Thanks to a suffocating second-half defensive performance, Daviess County beat Owensboro Catholic to win the program’s first ever 3rd Region title. Fast forward to this evening at 7:30 CT, the Lady Panthers will face off against Danville Christian in the first round of the State Tournament.
Daviess County started the season 1-5, dropping multiple heartbreakers to some of the top teams in the state. Head coach Natalie Payne attributes her team’s impressive turnaround to their schedule’s early brutal stretch.
“I knew we could do something special coming into the season,” Payne said. “I know we had a lot of people on the outside that doubted us when we went on that losing steak, but we just kept these kids heads into it, kept building them up. Doing whatever we needed to do to get back on track.”
The two teams are evenly matched in scoring, with Danville Christian averaging 54.9 points per game compared to Daviess County’s 54.8 points per game. Defensively, the Lady Panthers are very stingy, ranking 44th in the state in points allowed with 43.2.
Daviess County’s defense will be tested by the Lady Warriors’ height, who have three girls in their rotation over six feet.
“It looked like on film they want to clog up the lane,” senior Zoey Beehn said. “So, we have to kick it out and just hope our shots are falling. …I think we have a counter to everything. When they clog up the paint, we can shoot, and when they come out at us, we can definitely finish at the rim.”
Despite Danville’s multiple scoring threats, senior Lily Hoagland echoed Beehn’s sentiments and believes their defense is up to the challenge.
“We’re going to adjust with them,” Hoagland said. “Taking off the dribble, shooting midrange shots, and realizing when they step up to take it to the basket.”
The Lady Warriors’ have four players who are double-digit scorers, two of which, Grace Mbugua and Amauri Blackford, are averaging double-doubles.
“We need to box out,” Beehn said. “I think a lot of their points come from offensive rebounds because they are so tall. So, we need to block them out, so they don’t get second chance points.”
During the Regional Tournament, Daviess County emphasized early playing through Zoey Beehn, which opened up the rest of the team’s offense. This season, she has averaged 14.1 points and 9.7 rebounds.
“Zoey has to continue to be dominant and not just inside,” Payne said. “With her ball handling, her passing ability, he rebounding, and the ability to stretch the bigs out on the floor. She has to do it all, and she is willing to sacrifice for the team on both ends of the floor.
Beehn can also stretch the floor, shooting 39% from three, which allows for the rest of the Lady Panthers shooters to have more space.
Kennedy Lane leads the team in scoring with 18.6 points per game, averages over two made threes a game, and is fresh off of scoring 26 points in the Region Championship. One of the best scorers in the tournament, Payne has been vocal in how polished Lanes overall game has become.
“I want to see her take off where she left off in the Regional Tournament,” Payne said. “I can see her with each game becoming more dialed in on her defensive assignment, on hitting on a box out, knowing when to score and making the right play at the right time, and knowing when to go and when to pull it out.”
Averaging 12.4 points per game this year, Hoagland scored 18 points against Owensboro Catholic. Efficient from deep, she his shooting 43.4% from deep and average 1.4 made threes a game.
“Lily lets the game come to her, is really smart, and doesn’t try to push the issue, but when she has the opportunity, she is going to take advantage,” Payne said. “…And a lot of times her and Molly Hancock are guarding the other team’s best players and they have to work their tails off on both ends.”
Juniors Hancock and Briley Henry and freshman Riley Hayden have morphed into essential pieces for the Lady Panthers, be it on the defensive end or from three-point range.
“They play a big role,” Lane said. “They are very good defensively and can hit shots.”
Hoagland agreed, stating that while it may not show on the stat sheet all of the time, the trio commits to the dirty work, plays great defense, and helps get everyone open.
“They are all capable of scoring the ball, some nights more than others,” Payne said. “I believe in all three, and if they have the open look, take it. They all have the ability to shoot the basketball.”
Despite this being the first time for the entire Lady Panthers team playing at Rupp Arena, they stated it’s business as usual.
“It’s a little nerve wracking,” Beehn said. “But once we get there, settle in, and the clock starts, we will be fine.”
