Katherine Raines and Reagan Weiskircher scored 11 points each Monday as the Danville Christian Academy girls topped Louisville’s Academy for Individual Excellence 34-29 in first round of the Kentucky Christian Schools Athletic Association state tournament in Harrodsburg.
DCA, which is now 16-9, advanced to face Morehead’s Lakeside Christian at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the Elite 8 at Asbury University. It’s the second time in three seasons the Warriors have advanced to the quarterfinals.
“We will definitely have our hands full on Thursday. Lakeside is well coached, usually shoots the ball well, and plays a very physical style. Having almost beat them at their place, where they never lose, has given our girls some confidence,” DCA coach Jamie Middleton said. “Plus, we beat them in the KCAA middle school state championship game, so some of our players have experience beatings Lakeside team, which gives those girls confidence.
“At this time of the season, having the confidence to think you can beat a team and having confidence you can play well against a certain style is the beginning of being successful. If you believe it, you can achieve it. We will work hard in practice and in video sessions to prepare for Lakeside.”
It was tied 13-all at the half, but DCA pulled out to a 25-21 lead after three quarters. DCA finished 14 of 30 from the floor, 2-for-6 from 3-point range, and just 4 of 11 from the foul line. Raines had seven rebounds.
“We did not play particularly well, but we won. During the post-season that's what matters. We get to play another day, while AIE is turning in their uniforms. Our focus on shot technique and taking good shots paid of for us as we shot the ball much better than we have been. Our inside game is what won the game for us,” Middleton said. “Reagan Weiskircher and Katherine Raines were almost unstoppable. Those girls give us a huge presence inside and tonight they put the team on their shoulders and carried us to victory.
“The turning point in the game was when we switched from our usual zone to man to man in the third quarter. We were able to turn them over a few times and create some havoc with a few steals. Quickness is not our strong point, but we played tremendous team man to man defense, with everyone helping each other giving weakside help, etc. A total team effort.”
KCSAA¿State Tournament
At Harrodsburg
First Round
Acad. Indiv. Excellence 5 13 21 29
Danville Christian 9 13 25 34
DCA (16-9) — Katherine Raines 11, Reagan Weiskircher 11, Kristen Asmus 6, Shayla Smith 4, Carrie Crawford 2.
AIE — Megan Lewis 13, Bronte Murrell 4, Amanda Yff 4, Jordan Thompson 5, Olivia Raley 3.
DCA, which is now 16-9, advanced to face Morehead’s Lakeside Christian at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the Elite 8 at Asbury University. It’s the second time in three seasons the Warriors have advanced to the quarterfinals.
“We will definitely have our hands full on Thursday. Lakeside is well coached, usually shoots the ball well, and plays a very physical style. Having almost beat them at their place, where they never lose, has given our girls some confidence,” DCA coach Jamie Middleton said. “Plus, we beat them in the KCAA middle school state championship game, so some of our players have experience beatings Lakeside team, which gives those girls confidence.
“At this time of the season, having the confidence to think you can beat a team and having confidence you can play well against a certain style is the beginning of being successful. If you believe it, you can achieve it. We will work hard in practice and in video sessions to prepare for Lakeside.”
It was tied 13-all at the half, but DCA pulled out to a 25-21 lead after three quarters. DCA finished 14 of 30 from the floor, 2-for-6 from 3-point range, and just 4 of 11 from the foul line. Raines had seven rebounds.
“We did not play particularly well, but we won. During the post-season that's what matters. We get to play another day, while AIE is turning in their uniforms. Our focus on shot technique and taking good shots paid of for us as we shot the ball much better than we have been. Our inside game is what won the game for us,” Middleton said. “Reagan Weiskircher and Katherine Raines were almost unstoppable. Those girls give us a huge presence inside and tonight they put the team on their shoulders and carried us to victory.
“The turning point in the game was when we switched from our usual zone to man to man in the third quarter. We were able to turn them over a few times and create some havoc with a few steals. Quickness is not our strong point, but we played tremendous team man to man defense, with everyone helping each other giving weakside help, etc. A total team effort.”
KCSAA¿State Tournament
At Harrodsburg
First Round
Acad. Indiv. Excellence 5 13 21 29
Danville Christian 9 13 25 34
DCA (16-9) — Katherine Raines 11, Reagan Weiskircher 11, Kristen Asmus 6, Shayla Smith 4, Carrie Crawford 2.
AIE — Megan Lewis 13, Bronte Murrell 4, Amanda Yff 4, Jordan Thompson 5, Olivia Raley 3.
