For about 20 seconds Monday, Bishop Brossart led George Rogers Clark.
The four-time defending girls 10th Region champion Cardinals took care of the final 31:40 – a 77-23 running clock, region quarterfinal victory on their home floor.
Brossart coach Aaron Stamm was nonetheless proud for what his team did in his first year in Alexandria.
“Oh yeah, we had a great year,” Stamm said. “We’re not gonna let this game define us.”
Brossart finished at 25-8, and the season had lots of highlights: a 13-0 start; winning the Lady Invitational of the South in December; and January’s 10th Region All “A” title and reaching the state small-school semifinals in Owensboro.
Stamm couldn’t decide which was his favorite shining moment.
“But yeah, both things,” he said. “And it all happened in about a three-week span.”
Several Lady ‘Stangs used the same word: bonding.
For sophomore guard Kylie Smith and senior Rachel Shewmaker, playing laser tag and going bowling were favorite memories. Smith said Shewmaker was the best on the lanes.
“I love bowling,” Shewmaker said.
A question arose: did Shewmaker roll a perfect 300? A 200? A 150?
“Probably, like, 100,” Shewmaker admitted. “I’m the best of the worst.”
Stamm’s Monday strategy was as elementary as a game between 8-year-olds: guard and make baskets.
Problem was, Brossart did neither – GRC’s Kennedy Stamper scored 18 first-half points and led everyone with 22.
Lilee Meyers’ layup in the paint with 7:40 to go in the first quarter was Brossart’s first, last and only lead.
The first inkling that Brossart’s season would end came a little more than a minute later – Teigh Yeast, Stamper and Kyleigh Chestnut knocked down 3s.
“Move it, move it!,” GRC coach Robbie Graham screamed.
The Cardinals did – quickly. A 23-8 first quarter effectively ended the suspense.
What almost went unnoticed was Yeast’s defense on Brossart’s Kylie Smith. The Lady ‘Stangs’ leading scorer averaged 17.6 points for the season with only four free throws Monday.
“I just think she wanted to stay in front of me and just make it hard,” Smith said.
An early second-quarter play illustrated what happened. A little less than a minute in, Yeast’s steal left Smith falling to the floor, and Stamper scored a few seconds later.
“Attack it! Attack!” Stamm hollered.
Instead, GRC (27-2) finished the quarter with an 18-2 run and a 47-15 halftime lead.
In Friday’s semifinals at Harrison County, GRC meets Mason County (a 59-42 winner over Pendleton County) at 6 p.m., followed by Campbell County (a 76-61 winner over Pendleton County) vs. Nicholas County, who eliminated Bracken County, 61-39.
The finals are scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday.
Most of Brossart’s team returns – Shewmaker and Luciana Guidugli are the only seniors.
“We like what we have coming back,” Stamm said. “A lot of kids to work with, and hopefully a lot of kids that are hungry to get better.”
CARDINALS 77, LADY ‘STANGS 23
BISHOP BROSSART — 8-7-2-6 – 23
GR CLARK — 23-24-15-15 – 77
Bishop Brossart (23) — Meyers 3, Smith 2, Shewmaker 4, Wietholter 7, Kuper 3, Kramer 4. 3-Pt. FG: 2 (Kuper, Wietholter). FT: 7-12. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.
GR Clark (77) — Stamper 22, K. Chestnut 10, Honaker 2, Kennedy 2, Edmondson 8, Yeast 11, Strode 2, Harper 5, A. Chestnut 3, Miller 12. 3-Pt. FG: 7 (Stamper 2, K. Chestnut 2, Miller 2, Yeast). FT: 10-12. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.
Records: Bishop Brossart 25-8, George Rogers Clark 27-2.