Leake pressure defense too much for Kirk
Southern Sports & Travel
The junior guard tandem of Hannah Peoples and Anna Katherine Nowell combined for 30 points to propel top ranked Leake to a hard fought 39-31 win over fifth ranked Kirk yesterday afternoon in round two action at the Class AA North State Tournament in Batesville.
With the win the six time defending Class AA champions improve to 33-2 and will take on eighth ranked Riverdale this afternoon in semi-final action.
It was loud and intense as two top five squads battled it out in an elimination game before a packed house at North Delta.
Leake grabbed the first lead of the afternoon on Anna Katherine Nowell’s baseline jumper one minute into the first quarter. A bevy of turnovers would slow both squads during what would be a low scoring first quarter.
(Above) Anna Katherine Nowell (#21) of Leake had a game high 16 pts
Chloe Thaggard’s basket on the block gave Leake a 4-0 advantage at the 5:55 mark but neither team looked to be settled in offensively. Kirk committed four turnovers in the first four minutes of the game and wouldn’t get on the scoreboard until the 3:08 mark when Emily Lundy nailed a 3-pointer from the corner following a Leake turnover.
Leake got a fast break basket from Anna Katherine Nowell to go up 6-3 with 2:08 left in the quarter but Kirk hung in despite the turnover bug. Carmen Woods sank two free throws to close out the quarter with Kirk trailing Leake 6-5.
Kirk would take their first lead of the afternoon at 7-6 on Hayden Grantham’s 8 footer off the glass thirty seconds into the second quarter.
Kirk would take the lead once more at 9-8 following two Grantham free throws but the champions were about to levy one of their trademark runs.
Hannah Moore converted on a fast break off a Kirk turnover to give Leake the lead again at 10-9. Two Nowell free throws pushed the lead to 12-9 and then Hannah Peoples canned consecutive jumpers, one a 3-pointer from the wing, to extend Leake’s advantage to 17-9 with 3:13 left in the half.
Another Anna Nowell offensive rebound and put back is followed by four free throws on two trips down the floor from Peoples to balloon the lead to 23-9.
Kirk halted the 17-2 run with a 15 foot jumper from Carmen Woods with 1:16 left in the half.
Leake took their biggest lead of the half as Anna Nowell served up an assist to Hannah Peoples with 4 seconds on the clock to give the Rebelettes a 25-11 lead at the halfway point of the contest.
The third quarter became a defensive struggle as both teams only managed to score ten combined points.
Hayden Grantham’s free throws to start the third quarter was quickly answered by a Hannah Peoples 3-pointer from the wing to give Leake a 28-13 lead with 5:07 left in the quarter.
(Above) Leake's Hannah Peoples (#5) secures a loose ball
That would be all the scoring for Leake in the quarter while Kirk managed to get a Carmen Woods basket in the paint and a Woods 3-pointer at the 2:06 mark to close the deficit to 28-18 heading into the final quarter of play.
Kirk ran off six quick points to start the final quarter and cap an 11-0 run to pull the Raiderettes to within four points at 28-24 with 6:14 left in regulation.
Leake ended the Kirk run with a Chloe Thaggard basket off an inbounds play and another Anna Nowell offensive rebound and put back to push the Leake lead back out to eight points at 32-24 with 5:08 left.
Kirk managed to stay within striking distance and with 38 seconds remaining the Raiderettes cut the lead to 35-31 on a Carmen Woods 3-pointer but Kirk would score no more and Leake hit 4/6 free throws over the last 30 seconds of the game to seal a 39-31 win to advance to the semi-finals.
Leake was led by Anna Katherine Nowell with a game high 16 points, Hannah Peoples had 14, Hannah Moore and Chloe Thaggard had 4 each and Mary Grace Key 1 point.
Carmen Woods led Kirk (27-7) with 15 points, Hayden Grantham added 8, Emily Lundy 5, Beth Tillman 2 and Daniella DiPaolo 1 point.
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Post Game with Leake head coach Doyle Wolverton
