The survive and advance phrase more than applied to the Walton-Verona girls basketball team (14-13 overall) in the 32nd District semifinals.
Walton-Verona found itself down 18-11 at halftime against the Grant County Lady Braves (11-17). But the host Bearcats came back in the second half to record a 48-44 win Monday.
“I think we definitely had some nerves coming out in the beginning, which was to be expected,” said Rianna Gayheart, Walton-Verona head coach. “We have a few kids who’ve never really played significant minutes in a championship game. Being on your home floor, you want to win a championship so there’s a little extra pressure there.”
The rally began with senior guard Audrey Carrico. Carrico scored 21 points, making eight of 12 free throws. The Bearcats often made things happen when they drove into the paint.
“We didn’t really start out in our game plan well so we just wanted to keep attacking,” Carrico said. “We just believed in each other. I think that’s what really paid off in the end.”
Walton-Verona made 14 of 46 shots for 30 percent including three of 17 from three-point range for 17 percent. The Bearcats hit their free throws down the stretch making 17 of 23 for 73 percent including 13 of 16 in the fourth quarter for 81 percent.
Shooting 30 to 40 free throws in practice paid dividends in this game, Gayheart said.
Walton-Verona junior wing Grace Brewer came into the game averaging 15.4 points per game. Brewer scored 10 points, but made four crucial free throws in the fourth quarter to go with two assists.
“I think this game was a real eye-opener that we just can’t come out how we did in the first half,” Brewer said. “We’ve played with this group for years. Now it’s our time to go out there and show them what we can do.”
Grant County’s two main threats are left-handed junior power forward Emily Naranjo and freshman shooting guard Jada Cummins. Naranjo scored 20 and Cummins had nine including one triple. Sophomore wing Sarah Russell added nine points to go with 11 rebounds and two blocked shots.
Walton-Verona finished with five assists, one blocked shot, 31 rebounds, four steals, 16 fouls and 12 turnovers. No one fouled out for the Bearcats. But two finished with four fouls.
Grant County had three blocked shots, 35 rebounds, four steals, 14 fouls and 13 turnovers. One player, junior point guard Dakota Rowe, fouled out.
“I didn’t want to pressure right away to risk foul trouble in a district tournament game,” Gayheart said. “I didn’t want most of my starters sitting on the bench most of the first half so we tried to go in a little light in the beginning. Then once we turned up the pressure, that was big for us. It helped us create offense off our defense.”
The Lady Braves finished the first quarter with a 7-0 run to grab an 11-5 lead. Rowe made two free throws with 48.6 seconds left in the first half to put Grant County up 18-11 at halftime.
But Walton-Verona came out and scored the first six points of the second half. Brewer finished it with a three-point play to cut the Grant County lead to 18-17.
After Naranjo made two free throws, Carrico had a three-point play to tie the game at 20. Carrico hit a triple from the right wing with 4:05 left in the third quarter to give Walton-Verona a 25-24 advantage.
Carrico hit junior wing Jenna Rodgers in the left corner to give Walton-Verona a 30-26 advantage. But Grant County tied it at 30 when Naranjo made two free throws with 1:14 to go in the third quarter.
Walton-Verona finished the quarter with a 5-0 run to go up 35-30 entering the fourth quarter. Carrico had a three-point play and freshman forward Braylin Terrell made a lay-up with 15.4 seconds left.
Walton-Verona led the entire fourth quarter. Cummins recorded a steal and score to trim the margin to 38-35 with 4:34 left in the game. But the Bearcats made six free throws in a row to build its biggest lead at 44-35 with 1:50 left. Brewer, Carrico and junior wing Jenna Rodgers made two each.
The Lady Braves did make things interesting in the final minute. Naranjo made two free throws with 20.7 seconds left to trim the margin to 47-44 before Carrico made 1-of-2 to make the final score. The last Grant County shot did not fall.
Basketball, Girls:
32nd District Semifinals:
Simon Kenton 68, Williamstown 24
The Lady Pioneers (17-11) and Bearcats will play for the 32nd District championship for the 13th time since the current format started in 2006 after Simon Kenton thrashed the Lady Demons (13-16) in the first game. Game time is Thursday at 7 p.m. back at Walton-Verona.
Grant County has finished district tournament runner-up four times during that time span. They came in 2021, 2017, 2013 and 2006.
