11th Region All ‘A’ Classic finals: LCA girls eke out OT win over Berea; Sayre boys roll
Facing defending champion Berea in the 11th Region All “A” Classic girls basketball finals for a second year in a row, Lexington Christian let a 10-point halftime lead slip away midway through the fourth quarter and found itself playing at the Pirates’ favored pace with the title on the line.
“Berea had us where they wanted us,” said LCA coach Tim Bradshaw, who guided the Eagles to wins over both Frankfort and Sayre this week to get the Eagles to Saturday’s All “A” region championship game at Frankfort High School’s F.D. Wilkinson Gymnasium. “We just had some kids step up and make plays.”
LCA eighth grader Koko Castle pump-faked her way to the basket late in regulation to help send the game to overtime.
Later, sophomore Jentry Bertram, a 37.8% free-throw shooter who missed her first two attempts earlier in the game, made both of her attempts with 28 seconds left to help secure a 41-38 win and the Eagles’ first 11th Region All “A” Classic title since 2018.
“She stepped up big time and knocked it out,” Bradshaw said of Bertram.
Berea (10-6) had the ball with a chance to tie and took a timeout with 11 seconds left to set up a play, but the Pirates couldn’t extend the game. The loss ended Berea’s streak of five straight All “A” region titles.
“If you can win games like that, that just says a lot about who you are,” Bradshaw said.
Castle got the first four LCA points of the overtime period and finished the game with a team-high 12 points and 11 rebounds.
“She’s awesome, and the fact that she’s only in eighth grade — she has so much potential to continue to grow,” said LCA junior guard Claire Roberts, who was named tournament MVP for her efforts this week. She had seven points and eight rebounds Saturday but picked up her fourth foul with 3:39 to play in the third quarter.
Roberts re-entered the game less than a minute into the fourth quarter and hit two free throws to help LCA retake the lead at 31-30 after a 3-pointer from Berea’s Miranda Thacker put the Pirates in front moments earlier. Roberts’ free throws midway through the fourth ended a 16-5 Berea run.
“We were just trying to keep the energy up. We were still in this game,” Roberts said. “My team picked me up. They came together and played good defense. Luckily, we got the chance to go to overtime.”
The lead changed hands three times in the extra period as Abigail Beard’s 3-pointer for a 36-35 Berea lead with 2:44 to go was answered by a Castle bucket moments later. Two Ella Gabbert free throws gave LCA a 39-36 lead with 52 seconds left. Berea’s Sophie Brewer drove to the basket to cut LCA’s lead to 39-38 to set up Bertram’s big moment at the free-throw line.
Beard and Brewer led the Pirates with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Gabbert and Chapel Brown each had eight points for LCA.
Lexington Christian (14-2) will take on 2nd Region champion Crittenden County (10-7) when the statewide All “A” Classic tournament for the state’s smallest schools begins on Jan. 24 at Corbin Arena. LCA has not had a winning season since 2011.
“I’ve been in this program for a long time and this absolutely has been my favorite season,” Roberts said. “I mean, these guys just love each other so much. … It’s really just a great environment.”
Girls all-tournament team: Ella Gabbert, Koko Castle, Chapel Brown and Claire Roberts (MVP), LCA; Maddy King, Sophie Brewer and Abigail Beard, Berea; Toko Ashida and Kathryn Kinder, Sayre; Maiya Bhandari and Piper Moore, Model; Charlianne Robinson and Kendall Cook, Frankfort.
Sayre cruises to third All ‘A’ region title
Sayre knocked down 15 3-pointers and tournament MVP Ian Reesor led three Spartans in double figures with 19 points in an 83-59 rout of Berea on Saturday for the program’s third 11th Region All “A” Classic championship.
“Our coaches did a really good job. They told us (Berea) is coming to play hard and we’ve got to play harder or they’ll come in and beat us,” Reesor said. “… We just had to lock in and get a good win.”
Sayre took control from the outset, leading 24-9 after one period and 45-23 at halftime. Noah Gallagher had a team-high four 3-pointers among his 14 points. Brock Coffman (16 points), Kemonte Braxton (nine points) and Reesor had three 3-pointers each.
The Spartans (12-4) will face 9th Region champion Newport in an 8:30 a.m. tipoff on Jan. 25 in the statewide All “A” Classic tournament at Corbin Arena.
Boys all-tournament team: Chase Parker, Noah Gallagher, Brock Coffman and Ian Reesor (MVP), Sayre; Jake Mills, Nick Baloew and Tommy Banderman, Berea; Landon Kidd and Riley Mollette, Model; Hagan Preston and Saxton Howard, LCA; Max Jones and Rajon Floyd, Frankfort.
Notable
▪ University of Kentucky signee Travis Perry, the state’s all-time leading scorer, and his Lyon County team will be in Corbin for this year’s All “A” Classic at Corbin Arena later this month.
The Lyons defeated University Heights 114-68 on Saturday. Perry led the way with 33 points. Teammate Brady Shoulders added 29. University Heights upset Lyon County in last year’s region finals.
The Lyons will open against Owensboro Catholic on Jan. 25.
▪ Standout Bethlehem junior Leah Macy recently returned from an injury that sidelined her for 10 games and led the Banshees with 28 points in their 71-60 win over Green County on Friday for the 5th Region’s All “A” Classic title.
Macy, a Mercy transfer, rates as one of the top junior players in the nation with reported offers from at least 28 schools, including Kentucky.
Bethlehem will open against Owensboro Catholic on Jan. 24.
Girls All ‘A’ Classic
At Corbin Arena
(Games listed in bracket order)
Wednesday, Jan. 24
8:30 a.m.: Owsley County vs. Cumberland County
10 a.m.: Whitefield Academy vs. Covington Holy Cross
11:30 a.m.: Walton-Verona vs. Mayfield
1 p.m.: Menifee County vs. Nicholas County
5 p.m.: Shawnee vs. Danville Christian
6:30 p.m.: Owensboro Catholic vs. Bethlehem
8 p.m.: Lexington Christian vs. Crittenden County
9:30 p.m.: Pikeville vs. Harlan
Friday, Jan. 26, quarterfinals
8:30 a.m.; 10 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 27, semifinals
11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 28, finals
Noon: Championship game
Boys All ‘A’ Classic
At Corbin Arena
Thursday, Jan. 25
8:30 a.m.: Newport vs. Sayre
10 a.m.: Danville Christian vs. 14th Region*
11:30 a.m.: Owensboro Catholic vs. Lyon County
1 p.m.: Augusta vs. Walton-Verona
5 p.m.: Raceland vs. Clinton County
6:30 p.m.: Williamsburg vs. Murray
8 p.m.: Caverna vs. 15th Region*
9:30 p.m.: Evangel Christian vs. Kentucky Country Day
*To be determined.
Friday, Jan. 26, quarterfinals
5 p.m.; 6:30 p.m.; 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 27, semifinals
4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 28, finals
2 p.m.: Championship game
This story was originally published January 14, 2024 at 9:34 AM.
