LEXINGTON — McCracken County notched it’s spot in Saturday night’s Mingua Beef Jerk Girls’ Basketball Sweet 16 title game by defeating He seton County, 57-40, in semifinal action.
The win sets up a title game matchup with No. 1 ranked Sacred Heart, who defeated George Rogers Clark earlier Saturday.
Claire Johnson led the Lady Mustangs with 25 points in 9-of-16 shooting from the floor. Destiny Thomas added 17 points and five rebounds while Mikee Buchanan added eight points, and four rebounds.
McCracken County shot 18-of-38 from the floor while totaling 23 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Lady Mustangs also hit 2-of-10 shot attempts from 3-point range.
Jarie Thomas led Henderson County with 17 points, and seven rebounds while the Lady Colonels hit 14-of-34 shot attempts.
McCracken County’s Johnson scored the game’s first seven points as the Lady Mustangs found themselves ahead 12-0 before Henderson County’s Veal scored and connected with a free throw with 1:43 remaining in the first quarter.
McCracken County took a 13-3 lead into the second quarter thanks to nine points by Johnson, and a 5-of-11 shooting effort.
The Lady Colonels managed only one field goal in the first eight minutes while shooting 1-of-5 from the floor.
Johnson continued with the hot hand in the second quarter, and finished the first half with 13 points for McCracken County while Thomas added five points.
The Lady Mustangs shot 11-of-19 from the floor while recording nine rebounds. They also forced Henderson County into nine turnovers while taking a comfortable 26-12 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Risley led the Lady Colonels with five points while Henderson County shot 5-of-13 from the floor in the first half.
McCracken County put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring the Lady Colonels, 18-6, to take a commanding, 44-18, lead into the fourth quarter.
