The Henderson County Lady Colonels’ run at the Queen of the Commonwealth Holiday Tournament came to an end Monday with a 59-52 loss to the Cooper Lady Jaguars in the championship game in Mount Washington.
Henderson came out sharp, building a 19-11 lead after the first quarter and taking a 30-23 advantage into halftime. The Lady Colonels forced 13 Cooper turnovers in the opening half, while A’Tylia Green scored 15 points before the break.
Cooper answered immediately in the second half, opening the third quarter on a 13-3 run to erase the deficit. During that stretch, Cooper’s Brinkli Rankin and Henderson’s Jersey Gardner were assessed a double technical foul following a loose-ball tie-up.
A few possessions later, Gardner knocked down a left-corner three to tie the game at 36. Immediately after the made basket, Gardner was assessed her second technical for taunting and was automatically ejected.
Following the ejection, Cooper seized control, closing the third quarter and opening the fourth on a 13-2 run to build a 49-38 lead. Henderson struggled to regain momentum, turning Cooper over just three times in the second half and fighting tired legs while playing its fourth game in as many days.
Henderson finished the night 9-of-14 at the free-throw line and just 3-of-16 from three-point range. Cooper went 16-of-22 at the stripe and 3-of-12 from deep. The Lady Jaguars also held a 35-31 rebounding edge. Henderson committed 10 turnovers, while forcing 16.
Cooper placed four players in double figures, led by Division I prospect Haylee Noel with a game-high 26 points.
Green led Henderson with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Addy Gish added 9 points and 4 rebounds, Maggie Melvin scored 6 points, Callie Burnett had 5 points and 5 rebounds, JaNyla Locher finished with 4 points and 5 boards, and Gardner had 4 points and 3 rebounds.
Henderson County closes the tournament at 6-5 and returns to action Saturday, December 27 at 6 p.m. at home against Evansville Reitz as part of the Faupel Automotive Group Colonel Classic.
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