Commanderettes foul out in first round

By Jimmie Earls

Sun Sports Writer

The 2008-09 season came to an end for the Washington County Commanderettes Tuesday night as they fell to Bardstown 54-48 on their home court in the first round of the 19th District Tournament.

Bardtown got off to a 6-0 start in the first quarter until WC junior Pooh Railey scored underneath to put the Commanderettes on the board. The Lady Tigers built a 10-4 lead on two shots from Dana Phillips. Shay Yocum got WC within four as the final seconds of the quarter ticked off.

Burton tied the score at 10-10 in the opening seconds of the second quarter. As each team traded shots back and forth, WC got their first lead of the night on a layup by Yocum to go ahead 14-12 at the 6:00 mark. Bardstoen’s Jordan Ball got a steal and drove to the basket, making the shot while being fouled by Burton. Ball missed the bonus shot and the game remained tied at 14 all.

Railey went to the line on a foul by Ball and made both shots, while Sarah Godshall went to the line for WC on a foul by Abbie Parrish. Godshall made one of two to put WC up 17-14. Ball tied the score with a three-pointer and Bardstown got the lead back on a jumper by Alyson Thompson. Despite outscoring the Lady Tigers 13-11 in the second quarter, the Commanderettes trailed 21-19 at the break.

Bardstown scored five unanswered to open the second half, building their lead to 26-19. The Commanderettes refused to quit, fighting back to stay within a shot or two. With 45 seconda left in the third quarter, Yocum tied it up at 30. A trey by Ball and a foul shot by Thompson gave Bardstown a 34-30 lead, but Railey drove through the lane for two points in the closing seconds to cut the lead to two.

The game came down to the final minutes as Washington County was well within striking distance having tied the game at 36 all early in the fourth quarter. But foul trouble was the Commanderettes undoing as they sent several Lady Tigers to the line in the closing minutes. Phillips made four free throws, while Ball and Brooke Ahern each added a pair as the Lady Tigers led 49-42 with 1:50 left in the game.

Bardstown’s Brooke Ahern knocked down two foul shots with 20 seconds left in the game to ice the victory for the Lady Tigers, who will meet Nelson County in the district final Friday night at 7 p.m.

Yocum led Washington County in scoring with 15 points. Ball led Bardstown with 16 while Phillips had 14.

BHS 10 11 13 20 - 54

WCHS 6 13 13 16 – 48

Bardstown (54) – Ahern 8, Allen 5, Ball 16, Thompson 7, Wathen 4, Phillips 14

3-point shots: Allen 1, Ball 3

Washington Co. (48) – Yocum 15, Railey 9, Godshall 9, Hahn 2, Burton 5, Libby 5, Hayden 3

3-point shots: Burton 1, Hayden 1