2012WCSHA(G)

Whitley County  vs.  Sacred Heart Academy (Girls)

Whitaker Bank Titans Christmas Clash

Mercer County High School

Harrodsburg, KY

December 26, 2012

Whitley County coach Larry Anderson started the following lineup: 5-7 Sr. Sabrina Sizemore, 5-8 Jr. Maria Johnson, 6-0 Jr. Kandace Craig, 5-4 Sr. Bethany Powers, and 5-7 Jr. Brandi Smith.  Sacred Heart Academy coach Donna Moir countered with 5-9 Jr. Dai Jia Ruffin, 5-6 Sr. Julia Stough, 5-10 Sr. Caroline Long, 5-3 So. Gretchen Samsel, and 5-4 So. Ashley Johnson.

Sacred Heart led 34-20 in the third quarter but had to survive a Whitley County rally to earn a 47-44 victory.  Sacred Heart shot 45% from the field including two of seven from the three point line.  The Valkyries connected on nine of 13 free throws, pulled down 30 rebounds, and scored 16 points off 15 Whitley County turnovers.  Sacred Heart was playing short-handed tonight as three of their normal starters Raven Merriweather, Kristin Matula, and Vanessa Baisas were unavailable.  Whitley County shot 34.7% from the field including five of 19 from beyond the arc.  The Lady Colonels connected on five of five free throws, pulled down 26 rebounds, and scored 16 points off 14 Sacred Heart turnovers.

Dai Jia Ruffin led Sacred Heart with 26 points and 13 rebounds.  Ashley Johnson added 13 points and four assists.

Brandi Smith led Whitley County with 18 points and three steals.  Kandace Craig added eight points and six rebounds.  5-4 So. Hallie Jones chipped in with eight points including two three point baskets.

Whitley County   9  11   7  17 – 44

Sacred Heart     19   8  11   9 – 47

Whitley County (44) – Sab. Sizemore 2, Johnson 6, Craig 8, Powers 2, Smith 18, Jones 8.

Sacred Heart (47) – Ruffin 26, Stough 0, Long 2, Samsel 6, Johnson 13.

Acknowledgements:

A special thanks to Bob Tonini of Sacred Heart Academy for providing the comprehensive statistics for tonight’s game.