Last Thursday night South Warren was able to hang on for a 68-62 victory over Bowling Green in the 14th District Championship Game, and the Spartans have won all three meetings against the Lady Purples this season.
But the slate will we wiped clean when the two sides meet for the fourth time this season with a much bigger prize on the line: the Fourth Region title and a spot in the St. Elizabeth Healthcare/KHSAA Girls Sweet Sixteen Basketball Tournament at Northern Kentucky University’s BB&T Arena this upcoming week.
This will be the fourth meeting this season between the two district rivals. The Spartans took a narrow 63-58 decision at Bowling Green on Jan. 5, but South rolled to a 69-30 victory on its home floor later that same month. South prevailed in the district title game by hanging on for a hard-earned 68-62 victory.
“We’ve played them close twice and in the middle game we were missing a player (Taylor Ragland),” Bowling Green head coach Calvin Head said. “We feel like when we’re healthy we can compete. They’re really, really good, but we still feel like we can compete and have an opportunity to get a win.”
Bowling Green (19-12) is coming off a convincing 72-39 win over 13th District champion Logan County in the semifinals on Friday night. Senior Keely Morrow led the Lady Purples to victory by scoring a game-high 23 points.
South Warren (31-3) is also coming off a solid win, as the Spartans held off a feisty Glasgow team 63-46 to punch their ticket to the championship.
“We’re really, really excited,” South Warren head coach Blane Embry said. “I’m really excited for them to get in (Saturday) night because this is the first time for our program. Bowling Green has been here several times and they know the ropes a little bit. This will be a different feeling. There’s just nothing like it.We look forward to the challenge (Saturday) night.”
South Warren is led in scoring by senior Amaya Lasley (16.6 PPG) and junior Natalie Pierce (13.3 PPG). Senior Jordan McDonald also pours in 10.8 points per night for the Spartans. Pierce has especially played well so far in the tournament, scoring 22 points against Todd County Central on Tuesday night and 16 against Glasgow on Friday night.
The winner of Saturday night’s game will play the Fifth Region champion (Elizabethtown or Bardstown) at BB&T Arena at 1:30 p.m., E.T. on Wednesday afternoon in the first round of the state tournament.
