Lady Hornets preparing for district tournament

By T. Wampler, JPI Sports

 

The Metcalfe County High School girls’ basketball program enters its 4th year under the direction of Coach Heidi Coleman. The Lady Hornets had a great season last year and finished with an overall record of 27 – 6, 18 – 3 in Region 4 games, and 10 – 2 in the 16th District.

The Lady Hornets were 13-5 overall, and 5 – 2 against District 16 competition, including their loss to Monroe County in the 4th Region All “A” Classic Tournament. The Lady Hornets got revenge when they hosted the Lady Falcons in a 16th District matchup. The Lady Hornets clipped the Lady Falcons’ wings in overtime, 61-55.

MCHS defeated fellow District 16 member, Cumberland County, 63-52 in their All “A” opener before the Lady Falcons beat the Lady Hornets 56-47 to earn a trip to the All-A state tourney.

The Lady Hornets have some impressive wins this season. Coach Coleman plays a tough schedule to help the Lady Hornets prepare for what is always a tough time in the 16th District Tournament, and a chance to extend their season and take a trip to WKU for the Region 4 Tournament.

The Lady Hornets handled the Franklin-Simpson Lady Wildcats easily, 62-50, for one of their latest wins at the time this update and midseason review are being compiled. FSHS eliminated the Lady Hornets last season in the region. MCHS took the runner-up trophy. The Lady Wildcats won the Region 4 title and went on to the state tournament.

Jozie Allen led MCHS with 24 points and 14 rebounds, adding another double-double to her ever-increasing resume in their win over FSHS this season. All of her points came from the field. Bree Jolly had 18 points and Lily Blythe added 10 points.

LeeElla Boles and Aubrey Glass each chipped in 5 points. MCHS only shot 4 free throws in the entire game. Aubrie Compton pulled down 6 rebounds and Boles had 5 boards. Three players had 3 rebounds: Glass, Jolly, and Blythe.

As much as Coach Coleman loves to see her team get open looks and shoot threes, her teams always play fundamentally sound defense. Her defense creates offense. Coach Colman loves to stretch the floor and get her players in transition off the rebound for quick fastbreaks.

If you watch MCHS this season, and any season for the last three years since Coach Coleman took over the reins, the Lady Hornets know they have the green light to shoot if they are open. Coach Coleman goes by the old adage, you can’t score if you don’t shoot.

That freedom gives her players in her rotation extra added confidence. A missed shot does not get any player pulled off the court. It also allows her other players to know to stand at the ready to crash the boards. What the Lady Hornets lack in height, they more than make up for with the scrappy way they block out and attack the boards when they see a fellow teammate fire off a shot.

MCHS found success in the different tournaments they played in, starting with a win over Logan County at Bowling Green, 45- 32, in the 4th Region Challenge.

MCHS defeated Wayne County 57-51 and Glasgow 62- 48 in their two games in Metcalfe Mania. They beat Atherton at Ballard 67-25 in the Bruin Holiday Bash.

The Lady Hornets defeated Tates Creek twice in the Bruin Holiday Bash (47-45 and 58-51). Allen poured in 25 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in the 2-point win.

Allen had 20 points in the 7-point win and grabbed 8 rebounds. Jolly added 13 points. Glass added 8 points and pulled 6 rebounds. Boles had 7 points (4 rebounds) and Blythe chipped in 6 points. Compton finished with 4 points. Four players had 3 rebounds: Compton, Glass, Jolly, and Blythe.

The Lady Hornets already have 2 district wins over Clinton County. Jolly took over the top spot in scoring with 25 points. Allen had 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for another double-double. Glass had 13 points and Blythe added 11 points. Boles had 9 rebounds. Compton, Jolly, and Blythe each had 7 rebounds.

Blythe led the team in their second win over the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points. Allen had 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Glass finished with 13 points. Ten different players got time on the court in this win. Sarah Gilley (8th grader) had 2 rebounds and Lilly Billingsley (7th grader) had 3 rebounds.

MCHS defeated Russell County in district action 41-31. Allen had 13 points and 17 rebounds (the rest of the team combined for 19 rebounds). Jolly just missed double figures with 9 points. Blythe had 8 points, and Glass added 6 points.

Coach Coleman and the Lady Hornets want to earn another trip to WKU for the Region 4 Tournament. They will be ready for action in February for the 16th District Tourney.

Nickname: Lady Hornets

Coach: Heidi Coleman

Region: 4

District: 16

 Lady Hornets Roster

#	Name	Position	Yr.	#	Name	Position	Yr.	#	Name	Position	Yr.
22	Jozie Allen	PF	Jr.	45	LeeElla Boles	PG	Fr.	21	Aubrey Glass	SG	Sr.
14	Morgan Avery	PF	So.	0	Rory Bragg	PG	8th	31	Bree Jolly	PG	Sr.
34	Lilly Billingsley	PF, C	7th	20	Kylie Brown	SG	7th	25	Addison Shoultz	SF	Fr.
24	Lily Blythe	PF	Jr.	3	Aubrie Compton	C	Sr.	4	Allie Smith	PG	7th
1	Lucy Blythe	SG	7th	2	Sarah Gilley	SG	8th	5	Ali Wilson	PG	8th