Senior guard Teanna Griffin said Simon Kenton is definitely motivated knowing long-time Head Coach Jeffrey Stowers will be stepping down when the season ends. Stowers took over the program in 2002.
“It’s really important to make it as far as we can this year,” Griffin said. “It’s our last year as seniors then going out with (Stowers) retiring. We’re going to keep fighting.”
Simon Kenton beat Williamstown with consistent pressure all over the court. The Lady Pioneers recorded eight steals off 10 Lady Demon turnovers.
“We kept them from getting into the gaps,” Stowers said. “They got away for a couple baskets. We like to stop dribble penetration and make you kick. This is the best job we’ve done all year.”
Senior guard Alexis Baker led the way recording three steals on her way to 20 points. Baker made eight of 12 shots for 67 percent including two of five from three-point land for 40 percent and both free throws. Baker and her teammates made things happen attacking the rim.
“We had to come together on the defensive end, get the stops and get the transition on the offensive end,” Baker said. “We stopped the ball in the gaps. Honestly, I don’t think (the Lady Demons) took the ball out once under their basket. We played together as one.”
Simon Kenton senior center Sereniti Webb finished with 12 points. Ten different Lady Pioneers scored in the game.
Webb hit a jumper in the center for the game’s first basket. After senior Trinity Pence made a three-pointer, Simon Kenton went ahead for good. Baker made two three-point plays to give the Lady Pioneers an 18-9 advantage before Webb made two free throws to put Simon Kenton up 20-9.
Eighth grader Anna Kelch made a three from the left wing to put the Lady Pioneers up 23-11 after one quarter. Kelch started along with Webb, Baker, junior forward Emilee Eggleston and seventh grade point guard Brynli Pernell. But Kelch and Pernell played with the same calm the upperclassmen showed.
Simon Kenton essentially put the game away in the second quarter outscoring Williamstown, 16-2 to go up 39-11. Stowers agreed it marked the best half Simon Kenton has played all season.
“I think they got the message this is the real season,” Stowers said. “We stressed that the last couple days, last couple weeks. You have to play your best now.”
Baker scored 10 points during that run. Eighth grader forward Taylor Masters prevented the goose egg in the second quarter scoring with 27.8 seconds left for Williamstown.
Simon Kenton expanded the lead to 33 at one point at 50-17 in the third quarter. Kelch recorded a steal and score with 3:07 left in the quarter to make that score. Simon Kenton led 56-24 entering the fourth quarter.
The Lady Pioneers shut out the Lady Demons, 12-0 in the final quarter. Griffin had an offensive rebound with 6:45 left in the game to put Simon Kenton up 60-24 enforcing the running clock.
Simon Kenton made 26 of 42 shots for 61 percent including seven of 16 from three-point range for 43 percent and nine of 11 free throws for 81 percent. The Lady Pioneers also had five assists, 30 rebounds, 11 fouls and eight turnovers.
Senior Tori Fryman led Williamstown with seven points. The Lady Demons made seven of 30 shots for 23 percent, including two of nine from three-point range for 22 percent. Williamstown also had one assist, 13 rebounds, two steals and 10 fouls.
Basketball, Boys:
33rd District First Round:
Ryle 83, Heritage Academy 47:
The Raiders (13-19) earned a convincing win to open the tournament against the Eagles (8-14). They had 28 points to two off turnovers.
Ryle may have a sub-.500 record. But the Raiders have lost 12 games by single digits.
“Our only goal for the game was to have a refuse to lose attitude,” said Keaton Belcher, Ryle head coach. “That’s kind of our motto this week. Don’t get beat on your home court. Our guys came out ready to play and I thought we shared the ball really well. That was a huge key in the final score.”
Ryle saw three players score in double figures and 12 overall. Senior guard Connor Bishop led the way scoring 18 points making seven of nine shots, including three three-pointers.
“I think us falling short in all these close games is just going to really help us get over the hump,” Bishop said. “It all starts with having fun. Once we do that, we just play loose. We play together. Everyone is high-fiving and smiling. If we can do that, then we’re really hard to beat.”
Senior forward/guard Brayden Smith followed with 14 and senior guard Donovan Robinson scored 10. The duo made two three-pointers each.
The Raiders had 1.2 points per possession to .73 for Heritage Academy. Ryle made 34-of-74 shots for 46 percent including 10 of 29 from three-point range for 35 percent and five of nine free throws for 56 percent. They also had 32 rebounds, 12 fouls, five assists and five turnovers.
