By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Using defense to create offense is something Holy Cross girls’ basketball coach Kes Murphy constantly works on in practice and that’s what his young team did to win the 9th Region All “A” Classic championship game on Monday at Dayton High School.
Holy Cross freshman center Sydney Thomas puts up a shot against Chisom Iloegbunam of St, Henry in the 9th Region All “A” Classic regional final. (Photo by Bob Jackson)
The Indians scored 13 points off turnovers in the first quarter to take a double-digit lead and went on to defeat St. Henry, 47-50, in the title game to earn a berth in the small-school tournament for the second straight year.
“I thought our energy was great and on defense we were solid,” Murphy said of the first quarter when his team took an 18-5 lead. “We caused a lot of turnovers and got a lot of run-outs for easy baskets that gave us the lead and we were able to maintain it.”
With guards Trinity McClendon and Bailee Harney putting pressure on St. Henry’s ball handlers, the Crusaders committed 12 turnovers in the first eight minutes and managed to get just two field goals and one free throw.
The Indians took their biggest lead of the game, 33-12, on a breakaway basket by junior guard Olivia Crigler late in the second quarter. But St. Henry made three free throws in the final seconds to reduce the deficit to 33-15 at halftime.
Late in the third quarter, St. Henry scored five straight points to pull within 38-26. Crigler hit a 3-point to stop that rally and McClendon made a field goal and free throw on the Indians’ next possession to put them back in control.
“She’s been up and down on offense, but today she showed up,” coach Murphy said of McClendon. “When she plays well defensively and she’s dialed in, it transfers over to her offensive game as well.”
Holy Cross guard Trinity McClendon
St. Henry ended up shooting 38.7 percent (12 of 31) from the field with 24 turnovers. Holy Cross shot 33.9 percent (19 of 56) and scored a total of 22 points off turnovers. The Indians’ size advantage was also a factor. They scored 12 second-chance points off rebounds under their own basket.
Crigler finished with a game-high 17 points and McClendon netted 12 for Holy Cross. But the coaching staff decided to give freshman center Sydney Thomas the most valuable player award. She was a double-figure scorer in all three of her team’s regional tournament victories and dominated the boards against St. Henry.
Thomas was surprised to receive the award. “We won as a team, it wasn’t one individual, we all played well and contributed to winning this,” she said.
Holy Cross will play the 12th Region champion in the first round of the Kentucky All “A” Classic on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at McBrayer Arena in Richmond. The Indians lost in the first round of last year’s small school state tournament and they want to go farther this time.
“I feel pretty good,” coach Murphy said of his team’s chances. “The advantage that we have is when we win this (regional tournament) it gives us a whole lot of confidence and we’ll be going down there and playing teams that don’t know what we’re really about.”
HOLY CROSS 18 15 11 13 — 57
ST. HENRY 5 10 13 12 — 40
HOLY CROSS (12-6): Harney 1 4 8, Crigler 7 0 17, McClendon 3 6 12, Chames 2 2 4, Thomas 4 2 10, Bradshaw 1 0 2, Krumpleman 1 0 2, Simpson 0 2 2. Totals: 19 16 57.
ST. HENRY (7-8): Iloegbunam 3 3 9, Benson 1 3 5, Beetem 1 4 6, Flanagan 2 0 4, Ives 1 4 6, Evans 1 1 3, Handorf 0 1 1, Rice 1 0 2, Millay 2 0 4. Totals: 12 16 40.
3-pointers: HC — Crigler 3.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Holy Cross — Sidney Thomas (MVP), Olivia Crigler, Bailee Harney. St. Henry — Chisom Iloegbunam, Ashley Ives. NewCath — Lexy Breen. Newport — Kelis McGuire. Ludlow — Taia Collins. Lloyd — Keylasia Pouncey. Dayton — Megan Downard. Beechwood — Meredith Ruhland. Bellevue — Morgan Mardis. Villa Madonna — Jenna Doumont.
