Months before the 2015-16 District 14 girls basketball season began, the smart money was on an eventual tournament final between Bowling Green and South Warren. But, both schools had to win semifinal round games first, and after Bowling Green dispatched of Greenwood 86-48 on Tuesday night, it was up to South Warren to fulfill the widely expected prediction.
Warren Central entered Bowling Green High School to play the Lady Spartans down one starter as Karajah Leach suffered what is believed to be an ACL injury near the end of the regular season. Offensively, the Lady Dragons have consistently relied upon Tia Barnett and to a lesser extent, Zakoria Hill. For South Warren, Amaya Lasley, Timitryi Patterson, and Deanna Taylor have emerged as a triumvirate of scoring.
However, as has been the case virtually all season, when South Warren wins big, the Lady Spartans do it first and foremost with stifling defense leading to turnovers and transition buckets. That was indeed the story on Tuesday night, as Blane Embry’s club led wire to wire and essentially ended Warren Central’s hopes by halftime.
Lasley scored 15 in the first half, which was just three short of what WCHS was able to muster as a team during the same time frame. South Warren hit five three pointers in the half as well, led 19-9 after the opening quarter and 35-18 at the break, and the deficit would only get worse from there.
The second half was a breeze and the Lady Spartans forced a running clock early in the fourth quarter. Barnett did what she could, but every shot she took was contested, and virtually no one else could find any room whatsoever to operate with the basketball. Lasley added six more to finish with a game-high 21 and both Timitryi Patterson and Deanna Taylor scored in double figures. The huge lead allowed Coach Embry to rest his starters, not risking injury or fatigue, knowing the Lady Purples are waiting for them on Friday night.
Amaya Lasley was named Bluegrass Cellular STBN Player of the Game. Coverage of the D-14 Girls Final will be available on Friday night for both schools through the Sporting Times Broadcast Network.
FINAL: South Warren 63, Warren Central 34
SW: Lasley 21, Taylor 10, Patterson 10
GW: Barnett 14, Cousin 7
