Regional Tournament Impact Players: Road To Rupp

<!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size"><em>Regional Tournament play has come to an end in Kentucky <em>16 Regions were represented and have crowned a champion.</em> The stage is now set for the Mingua Beef Jerky Girls' Sweet 16 State Tournament. Throughout the Region tournaments we witnessed some surprising outcomes as teams who were not expected to win their region did just that and players that may have flew under the radar during the regular season made a name themselves win it mattered the most. Let's recap as I highlight players who made a big impact for their team in route to a Region Championship. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='398033' first='Ayanna-Sarai' last='Darrington']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Frederick Douglass","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Lady Magic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6406ae6a43ee6"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">After missing the entire district tournament [player_tooltip player_id='398033' first='Ayanna-Sarai' last='Darrington'] returned to the regional tournament in rare form. With Douglass still red-hot Darrington just added fuel to the flame. In the 11th region championship game against a resilient Lexington Catholic squad she had a record-setting performance putting up a monster double-double scoring 27 points and grabbing 29 rebounds which is just unheard of if you ask me. Darrington's dominant play helped the Lady Broncos win their first region championship in school history and punch their first-ever ticket to the Girls' Sweet 16 beating Catholic 66-51. Frederick Douglass is scheduled to play North Laurel in the first round tomorrow 8:30PM at Rupp Arena. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["231465"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6406ae6a43f62"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">The Kittens lost to Boyd County in the district title game for the second year in row. But the opportunity to face them again came in the region title game Ashland got the bad taste out of their mouths beating the the Lady Lions 67-50. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='231465' first='Ella' last='Sellars'] played outstanding scoring a game-high 26 points setting a record for three's in a game with 6 from long range. Her stellar play earned her MVP honors and helped Ashland win the 16th region for the first time since 2015 and the first region championship for Head Coach Stacey Davis. The Kittens will head to Rupp Arena and face Knott Central in the first round on Thursday at 11:00AM.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["376804"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6406ae6a43d77"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">GRC just won back to back 10th Region titles which is there 6th in 7 years. When the lights shined the brightest freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='376804' first='Anaya' last='Chestnut'] showed that she was ready for the big stage. Chestnut was on fire scoring a career-high 18 points with all 18 coming from behind the arc. She also had 6 rebounds and 6 assist. Her hot hand led GRC to a 74-47 victory over Mason County. With this win GRC has punched their ticket to state tournament where they will matchup against Mercer County tomorrow 6:00PM at Rupp Arena.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["254279"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6406c767c1462"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">In a overtime thriller against a tough Bullitt East team the sophomore superstar and 6th Region Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='254279' first='Leah' last='Macy'] really imposed her will. She put up a double-double with 24 points and grabbed 22 rebounds along with 3 assist and 2 blocks. Macy helped Mercy Academy get the victory 54-51 with a clutch performance. Her team will face one of the top teams in state Cooper on Thursday 6:00PM at Rupp Arena. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["164412"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6406c767c1568"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">Mercer County edged out Danville in an epic battle in overtime 63-59 to win the 12th Region Title. Junior guard Anna Drakeford led the way with 22 points making an impact when her team needed it the most. Her gutsy performance helped the Lady Titans gained a spot at the state tournament. Lets see if they can keep their win streak alive and continue the Cinderella Story as they matchup against GRC in the first round tomorrow 6:00PM at Rupp Arena.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["164388"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-640784075c24f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">The Lady Purples won their 4th straight Region 4 Championship making it their 9th in program history and the 5th time they have been crowned champs in the past 6 years. This win extended their historic win streak of 42 wins in a row against region opponents. They were led by the senior and EKU commit [player_tooltip player_id='164388' first='Saniyah' last='Shelton'] who scored 16 points in a blowout victory over Barren County 59-37. Bowling Green will go up against Owensboro Catholic in the opening round of KHSAA Sweet 16 tournament tomorrow morning at Rupp Arena. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brooke Nichelson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"North Laurel","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"ETA Thunder","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6406c767c151b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">The Lady Jaguars won their second 13th Region Championship in program history as they inched past Jackson County winning 42-39. The day before against South Laurel sophomore guard Brooke Nichelson played her best game yet scoring a career-high 28 points going 10 for 16 from the field. She had 3 rebounds and 2 assist. North Laurel is set to play Frederick Douglass in the night game tomorrow 8:30PM at Rupp Arena.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->