Lady Redhounds were ferocious against GRC at Rupp Arena

I have a rescue dog at home that is part Shih Tzu and, we are pretty sure, part terrier.

Dean Manning is sports editor of the News Journal.

Maggy looks like a black Shih Tzu. Shih Tzus are cute. Every dog lover loves a Shih Tzu.

But, several years ago, one person in the parking lot at The Arena almost experienced one part of Maggy that is more terrier than Shih Tzu when he approached our car as my wife, Sharon, waited for me to come out from taking pictures at a concert.

Maggy has some serious teeth that will take a serious bite out of someone.

They say it is not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.

I witnessed a pack of ferocious lady hounds Thursday night at Rupp Arena and though they didn’t come away with the win over George Rogers Clark, the 10th Region champions knew they had been in a tough fight.

On paper, this game shouldn’t have been close.

GRC is one of the top teams in the state, having lost three games all season.

GRC had size on Corbin.

Coach Isaac Wilson said the size difference was something the Lady Redhounds had been dealing with all season.

How did the Lady Redhounds deal with GRC’s size? They went right in there and played their game.

A few times, they got shots blocked, but Corbin went right back in there.

Corbin led early and kept the game close, down just two at halftime. They cut GRC’s nine-point lead to just five in a matter of less than a minute early in the fourth quarter.

Corbin missed a few layups and other easy buckets and had some turnovers on mental mistakes in the game, but GRC had its own struggles, especially at the free throw line, that helped the Lady Redhounds remain within striking distance.

Corbin will have several holes to fill with seniors Shelby Stewart, Erica Angel, Kaila Stidham and Lauren Faulkner graduating.

But the remainder of the team, including Kallie Housley, Darcie Anderson, Raegan Walker, and Bailey Stewart, who all started or saw regular playing time, will be returning with the experience of playing in the state tournament at Rupp Arena.

A few other things from my trip Thursday to Rupp Arena:

• Prior to Thursday, I had only been to Rupp a few times and don’t know my way around. Because of that, with camera bag and laptop in tow, I followed the big signs announcing, “Entrance this way.”

There was an entrance, but the nice people at the entrance informed me that the entrance I wanted was on the other side of the building. Of course it was!

Once inside, that place is a literal maze with no rhyme or reason.

Maybe the construction should have involved gutting the place and starting over with a better layout.

Credit to the Rupp staff who were understanding about us folks that were lost and helped us find what we were looking for.

• As I was trying to get to press row, I found myself in the middle of the Corbin Redhound Band as they made their entrance through the tunnel.

I could, literally, say, “I’m with the band!”

As we came through the curtain out to the floor, I couldn’t help going into MC mode and announcing loudly, “Ladies and gentleman, The Corbin Redhound Band!”

Rupp Arena can say it is someplace because the Redhound Pep Band has played there.

• I have to give a shoutout to Louisville Sacred Heart.

The Sixth Region Champions had a student dressed up as their Valkyrie mascot.

For those who may not know, Valkyries are mythological women who escort the deceased warriors into the afterlife.

They exist in Norse mythology and, because of their Viking roots, the mascot wore the helmet with the horns on either side.

As I passed the mascot, I told her, “I’m jealous of your hat.”

It was a cool hat!

• The Arena in Corbin was the site of the Kentucky Middle School Wrestling Championships over the weekend.

Congratulations to Corbin’s Seth Jones who finished fourth at 190 pounds and BJ Jackson who finished sixth at 130 pounds.

One photo I saw of the interior of The Arena showed that there was space for 10 wrestling mats on the floor.

With North and South Laurel and the Pulaski County schools slated to add wrestling programs next year, The Arena would be ideal to host the Region 7 tournament. In addition, make a push to get the state high school meet in Corbin. 

• The snow is pretty much gone and the weather is cooperating in time for the start of spring sports.