HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Pikeville, Letcher Central fall in Sweet 16 openers

Photo credits: Dusty Layne

Pikeville High School’s record-setting season ended with an opening-round loss to Cooper in the  girls Sweet 16 matchup, 57-37, played at Rupp Arena on Thursday afternoon.

The Lady Panthers, making their fourth straight trip to Lexington, finished the year at 31-3, recording the most victories in a single season in program history.

Kyera Thornsbury had 15 points in the loss. Trinity Rowe added seven.

Pikeville’s Kylie Mason Hall and Emma Ratliff played in their final game.

The Letcher Central Lady Cougars fell to Bowling Green, 58-45. Central, whose season ended at 26-10, was playing in its second straight Sweet 16.

Kaylee Banks paced the Lady Cougars with 16 points while Keira Couch and Loren Boggs added eight each.

It was the final game for Banks and Boggs, along with Bailey Kincer.

Cooper….….….57

Pikeville………37

At Lexington

(Sweet 16 Tournament)

SCORE BY QUARTERS:

CH (24-9)……19  10  11  17 – 57

PK (31-3)……14    8    5  10 – 37

Scoring:

Cooper (57) – Whitney Lind 5 7-8 17; Logan Palmer 4(2) 8-8 22; Kay Freilhofer 1 1-2 3; Jesse Palmer 2 0-0 4; Liz Freilhofer 1(1) 4-4 9 and Maleah Alexander 0 2-4 2. Totals:16(3) 22-26 57.

 Pikeville (37) – Emma Ratliff 2 0-0 4; Trinity Rowe 2(1) 0-0 7; Kyera Thornsbury 6(1) 0-0 15; Rylee Theiss 1 0-0 2; Kristen Whited 9(1) 0-0 3; and Leighan Jackson 2 2-2 6. Totals: 16(3) 2-2 37.

Bowling Green….58

Letcher Central…45

At Lexington

(Sweet 16 Tournament)

SCORE BY QUARTERS:

LC (26-10).….8    7  18  12 – 45

BG (29-7)…..10  17  16  15 – 58

Scoring:

Letcher Central (45) – Keira Couch 3 2-4 8; Kaylee Banks 2(3) 3-4 16; Tori Holcomb 1(1) 2-2 7; Loren Boggs 2 4-4 8; Jaylin Whitt 1 0-0 2; Kyleigh Wright 1 0-0 2; and Emma Pavlik 1 0-0 2. Totals: 11(4) 11-14 45.

Bowling Green (58) – Meadow Tisdale 5(1) 5-5 18; Lynkaylah James 4 7-8 15; Saniyah Shelton 2 0-0 4; Emma Huskey 1 0-0 2; Tanaya Bailey 3 2-4 8; Ava Bennett 1(2) 0-0 8; Ja’Siyah Franklin 1 0-0 2; and Aniyah Smith 0 1-2 1. Totals: 17(3) 15-19 58.