‘It starts with defense.’ McCracken County shuts down Russell on opening day of Sweet 16.
With a pair of veteran starters who’ve been a huge part of three straight 1st Region championships and a stifling defense, McCracken County dominated Russell 50-33 in the first round of the Mingua Beef Jerky Girls’ Sweet 16 on Wednesday in Rupp Arena.
The Mustangs (30-5), last season’s state runner-up, took control of their 1:30 p.m. tipoff from the outset, thanks in part to nine first-quarter points by Samford signee Claire Johnson. McCracken led 17-9 after one period and put two fouls on two of Russell’s starters, including leading scorer Shaelyn Steele.
Steele, a senior Penn State signee who has helped lead the Red Devils to three 16th Region titles in five years, was held to 15 points. Kennedy Darnell added 11.
“I loved our defensive intensity and our defensive effort against Steele,” McCracken coach Scott Sivills said. “We did an excellent job just trying to contain her.”
Russell (28-7) made only 26.1 percent of its shots and went an abysmal 2-for-21 from 3-point range.
“In the first quarter, us getting in foul trouble really hurt us defensively. We like to play a certain style and I thought we got behind the eight-ball a little bit,” Russell coach Mandy Layne said. “Then we started struggling to make shots, which made it even more difficult, and it just kind of was downhill from there.”
McCracken turned many Russell turnovers and misses into layups, outscoring the Red Devils 28-14 in the paint. During a key stretch in the second quarter, McCracken held Russell without a basket for more than five minutes.
“I try to tell our team almost every huddle at the beginning of the game, ‘It starts with defense,” said Johnson, who finished with a game-high 21 points. “We get those stops and then it gets us on offense and gives us good momentum. We just had energy and played together and talked.”
McCracken’s other senior starter, Mikee Buchanan, chipped in eight points and, along with Johnson, helped keep her relatively younger teammates calm on the big stage, Sivills said.
“Three years ago, we were here and didn’t play with confidence,” Sivills said of their 2022 first-round exit against Southwestern. “It was our first time being here. So the more you’re here, it’s just more relaxing, especially with these two, Claire and Mikee.”
Players have to treat the state tournament just like any other game to succeed, Johnson said.
“It’s just reassuring them that this is just a game. It might be on a different floor. It might be a bigger stage, but it’s the game of basketball,” Johnson said. “It’s the same thing every time. So go out there and play with no pressure and do what you can.”
McCracken also got a boost from sophomore forward Reagan Hill, who scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, both more than twice her averages.
“The way that she’s playing, she really makes us a different team,” Sivills said. “We knew all year long that she’s capable of doing that.”
Next, McCracken will play Bowling Green in the quarterfinals at 11 a.m. Friday. The Mustangs and Purples split a pair of regular season matchups with McCracken losing 53-50 at Bowling Green on Feb. 17.
“Bowling Green has been a staple up here for many, many years and they are very well coached,” said Sivills who noted his team had a chance to win at the end of their last meeting. “We’re very familiar with them. … This will be a very good matchup.”
This story was originally published March 13, 2024 at 6:01 PM.
