Jan. 23, 2013 —
As many teams and fans know, anything can happen at a state tournament.
On Wednesday morning, the West Carter Lady Comets (7-10) will face the Frankfort Lady Panthers (12-4) to kick off the State All “A” Tournament at the Frankfort Convention Center.
The Lady Panthers are coming off an historic run in the 11th Region All “A” Tournament, knocking off 16-time defending champion, Lexington Christian Academy 79-48 last weekend. Frankfort has never won the 11th Region tournament and to knock off the champion 16 years running is no small feat. The Lady Comets, under first-year coach Bart Stevens, won four games in seven days, the toughest road to the title to represent the 16th Region in the All “A” State Tournament this week.
Frankfort seems to be an East Carter type of team, running full court pressure and up-tempo style for 32 minutes. They have plenty of athletes to run the floor, including Shauntae Brown, who averages 13 points, seven rebounds, seven
assists and six steals a game. Her twin sister, Shanae Brown is just as talented, contributing 11 points, 10 rebounds and five steals a contest.
West Carter is a team that likes to slow the game down when they have to, clearing the ball in and out of the lane late in a ball game. The Lady Comets are led by senior Brooke Callihan and sophomore Lexie Berry. Callihan averages 12.8 points and 4.9 rebounds a game, while Berry chips in with 11.4 points and 5.6 boards a contest.
While this game is a mix of contrasting styles, The Lady Comets have the ability to bring the ball up the floor quickly. West Carter can- not get into a track meet with the Lady Panthers or it could be a quick trip back to Olive Hill.
But this is also a big step forward in the West Carter program. The Lady Comets went to the All “A” State Tournament back in 2011 under coach Tex English. Most teams under a new head coach in the first year do not have this type of success but Stevens found a way to rally his squad together for a big run in the Region to get to this point.
Win or lose, the West Carter Lady Comet program is heading in the right directon.
MacKenzie Bates can be reached at mbates@journal-times.com or by telephone at 1-800-247-6142.
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