The Henderson County Lady Colonels started fast and held on late to defeat the Crittenden County Lady Rockets 42-39 Saturday night to win the Region 2 Tournament Championship at Hopkins County Central High School in Mortons Gap.
Henderson jumped out early, taking a 16-7 lead after the first quarter behind 9 points from A’Tylia Green. The Lady Colonels pushed the margin to 14 late in the second quarter before Crittenden knocked down a late three to make it 26-15 at halftime.
Maggee Melvin hit her second three-pointer of the night right out of the locker room to stretch the lead back to 14 at 29-15, but Henderson would make just three more field goals the rest of the game, allowing Crittenden to chip away. The Lady Rockets closed the gap to 35-28 after three quarters.
Crittenden pulled within two multiple times in the fourth quarter. With Henderson leading 35-33 and 3:50 remaining, JaNyla Locher drilled a corner three to push the lead to 38-33 — Henderson’s only field goal of the final quarter. The Lady Rockets cut the margin back to two in the final minute, but strong Henderson defense and clutch free throws from Locher and Green sealed the win.
Henderson finished 5-11 from the free-throw line and 5-15 from three-point range. Crittenden went 3-5 at the line and 6-15 from beyond the arc. The Lady Colonels edged the rebounding battle 29-27 and committed 8 turnovers compared to 11 for the Lady Rockets.
Melvin led Henderson with 11 points and 6 rebounds. Green added 11 points and 4 rebounds. Locher finished with 7 points and 5 rebounds, while Jersey Gardner had 4 points and 5 rebounds. Nevaeh Dixon contributed 4 points and 2 rebounds, Addy Gish had 2 points and 3 rebounds, and Callie Burnett added 1 point and 2 rebounds.
Gardner, Green, Locher, and Melvin were named to the All-Tournament Team for Henderson.
The regional title is the 22nd in program history and the eighth straight for Henderson County. The Lady Colonels (24-9) will face the Region 11 champion in the first round of the KHSAA Sweet 16 Girls Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at 10 a.m. (CDT) at Rupp Arena.
The Region 11 championship will be decided Sunday night between Frederick Douglass Broncos and Paul Laurence Dunbar Bulldogs.
(Photos courtesy of Dan Thompson and Whitney Gish)
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