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
Hailey Ison and Morgan Simpson fueled a second-half scoring run that carried Walton-Verona to a 60-51 win over Louisville Presentation in the opening round of the Kentucky All “A” Classic girls’ state basketball tournament on Wednesday at Frankfort Civic Center.
The two seniors combined for 29 points in the second half when the Bearcats outscored Presentation, 37-28, to come away with the victory. Ison finished with a game-high 29 points followed by Simpson with 18.
After shooting 29 percent (9 of 31) from the field in the first two quarters, Walton-Verona got its act together on offense. The Bearcats shot 50 percent (10 of 20) from the field and made 15 of 18 free throws in the second half.
Walton-Verona took the lead with a 12-5 run in the third quarter when Simpson and senior guard Emma Rodgers each hit a 3-point shot.
The Bearcats stayed on top by going 6-of-8 from the field and 13-of-15 from the line during the fourth quarter. Ison made three field goals and 10 free throws during that period. One of her baskets gave Walton-Verona its biggest lead of the game, 43-31, with 5:56 left on the clock.
Ison also had nine rebounds and five assists for the Bearcats (15-5), who will play Murray (21-1) in a quarterfinal game at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Murray has the best record and highest power rating among the teams in the girls’ small-school state tournament.
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC 59, LIVINGSTON CENTRAL 27
NewCath dominated the boards and limited Livingston Central to seven field goals during the Kentucky All “A” Classic first-round game on Wednesday.
The Thoroughbreds went on a 16-3 run in the second quarter to open up a 33-14 halftime lead and put the game away with an 18-3 run in the third quarter.
NewCath shot 35.6 percent (26 of 73) from the field and finished with a 56-30 advantage in total rebounds. Livingston Central shot 16.7 percent (7 of 42).
Senior guard Ansley Davenport recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds for NewCath. The team’s other double-figure scorer was junior center Ajia Rice with 12 points. Junior guard Olivia Schalk had five points, five assists and five steals.
NewCath (15-6) advances to the quarterfinals to play Glasgow (14-6) at 1 p.m. Friday at Frankfort Civic Center. One of Glasgow’s wins this season was against Holmes, the top-ranked girls’ team in Northern Kentucky.
KENTUCKY ALL “A” CLASSIC AT FRANKFORT CIVIC CENTER
GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT
Wednesday – First round
Owensboro Catholic 68, Kentucky Country Day 31
Shelby Valley 52, Danville 42
Harlan 55, Bracken County 30
Frankfort 72, Menifee County 50
Walton-Verona 60, Louisville Presentation 51
Murray 64, Green County 48
Newport Central Catholic 59, Livingston Central 27
Glasgow 57, Breathitt County 25
Friday – Quarterfinals
Owensboro Catholic vs. Shelby Valley, 8:30 a.m.
Harlan vs. Frankfort, 10 a.m.
Walton-Verona vs. Murray, 11:30 a.m.
Newport Central Catholic vs. Glasgow, 1 p.m.
BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT
Thursday – First round
Cordia vs. Glasgow, 8:30 a.m.
University Heights vs. Pineville, 10 a.m.
Danville vs. Louisville Shawnee, 11:30 a.m.
Newport Central Catholic vs. Lexington Christian, 1 p.m.
McLean County vs. Morgan County, 5 p.m.
Kentucky Country Day vs. Owen County, 6:30 p.m.
Brossart vs. Murray, 8 p.m.
Shelby Valley vs. Green County, 9:30 p.m.