Irvine, Ky – March 8, 2024 – Deron Mays
Owsley County (25-9) defeated Perry Central (20-11) Friday 75-69 in Irvine to advance to their second regional championship game in three years. They will now play another 56th district school, Estill County, for the title and a trip to the Sweet 16 in Rupp Arena. Estill was victorious over Letcher Central 52-40 in the evening’s second semifinal game.
The Lady Commodore’s junior guards Kyra McAlarnis and Taylor Couch started the game with a hot shooting first quarter. McAlarnis made three treys in the period and Couch made two. Shyanne Couch also added a 3-pointer. Perry Central took a 23-16 lead to end the quarter.
Owsley heated up in the second quarter as sophomore guard Addie Terry exploded for 13 points and finished the half with 16. Owsley also had success getting the ball inside to freshman center Macey Brown, who had 9 first half points. The Lady Owls took a 37-34 lead at halftime.
The game was close throughout the third period and Perry won the quarter 16-14 to pull within one point to start the fourth quarter. Perry got off to a hot start in the fourth and turned a 51-50 deficit into a 59-52 lead with about 5 minutes remaining in the game. Owsley proceeded to score 13 unanswered points to surge back into the lead.
Senior guard Laya Lynch had been quite on offense in the first half but she came alive in the second half, and particularly the last quarter, with a pair of treys to extend Owsley’s lead to 3 and then 6 points at a crucial time in the game. The Lady Owls held on to the lead with good defense and was able to make enough of their free throws when Perry was forced to foul to hold on for the 75-69 win.
Macey Brown for the Lady Owls had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Addie Terry came close to a DD with 8 rebounds.
The Lady Owls will meet a familiar foe in the championship game. They have played the Lady Engineers three times this season and won all the games. However, in the district championship game Estill slowed the pace and gave them a scare. Owsley finally won by 10 points but the close call is still fresh on their minds. That game that was as close as 2 points with about 3 minutes remaining. Owsley is averaging nearly 70 points per game but Estill’s slow pace offense held them to 42 points. Coach Travis Smith knows that it could be a battle especially with the game on their opponent’s home court and with a nationally recognized band that can make the Estill gymnasium sound like a CSX railway crossing.
Game time tonight is 7:30 PM. Bluegrass Sports Nation (BSN) will be there to stream the game and bring you all the action.
Owsley County (75)
Carly Smith 18, Addie Terry 26, Macey Brown 14, Laya Lynch 11, Shelby Murray 2, Kenzie Grubb 4
Perry Central (69) Kyra McAlarnis 25, Emmalee Neace 9, Brooklyn Cornett 5, Taylor Couch 12, Shayanne Couch 13, Shawna Anderson 3, Ashlyn Dixon 2
