GIRLS CFIT

 The Third Annual Cumberland Falls Lady Redhound Invitational will get underway Saturday at Corbin’s Gilliam Gym.

Corbin Coach Jennifer Parsons said this might be the best field since the tournament started three years ago. “We try to make it a very competitive tournament and I think we have done that again this year.”

“We have four teams within the 13^th region and four outside the region,” said Parsons. “We place teams within the same district in opposite brackets, so hopefully they will not have to play each other, but sometimes that still happens.”

“Bell County and Harlan are in the same district and us and Whitley County are in the same district,” said Parsons.

Among the other teams are Rockcastle County, North Hardin, Letcher Central and Butler County. “We have four teams from around that state that are very strong. Butler County and North Hardin are very competitive teams in their regions,” said Parsons. “They have done well in their last few seasons.”

“Letcher Central and Rockcastle County are strong teams, of course Rockcastle County is ranked in the state’s top ten with one of their players a Miss Basketball candidate,” said Parsons. “They obviously have a very strong team coming in.”

“I like the fact that we have teams that you don’t see within the regular season,” said Parsons. “And, they are strong teams. I think it will be a very competitive tournament.”

Rockcastle County, led by Miss Basketball candidate Sara Hammond, will be the heavy favorite in the eight-team field. The Lady Rockets will play Bell County in the opening round at noon Saturday. The second game of the first session will match North Hardin against Whitley County at 1:45 p.m.

Rockcastle County, coach by Chrysti Noble, is off to a 2-0 start with wins over Wayne County (70-59) and Lincoln County (54-45). The Lady ‘Cats are 2-1 on the young season. Senior guard Whitney Howard leads them.

Coach Larry Anderson’s Lady Colonels, ranked third in the region, will meet the Lady Trojans of North Hardin. The Lady Trojans have lost to three extremely tough teams on the road to start the season. North Hardin lost at Hart County (78-63), Scott County (90-56) and Bowling Green (79-44).

Hart County was the number three-ranked team in the fifth region, Scott County, the number one team in the 11^th region and Bowling Green, the top ranked team from Region 4.

Watch for North Hardin to be led by juniors Brianna Woodson and Chanel Roberts.

In the second session Saturday, Letcher Central will play Harlan at 6:30, followed by Corbin taking on Region 3 foe, Butler County. The Lady Bears are 4-2 at press time with wins over Hancock County (61-47), Russellville (74-58), Dawson Springs and Whitesville Trinity.

Corbin, led by seniors Shai Roaden and Heyley Smith are 2-4.

The winners’ bracket semifinals will be played Sunday at 6:00 and 7:45 p.m. with the championship game slated for Monday at 9:15 p.m.

Consolation bracket games will be played Sunday and Monday as well with all eight teams playing three games in the tournament.