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Kasey Young (33) and Laken Grey (23) of Danville defend a shot by Boyle County's Chelsea Gill during the fourth quarter of Danville's 70-44 victory Friday. (Clay Jackson / February 2, 2013) |
At least for the time being, Danville is the best girls team in town again.
The Admirals’ coach told them that wasn’t the case prior to their rematch with Boyle County, which had ended a five-game losing streak to Danville last month. Danville was back on top Friday night, however, after dominating the second half to post a convincing 70-44 victory.
Kasey Young scored 29 points to reach 2,000 career points and Laken Grey scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Admirals, who outscored the Rebels 33-12 after halftime.
And still the issue is not settled. The teams will play a rubber match in the postseason in just over two weeks, this time with elimination on the line. That pairing was already set prior to Friday’s game at Danville, so there was little on the line besides bragging rights, which was apparently enough.
“I told them today they were the second-best team in the town, so I guess that meant something to them,” Danville coach Judie Mason said.
“Oh, that fired us up,” Young said. “Really it’s just a pride thing. We just have so much pride on our team, and from top to bottom we were like, ‘We’re not going to lose to Boyle County again.”
Danville (14-7, 3-2 45th District) made sure of that by blowing past Boyle (11-11, 2-4) in the second half to avenge a 52-49 loss on Jan. 8.
“They beat us in every phase of the game tonight. Rebounding, shooting, defense, ball-handling, anything you want,” Boyle coach Greg Edwards said. “You can dissect the basketball game into: They put it to us tonight.”
The Admirals’ defense shut down the Rebels’ offense in the third and fourth periods, when they were just 3 for 18 from the field. Boyle shot 33 percent overall and committed 20 turnovers.
“The defense this game was so much better than last game,” Young said. “The last game it seemed like everyone was out of place, and this time it was like everyone was where they needed to be. Our defense was pretty good tonight.”
The offense wasn’t bad, either. The Admirals shot 63 percent, and 14 of their 27 field goals came from close range.
Many of those that didn’t were 3-point shots by Young, who was 7 for 10 from 3-point range and 11 for 18 overall from the field. Young, who scored 40 points in Danville’s previous game, hit her first three 3-point attempts and went 4 for 5 from long range in the first quarter to help the Admirals open a 21-10 lead.
“Our shots went early, Kasey hit her 3s early, and that opens it up for everybody,” Mason said.
Young’s final shot — Mason was already emptying the bench — was a layup that left her at exactly 2,000 points.
“I didn’t even know that I was (close). Coach Mason called a timeout and (told guard Essence Grey), ‘Now, Essence, Kasey is seven points away from 2,000 points, and I was like, ‘Whoa,’ and Essence did a really good job of feeding me the ball,” Young said.
Young scored seven points in about a minute and a half, after which Mason called another timeout and presented her with the game ball.
“I’m just overwhelmed. It just means a whole lot to me. It’s so exciting,” said Young, who also had a game-high eight rebounds.
It was also a milestone night for Laken Grey, who scored 14 points in the second half to cap the best night of her career. She hit her last seven shots from the field and finished 8 for 11 from the field and 6 for 8 at the free-throw line.
“I thought Laken did a good job on the inside, and when Laken can post like that, it helps Kasey on the outside,” Mason said. “I tried Kasey on the inside, but now I’ve got here more running with us, and I think it’s opened up the game for Laken, also.”
The Admirals’ coach told them that wasn’t the case prior to their rematch with Boyle County, which had ended a five-game losing streak to Danville last month. Danville was back on top Friday night, however, after dominating the second half to post a convincing 70-44 victory.
Kasey Young scored 29 points to reach 2,000 career points and Laken Grey scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Admirals, who outscored the Rebels 33-12 after halftime.
And still the issue is not settled. The teams will play a rubber match in the postseason in just over two weeks, this time with elimination on the line. That pairing was already set prior to Friday’s game at Danville, so there was little on the line besides bragging rights, which was apparently enough.
“I told them today they were the second-best team in the town, so I guess that meant something to them,” Danville coach Judie Mason said.
“Oh, that fired us up,” Young said. “Really it’s just a pride thing. We just have so much pride on our team, and from top to bottom we were like, ‘We’re not going to lose to Boyle County again.”
Danville (14-7, 3-2 45th District) made sure of that by blowing past Boyle (11-11, 2-4) in the second half to avenge a 52-49 loss on Jan. 8.
“They beat us in every phase of the game tonight. Rebounding, shooting, defense, ball-handling, anything you want,” Boyle coach Greg Edwards said. “You can dissect the basketball game into: They put it to us tonight.”
The Admirals’ defense shut down the Rebels’ offense in the third and fourth periods, when they were just 3 for 18 from the field. Boyle shot 33 percent overall and committed 20 turnovers.
“The defense this game was so much better than last game,” Young said. “The last game it seemed like everyone was out of place, and this time it was like everyone was where they needed to be. Our defense was pretty good tonight.”
The offense wasn’t bad, either. The Admirals shot 63 percent, and 14 of their 27 field goals came from close range.
Many of those that didn’t were 3-point shots by Young, who was 7 for 10 from 3-point range and 11 for 18 overall from the field. Young, who scored 40 points in Danville’s previous game, hit her first three 3-point attempts and went 4 for 5 from long range in the first quarter to help the Admirals open a 21-10 lead.
“Our shots went early, Kasey hit her 3s early, and that opens it up for everybody,” Mason said.
Young’s final shot — Mason was already emptying the bench — was a layup that left her at exactly 2,000 points.
“I didn’t even know that I was (close). Coach Mason called a timeout and (told guard Essence Grey), ‘Now, Essence, Kasey is seven points away from 2,000 points, and I was like, ‘Whoa,’ and Essence did a really good job of feeding me the ball,” Young said.
Young scored seven points in about a minute and a half, after which Mason called another timeout and presented her with the game ball.
“I’m just overwhelmed. It just means a whole lot to me. It’s so exciting,” said Young, who also had a game-high eight rebounds.
It was also a milestone night for Laken Grey, who scored 14 points in the second half to cap the best night of her career. She hit her last seven shots from the field and finished 8 for 11 from the field and 6 for 8 at the free-throw line.
“I thought Laken did a good job on the inside, and when Laken can post like that, it helps Kasey on the outside,” Mason said. “I tried Kasey on the inside, but now I’ve got here more running with us, and I think it’s opened up the game for Laken, also.”
