MERCER COUNTY "SHOOTS" PAST BULLITT EAST 73-59 IN L.I.T. QUARTERFINALS
Robins scores 23, Duvall 20 in Future WBB Cards showdown
2018 Louisville verbal Seygan Robins led all scorers with 23 points and proved clutch in the game late...scoring 11 of her points in the decisive fourth quarter....where the Titans outscored the Chargers 24-15. Winning coach Chris Souder was pleased with her effort and the win:
" She took over the game in the second half and that's what UofL signees do... Coach Walz has to be ecstatic knowing he's getting Seygan and Lindsey Duvall."
After a close first quarter where Mercer County led 11-10, Bullitt East senior guard and 2017 Louisville commit Lindsey Duvall had four points. Twins Faith and Lexy Lake were handling the scoring for Mercer County...hitting three 3's in the quarter. Robins hadn't scored yet. Souder wasn't pleased. " I wasn't real happy. I felt like they were the aggressors and getting every loose ball and second and third shot. They just took it at us."
Bullitt East started the second quarter on a 11-1 run...which was part of a 16-1 run going back to the first quarter...and led 21-12 after Alyssa Peak scored, got fouled and converted the free throw at the 6:14 mark. Mercer County responded with a 15-6 run and tied the contest at 27-27 on two Robins free throws after a Duvall foul with 3:01 until half. The teams went to the locker room for the halftime break tied at 31-31...Robins scoring with two seconds on the clock. Coach Stallings on the Mercer County run:
"They just shot the ball a little better from the arc. They were a few loose balls they got and kicked out for open threes. We just didn't shoot the ball as well as we normally do."
Mercer County was 6 for 17 from the deep in the first half and Robins had five points. Duvall was on the board with six points and an exciting second half seemed to be in the offing.
Duvall was driving the lane and having success or getting fouled for the Chargers but the fourth quarter belonged to Robins and Mercer County.
A 16-4 run over the first five minutes of the final quarter...they play eight minute quarters in high school hoops, which took this observer a bit to get used to...was keyed by seven Robins points. It put the Titans up 63-48. Mercer County held their biggest lead at 67-49 after Robins two final points and two free throws with 2:25 left to play. Duvall would score Bullitt East's final seven points but the late efforts weren't enough to overcome the Titans lead and Duvall's three with 10 seconds left in the game set the final total at 73-59.
Faith and Lexy Lake, who have been offered by Southeast Missouri State University, joined Robins in double figures with 12 each and Lyric Houston added 11 for Mercer County...including 7 for 8 free-throw shooting. The Titans went 10 for 25 from three-point range. SEMO is getting a great 2 for 1 special in these twins...aggressive on defense, they shoot well from the distance and they pass the ball well for assists also.
Both Duvall and Robins showed why Coach Walz and Louisville is eager to have them on campus and they are two of the best girls high school players in the state this year...if not the best two. A great evening of hoops! A nice sea of red and black dotted the Bellarmine bleacher to see the contest and Louisville's future stars.
As an aside, Tony Montano was one of the referees in the contest. I didn't get a chance to "say hello to my little friend". (Sorry, Al Pacino...for the pun and yes, I know...it was Montana in the movie "Scarface").
COACH STALLINGS POST GAME REMARKS
COACH SOUDER POSTGAME REMARKS
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Simon Kenton went down shooting...firing 25 threes but hitting just six. Allyson Niece had 18 for the Pioneers. Berger is a verbal to Indiana University for 2018 and the Hoosiers and getting a good one in the 5'11" guard. A good defensive job by the Valkyries in holding Simon Kenton to about 20 points under their season average.
I arrived at Knights Hall in time to catch the start of the Sacred Heart/Simon Kenton contest and stayed through the Mercer County/Bullitt East game. I was impressed with the friendly L.I.T staff and their eagerness to help me get where I needed to be. Plus, they had Chic-Fil-A in the media/break room....always a plus with this guy's appetite.
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RADIO TODAY!
We'll be in full force at the Crescent Hill studios this morning for THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR. Join Case, Worldwide and me as we review this game, Louisville basketball and whatever else crosses our agenda.11 a.m. on WCHQ 100.9 FM and streaming live on the Internet at www.crescenthillradio.com Download the WCHQ app and join in the fun!
Live radio, three generations and no messy clean-up or hard-to-remove stains afterward. if Attila the Hun had been able to do radio, it probably would have been...hmmm...where I am going with this?
Never mind...
Have brunch with us today. We won't mind one bit if you pick up the tab.
paulie
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