Ryle senior Lauren Schwartz, center, heads to the basket on a fast break in the 33rd District championship game against Conner. (Photo by Bob Jackson)
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
If you had a better night than Ryle basketball player Lauren Schwartz did on Friday you must have won the state lottery.
In the 33rd District championship game, Schwartz scored seven of her team’s last 11 points to secure a 62-59 win over Conner, the top-ranked team in the latest statewide coaches poll. After the game, the senior forward was named most valuable player on the all-tournament team and she received the game ball for reaching the 2,000-point mark in her career.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” Schwartz said of her memorable night. And she hopes the thrills will continue next week when Ryle competes in the 9th Region tournament at Northern Kentucky University’s BB&T Arena.
Ryle guard Maddie Scherr adjusts her shot to avoid a block attempt by Courtney Hurst of Conner. (Photo by Dale Dawn)
“I think this win really builds our confidence up going into the regional,” Schwartz said. “We’ve been through it all before. We were regional champs last year and we plan on doing it again.”
In this week’s Associated Press statewide coaches poll, Conner (29-2) was voted No. 1 and Ryle (26-5) was No. 4.
The teams split a two-game series during the regular season and more than 1,500 fans came out Friday to see the rematch between the district rivals at Cooper High School.
Ryle’s only loss to a 9th Region team season came in a home game against Conner three weeks ago. After shooting 33 percent from the field against Conner’s zone defense in that game, the Raiders worked on improving their offensive execution.
In Friday’s game, Ryle shot 44 percent (22 of 50) with three players accounting for 18 of the 22 field goals. Junior guard Maddie Scherr finished with a team-high 20 points, followed by Schwartz with 19 and junior guard Brie Crittendon with 11.
“The last game (against Conner) we just threw the ball around the basket and this time we actually attacked it,” said Ryle coach Katie Haitz. “I think that made a big difference for us on the offensive side.”
Ryle took a 17-12 lead in the first quarter when Crittendon got seven of her 11 points. The Raiders were on top, 29-26, at halftime and opened the third quarter with a 11-3 run that extended the margin to 40-29.
Lauren Schwartz hugs Ryle teammate Maddie Scherr after their team’s victory. (Photo by Dale Dawn)
Conner senior guard Courtney Hurst got her team back in the game by scoring 14 of her game-high 24 points in the third quarter. She made four 3-point goals and a pair of free throws during that period to trim Ryle’s lead to 45-42.
Hurst did not score in the fourth quarter when Scherr guarded her closely. But Conner was able to tie the score, 51-51, on a pair of free throws by senior guard Savannah Jordan with 3:43 remaining on the clock.
That’s when Schwartz sparked her team’s game-ending 11-8 run by making two field goals in the paint and three free throws. The two foul shots she swished in the final seconds gave her exactly 2,000 points for her career.
“That’s what you want at this time of the year,” coach Haitz said. “It’s a close game and were we able to handle the pressure? I think we did that tonight.”
Conner ended up shooting 36.8 percent (21 of 57) for the game with nine 3-point goals. The Cougars’ other double-figure scorer was senior forward Maddie Burcham, who scored 11 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter.
“It was just two great teams going at again,” said Conner coach Aaron Stamm. “The last time we played we found a way to win at the end and this time they found a way to win. We just didn’t make the plays at the end and they did.”
Pairings for the girls 9th Region tournament will be decided on Saturday morning. Ryle and Conner will be on opposite sides of the bracket since they’re from the same district. The only way they could meet again is if both teams make it to the regional championship game.
CONNER 12 14 16 17 — 59
RYLE 17 12 16 17 — 62
CONNER (29-2): Strange 1 1 4, Hurst 8 2 24, Jordan 2 2 8, Burcham 7 1 15, Drummonds 1 2 4, Murphy 2 0 4. Totals: 21 8 59.
RYLE (26-5): Crittendon 4 1 11, McGregor 1 0 2, Schwartz 7 4 19, Scherr 7 4 20, Douthitt 2 0 5, Johnson 1 3 5. Totals: 22 12 62.
3-point goals: C — Hurst 6, Jordan 2, Strange. R — Scherr 2, Crittendon 2, Schwartz, Douthitt.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Ryle — Lauren Schultz (MVP), Maddie Scherr, Brie Crittendon. Conner — Courtney Hurst, Joy Strange. Cooper — Whitney Lind. Boone County — Kelsey Anderson.
High school basketball playoffs
BOYS DISTRICT FINALS
32nd — Walton-Verona 62, Simon Kenton 52
33rd — Cooper 56, Conner 48
34th — St. Henry 66, Dixie Heights 65
35th — Beechwood 57, Covington Catholic 53
36th — Newport 64, Highlands 61
37th — Campbell County 61, Scott 52
GIRLS DISTRICT FINALS
32nd — Walton-Verona 55, Simon Kenton 53
33rd — Ryle 62, Conner 59
34th — Dixie Heights 78, Ludlow 47
35th — Notre Dame 59, Holy Cross 38
36th — Highlands 61, Newport Central Catholic 40
37th — Scott 69, Brossart 39
REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS
(Pairings to be determined over the weekend)
9th Region boys & girls at NKU BB&T Arena, Highland Heights
8th Region boys at Henry County High School
8th Region girls at Owen County High School
10th Region boys at Mason County High School
10th Region girls at Montgomery County High School
STATE TOURNAMENTS
(Schedules available on khsaa.org website)
Boys — March 6-10 at Rupp Arena, Lexington
Girls — March 13-17 at Rupp Arena, Lexington
