Friday, March 10, 2000
Highlands handles Holmes
Boothe has 20 points in victory
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
COVINGTON — When Highlands needs offense, sophomore center Tara Boothe usually delivers.
She did in Thursday's Ninth Region first-round game against Simon Kenton. Her 20 points and five assists led Highlands to a 68-49 win at Holmes.
A familiar foe — Notre Dame — awaits in the semifinals at 8p.m. Monday. The Pandas eliminated Dixie Heights 51-36 behind senior guard Emily Farrell's 13 points.
Highlands scored a 48-38 win over Notre Dame on Jan.4 behind Boothe's 18 points.
Highlands coach Luci Cecil thinks her team will have to run with the Pandas.
“They're quick,” Cecil said. “They're an up-tempo team. We don't match up well with them. We played our tempo, which is to slow it down.”
Thursday, Highlands ran the floor at will. The 6-foot Boothe led an 8-0 run with five points.
“We knew we'd have a height advantage,” Boothe said.
The Pioneers stayed with the Ladybirds thanks to senior forward Leila Barnes, who tallied half the points of a 6-0 run, but Highlands countered with some offense from an unlikely source.
Senior guard Joanna Imhoff came into Thursday averaging nearly seven points, but in the first quarter was 3-of-3 from 3-point range on the way to 11 points in the first quarter and 14 for the game.
“(Imhoff) had 14 against (Simon Kenton) the last time,” Cecil said. “It was fun watching those 3s.”
Simon Kenton (11-16) never recovered.
Highlands (24-5) took a 30-14 lead three minutes into the second quarter.
Boothe's 3-pointer widened the margin to 35-18 with 3:18 left in the half. Boothe finished the half with 15 points.
The Pioneers closed to 36-23 at halftime, but junior forward Stephanie Ripberger's nine points made the score 51-29 with two minutes left in the third quarter.
“They have so many weapons,” Simon Kenton coach Dana Morningstar said. “We've been inconsistent all year. They're patient on offense. We'll play good defense, and they'll still score.”
Barnes led Simon Kenton with 21 points. Senior guard Allison Bell's six points gave her 1,376 for her career, good enough for fourth in Pioneers school history.
SIMON KENTON (49) — Dougherty 2 0 5, Bell 2 2 6, Piercefield 1 0 2, Corbin 4 0 8, Barnes 9 3 21, Kelsay 3 0 7. Totals: 21-5 49.
HIGHLANDS (68) — Imhoff 5 1 14, Winkler 1 0 2, Ripberger 4 4 13, Sheanshang 3 0 6, Stefanopoulos 4 2 11, Hamel 0 2 2, Boothe 8 3 20. Totals: 25 12 68.
Simon Kenton ....... 12 11 13 13—49
Highlands ....... 20 16 17 15—68
3-point goals: SK-Dougherty, Kelsay. H-Imhoff 3, Ripberger, Stefanopoulos, Boothe. Records: SK 11-16, H 24-5.
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