Perhaps stuns may not be a correct term, but when you consider that the Lady Bulldogs have not had a long stretch of success in their short history existing around such district powers as Elizabethtown, North Hardin and Central Hardin, their recent play might have surprised some.
After posting their high watermark in wins last season, coach Bryan Todd’s team was still very formidable despite losing center Michelle Montgomery, but coming into the 2013-2014 season, they were transformed into a smaller, quicker version of last year’s squad and facing 5th Region foe LaRue County, which was a distant runner-up to state champion Marion County it looked like a matchup nightmare with the much taller Lady Hawks.
Instead, the Lady Bulldogs, who played without three players and had four players eventually foul out and had several more in serious foul trouble overcame an early 14-5 first period deficit and shot their way back into the game. John Hardin made nine three’s, Sophomore Emily Bohannon had five and finished with a team high 18-points. Guard Tajah Haley tacked on 14 more as John Hardin outlasted the Lady Hawks, 73-70. It was LaRue County’s fourth loss, but the first three were to Top Ranked teams. Lady Hawks held a lead late after Alexis Brewer’s free-throw gave the Lady Hawks a 60-54 lead with 5:53 remaining, but a 7-0 run by John Hardin gave the Lady Bulldogs their first lead of the game. The twin towers (Brewer) finished with 27 points and Ivy Brown, hampered by foul trouble scored 22 until she finally fouled out with 1:04 to go. In the end, the Lady Bulldogs showed much resolve in a game that in the past they would have lost. During a 44-41 loss to North Hardin, John Hardin stayed in the game by playing an ugly physical style of play and that may be what keeps them alive in the region race this season.
