CORBIN — For the first time in five years, the Whitley County Lady Colonel basketball program will be participating in the 13th Region Tournament.
The Lady Colonels stunned Corbin on its home floor during semifinal action of the 50th District Tournament, winning, 53-46.
“I am so proud of our girls! When we were at the Liberty University team camp this summer, we set down in the lobby and set an individual and team goals,” Whitley County coach Ronnie Collier said. “The team goal they set was to go to The Arena. We talked about how our culture was going to have to change in order to achieve it. I feel like it took awhile, but now we don’t quit when things get difficult. Earlier in the year, we would not have kept fighting when we got down 11 in the third quarter. We are going to celebrate this one tonight, and then prepare for a really good South team for the championship. Go Colonels.”
Maddy Hopkins came up huge for Whitley County, scoring 13 of her team-best 22 points in the game’s final eight minutes.
Hopkins knocked down 8-of-10 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter for the Lady Colonels to seal the win.
Whitley County led 14-11 after the first quarter but trailed 29-25 at halftime. The Lady Colonels stared down a 39-34 deficit heading into the fourth quarter before outscoring the Lady Redhounds, 19-7.
Jonna Rice scored 18 points for Whitley County while hitting four 3-pointers. Jaylee Cox had seven points while Aubrey Fore finished with six points.
Lydia King led Corbin with 14 points while Izzy Walker added eight points.
Whitley County improves to 15-13 while the Lady Redhounds, who will miss the 13th Region Tournament for the first time in five years, finishes the season with a 15-11 mark.
