Seventh-grade point guard steadies Clark County as Cardinals outlast Corbin in Sweet 16
READ MORE
2022 Girls’ Sweet 16 coverage
Click below to read all of the coverage from Kentucky.com and the Lexington Herald-Leader during the Girls’ Sweet 16 State Basketball Tournament in Rupp Arena.
Expand All
Clark County is known for its size and athleticism. And its big three of Ciara Byars, Brianna Byars and Tyra Flowers bothered a smaller Corbin team during Thursday evening’s first round of the Mingua Beef Jerky Girls’ Sweet 16 State Basketball Tournament at Rupp Arena.
But the play of Clark’s youngest and smallest starter steadied the Cardinals in a closely fought first half and helped them come out with a 42-35 victory.
Kennedy Stamper, a seventh-grader listed on the roster as 5 feet tall, had a double-double against Corbin with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Her three-pointer toward the end of the second quarter snuffed Corbin’s first-half momentum and gave Clark an 18-16 halftime lead. The Cardinals never trailed again.
“I just work really hard, so I was ready for this,” said Stamper, who added another three-pointer and made all four of her free throw attempts. “I knew we were up against some really tough people, and I try my best to try to avoid all the noise and just work hard.”
Stamper’s hard work was noticed almost immediately in the preseason by Coach Robbie Graham and his staff. They determined despite her youth and stature that she simply “had to play.”
“She’s tougher than heck. The moment doesn’t bother her. Nothing fazes her,” Graham said. “She just stabilizes us and does what we need. We knew we were going to have some mistakes and some bumps. … She’s taken some butt chewings, I’ll tell you that, but she comes back every day and she gets better.”
Graham thought his team missed some easy shots in the first half and the Cardinals made an effort to work it to their leading scorer, freshman Ciara Byars, in the third quarter.
Ciara Byars scored eight of Clark’s 12 points in the period, including a three-pointer. Meanwhile Clark’s defense remained as tough as ever. Corbin was held to five points in the third on 14 shots.
“Our defense and rebounding kept us where we were, thank goodness,” Graham said. “That’s what we hang our hat on game in and game out. We’re glad we brought our defense and rebounding with us. That’s what travels when the shots are not falling.”
Brianna Byars, Ciara’s older sister and the team’s second-leading scorer, struggled with foul trouble much of the game. Even so, Ciara Byars and Tyra Flowers both got momentum building baskets in the paint in the third quarter.
“We’re the three-headed goat,” said Ciara Byars, who led all scorers with 21 points. “If one of the heads isn’t working, the other two have to step up, and we normally do and take care of business.”
Flowers led the Cardinals in rebounding with 11 boards and had three blocks and three assists.
Overall, Corbin (25-7) shot only 27.1 percent from the field and got outrebounded 41-25. But the Redhounds kept the game close thanks in part to forcing 19 Clark County turnovers.
“We just played a top three, arguably, top-three team in the state and I feel like we took them to the ropes,” Corbin Coach Isaac Wilson said. “Obviously, if you look at us, we’re a little undersized in that game. But, you know, we’ve been the underdog up to this point, and they’ve just continued to fight. … I’m super proud of them.”
Darcie Anderson and Kallie Housley led the Redhounds with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Clark County (31-2) advanced to a Friday night quarterfinal matchup with Sacred Heart. Sacred Heart is the No. 1 team in the field, according to Dave Cantrall’s ratings. Clark County is No. 2.
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 7:24 AM.
