The George Rogers Clark (GRC) Lady Cardinals faced off against the North Laurel Lady Jaguars in the Sweet 16 State Tournament and ended with a final score of 63-48 in favor of GRC. North Laurel was coming off a 2 point win over Frederick Douglass while George Rogers Clark defeated Mercy by 8 in the opening round.
The Lady Cardinals came out strong from the start, with a 21-13 lead after the first quarter. They continued to increase their lead in the second quarter, outscoring North Laurel 15-9. However, the Lady Jaguars made a comeback in the third quarter, scoring 16 points to GRC’s 14. This reduced the deficit to just 10 points going into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, North Laurel tried to mount a comeback but could not overcome GRC’s lead. With just 2:24 remaining in the game, North Laurel went on a scoring drought, failing to score any points for the remainder of the game. GRC took advantage of this and extended their lead to 15 points, winning the game with a final score of 63-48.
Ciara Byars of GRC was the game’s top scorer, with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists. Kenne Stamper contributed 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 5 assists. North Laurel’s top scorers were Bro Nichelson with 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, and Emil Sizemore with 15 points, 2 rebounds, and 5 assists.
The Lady Cardinals had a more efficient shooting performance, making 51.2% of their field goals and 50% of their three-pointers. In contrast, the Lady Jaguars made 38% of their field goals and 14% of their three-pointers. GRC also had more rebounds, with 31 total rebounds compared to North Laurel’s 23.
Both teams had a similar number of turnovers, with GRC having 11 and North Laurel having 8. However, GRC was able to capitalize on North Laurel’s turnovers, scoring 10 points off turnovers compared to North Laurel’s 9 points.
In the end, GRC’s strong shooting and rebounding performance proved to be too much for North Laurel to overcome. GRC will now advance to the semifinal round and play against defending champion Sacred Heart.
