By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Walton-Verona wanted to become the first Northern Kentucky high school to reach the Kentucky All “A” Classic boys and girls championship finals in the same year when the small-school state tournament began earlier this week.
The girls team did its part by winning three games, including a 58-54 victory over West Carter in the semifinals on Saturday at Eastern Kentucky University’s McBrayer Arena.
The boys team also made it to the semifinals, but had its worst offensive outing of the season in a 48-22 loss to defending state champion Lexington Christian on Saturday.
Walton-Verona fans will watch their girls team play Owensboro Catholic in the first championship game at noon Sunday. Lexington Christian will take on University Heights in the boys final at 2 p.m.
This is the third straight year that Lexington Christian has eliminated Walton-Verona in the boys state tournament. The teams met in the championship game last year and the quarterfinals in 2017.
The Walton-Verona girls team will get a shot at its second All “A” Classic state title against Owensboro Catholic. The Bearcats won their first one in 2012.
Owensboro Catholic defeated Holy Cross, 57-42, in the other girls semifinal game on Saturday to prevent two local teams from meeting in the state final.
Here’s what happened in all three state tournament games that involved Northern Kentucky teams:
WALTON-VERONA 58, WEST CARTER 54 (girls)
Walton-Verona led by 11 points early in the second quarter, but West Carter made a steady comeback and tied the score, 47-47, midway through the fourth quarter.
The Bearcats had a slim two-point lead, 51-49, with 2:12 remaining. Field goals by junior forwards Emma Strunk and Emma Gutman and three free throws by sophomore point guard Haylee Neely enabled their team to come out on top.
Strunk finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Her senior teammate, Brooke Perry, also posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Walton-Verona had a 16-6 scoring advantage at the free throw line and won the battle on the boards by a 41-33 margin.
The Bearcats take an 18-5 record and five-game winning streak into the championship final. Owensboro Catholic (16-6) has won seven in a row.
LEXINGTON CHRISTIAN 48, WALTON-VERONA 22 (boys)
Walton-Verona shot 48 and 50 percent from the field in its first two state tournament victories, but the Bearcats were 8-of-34 for 23.5 percent in their frustrating semifinal loss.
The last time a Walton-Verona team scored less than 30 points in a game was a 53-24 loss at Owen County during the 2006-07 season.
Five of the nine Bearcats who played in Saturday’s game missed every one of their field goal attempts. The team was 0-for-16 from behind the 3-point arc, committed 10 turnovers and had only two second-chance points.
The 17-4 Bearcats need to shake off the loss and get ready for district seeding games at home against Williamstown on Tuesday and Grant County on Friday. Then they’ll face Scott County, the state’ top-ranked team, on Saturday at Lexington Lafayette.
OWENSBORO CATHOLIC 57, HOLY CROSS 42 (girls)
After Holy Cross tied the score, 30-30, on a free throw by sophomore center Sydney Thomas with 4:58 left in the third quarter, Owensboro Catholic went on an 8-2 run to regain the lead.
In the final four minutes of fourth quarter, the Aces pulled away by making two field goals and 11 free throws during a 15-5 run. They ended up outscoring Holy Cross, 18-6, at the line.
The Indians’ leading scorer was senior guard Olivia Crigler with 14 points. Senior point guard Trinity McClendon had 11 points and five assists. Junior forward Jade Simpson had a game-high 13 rebounds with nine coming on the defensive glass.
The loss snapped a nine-game winning steak for Holy Cross (18-5). The Indians have seven games remaining on their regular-season schedule.
All “A” Classic state tournament
GIRLS SCHEDULE
Saturday
Owensboro Catholic 57, Holy Cross 42
Walton-Verona 58, West Carter 54
Sunday
Championship: Walton-Verona (18-5) vs. Owensboro Catholic (16-6), noon
BOYS SCHEDULE
Saturday
Lexington Christian 48, Walton-Verona 22
University Heights 59, Shelby Valley 49
Sunday
Championship: Lexington Christian (18-6) vs. University Heights (20-3), 2 p.m.