Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Cougars fall flat in AA semifinals
Patrick Co. falls behind early and can't recover despite a big game from Kylene Culler.
varsity.roanoke.com
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RICHMOND -- For Patrick County's girls, the power was in one of their towers.
Kylene Culler is an inch or two shy of being the tallest of the Cougars, but her game stood above all the rest as her team fell to Millbrook 61-35 in the semifinals of the Group AA Division 3 state semifinals at lunchtime Tuesday at the Siegel Center.
Culler, one of only two seniors for the Cougars, scored 14 points, hauled in as many rebounds, and blocked four shots. A terrific performance in any setting, it still wasn't enough to offset the Pioneers' superior speed, quickness, and state tournament seasoning. Millbroook lost 50-43 to Freedom in last year's semis.
After the 11 a.m. tip, the contest was over before Region IV champion Patrick County ever got started. The Cougars were down 22 at halftime even after Millbroook went the last 5:48 of the half without a field goal.
Less than six minutes into the second half, the lead topped out at 30 points, 60-30.
The Cougars pulled themselves together and lost the second half by only 25-21.
"We usually come out in the first half a little bit slow," Culler said.
"We just didn't come out like we usually do. We were not playing as aggressively as we usually do. It started slipping away when we didn't come out on fire."
The blaze never really started, particularly offensively. Patrick County (17-10) shot 23.1 percent in the first half and finished at 26.5 percent accuracy. Less Culler's 5-for-9, other team members shot a combined 8-for-40. Whitney Bowers and Casey Bradshaw split 14 points. Just three other girls scored.
Millbrook was led by sophomore guard Courtni Green, who scored 20 points and snagged eight rebounds.
"She had a great shot and she was a really good ballhandler," Bradshaw said. "She'd go right and switch over to her left really quickly. I had a hard time guarding her, to be honest with you. She was a real challenge."
Green is under 50 points shy of 1,000 for her career. She's the younger sister of Erick Green, a freshman on Virginia Tech's team.
Led by Lacey Harris' four feeds, the Pioneers had 20 baskets on 13 assists.
"It's a very unselfish ballclub," Millbrook coach Debby Sanders said.
The Pioneers focused on Culler, pressing most of the game. That tactic produced 25 Patrick County turnovers.
"Their guards really get out and harass you and weren't able to adjust," Patrick County coach Glenn Burnett said.
Harris handled most of the defense on Culler.
"I knew she was left-handed and I tried to keep her going to her right," Harris said.
MILLBROOK (21-0)
Mead 5-12 4-4 15, White 2-6 2-2 7, Green 7-16 5-7 20, Mobley 3-8 1-4 7, Harris 2-6 1-3 6, Hernandez 0-0 0-0 0, Banks 0-1 1-2 1, Merriman 1-5 0-0 3, Rooks 0-6 2-2 2, Farrish 0-1 0-0 0, Mason 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 20-61 16-26 61
PATRICK COUNTY (17-9)
Bowers 2-5 4-4 7, Bradshaw 3-11 0-0 7, Helbert 0-7 1-4 1, Culler 5-9 3-4 14, Barbour 2-3 0-0 4, Cassady 0-4 0-2 0, Giles 0-4 0-1 0, Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Williams 1-3 0-0 2, Perry 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 13-49 7-15 35
Millbrook 26 10 15 10--61
Patrick County 6 8 11 10--35
3-point goals -- Millbrook 5-10 (Mead 1-1, White 1-2, Green 1-2, Harris 1-1, Merriman 1-3, Rooks 0-1, Patrick County 2-9 (Bowers Bradshaw 1-5, Culler 1-1, Cassady 0-1, Smith 0-1, Giles 0-1). Fouls -- Millbrook 12, Patrick County 16. Fouled out -- Bowers. Rebounds -- Millbrook 40 (Green 8), Patrick County 46 (Culler 14). Assists -- Millbrook 13 (Harris 4), Patrick County -- 4 (Bradshaw 2).