Freshman forward Landon Warner led Heritage Academy with 14 points. The Eagles made 18 of 49 shots for 37 percent including three of 11 three-point tries for 27 percent and eight of 11 free throws for 73 percent. The Eagles also had 36 rebounds, six fouls and three steals.
Ryle led just 20-15 after one. But the broke it open in the second quarter leading 42-24 at halftime and 60-32 entering the fourth quarter.
The Raiders face the Cooper Jaguars (21-5) in the region semifinals back at Ryle on Wednesday. Game time is 6 p.m.
NKY District Tournament Schedules:
Girls:
32nd District at Walton-Verona:
Semifinals on Monday, Feb. 21:
Simon Kenton 68, Williamstown 24
Walton-Verona 48, Grant County 44
Title Game on Thursday, Feb. 24:
Walton-Verona (14-13) vs. Simon Kenton (17-11), 7 p.m.
33rd District at Ryle:
Semifinals on Tuesday, Feb. 22:
Ryle (18-8) vs. Boone County (2-25), 6 p.m.
Cooper (18-9) vs. Conner (22-3), 7:45 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 24:
Title Game, 7 p.m.
34th District at Ludlow:
First Round on Monday, Feb. 21:
Lloyd Memorial 61, Villa Madonna 27
Semifinals on Tuesday, Feb. 22:
Dixie Heights (22-7) vs. Lloyd Memorial (15-13), 5:30 p.m.
St. Henry (16-13) vs. Ludlow (24-6), 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 24:
Title Game, 7 p.m.
35th District at Holy Cross:
Semifinals on Tuesday, Feb. 22:
Notre Dame (21-3) vs. Beechwood (10-20), 6 p.m.
Holy Cross (18-12) vs. Holmes (10-17), 8 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 24:
Title Game, 7 p.m.
36th District at Bellevue:
First Round on Monday, Feb. 21:
Newport 59, Dayton 39
Semifinals on Tuesday, Feb. 22:
Newport (18-8) vs. Newport Central Catholic (19-10), 6 p.m.
Highlands (11-15) vs. Bellevue (16-11), 8 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 24:
Title Game, 7 p.m.
37th District at Campbell County Middle School:
Semifinal Game on Monday, Feb. 21:
Campbell County 39, Scott 33
Title Game on Wednesday, Feb. 23:
Campbell County (11-17) vs. Bishop Brossart (18-10), 7 p.m.
Boys:
32nd District at Walton-Verona:
Semifinal on Tuesday, Feb. 22:
Grant County (17-14) vs. Williamstown (15-14), 7 p.m.
Semifinal on Wednesday, Feb. 23:
Walton-Verona (17-10) vs. Simon Kenton (14-11), 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 25:
Championship Game, 7 p.m.
33rd District at Ryle:
First Round on Monday, Feb. 21:
Ryle 83, Heritage Academy 47
Semifinals on Wednesday, Feb 23:
Ryle (13-19) vs. Cooper (21-5), 6 p.m.
Conner (18-9) vs. Boone County (14-15), 7:45 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 25:
Championship Game, 7 p.m.
34th District at Ludlow:
First Round on Monday, Feb. 21:
Ludlow 73, Villa Madonna 48
Semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 23:
Ludlow (14-15) vs. Dixie Heights (18-6), 5:30 p.m.
St. Henry (14-9) vs. Lloyd Memorial (20-6), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 25:
Championship Game, 7 p.m.
35th District at Holy Cross:
Semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 23:
Covington Catholic (23-4) vs. Beechwood (7-18), 5:30 p.m.
Holy Cross (19-8) vs. Holmes (11-16), 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 25:
Championship Game, 7 p.m.
36th District at Bellevue:
First Round on Monday, Feb. 21:
Dayton 76, Bellevue 46
Semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 23:
Dayton (14-14) vs. Highlands (20-8), 6 p.m.
Newport (8-17) vs. Newport Central Catholic (10-17), 8 p.m.
37th District at Campbell County Middle School:
Semifinal Games on Tuesday, Feb. 22:
Campbell County (17-10) vs. Calvary Christian (20-10), 6 p.m.
Scott (7-20) vs. Bishop Brossart (11-17), 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 24:
Championship Game, 7 p.m.