy Cross led by seven points, 25-18, late in the third quarter, and by five at 35-30 with 2:42 to play following two foul shots by Robinson.
Three-pointers by Logan and Laurel Lewis brought the Rebels back. Lewis’s three tied the game at 36 with 1:36 to play.
Owen County missed three free throws in the final minute. Holy Cross took possession with 39 seconds left and worked for the final shot. Robinson got an open look from three off a pass from teammate Aleah Arlinghaus, but missed, and the ball caromed out to the free-throw line. Logan got to it first and started the play that led to her winning free throw.
Hunt, a 6-foot-2-inch sophomore forward, had 17 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. She was named to the all-tournament team after a dominant performance in HC’s two wins in the tournament.
In the first round, a 60-36 win over Paris, Hunt posted a triple-double with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 blocks, while also adding two assists and a steal.
In the quarterfinals, a 50-33 win over Lyon County, Hunt had 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks, plus two assists and two steals.
HC’s Miyah Wimzie had eight points in the semifinals, plus four rebounds and two steals. She was also an all-tourney pick after getting six points and three assists in the first round, and five points and four assists in the quarterfinals.
Holy Cross struggled against a tough Owen County defense that had not allowed more than 40 points in seven of its previous eight games.
Holy Cross shot 32.4 percent from the floor. The Indians came in averaging six 3-pointers per game but could only make one Saturday.
Owen County moves on to Sunday afternoon’s final.
HOLY CROSS (15-9): Hunt 6 5 17, Arlinghaus 2 2 6, Wimzie 3 2 8, Robinson 0 2 2, Bottom 1 0 3. Totals: 12 11 36.
OWEN COUNTY (17-6): Lewis 2 1 7, Logan 3 1 8, Moore 2 2 1, Ferguson 5 2 12, Goodrich 1 0 2, Howard 0 1 1. Totals: 13 7 37.
Halftime: OC 13-12. 3-pointers: HC 1 (Bottom), OC 4 (Lewis 2, Logan, Moore).
Source link
