From The Elizabethtown New-Enterprise:

 

E'town falls to Holy Cross in quarterfinals (3/14)

 

By Chuck Jones

Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 12:22 am

 

BOWLING GREEN — Elizabethtown’s dream season turned into a nightmare Friday afternoon.

 

The Lady Panthers rallied from an eight-point deficit to take a 40-39 lead with 22.1 seconds left on senior center Reauna Cleaver’s old-fashioned three-point play in the Houchens Industries/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16 State Tournament.

 

But Covington Holy Cross pulled a rabbit out of its hat as senior guard Deja Turner hit an 8-foot runner from the right baseline with 3 seconds remaining to lift the Indians to a stunning 41-40 upset of top-ranked Elizabethtown at Western Kentucky’s E.A. Diddle Arena.

 

Elizabethtown didn’t have any timeouts remaining and didn’t get off a shot before time expired.

 

The Lady Panthers, who finished the season 32-3, saw their 21-game winning streak come to a screeching halt earlier than planned after reaching last year’s state final. This was their first loss to an in-state team and the second time they lost on a last-second shot, the other to Miami Country Day in the Naples (Florida) Holiday Shootout.

 

“This team was real special to me,” Elizabethtown coach Tim Mudd said. “I never heard the girls talk about being the favorite or the pressure. We just tried the old cliché ‘one game at a time.’ I’m probably as shocked as anyone else, but I thought Holy Cross played very well.”

From the Lexington Herald-Leader:

 

Covington Holy Cross stuns tourney favorite E-town

 

BY MARK MALONEY

[email protected]ch 13, 2015

 

BOWLING GREEN — Down goes Goliath.

 

Deja Turner's baseline runner with about four seconds left Friday vaulted Covington Holy Cross to a thrilling 41-40 victory over Elizabethtown in the quarterfinals of the Houchens Industries/KHSAA Girls' Sweet Sixteen.

 

Top-rated E-town, which boasts four starters with NCAA Division I commitments, came into E.A. Diddle Arena as an overwhelming favorite.

 

"We used that. That was to our advantage," Holy Cross Coach Kes Murphy said. "One of the comments I made last night to our kids was 'you know what — Elizabethtown is being made out as Goliath.' Everything you read, everybody put them in the championship. And I don't think people even saw us as David's little sister."

 

But it will be the Indians, riding a 20-game winning streak, who will face Male in Saturday's semifinals.

 

"We didn't come down here to beat Elizabethtown," Murphy said. "We came down here to win the state championship. So we realize we've got some games to play. We've got two more."

Congrats to Elizabethtown. Saw them play in Lexington and tonight. What an incredible team.

 

But let’s take a breath for a second. While this was definitely an upset, it wasn’t the equivalent of a No. 16 seed knocking off a 1-seed in the NCAA. Holy Cross has had an outstanding year all year, from its very first game when it went to a running clock against Assumption in Louisville in the third quarter (58-23 with half of A’s points coming in closing minute against scrubs).

 

This year, Holy Cross:

 

1 – … is 10-0 against top 20 teams in the last Litkenhous ratings, and 12-0 if you include No. 21 Sacred Heart.

 

2 – … is 31-3 with ALL three losses coming with multiple starters and others hurt, sick and missing.

 

3 – … won the All A Classic by beating (then) 17-4 Danville, 21-3 Clinton County, 16-6 Owensboro Catholic and 22-2 Murray in five days.

 

5 – …finished 3rd in the Roncalli Lady Rebel Tournament in Indianapolis, beating Oregon-Davis (Indiana A semi-finalist) by 9 and losing to nationally ranked Lawrence North (4A semi-finalist) but giving them all they could handle for 3 quarters. HC was WITHOUT Deja Turner and Dajah McClendon. Lawrence North has four D-1 commits also.

 

6 – … finished 3-1 in the Lexington Traditional Bank Classic at LexCath, beating Lincoln County, Sacred Heart and Allen County-Scottsville but losing to East Carter without Deja Turner for most of the tournament and with Dajah M. playing hurt and with multiple girls sick.

 

7 – … beat Holmes (No. 3 in the last Litkenhous ratings) THREE times, twice on their home court. Holmes was 30-0 against everyone else.

 

And the defense? HC held 65.9 ppg E-town to 40, but that's not unusual. It holds teams to 38 a game.

 

Bell County averaged 65.6. Against HC, 33.

 

Holmes averaged 68.5. Against HC in three games: 40.

 

No. 9 Highlands averaged 62. Against HC in two games: 35.5

 

Murray, 64.6 a game and 46 against HC.

 

Danville, 67.9 and 35 against HC.

 

Sacred Heart, 56.5 and 38.5 against HC in two games.

 

My only point? This wasn’t a one-game performance for Holy Cross. The Indians have been playing well all year with a difficult schedule.

 

Oh, and only 7 of HC's 34 games have been at home -- 27 "away," with 2 in Indianapolis, 2 in Bowling Green, 5 in Lexington, 4 in Frankfort and 1 in Louisville.

 

HC only local loss was in early Jan. they had one starter out (ally Mayhaus) not multiple and Brossart also had a starter out, only team from the 8th,9th or 10th to beat them! Good luck to HC, bring home the big hardware!

The win just validates how good the 9th region was this year....maybe the best. Holy Cross, Holmes, Highlands, and NCC. I will take these 4 over the 4 any other region can offer. JMO...congrats to Holy Cross.

The win just validates how good the 9th region was this year....maybe the best. Holy Cross, Holmes, Highlands, and NCC. I will take these 4 over the 4 any other region can offer. JMO...congrats to Holy Cross.

 

I would have to think you may be correct. The 9ths top teams are looking stronger and stronger for what HC is doing.

Holy Cross upsets top-ranked Elizabethtown - Story

Ate crow, then I ate both feet, just finished my hat.............congrats to HC

 

Don't worry jlow, I am in the boat with you and am full to the brim after I ate all mine.

 

Congrats HC!!!

The win just validates how good the 9th region was this year....maybe the best. Holy Cross, Holmes, Highlands, and NCC. I will take these 4 over the 4 any other region can offer. JMO...congrats to Holy Cross.

 

I would have to think you may be correct. The 9ths top teams are looking stronger and stronger for what HC is doing.

 

And the 9th will be well represented next year as well as Holmes will be absolutely LOADED once again with all that they return.

 

Exciting times in NKY right now for girls hoops fans.

Holy Cross might mess around and win the whole damn thing!

 

Even though I don't follow girls hoops, would like to see a 9th region team bring that title back to NKY

This team is certainly not messing around...........just ballin.......very impressive