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By Evan Merrill
NKyTribune contributor
In a rematch of a Jan. 6 game that was decided by nine points, Holy Cross claimed another 9th Region All “A” Classic trophy with a decisive 63-30 victory over Beechwood on Saturday at Bellevue.
Holy Cross guard Alehia Tucker gets the ball knocked away on a drive to the basket against Beechwood. (Photo by Mary Lynn Lampke)
The Indians had a three-point lead after the first quarter and then surged ahead with a 20-4 run during the second quarter, courtesy of suffocating defensive play. Beechwood was 1-for-11 in field goal shooting during that stretch and ended up shooting 33 percent for the game .
“We were in the locker room and our coach said, ‘Let’s go, let’s blow up on them,’” said Holy Cross guard Alehia Tucker. “So we just came out, worked together and handed it to them.”
The Tigers, led by Ally Johnson’s 13 points, weren’t able to reduce the gap after the blistering second quarter and quickly fell further behind against the Indians’ defense, anchored by 6-foot-4 eighth-grader Sid Thomas.
“Our kids are starting to understand they can do a little more risk-taking on the perimeter because we have that last line of defense,” coach Kes Murphy said. “It used to be we would reach in and bail people out, but now they’re starting to get to the point where they understand we have Sid, Courtney Turner in the back when we need it. That plays a major role. I don’t think there’s many teams in the region for that matter that can match our size.”
The Indians were led by Thomas’ 13 points. Tucker contributed nine and Courtney Turner scored eight in a well-rounded Holy Cross offense that shot 51 percent from the field.
The Indians began the season with a 1-3 start and are now 12-5. They’re looking to make another run at the All “A” Classic state championship that they won in 2015. The team’s first-round game will be against the 4th Region champion at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25 at the Frankfort Convention Center.
“With our youth it’s been a process to get them to understand the pace of the game, how we want to play, what our system is,” Murphy said. “I think the past couple weeks it’s been coming together, they’re starting to figure things out. This is our best game of the season, really.”
BEECHWOOD 11 4 11 4 — 30
HOLY CROSS 14 20 15 14 — 63
HOLY CROSS (12-5): Thomas 6 1 13, Tucker 2 4 9, Turner 3 2 8, McClendon 4 0 8, Crigler 3 0 7, Chames 3 0 6, Murphy 1 2 4, Macke 1 0 3, Bezold 1 0 3, Bradshaw 1 0 2. Totals: 25 9 63.
BEECHWOOD (8-9): Beechwood – A. Johnson 4 5 13, K. Stokes 2 3 7, Sullivan 2 0 4, J. Stokes 1 0 2, C. Johnson 1 0 2, Ahlers 0 2 2. Totals 10 10 30.
Three-pointers: HC — Tucker, Crigler, Macke, Bezold.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Holy Cross — Alehia Tucker (MVP), Olivia Crigler, Trinity McClendon. Beechwood — Kimi Stokes, Ally Johnson. Newport — Morgan McDay, Ludlow — Haley Warndorf, Bellevue — Courtney Schmitt, Lloyd — Alyssa Brinkley, Villa Madonna — Madison Perry, Dayton — Grace Workman, NewCath — Jailynn Vogt.
