SCOTTSVILLE — Despite a furious comeback rally by Allen County-Scottsville, Barren County worked overtime to win its first district opener since 2010 in a 48-46 thriller over the Lady Patriots.
After trailing the Trojanettes 31-23 at the end of the third quarter, ACS outscored Barren 19-11 in the fourth quarter and used a last-second put-back by Bailee Alderman to send the contest to an extra period.
However, trailing 46-45 in the overtime period, the Trojanettes (2-2) used two late free throws and a pair of crucial rebounds from Karleigh Delk to end the game on a 3-0 run and seal the win.
Delk, a sophomore forward, has seen an increased role as an inside presence for Barren as starting forward McKenzie England has been kept out with a wrist injury throughout the first four games of the season.
“Karleigh is playing really well. I think she’s finally started to settle into her role,” Barren County head coach Piper Lindsey said. “I think early she maybe thought that she had to do too much and be the all-star, be she did a great job handling the basketball and attacking the rim and she had some big rebounds in the end when she missed that free throw. Her effort is something that you can’t coach, and I’m very proud of her.”
With the 46-45 overtime deficit, Delk was sent to the line and made one of her free throws and rebounded her missed second free throw before being fouled again.
After making her first free throw, her second again rattled off, but was picked up by Bailey Pedigo, who drew a foul while attempting a show. Pedigo missed her first free throw but made her second, and the Lady Patriots (1-2) were not able to convert on a full-court shot with just over one second remaining.
“Again, I think it just comes with the effort. We never gave up,” Lindsey said. “ACS is a good team, and they know how to win. I know we turned the ball over some, but we did a really good job at taking care of the ball when it mattered.”
The Trojanettes built a comfortable 19-12 lead early in the second quarter, but ACS rallied to cut the Barren lead to 22-17 at the halftime break.
Barren again found themselves with another comfortable 33-25 lead early in the fourth quarter, but eight points from Sarah Sutton and four points from Mason Towery helped the Lady Patriots end the last 6:57 of the quarter with a 15-7 run.
“[Mason] Towery and [Sarah] Sutton are tough players; they move really well with and without the basketball,” Lindsey said. “Coach Bonds has done a great job of setting up plays for them and getting the ball.”
Sutton led the Lady Patriots with 16 points while Towery added 10. Sutton also led ACS with eight rebounds while Towery, Alderson and Sydney Day each added four.
Pedigo led the Trojanettes with 14 points to accompany 13 each from Delk and Elizabeth Bertram. Pedigo grabbed seven rebounds while Jaylyn Bush tallied six for Barren. ACS out-rebounded the Trojanettes 25-22.
The Lady Patriots will go on the road to take on Bowling Green on Thursday in the first game of a boys and girls double-header.
After picking up its first win in a district opener since 2010, Barren County will host Monroe County on Friday evening.
“That’s something that these girls have never experienced, so that’s a positive,” Lindsey said of the district-opening win. “It’s nice, but record is still 0-0 going into Friday’s game. It’s a big win as far as confidence goes, and playing in close games like this can only make us better.”
