By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Over the last three days of the Kentucky All “A” Classic girls state basketball tournament, Walton-Verona sophomore guard Haylee Neely was on the court for a full 32 minutes in each of her team’s three games.
The Bearcats’ other four starters averaged between 25 and 30 minutes of playing time in those three games and
it seemed to affect all of them in the second half of Sunday’s championship final at Eastern Kentucky University’s McBrayer Arena.
Owensboro Catholic outscored Walton-Verona, 28-17, in the second half to come away with a 44-40 victory and claim its third small-school state title in the last eight years.
Walton-Verona (18-6) finished with its lowest point total of the season against the taller Owensboro Catholic team and a breakdown of the statistics showed why.
In the first half, the Bearcats shot 47 percent (9 of 19) from the field and led by as much as 12 points. But their shooting percentage dipped to 33 percent (6 of 18) in the second half. They were also out-rebounded, 16-9, and had zero second-chance points during the final 16 minutes.
Walton-Verona was making its first appearance in the All “A” Classic state championship game since 2012 when they became the first 8th Region girls team to win the title.
In the final seconds of the first quarter, junior forward Emma Strunk made her second 3-point goal to give the Bearcats an 11-7 lead. They went on to open up a 23-11 lead late in the second quarter, but Owensboro Catholic closed the half with a 5-0 run that cut the margin to 23-16 at the break.
The Aces, who shot 31.6 percent (6 of 19) in the first half, came on strong in the second half and took their biggest lead, 41-33, on a tip-in basket by senior guard MacKenzie Keelin with 3:24 left in the fourth quarter.
Walton-Verona battled back and cut it to 43-40 on a 3-pointer by junior forward Emma Gutman with 52 seconds remaining. The Bearcats got the ball back following a missed free throw, but Neely’s layup attempt was blocked.
After a free throw by Owensboro Catholic guard Isabella Henning put her team ahead, 44-40, with 21 seconds on the clock, Walton-Verona committed a turnover and missed a field goal on its final two possessions.
The final stats had Walton-Verona shooting 40.5 percent (15 of 37) from the field compared to Owensboro Catholic’s 40 percent (14 of 35). The Aces had a 13-5 scoring advantage at the free throw line and 27-22 edge in rebounds.
The Bearcats’ leading scorers were Strunk and Neeley with 11 points each. They were named to the state all-tournament team along with Brooke Poore, the only senior in the Bearcats’ starting lineup.
In her team’s four state tournament games, Neely had 43 points, 25 rebounds and 18 assists. Strunk’s four-game totals were 54 points and 26 rebounds. Poore had 40 points and 33 rebounds.
Walton-Verona has six regular-season games remaining. The Bearcats will then play Grant County in the first round of the 37th District playoffs that begin Feb. 18 with the winner advancing to the 8th Region post-season tournament.
WALTON-VERONA 11 12 7 10 – 40
OWENSBORO CATHOLIC 7 9 13 15 – 44
WALTON-VERONA (18-6): Neely 5 0 11, Michael 1 2 4, Perry 3 1 8, Strunk 4 1 11, Gutman 2 1 6. Totals: 15 5 40.
OWENSBORO CATHOLIC (17-6): Harvey 2 2 7, McKay 4 2 10, Lyon 2 0 5, Clemens 0 3 3, Keelin 5 0 11, Henning 1 6 8. Totals: 14 13 44.
Three-pointers: WV – Strunk 2, Neeley, Perry, Gutman. OC – Harvey, Lyon, Keelin.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Owensboro Catholic – Hannah McKay (MVP), MacKenzie Keelin, Sarah Clemons, Madelyn Lyon. Walton-Verona – Emma Strunk, Haylee Neely, Broke Perry. Holy Cross – Olivia Crigler, Sidney Thomas. West Carter – Allie Stone, Hannah Bear. Berea – Adrienne Beggs. Murray – Parker Greer.