Buckner, KY – The 20^th-ranked (AP) Lady Colonels of Oldham County played their tenth game of the season against a ranked foe last night, and for the sixth time, they came out on top. The victim this time was the 18^th-ranked Assumption Rockets, who arrived in Buckner riding a four-game winning streak and boasting one of the best shooting squads in the state. The Rockets were ranked third in the state in field goal percentage (50.8%), fourth in three-point goal percentage (36.7%) and fourth in free throw percentage (70.1%).

The Rockets, however, never had the chance to play their preferred, half-court control game as the Lady Colonels – who never trailed – jumped out to an early 11-4 lead, as four different Lady Colonels scored. After Assumption pulled to within three points at 12-9 on a Jenny Webb basket with 1:00 left in the first period, Oldham County put together one of the most decisive runs of the game, outscoring the Rockets, 8-0 over the next 2 ½ minutes, capped by a Brandi Miller score with 6:30 remaining in the first half that gave Oldham their first double-digit lead at 20-9. During the run, Sarah Hadley caused two Rocket turnovers, each leading to an Oldham basket.

The margin remained at eleven when the two teams headed for the locker room, with Oldham County on top, 28-17. Blistering first-half shooting (the Lady Colonels hit 57.1% from the floor in the first half and 80% from the free throw line) and strong defense (the Rockets committed 7 second quarter turnovers) paved the way. And, with Assumption’s defensive attention focused on star Brandi Miller, the Lady Colonels got plenty of scoring output from other players, as Eryn Jacobson tied Miller for the first-half scoring honors with seven points, and six different players scored.

The Rockets came out of the locker room playing an aggressive man-to-man defense and taking the ball strong to the basket on offense. They outscored the Lady Colonels, 8-2, to pull within five points at 30-25. It would be the closest they would get, though, as Oldham immediately put together a 6-0 run of their own. Again, the Lady Colonels did it with multiple weapons, as Hadley, Miller, and Hannah Gibson all hit field goals to push the lead back to eleven at 36-25. Webb hit a basket and a free throw to draw Assumption to within eight, but Brandi Miller hit the first of two free throws to push Oldham back on top by 9 at 37-28. When she missed the second, Hannah Gibson rebounded, missed the putback, then grabbed the rebound again after Eryn Jacobson missed a putback attempt, and scored at the buzzer to make it an eleven point lead once again, 39-28, after three quarters.

Hadley gave Oldham their largest lead of the night at 13 when she scored to begin the fourth period to push the lead to 41-28. But a 9-2 run by Assumption pulled the resilient Rockets to within six at 43-37. Lauren Ferguson scored four straight points, and then, after two free throws by Oldham’s Sara Gibson, Jenny Webb scored five unanswered points during the run. With five minutes left, it was anybody’s ballgame again.

Assumption, however, could get no closer, despite a number of opportunities to do so and repeated heroics from Webb. With 2:35 to go, two free throws by Webb brought Assumption to within six, and with 1:32 to go, Webb again made it a six-point game with a field goal. But Brandi Miller sealed Assumption’s fate. First, she hit two free throws with 49.1 seconds left to push the lead back to eight. Then, after Oldham County rebounded a missed Rocket shot, she dribbled the length of the floor, driving right between two defenders near midcourt, slashing past a third defender near the top of the key, and scoring an unmolested layup to give Oldham County an insurmountable ten point lead at 53-43. Webb scored with 21.2 seconds left to account for the final margin.

Assumption fouled Eryn Jacobson on the ensuing inbounds play, and she missed both shots with 19 seconds left, but Oldham County’s defense prevented Assumption from even attempting a shot – which was missed – until just before the final buzzer.

Oldham County improves to 18-5; Assumption falls to 17-7.

Unofficial WYKY 105.7 FM Stats:

Oldham County – Miller 16, Jacobson 11, Hadley 10, S. Gibson 6, H. Gibson 6, Husband 4, Hedges 0

Assumption – Webb 26, Ferguson 10, Cecil 4, Coury 3, Todd 2, Pieper 0, Brown 0, O’Connell 0

Next OLDHAM COUNTY broadcast on WYKY 105.7 FM:

Oldham County vs. Central Hardin (boys/girls doubleheader), Friday, 2/23/01. Pregame 5:30 pm WYKY 105.7 FM

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