Friday, March 19, 1999
KY. GIRLS SWEET 16 ROUNDUP
Montgomery Co. extends streak to 20
BY TIM WHITMIRE
AP Sports Writer
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — For a little more than a half, it looked as though Marshall County might have a way to stop Montgomery County's march to a state title.
Then, quicker than you can say “Harmonie King and Whitney Lee,” the Lady Indians were off on a 15-5 run sparked by three steals and three transition baskets.
Suddenly, a seven-point deficit turned into a three-point lead, and Montgomery County was on its way to a 57-46 win Thursday in the first round of the Girls' Sweet Sixteen.
King led Montgomery County with 17 points, while Lee scored 15 and grabbed nine rebounds.
Montgomery County will face Wayne County, a winner over Breathitt County on Thursday, in Friday evening's first quarterfinal. The late game will pit Thursday evening's winners, Hopkins County Central and Assumption.
Two afternoon quarterfinals will feature Wednesday's first-round winners: Harlan vs. Shelby County and Lexington Catholic vs. Presentation.
The Lady Indians (32-2) have won 20 straight and have not lost to a Kentucky team this season, but did not look like the state's top-ranked team in falling behind 26-21 at halftime.
“We had some jitters in the first half,” Montgomery County coach Hopey Newkirk said. “We were not moving well enough on offense.”
Marshall County (28-4) was led by Jessica Ethridge's 19 points. Ethridge had 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in the first half, as Marshall County shot 62.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded Montgomery County 15-10.
The second half was a different story, as Montgomery County put on the press and forced eight turnovers by the Lady Marshals.
For the game, Montgomery County had 20 points off turnovers to just four for Marshall County.
Assumption 60, Allen County-Scottsville 44
Six-foot-three center Jenni Benningfield had 29 points, including 20 in the first half, as Assumption advanced easily to the quarterfinals.
Benningfield, a junior, dominated at both ends of the floor. She shot 12-of-16 from the floor, made all five 3-pointers she attempted, pulled down 11 rebounds and blocked seven Allen County shots.
With a first round-record 6,135 fans watching, including Kentucky coach Bernadette Mattox, Benningfield wasted no time showing why she was the leading vote-getter in this year's all-state voting and is a top candidate for the Miss Basketball award.
She scored eight points in the first four minutes of the game, as Assumption jumped out 12-4 on her layup and back-to-back 3-pointers.
Benningfield later closed the half with another pair of consecutive 3s, helping the Rockets to a 31-22 lead at the break.
Andi Johnson led Allen County with 11 points, while Kristie Ballard had 10 for the Patriots (24-6).
Wayne County 55, Breathitt County 50
Wayne County made eight of 12 free throws in the final minutes and grabbed two key offensive rebounds in ending Breathitt County's 24-game winning streak.
Guard Whitney Shearer led Wayne County (22-9) with 18 points, including three 3-pointers. Claudia Parris grabbed 11 rebounds.
Janie Oliver led Breathitt County (29-5) with 15 points, and Lauren Hendrickson had 14 points for the Bobcats.
The game turned on a late sequence in which Wayne County grabbed back-to-back offensive rebounds of missed free throws.
With 23.5 seconds left and the Lady Cardinals leading 49-47, Lindsey Dick was fouled and went to the line for one-and-one, making the first and missing the second.
Somehow, Wayne County point guard Whitney Shearer — listed on the roster at 5-foot-7, but actually more like 5-4 — came up with the rebound and was immediately fouled.
With Shearer at the line for one-and-one, the sequence repeated itself: she made the first, missed the second and teammate Claudia Parris grabbed the rebound and was fouled.
Parris made one of two, pushing the lead to 52-47.
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