HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Its star player struggling to score, the Franklin County High School girls basketball team showed the depth that has propelled it to a top-five ranking this season.
Rebecca Cook had 19 points and seven rebounds and Dasia Kilbourne added 10 points as the Flyers beat a scrappy Shelby Valley squad 47-39 on Wednesday in the first round of the St. Elizabeth Healthcare/KHSAA Sweet 16 at BB&T Arena.
Princess Stewart, Franklin County’s top scorer at 17.9 points per game, missed all nine of her field-goal tries and finished with two points.
“We’re very versatile, and we all can play different positions,” Cook said. “If Princess is struggling, someone else can step up and play (point guard) and penetrate.”
After falling behind 8-0, Franklin County (29-4) finally got going and advanced to face the Trimble County-Campbell County winner in Friday’s noon quarterfinal.
“I guess when you haven’t won a state tournament game in 36 years, it’s supposed to be this hard, which is fine,” Franklin County coach Joey Thacker said. “Give Shelby Valley a ton of credit. … We just never could turn them over and get points from it, and we had to grind everything out in the half-court.”
Lakyn Mullins, the only senior on the team, had 18 points, eight rebounds and three blocks to lead Shelby Valley (28-4).
“I don’t think anybody gave us much of a chance to even compete down here,” Lady Kats coach Rodney Rowe said. “We’re starting four young sophomores … and they just competed. I’m very proud of them.”
Mullins’ jumper gave Shelby Valley a 19-18 lead with 1:26 left in the first half before Franklin County scored the final six points for a 24-19 halftime lead.
The Flyers carried the momentum into the third quarter, taking a 36-23 lead on Cook’s 3-pointer at the 4:55 mark. Cassidi Wright’s layup pulled the Lady Kats within 43-37 with 2:11 remaining, but they never got closer.
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
FRANKLIN COUNTY 12 12 16 7 – 47
SHELBY VALLEY 13 6 14 6 – 39
Franklin County (29-4) – Frank 8, Kilbourne 10, Stewart 2, Arrastia 7, Cook 19, Talley 1.
Shelby Valley (28-4) – Mullins 18, Rose 6, Tackett 5, Wright 10.
3-point goals – Arrastia, Cook 2; Rose 2, Tackett, Wright.
