Thanks to St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sports Medicine for sponsoring our girls’ high school basketball coverage this season. See all of our girls’ basketball stories here and watch for state tournament coverage March 9-13 from BB&T Arena on the campus of Northern Kentucky University.
By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
Holy Cross girls’ basketball coach Kes Murphy finally got to compliment his team’s effort after a 41-37 win over Notre Dame in the 35th District semifinals on Wednesday at Holy Cross.
“I’m so proud of these girls,” Murphy said in a post-game interview. “I think this is first time they really played from start to finish all season long, and it came at the right time.”
The defending state champions opened the playoff game with a 10-0 run. After Notre Dame made its first field goal midway through the second quarter, the Pandas were able to close the gap to 14-11 by halftime.
The lead changed hands four times in the third quarter and Notre Dame tied the score, 24-24, on a a 3-point basket by junior guard Jenna Martin earlier in the fourth.
That’s when Holy Cross ran off eight straight points to take control and the Indians secured the victory by making nine of their final 12 free throw attempts.
Holy Cross junior guard Zyah Beal made two of those game-clinching foul shots and finished with 15 points. Notre Dame junior guard Kennedy Baugh made four 3-point goals to account for most of her 16 points.
Earlier this month, Notre Dame beat Holy Cross, 48-37, behind a 29-point performance by Martin. She was limited to 13 points in the district semifinal game.
Holy Cross (16-10) will play Holmes (24-4) in the district title game at 7:30 p.m. Friday and both teams will advance to next week’s 9th Region tournament. Last week, Holmes edged Holy Cross, 55-48, to retain its perfect record against Northern Kentucky teams this season.