For Owensboro guard Keeley Harris, her matchup with longtime rival Daviess County wasn’t just another game – instead motivated by seeing the Lady Panthers ranked ahead of her team in different polls.
“I think it means a lot,” Harris said. “Honestly, people try to put us below them. They didn’t lose anyone, and we did. But we had to come out here and show them what’s what.”
Carrying extra motivation, the senior led the Lady Devils with 11 points as she was named player of the game in her team’s 51-38 victory – an honor she was excited for.
While the first half doesn’t display it, the first half was a battle with neither team able to gain any ground. Owensboro jumped out to an early 8-3 lead, but the Lady Panthers went on a 10-4 run to take a 13-12 lead into the second quarter.
For Owensboro, Shalyn Sprinkles dominated the first quarter, scoring seven of her 10 points – while Daviess County’s Kennedy Lane finished the opening frame with eight of her 18 points.
After a Daviess County free throw, Owensboro responded with two quick baskets to take a 16-14 lead. Taking a quick timeout, the Lady Panthers responded with a 7-0 run of their own with baskets by Briley Henny, Lane, and Maddie Barron.
Trailing 16-21 and taking a quick timeout of their own, the Lady Devils took back the lead in less than 90 seconds. Leading by two entering halftime, Owensboro never trailed for the rest of the game. A big reason they were able to run away with it in the first half was due to the shiftiness of the Lady Devils guards – a factor head coach Jansen Locher takes pride in.
“There are not a lot of girls in the state who can stay in front of our guards,” Locher said. “They are low to the ground, shifty, and can make things happen. They can both shoot the ball, get to the hoop, and are really hard to guard… Having those lead guards in Unique and Sprinkles is awesome to have on the team and they just lead the other girls.”
Owensboro opened up the third quarter on a 9-0 run to take a commanding 34-23 lead. Daviess County cut the lead to 36-30, but was never able to fully close the gap. Lane scored six points in the fourth quarter, but her team was outscored 14-6 down the stretch.
In addition to Harris, both Sprinkles and Gizelle Whitlock were double-digit scorers with 10 each. While Lane did most of the scoring for the Lady Panthers, Lily Hoagland finished with eight points and Zoey Beehn added seven.
Daviess County head coach Natalie Payne acknowledged that Owensboro outworked her team.
“They were more physical, played harder, and out rebounded us,” Payne said. “Our schedule is designed to challenge us and we are being challenged. We are struggling to find our way, but it’s early. That is why you play 30 games.”
