In theory, the 2000 Girls' 8th Region final was played between the Shelby County Lady Rockets and the Scott County Lady Cardinals.

Don't be deceived. This tournament was decided on Monday night (3/13/00) when Shelby nipped Oldham County, 48-47, in the semi-finals.  Everything that happened after that was a mere formality.

Give Scott County credit.  They ended their season 9-19, then knocked off the pre-season District favorite, Owen County by three points in the District semi-finals.  Facing the Walton- Verona Lady Cats in the District final, they triumphed, 58-50, over a team that had won 23 games this season.

Entering the Region, the team that had not put together a winning streak longer than two games during the season won their third straight game, 58-45, over Anderson County, then whipped the Bullitt Central Lady Cougars by nine in the semi-finals. Not bad for a team who's starting five averaged only 5'6" in height!

With Shelby County featuring five players 5'10" or taller, and no starter shorter than 5'7", the handwriting appeared to be on the wall, and shortly into the game, there was no mistaking the message:  Shelby was  the much better team.  The ninth-ranked Lady Rockets never trailed and was never seriously threatened in notching their 27th win versus only five defeats.

Junior forward Brittany Morrison (5'11") scored the game's first basket at the 7:12 mark of the first period; Scott would never be closer again.  It took nearly two and a half minutes for Scott County to score (on a Lakeisha Washington shot), and nearly halfway through the first quarter, Shelby led, 11-3.

The Lady Cards mounted a mild rally late in the first quarter. Back to back threes by Washington and L'erin Scott pulled Scott County to within four at 13-9 with 2:35 left in the first.  But Shelby County pounded the ball inside to their huge interior players (6'4" Lenita White and 5'10" Dana Crittenden) for repeated easy looks, and the Lady Rockets went on an 8-0 run to end the quarter with a 21-9 lead.

The game was over.

The first five minutes of the second quarter maintained the status quo, and Shelby led, 32-19, after Scott's Tia Garrett hit two free throws.  But with 2:41 left in the half, Lenita White got Shelby started on another 8-0 run to end the quarter, and the halftime lead was practically insurmountable at 40-19.

At the intermission, the 6'4" White had as many points (19) as Scott County.  Surprisingly, the Lady Cards had opted to try to guard White from behind, even though they had just one starter - the reed-thin Stacey Tackett - who was taller than 5'6".  It was simplicity itself for the Lady
Rockets to lob the ball down to White, who then finished the shots with easy over the smaller Scott County defenders.  At the half, White was nine of eleven from the floor.

The third period was a pretty much an even-up affair, as Shelby hit only seven of eighteen shots.  After going with his starters much of the first four minutes of the period - with White scoring Shelby's first seven points - Lady Rocket coach Jim Wright began to "call off the dogs" late in the quarter, substituting more freely and pulling off the press.

Up by 23 going into the final quarter, Shelby County ripped off the first six points in the fourth period before the starters began to be pulled for good.  The run gave Shelby its biggest lead of the night, 65-36, with just under seven minutes to go.  With the subs in, Shelby was outscored, 15-6, by the Lady Cardinals over the final six minutes.  Scott scored the final seven points of the contest to account for the final score.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:

Spencer County - Brittany Hall
Walton-Verona - Caitlyn Ryan
Anderson Co. - Cheri Neurohr
Gallatin Co. - Jennifer Roberts
Bullitt Central - Staci Hunt
Bullitt Central - Liz Crigler
Oldham County - Lydia Purvis
Oldham County - Brandi Miller
Scott County - L'erin Scott
Scott County - Stacy Stakelin
Scott County - Anna Fraley
Shelby County - Samantha Newton
Shelby County - Tanesha Johnson
Shelby County - Lenita White

UNOFFICIAL STATS:

Shelby County           21      19      19      13      -       72
Scott County              9       10      17      15      -       51

Shelby County - White 28, Crittenden 13, Morrison 9, Newton 8, Slaughter 6, Kerchner 4, Johnson 2, Marshall 2

Scott County - Stakelin 16, Washington 10, Tackett 7, Scott 6, Hawkins 6, Garrett 2, Fraley 2, Hammons 1, Farmer 1

Shelby County moves on to the Sweet 16 next Wednesday night versus the 15th Region champs. The Lady Rockets improve their record to 27-5.

Scott County ends their season with a 13-20 record.

SEE YOU THIS FALL WHEN FOOTBALL SEASON BEGINS!