GAME 7: ELIZABETHTOWN VS. HENDERSON COUNTY, 6:30 P.M. THURSDAY
ELIZABETHTOWN
* Coach: Tim Mudd.
* Record: 29-4.
* Nickname: Panthers.
* Location: Elizabethtown.
* Region: Fifth.
* Enrollment: 769.
* Litkenhous Rating: 117.4 (No. 1 in state).
* Sweet 16 trips: Ninth (18-7).
* Last trip to State: 2015 (lost to Covington Holy Cross 41-40 in quarterfinals).
* What to look for: For the third straight year the Panthers enter the Sweet 16 with the No. 1 state ranking in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings. But the past two seasons haven’t ended with championships, as E’town lost to Butler in the state final in 2014 and to Covington Holy Cross in last year’s quarterfinals. After losing three NCAA Division I signees to graduation, this E’town team is not as talented as last season’s. But the Panthers still have the best player in the state in Erin Boley. If her supporting cast is firing, E’town could capture the second state title in program history.
* Key player: Boley is a Notre Dame signee who is considered the front-runner for Kentucky’s Miss Basketball award and is one of five finalists for the Naismith Trophy given to the nation’s top player. Along with averaging a double-double (24.4 ppg, 10.7 rpg), she’s shooting 60.1 percent (301 of 501) from the field.
* Coach-speak: “I don’t sense that Erin feels any added pressure,” Mudd said when asked about this being Boley’s final chance to win a state title. “She knows her role and what she needs to do. Hopefully if she’s not able to do what she normally does, we’ll have others step up. That’s why we’re a team.”
STARTERS
10-Jada Stinson
5-7, Jr., 14.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg
12-Rachel Warden
5-7, Sr., 8.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg
22-Ramsey Deaton
5-8, Jr., 1.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg
20-Taylor Thomas
5-9, Jr., 10.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg
21-Erin Boley
6-2, Sr., 24.4 ppg, 10.7 rpg
KEY RESERVES
2-Karson Knight
5-3, So., 3.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg
4-Kendall Pack
5-7, Jr., 1.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg
HENDERSON COUNTY
* Coach: Jeff Haile.
* Record: 18-9.
* Nickname: Colonels.
* Location: Henderson.
* Region: Second.
* Enrollment: 2,014.
* Litkenhous Rating: 94.2.
* Sweet 16 trips: 13th (11-12).
* Last trip to State: 2015 (lost to Male 86-81 in quarterfinals).
* What to look for: The Colonels are in the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight year and the 10th time in the past 12 years. After losing four starters from last season’s team that reached the quarterfinals, Haile wasn’t sure his team could get back this season. But the returns of Mikayla Gilbert and Alisha Owens from knee injuries played a big part in the Colonels’ success. “This year we don’t have the power from 3-point range or on the inside,” Haile said. “We’ve focused more on defense and been able to hold teams down below their averages.” With little depth, Henderson County must stay out of foul trouble.
* Key player: A 5-foot-11 junior, Owens leads the team in scoring (12.5 ppg) and ranks second in rebounding (6.0 rpg). “She has range from 15 feet, but her main thing is getting offensive rebounds and scoring in the paint,” Haile said. “She’s still not 100 percent back from that ACL injury last year, but she’s been a good leader for us.” Owens missed five games in mid-January with a concussion.
* Coach-speak: “E’town is not as strong as they were last year … but neither are we,” Haile said. “They still have the Boley kid, and they have a good supporting cast. Defensively, they’re always tough and you know they’re going to play a lot of different zones. It will be a big challenge for us, but you never know what will happen once you get there.”
STARTERS
3-Samantha Carter
5-6, Sr., 6.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg
23-Breanna Chester
5-4, Jr., 6.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg
20-Emma Lander
5-8, Jr., 11.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg
43-Mikayla Gilbert
5-9, Sr., 9.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg
45-Alisha Owens
5-11, Jr., 12.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg
KEY RESERVES
22-Mary-Kate Daniel
5-7, Jr., 2.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg
5-Jalee Carter
5-4, So., 2.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg
-Jason Frakes