LAWRENCEBURG — Since the end of the previous season, those associated with the Anderson County girls’ basketball program had a bitter taste in their mouth.
Prior to an injury to their best player, Anderson County was rolling with an 18-1 record. After that, the team would fall in the Eighth Region opener.
On Saturday night, the return to the Mingua Beef Jerky Sweet 16 helped to erase that disappointment.
For the fourth time this season, the Lady Bearcats defeated the Spencer County Lady Bears. This time it was for the Eighth Region title and a 6 p.m. battle against Butler of the Sixth Region in Rupp Arenea.
The36-33 battle was just that — a physical battle to the very end.
“That is a championship pedigree that won that game,” said head coach Clay Birdwhistell. “The girls would just not quit.”
It was a game that the will to win — and a loud home crowd — pushed the Lady Bearcats to victory in a contest that Birdwhistell said Spencer County probably deserved to win.
“Spencer County played its guts out tonight,” said Birdwhistell. “They executed and nothing seemed to work for us tonight. But our girls refused to lose.”
Playing its deliberate style, Spencer County found its way to getting — and hitting — good shots.
Entering the fourth quarter, Anderson County found itself down 27-22 but the star of the past two nights, Faith McGregor, got the comeback started with a basket underneath.
After Ella Brown scored two of her game-high 20 points, it was Madison Glass who drove to the basket for a score.
The Lady Bearcat defense, which turned up the pressure the last 12 minutes of the game, forced a turnover and McGregor took a pass from Lainey Johnson for a score with 5:30 left in the game.
Things looked a bit grim when point guard Jenna Satterly got a charging call but the senior would not come out of the lineup even with four fouls.
Forcing another turnover, Satterly made it hurt when her jumper at the 4:10 mark gave Anderson County its first lead since 4-3.
White would drive the lane with 3:44 to go, giving the Lady Bears their final lead of the game at 31-30.
After Glass got an offensive rebound, Satterly would drive for a hoop with 3:13 left to take the 32-31 lead, which Anderson County would never give up.
After the defense forced yet another Spencer County turnover, Ella Baum had an open look from the corner; however, when she missed, the junior got the rebound.
Taking 90 seconds off the clock, Johnson again found McGregor inside for another layup and the 34-31 lead with 1:02 left.
With 26 seconds left, Kayla Basham got an offensive rebound and scored to make it 34-33.
Twice the Lady Bears would knock the inbounds pass away as Spencer County double teamed Satterly to deny the ball.
When Johnson got the ball, she was fouled but Spencer County had not put Anderson into the bonus.
Satterly would get the ball and she was fouled. The senior calmly drilled both free throws for the 36-33 lead with 19 seconds left.
After Anderson County forced a turnover, an offensive foul was called on the inbounds play, giving the visitors one final shot to tie. But the three-point attempt at the buzzer fell short and the celebration for Lady Bear fans and players started.
“This is great,” Satterly said of returning to the Sweet 16, where she played for the 2022 team. “I just kept shooting. I knew we would win.”
She said it was a very physical game but that her teammates all contributed to the victory.
Satterly would tie McGregor with team honors of 12 points. She was six of seven on the foul line.
Johnson, the two-time region player of the year, only had seven points on the night as she drew a lot of attention from the Spencer defenders. But she led the team with three assists, all key plays in the comeback.
“I can always trust my teammates,” said Johnson. “I knew we would come back to win. We will be ready to play (in the Sweet 16).”
Birdwhistell said the defensive pressure was the key to the comeback.
“I thought we got them a little tired and that’s why their shots were a little short or a little long late in the game.”
Changing the defensive scheme would be a feast or famine decision, said the veteran coach. On this particular night, it would be a feast for the Anderson County faithful.
Throughout the season, where the Lady Bearcats have compiled a 32-2 record, Birdwhistell has voiced his pleasure in that it has been a total team effort.
On championship night, that was no different.
He credited Glass with being a major spark off the bench with her three rebounds and a basket.
And, for a second straight night, without the play of McGregor, Birdwhistell said there would be no Sweet 16 appearance.
“It’s fun to watch a player like her just out will opponents,” he said of McGregor. “She hit three huge shots in the fourth quarter.”
The junior reserve scored 12 points on five of nine shooting. Just as important, she led the team with five rebounds, three on the offense glass. This came after Friday’s semifinal win when McGregor had eight offensive rebounds.
“Faith put Anderson County on her shoulders,” said Birdwhistell. “She was special. Without her, we don’t sniff this win.”
Birdwhistell said it showed the team’s maturity late in the game when it was trying to work the clock. Johnson and Satterly consistently found open players to distribute the ball while seconds melted away.
And then they were able to find players open for layups.
“This team is special,” he said.
But the goal before the season to reach the Mingua Beef Jerky Sweet 16. That goal has now become reality.
“This team has worked tirelessly to reach this stage,” said Birdwhistell. “I’m super proud of them.”
But the work is not done. The appearance in 2022-23 ended in the first round with a loss to eventual champ, Sacred Heart.
“We have a shot,” said Birdwhistell. “We weren’t ranked in the pre-season poll and that’s OK. But we know that if we play Anderson County basketball, we have a shot.”
For the game, Anderson County shot just 37% from the field, compared to 52% for Spencer County’s efficient and patient offense. The Lady Bearcats did win the turnover battle, forcing 14 miscues, most of those late in the game. The winners converted 14 points off the turnovers.
Eighth Region
Championship
March 9
AT ANDERSON COUNTY (8-7-7-14) 36 — Jenna Satterly 12, Faith McGregor 12, Lainey Johnson 7, Ella Baum 3, Madison Glass2
Spencer County (11-8-8-6) 33 — Ella Brown 20, Kayla Basham 6, Skyler Mills 5, Hawley Johnson 2
All Tournament team
Anderson County was represented on the All-Tournament team by McGregor, Baum, Claire Cooper, Satterly and the MVP, Johnson.
Sweet 16 tickets
Look on the Anderson County Athletes Facebook page for ticket information. The first game will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The quarterfinal game would be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. Semifinal game would be at 11 a.m. Saturday with the final at 7:30 p.m.