By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Walton-Verona scored 34 points off turnovers and rolled to a 72-36 win over Carroll County in the championship game of the All “A” Classic girls’ basketball tournament on Friday at Walton-Verona.
Walton-Verona junior forward Brooke Perry, No. 13, scored a game-high 19 points in the win over Carroll County. (Photo by Carla Martin)
The Bearcats (13-5) made 19 steals during the game. Junior forward Brooke Perry scored eight of her game-high 19 points off turnovers. Freshman guard Haylee Neeley and senior guard Rachel Lehkamp each got seven points following take-aways.
Walton-Verona held a slim 25-20 lead going into the second half. That’s when the Bearcats’ defense kicked in and they were able to outscore the visitors, 47-16, over the last two quarters.
Walton-Verona shot 45 percent (30 of 67) from the field compared to Carroll County’s 39 percent (12 of 31). The Bearcats also finished with a 37-23 rebounding advantage. The team leader was Emma Strunk with 14.
Perry was named the tournament’s most valuable player. She was a double-figure scorer in all three of her team’s victories for a net total of 54 points. The other Bearcats on the all-tournament team were Neeley and senior guards Alyson Poore and Olivia Harden.
Walton-Verona advances to the girls’ small school state tournament for the second time in the last three years. The Bearcats will play a first-round game against the 7th Region champion at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at McBrayer Arena in Richmond.
The Walton-Verona boys’ team also earned a berth in the state tournament and faces Louisville Holy Cross in a first-round game at 8 p.m. Thursday.
WALTON-VERONA 10 15 30 17 — 72
CARROLL COUNTY 8 12 11 5 — 36
WALTON-VERONA (13-5): Perry 8 2 19, Poore 3 0 8, Strunk 3 0 8, Neeley 2 2 7, Lehkamp 3 0 7, Hicks 2 0 5, Michael 2 0 4, Coppola 2 0 4, Buerger 1 0 2, Sizemore 1 0 2, Carrico 1 0 2, Harden 1 0 2. Hueser 1 0 2. Totals: 30 4 72.
CARROLL COUNTY: (11-9): Searcy 5 5 15, Aulbach 3 5 11, Evans 2 2 6, McCarty 1 0 2, Napier 1 0 2. totals: 12 12 36.
3-pointers: WV — Poore 2, Strunk 2, Perry, Neeley, Lehkamp, Hicks.
The Bearcats pose for photos after winning their second 8th Region All “A” Classic championship in the last three years. (Photo by Carla Martin)
