Anderson County vs. Southwestern (Sweet 16® Round 1) Predictions/Updates

[ColonelMike]

Anderson County (26-2) ripped through the 8th Region like a knife through hot butter, outscoring Trimble County, Walton-Verona, and Spencer County by a combined 169-72 mark and holding all three of their opponents to 27 points or less(!)

The Lady Cats showed few weaknesses in the region, showing an ability to grind it out or run, run, run, depending upon what their opponent wanted to do, but AC looks truly devastating when they can get their transition game going.    This is a team that is long, fast, and "silky-smooth" with the basketball.   Pretty much the entire team can run and shoot - and they love to do both.  

But what is probably most impressive about the Lady Cats is their defense.   They make it personal.   Seventeen opponents failed to crack 40 points against Anderson County this year - and seven didn't reach 30 (including the last 3 and 4 of the last 5).  

Anderson holds wins over Franklin County, Sacred Heart, Bethlehem, Danville, Central Hardin, and Russell this year, and went 13-0 against Region 8 competition.   The Lady Cats shoot 47% from the floor and 68% from the line.    Amiya Jenkins shoots 54% from the floor and leads the team at 17.2 ppg - the only Lady Cat in double digits.   Look for Anderson to go about 8 deep in a competitive game.

Anderson's most impressive win was undoubtedly the 64-32 thrashing of then-#1 ranked Franklin County at Franklin on 1/12/21.

Southwestern is 20-3 and has won 12 straight.   The champions of the 12th region have a few common opponents with Anderson County; Southwestern beat Danville twice, though both games were highly competitive, but they lost to Franklin County.     Like Anderson, they are a solid shooting team from the perimeter - both teams have made a similar percentage of threes, and both have made about 200 threes on the season - and they shoot about 46% overall.    Southwestern may not be quite as proficient at the line, however, where they make 63% of their shots.

Alexa Smiddy (15.1 ppg), a senior guard, and Kaylee Young (10.1 ppg), a junior wing, lead the Lady Warriors in scoring and are the only two averaging in double figures.

Both teams are prolific scoring machines; both have 17-18 games this year in which they have scored over 60 points.

I won't be at the game, but Runcible Owl will be ...  updates forthcoming from the Owl.

Thoughts on this one?

CM

[ColonelMike]

I haven't seen Southwestern, but I'm going out on a limb and taking Anderson County by 15 in this one.  

[Runcible Owl]

Starting lineups:

#1 Anderson County

Jacie Chesser

Sophie Smith

Rachel Satterly

Amiya Jenkins

Tiffani Riley

#8 Southwestern

Marissa Loveless

Kaylee Young

Ayden Smiddy

Alexa Smiddy

Kinsley Molden

[Runcible Owl]

Southwestern - Alexa Smiddy for 3.

[Runcible Owl]

3-3 

Q1 3:52

[Runcible Owl]

9-8 Southwestern

Q1 2:06

Media TO

[Runcible Owl]

Student cheering sections are LOUD!

[Runcible Owl]

A Tiffani Riley 3 at the buzzer.

End of Q1

Anderson Co. 14

Southwestern 13

SW Alexa Smiddy w 2 fouls.

[Runcible Owl]

Smiddy picks up 3rd foul.

16-16

Q2 6:22

[Runcible Owl]

Satterly for 3. 

AC UP 19-16

[Runcible Owl]

25-19 AC

Q2 4:25

 

[Runcible Owl]

Riley 3

AC 28-19

3:25

[Runcible Owl]

33-19 Anderson Co.

Q2 1:28

[Runcible Owl]

Sophie Smith 3 at the buzzer puts Anderson County up 37-23 at the half.

[Runcible Owl]

Just now, Runcible Owl said:

Sophie Smith 3 at the buzzer puts Anderson County up 37-23 at the half.

 

On 4/6/2021 at 5:37 PM, ColonelMike said:

I haven't seen Southwestern, but I'm going out on a limb and taking Anderson County by 15 in this one.  

CM predicting like the reigning King of the Hardwood Contest champ.