ANDERSON COUNTY

ANDERSON COUNTY

Tony Kays.* Coach:

2013 (lost to Marion County 72-49 in semifinals).Last trip to State:

No. 3 Anderson County has been ranked among the top teams in the state all season and has the experience of reaching the state semifinals last season before falling to eventual champion Marion County. The Lady Bearcats have won 12 straight since falling to Sacred Heart 66-57 in the semifinals of the Louisville Invitational Tournament on Feb. 1. Anderson County will be a heavy favorite against Meade County and would face the Elizabethtown-Sacred Heart winner in the quarterfinals. The winner of that game has a clear road to Sunday’s final.What to look for:

Cann and McKee both are finalists for Kentucky’s Miss Basketball award, and both are capable of taking over a game. Cann, who has signed with Cincinnati, is 5-11 but does most of her work from the perimeter as the team’s top 3-point shooter (74 of 205, 36.1 percent). McKee, who has signed with Morehead State, is the Lady Bearcats’ leader in the paint.Key players:

“After getting to the semifinals last year and having everybody back, the expectations were a little higher this year. We do have a target on our backs. The kids were aware of that … but if they felt pressure they never showed it.”Coach-speak:

Starters

10-Destiny Stewart

5-5, Sr., 4.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg

11-Jessica Rice

5-7, Sr., 4 ppg, 1 rpg

24-Alex Avritt

5-8, Sr., 3.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg

22-Makenzie Cann

5-11, Sr., 17.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg

32-Eriel McKee

5-10, Sr., 19.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg

Key reserves

45-Kaci Currens

5-8, So., 6.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg

15-Corrin Robinson

5-2, Jr., 4.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg

23-Marissa Walker

5-3, Jr., 2.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg

MEADE COUNTY

MEADE COUNTY

Josh Hurt.Coach:

1994 (lost to Henderson County 41-35 in first round).Last trip to State:

Meade County was among the preseason favorites in the Third Region but struggled to a 5-11 start against a tough early schedule, including losses to No. 1 Elizabethtown and No. 4 Henderson County. But since Jan. 16 the Green Wave is 11-4 and avenged a 68-44 loss to Owensboro Catholic during the regular season by beating the Lady Aces 66-53 in the regional final. The Green Wave shoots 72.8 percent from the free-throw line, and Hurt said his team has been focused on getting there in the past few weeks.What to look for:

Turner is ranked among the top juniors in the state, and Wolf is hoping a strong showing this week will propel her into the discussion for the 2015 Miss Basketball award. “We’ve wanted for a long time to get on the big state and let everyone else see what we have,” Hurt said. “Morgan certainly is a big part of that.” Hurt said Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri State, Belmont and Lipscomb are showing interest in Turner.Key player:

“Our record really was indicative of who we were, but at the same time we also played poorly. We started teetering on the optimism vs. realism. Fortunately we got hot and made a run.”Coach-speak:

Starters

12-Katie Wilson

5-3, So., 4.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg

20-Raley Johnson

5-7, Sr., 14.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg

10-Katelyn Cucino

5-3, Sr., 3.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg

5-Addi Lynch

5-6, Jr., 7.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg

24-Morgan Turner

6-1, Jr., 18.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg

Key reserves

3-Kelsey Sutton

5-6, Jr., 4.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg

32-Laruen Claycomb

5-9, So., 1.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg

34-Karissa Reader

5-11, So., 2.7 ppg, 2 rpg

TEAM COMPARISON