[Stardust]

http://saxo.highschoolsports.net/article...le&Avis=B2

The favorite to win the girls’ high school basketball state title this season has made it into the field for this week’s Houchens Industries Sweet 16.

But it wasn’t easy.

Top-ranked Manual started slow and didn’t have one of its best performances but still managed a 65-43 victory over Assumption in the championship game of the Class Act Seventh Region Tournament on Saturday night in Knights Hall.

“I really think we took them for granted and Assumption had been getting better all year,” Manual coach Stacy Pendleton said. “We played them in December and beat them soundly, and I think they thought we could just show up and do the same thing.

“But as you saw, we had to play. Assumption was well prepared and we were a little flat early. We picked up the intensity but we never could spread the gap.”

Assumption (17-14), which lost to Manual 82-48 on Dec. 16, jumped ahead 15-9 and led 15-13 after one quarter. The Lady Crimsons (33-2) used a 14-2 run to start the second quarter to take control of the game.

Manual led the rest of the way, but Assumption stayed close.

“I wouldn’t say we underestimated them but we didn’t have the best intensity in the first quarter,” point guard April Wilson said. “Assumption has gotten a lot better since the last time we played them. We just had to pick it up.”

With the win, the Lady Crimson advance into the state tournament for the third time in eight years under Pendleton and for the eighth time in school history.

Manual, which lost to Rockcastle County in last year’s state title game, will play the 14th Region champion on Wednesday night in E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green. Perry County Central and Breathitt County play for the 14th title today.

“I like the feeling of going back to Bowling Green, it’s good,” senior LeAsia Wright said. “Now, we know how that (losing) feeling is from last year. We don’t want that feeling again, so we have to work harder.”

Wright led the Lady Crimsons with 14 points and eight rebounds on just 5 of 15 from the field. Kayla Styles added 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Purdue signee Wilson had 10 points, five assists and three steals.