TOO MUCH HEART

 Call it heart! The Whitley County Lady Colonels, who lost four starters late in the season, saw those players return for the district opener Tuesday and pull off a 43-40 win over South Laurel.

It was all about heart and determination as the Lady Colonels could have folded when they found themselves down 19-9 late in the second quarter.

But, a three-point play by Bethany Powers, playing with a knee injury, pulled the Lady Colonels within seven at the half.

Taylor Dingess then ignited a 5-0 run that saw the Lady Colonels pull within three (20-17). South Laurel led at the end of three, 26-24.

Whitley County fought through foul trouble in the fourth quarter and took a 33-23 lead on a Maria Johnson three-pointer.

With the game tied at 40-40, Kandace Craig, who suffered a broken hand, grabbed a rebound and hit Brandie Smith at the top of the key for game winning three-pointer.

Smith led the winners with 11 points while Dingess had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Whitley Co. 43, South Laurel 40

South Laurel  8   11    7   14- 40

Whitley Co.    7     5  12   19- 43

   South Laurel (40) – Johnson 9, Arthur 14, Reynolds 2, Baker 2, Clonce 13,

   Whitley Co. (43) – Smith 11, Johnson 9, Powers 5, Sizemore 4, Dingess 10, Jones 2, Craig 2.