[The_OC]

Game was closer than the final score...Owen actually led for most of the 4th quarter and last led with 2 minutes to go at 42-41, but WV hit a three to take the lead, and then hit something like 11-12 at the line to close the deal. Their tournament experience and pedigree with last year's run to Diddle and their All A championship this year certainly helped them today. They play South Oldham tomorrow at 3pm for a chance to repeat as 8th Region champs, who beat Simon Kenton 70-67 in the other semifinal. .

Today ends the career of Owen County's all-time leading scorer Rianna Gayheart, the school's all time leading scorer. Best of luck at NKU to her.

[Stardust]

Congrats to the Wildcats

[Stardust]

No. 19 Walton-Verona 55, Owen Co. 47 (8th): Junior forward Courtney Sandlin had 16 points and 10 rebounds in the Bearcats' semifinal win at Anderson County.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/03/03/20943...rylink=cpy

[Stardust]

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. – The Walton-Verona girls’ basketball team had the experience to handle the adversity it faced in Saturday’s semifinal round of the Eighth Region Tournament, while Simon Kenton isn’t quite there yet.

Walton-Verona, the defending Eighth Region champ and reigning Touchstone Energy All ‘A’ Classic state champion, rallied from a 42-39 deficit inside the final three minutes to pull away from Owen County for a 55-47 win on at Anderson County High School.

Walton-Verona (28-6) advances to play South Oldham, which beat a young Simon Kenton team, 70-57, in Saturday’s first semifinal, in Sunday’s 3 p.m. championship game.

http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...303030086/

[Stardust]

Owen County (47): Dermon 7 0 14, Gamble 1 0 2, Waldrop 0 2 2, Gayheart 3 12 19, Neeley 2 2 8, Gambrell 1 0 2. Totals 14 16 47.

Walton-Verona (55): Taulbee1 0 3, Sandlin 5 6 16, Judy 4 4 12, Ginn 1 4 7, Clinkenbeard 1 2 4, Mullikin 1 0 2, Slavey 1 0 3, Hoffa 1 6 9. Totals 15 22 55.

Three-point goals: OC-Neeley 2, Gayheart. WV-Taulbee, Ginn, Slavey. Records: Owen County 24-7, Walton-Verona 28-6

[Stardust]

Walton-Verona 56, Owen County 47: Goals by Madison Gamble, Shelby Gambrell and Rianna Gayheart gave the Lady Rebels a 42-39 lead, but Walton-Verona regained the lead at 44-42 on two free throws by Courtney Sandlin and a three by Kara Taublee with 1:39 left.

After that, Walton-Verona sewed up the win by hitting 11 free throws with only one miss. Sandlin hit 6 of 8 free throws and finished with 16 points, Lizzie Hoffa (nine points) made all six of her foul shots and Michele Judy sank 4 of 5 and scored 12.