PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – Prestonsburg Lady Blackcats head coach Brandon Kidd won his 100th game earlier this month, yet he would’ve traded all those for just one win in the district tournament.

 

In a true David vs. Goliath matchup, Prestonsburg slayed 4-time defending district champion and reigning 15th Region champion Lawrence County Monday night 59-57 at Prestonsburg Fieldhouse in the opening round of the 58th District Tournament.

 

The win snapped a 10-game losing streak for the Lady Blackcats against Lawrence County and gave Coach “BK” the first signature win of his coaching career as his girls are one step closer to cutting down the nets.

 

Prestonsburg had lost 7-consecutive district tournament games going into last night’s contest. Meanwhile, Lawrence County has had a stranglehold on this district, winning eight consecutive district tournament games and four titles. Against Prestonsburg, the Lady Dawgs were (14-3) against the Lady Blackcats since joining the 58th District.

 

Audrey Prater slashed Lawrence County with a 20-point performance to coincide with eight assists and five rebounds. Jade Fitzpatrick hit some key shots while dropping in 11 points. Allison Howard pulled down a team-high six rebounds to compliment her 11-point effort and Ashley Tackett was a perfect (5-5) from the field and chipped in 10 points for Prestonsburg.

 

The Lady Blackcats overcame a (12-27) shooting night from the free throw line yet shot the ball slightly better than Lawrence County from the field: 40% as compared to 34% shooting for the Lady Dawgs.

 

With 3:12 to play in the 4th quarter, Kaison Ward connected on a 3-pointer from the corner to give Lawrence County a 44-39 advantage. Next possession, Lawrence County’s Jade Patton extended the lead with a baseline layup to make it 46-39 with 2:22 remaining.

 

Prestonsburg would fight back with an Amelia Newsome put in and following a Lawrence County turnover, Ashley Tackett converted a layup tightening the game 46-43 Lawrence County lead.

 

Lawrence County’s Sophie Adkins would have her runner blocked, resulting in a technical foul when she disagreed with the call at the 1:23 mark. The technical was her final personal foul, sending her to the bench and leaving Lawrence County without their top two scorers for the remainder of the contest.

 

Prater would hit (1-2) free throws and the Lady Blackcats would take possession and make good with a driving layup from Allison Howard to tie the game 46-46 with just over 1 minute left.

 

After another Lawrence County turnover, Jade Fitzpatrick converted a long jumper, giving Prestonsburg the lead 48-46 with 0:55 seconds left in regulation.

 

Lawrence County’s Leandra Curnutte was fouled on a drive to tie the game, settling for (1-2) free throws to tighten the game 48-47 Prestonsburg with 0:41 seconds left. Prater would then take the ball length of the court, miss a layup, but was fouled going after her own miss, resulting in two free throws for Prater, hitting 1 of 2 to make it 49-47 Prestonsburg.

 

Ward would make a put-in on the block with 0:19 seconds left to tie the game 49-49. Next play, Prestonsburg’s Prater is fouled in transition and breaks the tie hitting 1 of 2 free throws again – 50-49 with 0:15 seconds left.

 

Lawrence County would miss on two looks at the basket in the final possession of the 4th. The ball fell to the corner where a scramble ensued and a foul was called with 0:00 left on the clock, spoiling a victory in regulation for Prestonsburg as the Lady Dawgs would have Abby Nelson on the line with two free throws and 0:00.4 of a second left. Nelson made the first, missed the second, sending the game to overtime tied at 50-50.

 

Prestonsburg would outscore Lawrence County 9-7 in the overtime period to preserve the upset, 59-57.

 

The Lady Blackcats will face Floyd Central in Wednesday’s championship, which will be played after Lawrence County faces Magoffin County in a “first four” contest starting at 6 p.m. at the Fieldhouse. Prestonsburg is in search of their first district tournament title since 2016.

 

PRESTONSBURG (59) – Prater 4 (3) 9-14, 20. Fitzpatrick 5 0-1, 11. Howard 4 (1) 2-6, 11. Tackett 5 0-1, 10. Newsome 2, 4. Lafferty 1 (1), 3. Brewer 0. Stephens 0. Conn 0.

 

LAWRENCE CO. (57) – Adkins 4 (1) 8-10, 17. Curnutte 2 (2) 1-2, 7. Ward 3 (2) 1-3, 9. Patton 6 5-8, 17. Nelson 1 1-2, 3. Maynard 0 2-2, 2. Artrip 0 2-2, 2.

 

Prestonsburg 12 11 10 17 9 – 59

Lawrence Co. 13 10 13 14 7 - 57