Tuesday, March 20, 2001
Brossart hopes to make noise in first Sweet Sixteen
By STEVE BAILEY
AP Sports Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Bishop Brossart coach Ray Kues took note of Lafayette's improbable victory over nationally ranked Male in last weekend's boys state title game. He made sure his players, who will make their first-ever appearance in the girls Sweet Sixteen on Wednesday, noticed it as well.
“We talked about how favorites don't always come out on top and that anything can happen in a tournament situation,” said Kues, whose Region 10 champion Lady Mustangs (28-6) will take on Region 7 champion Manual (24-6) in the girls state tournament opener on Wednesday.
“We know it's going to be a monumental challenge for us right from the start. Manual has three legitimate Division I players in their starting lineup. But we're excited and we're going to give it our best.”
Bishop Brossart is led by senior standout Katie Schwegmann, the state's leading scorer at 26 points per game. A three-time all-state selection and Miss Basketball candidate, Schwegmann would like to cap her impressive career with a long run through the Sweet Sixteen.
“I've had great basketball moments, but no feeling like this,” said Schwegmann, who scored 32 points in the Lady Mustangs' dramatic 60-59 victory over Estill County in the regional finals. “It's been a goal of mine ever since I can remember.”
Other first-round games Wednesday include Region 4 champion Allen County-Scottsville (25-6) vs. Region 15 champion Johnson Central (30-3); Region 8 champion Scott County (24-6) vs. Muhlenberg North (30-3); and defending state champion West Carter (25-3), the Region 6 champion, vs. Region 5 champion Hart County (24-9).
Thursday's opening-round games include Region 6 champion Presentation (25-6) vs. Region 13 champion Jackson County (33-1); Region 11 champion Lexington Catholic (28-4) vs. Region 1 champion Marshall County (25-5); Region 12 champion Lincoln County (27-5) vs. Region 2 champion Henderson County (24-8); and Region 14 champion Perry County Central (28-3) vs. Region 9 champion Highlands.
The quarterfinals will be played Friday and the semifinals and finals on Saturday. All games will be played at E.A. Diddle Arena on the Western Kentucky University campus in Bowling Green.
Manual coach Mina Todd isn't about to take Bishop Brossart lightly simply because the Lady Mustangs are making their first state tournament appearance.
“You have to keep (Katie) Schwegmann in check, because they're extremely dangerous when she's on,” said Todd, whose squad fell to West Carter 73-55 in last year's semifinals. “Defensively, we're going to have to take care of business.”
Jackson County has thrust itself into the role of tournament favorite by losing only one time in 34 outings this season.
“I don't think we're the only favorite, but I think we've got as good a chance as anyone to win it,” Jackson County coach Greg Parrett said. “I'm very proud of this group of kids for what they've accomplished this season. But I think they all know there's a lot more left to be done.”
In another interesting first-round matchup, West Carter will take on Hart County in a rematch of last year's state tournament quarterfinals. The Lady Comets won that battle 50-44 en route to a state championship.
But both teams will be without key components from last year's squads.
Kandi Brown scored 18 points against Hart County in last year's state tournament showdown on her way to being named the Sweet Sixteen's most outstanding player. Leslie Logsdon had 25 points and six rebounds in a losing effort.
“Even without Kandi and Leslie, it ought to be a tremendous matchup between two very similar teams,” West Carter coach John "Hop' Brown said. “Overall, they're a little bigger than we are, so we're going to have to keep them off the glass or it's going to be a long night.”
The Lady Comets will be led this time around by first-team all-state point guard Megen Gearhart, a sophomore who's averaged 17.3 points and six assists a game this season.
Hart County has its own versatile floor leader in junior Laura Shelton, a second-team all-state pick. Shelton leads a smothering defense has allowed only two teams to score more than 40 points since January.
“It's just unbelievable the defense that these kids are playing right now,” Hart County coach Tommy Adams said. “We're a better team than we were last year at this time, and it's our defense that's done it for us.”
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Brossart hopes to make noise in first Sweet Sixteen
