11 years and counting: Lady Titans defeat East Jessamine to claim another district title
Channing Lewis, Toni McCombs and Timberlynn Yeast named to All-Tournament Team
The Mercer County Lady Titans basketball team is pictured with their 46th District championship trophy after defeating East Jessamine on Friday, Feb. 22. (Photo by Arpan Dixit)
Arpan Dixit
Herald Staff
sports@harrodsburgherald.com
For the 11th year in a row, the Mercer County Lady Titans (20-10) are the 46th District champions, after defeating the East Jessamine Jaguars (10-20) by a final score of 64-30 on Friday, Feb. 22, in Burgin.
Junior Channing Lewis, senior Toni McCombs and eighth grader Timberlynn Yeast were named to the 46th District Tournament All-Tournament Team for their efforts against East Jessamine and Burgin.
Burgin freshman Ellie Jenkins was the lone Lady Bulldog to be named to the All-Tournament Team.
Here is a recap of Mercer County’s district tournament.
vs. East Jessamine (2/22)
The Lady Titans haven’t lost a district game since 2008, and that historic streak continued on Friday night.
They controlled the game from start to finish on their way to another district title.
After being tied at seven with four minutes left in the first, the Lady Titans ended the quarter on a 12-0 run to go up 19-7.
Timberlynn Yeast had her self a ball game. She took home MVP honors with 23 points, six rebounds and three steals.
“She’s just an unreal athlete. The most impressive thing for her is that she’s been that consistent all year,” said Head Coach Hayley Spivey. “She just has the ability on the offensive and defensive end to just make things happen.”
McCombs didn’t score near her average, but hauled in 10 boards to lead Mercer County in that department. Lewis was a stat-sheet stuffer with seven points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.
“I think it’s a really big statement for our girls. This is a new team we have this year so for them to be able to win the district was really a big step for us heading into region,” said Spivey. “I told the girls before the game to never take anything for granted. There is not many teams that can say they’ve dominated the district for 11 straight years.”
Everyone who got on the floor contributed for the Lady Titans. Sophomore Camryn Preston scored 10 points and added six rebounds, junior Zoë Yeast scored six points with three rebounds, junior Calicia Smith scored four points and two steals, freshman Love Mays scored six points and hauled in five rebounds, eighth grader Anna Kate Drakeford pitched in five points with two assists.
Players who didn’t score still made an impact.
Senior Makenzie Burns had two assists, sophomore Stevie Shepherd had two steals and eighth grader Lindsay Jessie hauled in three rebounds.
“That’s what we need. If we can have eight or nine that contribute, that’s huge for us,” said Spivey. “And that’s a good thing for me as well because that gives me options to throw people in when I need.”
Jermyra Christian led the Jaguars in scoring with 10 points.
The Lady Titans begin 12th Region Tournament play today, Thursday, Feb. 28, as they take on the Danville Lady Admirals, at 8 p.m., at Pulaski County High School.
SCORING: Timberlynn Yeast 23, Camryn Preston 10, Channing Lewis 7, Love Mays 6, Zoë Yeast 6, Anna Kate Drakeford 5, Calicia Smith 4, Toni McCombs 3.
REBOUNDS: McCombs 10, Lewis 7, Preston 6, T. Yeast 6, Mays 4, Shepherd 3, Drakeford 2, Smith 2, Lindsay Jessie 2, Burns 1.
vs. Burgin (2/20)
The Lady Titans defeated the Lady Bulldogs by a final score of 71-20 in the first round of the 46th District Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 20, at Burgin.
Burns led the way for the Lady Titans scoring a game-high 12 points. Jessie was right behind her with 12 points and was tied for a team-high in rebounds with seven. Mays pitched in 10 points and two assists and Lewis was the last Lady Titan in double figures with 10 points to go with seven rebounds.
Eighth grader Kaiden Lewis led Burgin with six points. Eighth grader Baleigh Turner was behind her with four points.
Freshman Brynn Simpson was the top rebounder for the Lady Bulldogs with eight boards.
Freshman Ellie Jenkins led Burgin with three steals on the defensive end.
SCORING (MC): Burns 13, Jessie 12, Mays 10, Lewis 10, Z. Yeast 6, Jersey McGinnis 5, T. Yeast 4, McCombs 3, Shepherd 3, Preston 3, Smith 2.
REBOUNDS (MC): Jessie 6, McCombs 5, T. Yeast 5, Lewis 5, Smith 4, Burns 3, Z. Yeast 3, Preston 3, McGinnis 2, Shepherd 2, Mays 2.
SCORING (B): Kaiden Lewis 6, Baleigh Turner 4, Ellie Jenkins 3, Hannah Stewart 3, Avery Gray 2, Grace Cocanougher 2.
REBOUNDS (B): Simpson 8, Cocanougher 4, Stewart 2, Edwards 2.
PHOTOS BY ARPAN DIXIT:
Senior Makenzie Burns was the first to climb the ladder and cut down the nets after the Lady Titans defeated East Jessamine to claim the 46th District.
The girls 46th District Tournament All-Tournament Team pictured L to R: Jasmine Atkerson (East), Iesha Dean (East), Ellie Jenkins (Burgin), Alleyse Steinkuhl (West), Channing Lewis (Mercer), Toni McCombs (Mercer) and Timberlynn Yeast (MVP, Mercer).
The Mercer County Lady Titans coaching staff are pictured with their first 46th District Championship trophy as a new staff in their first year. Pictured L to R: Assistant Coach Jay Jackson, video coordinator Craig “Taco” Vaughn, statistician Jennifer Merchant, Head Coach Hayley Spivey and Assistant Coach Cawood Carey.
