It was supposed to be the "main event" of the Kentucky Preps Plus Classic: the final game of an eight-game card featuring the top girls’ basketball teams in Kentucky and one of Tennessee’s best. Number one (AP)-ranked Jackson County, #3 Sacred Heart, #6 Shelby County, #8 Oldham County all were invited, along with #13 Manual, #14 Allen-County Scottsville, #15 Mercy, and #16 Butler. Another Jackson County – from Tennessee – was the defending state champs in the AA class in that state.

Oldham County was slated to play Jackson County, TN, in the final game of the day, immediately following the Jackson County (KY) rematch with Manual. The two games figured to be the premier matchups of the day.

But then came the snow. Jackson County (KY) couldn’t make it out of their mountain home, and the Lady Crimsons instead took on Shelby County (losing in overtime to the Lady Rockets). Jackson County (TN) also failed to show, and Pleasure Ridge Park was inserted hastily to fill the void.

Younger than even the North Bullitt Lady Eagles which Oldham had whipped, 61-39, the night before, PRP didn’t have a senior on the roster. The Lady Panthers were a short team, too, with just one player – Crystal Delorch – 5’10" or taller. Still, the Lady Panthers came into the game riding the momentum of a four game winning streak.

Before the game, Oldham head coach Todd Gilley admitted that the Lady Colonels were "very disappointed" to not be playing Jackson County, TN. The chance to play the Tennessee state champs had excited the players. Would playing the young Lady Panthers of Pleasure Ridge Park (PRP) be a letdown?

Apparently not. Oldham County led from wire-to-wire, except for a brief tie at 2-2. After that tie – the only one of the game – Brandi Miller singlehandedly scored seven unanswered points to push the lead to 9-2 before Anitha Williams ended the PRP dry spell with a bucket at the 3:51 mark of the first quarter. After two free throws by Sarah Hadley, Crystal Delorch hit a shot to trim the lead to five again at 11-6, before Oldham ran off 8 straight unanswered points over the final 3:14 of the first period to take a 19-6 lead into the first period.

After Miller opened the second period with a three pointer to push Oldham on top by 16 at 22-6, PRP put together their only rally of the night. The Lady Panters outscored Oldham County , 8-2, to pull within eight points, only to have Oldham regroup and go on a 9-3 run to end the half up 33-17, effectively diffusing any momentum the Lady Panthers had gained.

All the while, Brandi Miller was putting on a show. The Oldham County candidate for Miss Basketball scored 15 first half points en route to a game-high 31 points and – perhaps even more amazing – 27 rebounds. The senior hit eight of fourteen two-point shots, two of three three-point shots, and nine of eleven free throws. She also dished out three assists.

The Oldham County coaches weren’t as pleased with the third quarter. After an incredible start to the second half on Friday – they outscored North Bullitt, 24-3, in the third period – Oldham had to settle for a 16-16 third quarter tie with PRP. The 16 points allowed were more than the coaches wanted to see… As such, PRP kept hanging around, getting as close as 13 on a three-pointer by Chelsea Bibelhauser that cut the margin to 13 at 46-33. But Sarah Gibson – who hit just 3 of 13 shots for the game – hit a bucket and a free throw to push Oldham County up by 16 again, 49-33, after thre qhaurter

After that, it was a just a matter of playing out the final quarter, as Oldham pulled away in the final eight minutes, ultimately winning by the their largest margin of the night, 25 points. The Lady Colonels dominated the boards (48-29), shot more than twice as many free throws (20 vs. 9), and forced 25 turnovers. And, while Oldham County didn’t shoot very well from the field overall, they hit a blistering 80% of their free throws (16), while PRP made only 3 of 9 free throws.

The win improved Oldham County’s record to 14-3.

OFFICIAL STATS:

Oldham Co. – Miller 31, Husband 10, Hadley 10, S. Gibson 7, Jacobson 4, H. Gibson 2, Irwin 2, Kamer 0, Johnson 0, Hedges 0, Koebel 0

Pleasure Ridge Park – Peyton 14, Delorch 8, Shutt 7, Williams 6, Hughes 4, Bibelhauser 3, Boyd 1, Neal 0

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