By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
They didn’t come home with a state championship trophy, but the Scott Eagles gained a lot of tournament experience during their run to the Kentucky 2A Championships girls basketball finals on Sunday in Owensboro.
Christian Academy of Louisville defeated Scott, 49-40, in the title game of the inaugural statewide playoffs for schools with enrollments of less than 1,000 students that are too big for the All “A” Classic.
Scott players named to the Kentucky 2A Championships state all-tournament team were (left to right): Mya Meredith, Summer Secrist and Sophia Allen.
“This was a great experience for us,” Scott coach Rhonda Klette said in a post-game interview posted online. “Hopefully, this will give our kids some confidence that they can really play with anybody.”
Scott won two sectional and two state tournament games by double-digit margins before having an offensive breakdown in Sunday’s title game at Owensboro Sportscenter. Trailing 25-23 at halftime, the Eagles shot just 30 percent (6 of 20) from the field in the second half to finish with their lowest point total of the season.
The game still came down to the wire. After Scott pulled to within 41-38 with 1:17 remaining, Christian Academy handled the Eagles’ full-court pressure defense well enough to clinch the win with an 8-2 run.
Scott players named to the state all-tournament team were senior Summer Secrist and sophomores Mya Meredith and Sofia Allen. Meredith scored a game-high 19 points Sunday to give her a three-game tournament total of 69 points.
The Eagles will take a 14-8 record into an important district seeding game at home against Campbell County (10-8) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. In the latest Northern Kentucky coaches poll, Scott was No. 5 and Campbell County was No. 7.
The 10th Region All “A” Classic championship games between Brossart and Paris will be played Monday at Campbell County Middle School. The girls game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., followed by the boys game at 7:30 p.m.
The winners of those games will advance to the Kentucky All “A” Classic state tournament that begins Wednesday at Eastern Kentucky University’s McBrayer Arena in Richmond.
Kentucky All “A” Classic state tournament
GIRLS SCHEDULE
Wednesday
Covington Holy Cross vs. Middlesboro, 8:30 a.m.
Metcalfe County vs. Louisville Holy Cross, 10 a.m.
Danville vs. Murray, 11:30 a.m.
Louisville Brown vs. Owensboro Catholic, 1 p.m.
Bardstown Bethlehem vs. Brossart/Paris winner, 5 p.m.
Walton-Verona vs. University Heights, 6:30 p.m.
Wolfe County vs. Berea, 8 p.m.
Paintsville vs. West Carter, 9:30 p.m.
Friday
Upper bracket quarterfinal games, 8:30 and 10 a.m.
Lower bracket quarterfinal games, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Saturday
Semifinal games, noon and 1:30 p.m.
Sunday
Championship game, noon
BOYS SCHEDULE
Thursday
Campbellsville vs. Mayfield, 8:30 a.m.
Lexington Christian vs. Owensboro Catholic, 10 a.m.
Middlesboro vs. Knott County Central, 11:30 a.m.
Walton-Verona vs. Louisville Holy Cross, 1 p.m.
Danville vs. Elliott County, 5 p.m.
Clinton County vs. Shelby Valley, 6:30 p.m.
Newport vs. Kentucky Country Day, 8 p.m.
Brossart-Paris winner vs. University Heights-Livingston Central winner, 9:30 p.m.
Friday
Upper bracket quarterfinal games, 5 and 6:30 p.m.
Lower bracket quarterfinal games, 8 and 9:30 p.m.
Saturday
Semifinal games, 6 and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday
Championship game, 2 p.m.
