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From Courier Journal: LEBANON, KY. — The showdown between the two top-ranked high school girls’ basketball teams in the state sure lived up to its billing.

And the outcome wasn’t decided until the final seconds.

Junior Logan Powell hit two free throws with 2.7 seconds left to give No. 2 Marion County a 63-61 victory over top-ranked Manual before a packed house of more than 2,500 at the Roby Dome in Marion County on Saturday night.

“Well, that was fun,” Marion County coach Trent Milby said. “It was back and forth and back and forth, a lot of really good players making plays. It was exciting.”

The game was the first of what could be three meetings between the teams, which had been ranked among the top 25 in the nation.

Marion County, which lost to Manual in last year’s Sweet 16 semifinals, moves to 14-2 and is undefeated against in-state foes.

Manual (15-2), which suffered its first defeat Tuesday, 67-65 at No. 5 Mercy, could get a rematch in the Louisville Invitational Tournament and Sweet 16.

“We are in Marion County’s gym, it’s a great atmosphere and they played really well with a lot of energy,” Manual coach Stacy Pendleton said of their team. “Being on their floor gave them a big lift, and they shot the ball well.

“We shot it well, but we didn’t hit free throws. The main thing about the regular-season game is to build a base and hope we see them again. I think we both did that.”

University of Louisville junior commitment Kyvin Goodin-Rogers led Marion County with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while U of L commitment Makayla Epps added 16 points and eight assists. Dayton signee Bre Elder had 11 points.

But it was Powell, who finished with 10 points and six rebounds, who hit the biggest shots of the game. Powell was 4 of 6 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line for the Lady Knights, who hit 21 of 26 free throws and 20 of 40 field goals and turned the ball over 24 times.

“This gives us confidence,” Powell said. “Now we know that we can play with anybody in the state.”

Junior Kayla Styles had 15 points and nine rebounds for Manual, while Purdue signee April Wilson hit four 3-pointers and 16 points.

The Lady Crimsons turned it over only 14 times but were 7 of 16 on free throws.

“That’s a big difference,” Pendleton said. “Not in the number of free throws but in the number of makes. We have to shoot free throws better that that.”

Neither team had more than a four-point lead into the third quarter.

Milby said: “This is a confidence builder for sure. We could possibly play them two more times and it will be a war every time we play them.”