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While there was no highway sign to note it – it was a no-passing zone Thursday at the North Clay High School Gym, in Louisville in the championship game of Class 1A IHSA Girls' Basketball Regional
With the Lady Cardinals of North Clay shutting down the passing lanes versus the Lady Salukis of Red Hill, at the least denying the pass – at the most making deflections and steals and doing what the Lady Cards do best – getting out and running and scoring in transition – NC, the No. 2 seed, upset No. 1 Red Hill, 60-33 for the 2012 title.
“The girls played just outstanding defense tonight,” said North Clay varsity coach Curtis Thompson. “It just seemed like everything was clicking, communicating the whole night. Playing together.
“A lot of deflections, just reading the passes, and then putting the ball in the hoop when it counted,” Thompson added. “We've had other games when we've had those type easy lay-ups and we've blown them. Tonight, it didn't happened.
“For the most part, we shot the ball very well, and defense won this game for us. Creating so much offense from our defense,” Thompson said.
And while there was also no sign to note it – it was a falling rock zone Thursday at the North Clay Gym – with the Lady Cards shooting the rock and that said rock falling through the hoop 13 times for Alex Klackova. The foreign-exchange student from Slovakia, finished with a game-high 25 points on 12-of-15 shooting from the floor, along with 1-of-4 free-throws, in leading the Lady Cardinals to their first Regional crown since 2008.
Also for North Clay, Courtney Yates was in double-figures with 10 points, while Teehanna Wyatt came off the bench to score eight points, mostly off deflections and steals, and Rachel Smith, who missed Tuesday night's semifinal game with West Richland/Clay City due to illness, scored six points, and Kortney Standfield also scored six. Abie Bailey chipped in five points.
Dakota Moan led Red Hill with 16 points, while Taylor Paulin scored 10.
“Red Hill, they handle the ball so well at times, but we knew if we could get on them quick and just keep going we've had a pretty good shot at them,” Thompson said.
Getting on Red Hill quick and kept going, North Clay took their shot and led 12-4 after one quarter, 28-11 by halftime, and 48-23 after three quarters.
It was a last minute decision by the IHSA to award the Regional to North Clay, but a welcome one – allowing the Lady Cards to win a Regional on their home court.
While there was no highway sign to note it – it was a no-passing zone Thursday at the North Clay High School Gym, in Louisville in the championship game of Class 1A IHSA Girls' Basketball Regional
With the Lady Cardinals of North Clay shutting down the passing lanes versus the Lady Salukis of Red Hill, at the least denying the pass – at the most making deflections and steals and doing what the Lady Cards do best – getting out and running and scoring in transition – NC, the No. 2 seed, upset No. 1 Red Hill, 60-33 for the 2012 title.
“The girls played just outstanding defense tonight,” said North Clay varsity coach Curtis Thompson. “It just seemed like everything was clicking, communicating the whole night. Playing together.
“A lot of deflections, just reading the passes, and then putting the ball in the hoop when it counted,” Thompson added. “We've had other games when we've had those type easy lay-ups and we've blown them. Tonight, it didn't happened.
“For the most part, we shot the ball very well, and defense won this game for us. Creating so much offense from our defense,” Thompson said.
And while there was also no sign to note it – it was a falling rock zone Thursday at the North Clay Gym – with the Lady Cards shooting the rock and that said rock falling through the hoop 13 times for Alex Klackova. The foreign-exchange student from Slovakia, finished with a game-high 25 points on 12-of-15 shooting from the floor, along with 1-of-4 free-throws, in leading the Lady Cardinals to their first Regional crown since 2008.
Also for North Clay, Courtney Yates was in double-figures with 10 points, while Teehanna Wyatt came off the bench to score eight points, mostly off deflections and steals, and Rachel Smith, who missed Tuesday night's semifinal game with West Richland/Clay City due to illness, scored six points, and Kortney Standfield also scored six. Abie Bailey chipped in five points.
Dakota Moan led Red Hill with 16 points, while Taylor Paulin scored 10.
“Red Hill, they handle the ball so well at times, but we knew if we could get on them quick and just keep going we've had a pretty good shot at them,” Thompson said.
Getting on Red Hill quick and kept going, North Clay took their shot and led 12-4 after one quarter, 28-11 by halftime, and 48-23 after three quarters.
It was a last minute decision by the IHSA to award the Regional to North Clay, but a welcome one – allowing the Lady Cards to win a Regional on their home court.
“Oh, man – to host it and then take it at home – that's everything we've worked for,” Thompson said, “and no one can take it away from us. It's awesome to win it at our house.”
Now, the Lady Cardinals make the trip south, heading down US Highway 45 and Illinois Highway 1 and 13, and take part in the Gallatin County Class 1A Sectional, at Junction, playing on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
North Clay faces Goreville, who like the Lady Cards hosted and won their own Regional, defeating Century High School, of Ullin, 79-45.
“They are going to be tough,” Thompson said. “They took care of Flora by 20 (points) at the Benton Tournament. They have a couple of tall post-players, and they have an outstanding ball-handler. It's going to be another tough game for us. It's going to be a battle. We'll have to play well to come out with a win.”
Versus Century, the Lady Blackcats were led by 17 points from Alison Webb, 13 from Madison Cavins and 11 from Allison Sullivan.
It was also a big night individually Thursday for a couple of Lady Cardinals – Yates and Morgan Walker. Both moved on down the road, advancing in the Three-point Showdown shooting competition held prior to the Regional Championship Game.
Yates hit 10-of-15 three-point shots taken from three different spots on the floor. Her closest challenger hit 8-of-15. Walker put in 6-of-15 in the competition.
Both will now take part in the next round of the Three-Point Showdown, at the Sectional at Gallatin County on Monday.
READ THE FULL STORY IN THE TUESDAY, FEB. 14 ADVOCATE-PRESS
