It wasn’t the ending they had hoped for, but it was the ending they got. The Pulaski County Lady Cougars faced off against the Hampton Crabbers Thursday and came up short, 63-75, to finish as the Class 4 State Runner-Up.
The Lady Cougars, who have been known for their defense all season, watched as Hampton player Kennedy Harris hit 11 of 21 from the field, five of nine behind the three-point line, and eight of eight from the free throw line to lead her Crabbers with 35 points. No other Hampton player scored over 10 points, but seven Hampton player did make a mark in the scoring column. Altogether, Hampton hit nine from behind the three-point line.
“I couldn’t have asked for more of an effort,” Lady Cougar Head Coach Scott Ratcliff said. “Our girls gave a tremendous effort out there. This game came down to the shooting skills of Kennedy Harris and a defensive adjustment we made in the second quarter that just killed it for us. Put that on me. These girls absolutely gave everything they had out there tonight. Giving up 28 points in the second quarter just put us in a huge hole we couldn’t dig all the way out of.”
The game started with Hampton taking a 17-11 lead at the end of the first quarter, with Harris being held to just five points. Before the start of the second, Ratcliff changed up the defense to throw the Crabbers off balance. Instead, it gave Harris room to hit three huge three pointers and score 17 total points in the quarter by herself.
“She’s a player and can shoot the lights out,” Coach Ratcliff said. “She was shooting it and hitting from some crazy spots. By the time we changed things back up, she had already gotten hot. It put us in a huge hole, but our girls kept working.”
Trailing by 20 at the half, 25-45, the teams went into the locker room for the halftime break. An inspired Pulaski County squad came out went on an eight-point run before Hampton was finally able to find the net. The Lady Cougars continued to work, moving within 11 points, 46-57, outscoring the Crabbers 21-12 in the third.
“We were starting to feel good about ourselves again,” Ratcliff said. “We’ve played from behind plenty of times before, so it wasn’t something new for us. We just told the girls to keep working.”
The fourth quarter had the Cougar faithful in attendance and watching online on edge. After being down by 20 at the half, Pulaski County moved within five points when Paige Huff sunk a three-pointer to make the score 56-61 late in the game. Hampton went on a six-point run to stretch it back out. After a quick Cougar basket, they had another short run for four points before Morgan Vest hit a three-pointer to get the Lady Cougars within 10 again, but time ran out of the Pulaski County hopes and season with them down 63-75.
Hannah Keefer battled for the entire game to earn 23 points against one of the toughest insides seen all season. Keslyn Secrist earned a double-double hit from inside and outside to add 22 points and collecting 12 rebounds. Jaden Lawson put up another incredible defensive performance, but also added eight points. Morgan Vest came in off the bench again to add seven points. Paige Huff added the final three points.
Kennedy led the Crabbers with an incredible 35 points. Kaliya Perry was the only other Crabber in double digits with 10 points. Asya Johnson and Jaiden Hunter scored seven points each. Dreyana Foster and Coryan Tynes added six points each. Jaiden Hunter added the final four points, but also collected 12 rebounds. The Crabbers finished the game hitting 14 of 14 free throws as a team.
“It was a heck of a game, but unfortunately we came out on the bad side of the scoreboard,” Coach Ratcliff said. “You always hate to see it end, but these girls have a lot to be proud of this season. We’re going to get back to work soon and keep trying to get over that hump. I can’t say enough about this team. They represented our school and community with grit and determination all season. I also can’t tell you how much it meant to all of us to see the fan support that came out tonight. They’ve done it all season, but this was all the way in Richmond. They could have just sat home and watched online, but they made the trip and supported us. It’s just been that way all season. We have great fans. We have great support from our administration and student body. Seeing all those guys come rolling into the student section was awesome. We wish we could have gotten the win tonight, but we’re gonna get there.”
For three Lady Cougars, Thursday night was their final time playing for the Cougars. Keslyn Secrist, Tori Vest, and Paige Huff have helped move the program forward and will be missed next season.
When interviewed in the press room after the game, Secrist expressed what was likely on the minds of all three seniors.
“It hurts to know we went out as runner-up,” she said. “But this group of girls … I’ve been around them since the fourth grade. The friendships that I’ve made with them … I wouldn’t change for the world. I’ve played basketball with them all my life and I’m just so proud of them. I’ve seen them grow from fourth grade to high school and just the growth that they’ve had in those years just amazes me. I’m just really thankful for all these girls, no matter the outcome of the game.”
Hannah Keefer talked about the team’s effort.
“I don’t think any of us were scared coming out. I think all of us came out and we knew what we had to do,” she said. “We put it all out there, and that’s exactly what we needed to do. It was just too long of a run. They just got all their shots off and made them. I don’t think anyone had any more to give.”
The Lady Cougars finish the season as the River Ridge District Regular Season and Tournament Champions, the Class 4, Region C Champions, and the Class 4 State Runners-Up. Their final record will stand at an incredible 26-4. Out of their four losses this season, two were to Carroll County, who are scheduled to play for a State Championship Friday. The other was to 5A Briar Woods, who finished their season 22-4 in the Class 5, Region C tournament last week.