HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Mercer County High School’s first victory in the girls basketball state tournament was a big one.
Lyric Houston scored 18 points and Seygan Robins added 16 points and six assists as the Titans whipped Leslie County 68-39 in the first round of the St. Elizabeth Healthcare/KHSAA Sweet 16 at BB&T Arena.
The 29-point victory was a stark contrast to last season, when the Titans lost to No. 1-ranked Elizabethtown 79-38 in the first round of the Sweet 16.
“What a difference a year makes,” said Mercer County coach Chris Souder, whose team is No. 4 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings. “This team last year was on the other end of that. These kids have worked extremely hard to get where we’re at, and I thought we came out really strong.”
The Titans (30-5) set a single-season school record for victories – breaking last season’s mark of 29 – and advanced to face the Holmes-Russell winner in Friday’s 1:30 p.m. quarterfinal.
Emily Griffith scored 18 points to lead Leslie County (21-9), which was playing in the Sweet 16 for the first time in 30 years.
Mercer County put it away early, bolting to a 21-1 lead on Alie Burke’s 3-pointer at the 3:01 mark of the first quarter.
The Titans scored 26 points off 18 Leslie County turnovers in the first half.
“That’s unacceptable if you’re playing the ’86 Celtics,” Eagles coach Mark Collett said. “You can’t turn the ball over (18) times and expect to win. … They’re long and quick and have quick hands. They’re a step up from what we normally see in the 14th Region.”
The Titans finished with 20 assists on 26 made field goals. Along with Robins’ six assists, Faith Lake had five and Houston added four.
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
LESLIE COUNTY 4 8 16 11 – 39
MERCER COUNTY 23 19 21 5 – 68
Leslie County (21-9) – K. Gay 6, Combs 9, Griffith 18, Harvey 1, Mullins 5.
Mercer County (30-5) – F. Lake 6, Souder 2, Houston 18, Robins 16, L. Lake 5, Davis 7, Burke 9, Bartley 3, Lewis 2.
3-point goals – K. Gay, Combs 3, Griffith 3, Mullins; Robins 4, L. Lake, Davis, Burke 3.