Grayson County’s Lady Cougars punched their ticket to next week’s 3rd Region Tournament with a workmanlike, 56-25 win over Whitesville Trinity Monday night in Whitesville.
As it had been most of the season, it was the scoring duo of Maddie Stewart and Kaylan Shull who did most of the damage for Grayson County. Stewart led all scorers in the game with 21 points, and she added five rebounds and four steals.
Shull hit three three-pointers and finished with 15 points. She led the team with six rebounds and also added four steals.
Shull opened the scoring with a lay-in at the 7:47 mark, but Trinity’s Kelsey Armes responded with a three-pointer at 7:25 to put the Lady Raiders in front 3-2. It would be Trinity’s only lead of the night.
After Trinity’s Jamie Mattingly scored with 5:07 Left to make it 7-5, the Lady Cougars closed out the first quarter with 12 unanswered points to lead by 14 points, 19-5 heading into the second quarter.
Stewart had scored the final nine points of the first quarter, and when she opened the second period with six straight, she had completed a 15-0 run all by herself, and the Lady Cougars led by 20 points, 25-5. Grayson County still led by 20, 30-10 at the half.
The Lady Cougars led by 21 points, 36-15, when Shull hit back-to-back threes to put them up by 27, 42-15 at the 4:51 mark of the third quarter. Katie Hayes added another three at 2:44, and Jessica Johnson scored on a lay-up with 2:12 remaining, the the Lady Cougars led by 32 points, 47-15. They led by 30, 49-19 at the start of the fourth quarter.
When Maddie Stewart scored with 6:30 remaining to play, the Lacy Cougars led by 35 points, 54-19, and the clock began running continuously per the mercy rule.
But it didn’t stay that way long. Shull scored at the 6:06 mark to make it a 37-point lead, but Trinity’s Hannah Armes scored on a put-back basket and was fouled with 3:44 remaining. Her made free throw cut the lead to 34 points and the clock was stopped afterward on dead-ball situations.
Mattingly then closed out the scoring in the game with a three-pointer with 1:15 left to play. She led the Lady Raiders on the night with seven points.
Hayes finished with eight points, including a pair of three-pointers. Grace White had a fine all-around night, scoring six points, grabbing four rebounds, dishing five assists and leading the team with seven steals.
Johnson finished with four points and four rebounds, while Cassidy Swift had two points and five boards.
Grayson County will play in Thursday’s 12th District Championship game at 6 p.m. against their old rival, Edmonson County. The Lady Cats won a thriller, 55-53 over Butler County in the first game of the night.










