PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – Hoops, they did it again.
No one expected the Floyd Central Lady Jaguars to extend their string of appearances in the 58th District Tournament finals by starting two 8th graders this season, yet first-year coach Ty Little has watched his team mature through some ups and downs with the final results being the same as it’s ever been – a seventh-consecutive trip to the championship game.
Floyd Central outlasted a fisty Betsy Layne Lady Cats squad 61-60 in Monday’s nightcap of the 58th District Tournament at the Fieldhouse.
8th grader Raegan Laferty led the way for Floyd Central with a double-double performance, 19 points and 12 rebounds to compliment senior Riley Jo Compton’s 15 point, 10 rebound effort. Senior Kaylee Hall pumped in 12 points with 2 long range 3-pointers in the second half to help seal the win.
Laferty has been coming on strong as the regular season wound down, displaying her ability to score in multiple ways. Laferty had success on the post during the night, backing down defending and also sunk a 3-pointer and while also blocking 2 shots on the defensive end.
Both teams played a clean game with Floyd Central enjoying a 10-point margin at the half, 36-26 and maintained a 5-point advantage by the start of the 4th quarter.
Betsy Layne made a charge with Jaden Pente tying the game 46-46 early in the final quarter, followed by a block shot on the other end by Haleigh Damron and a bucket in return by Kinleigh Martin to give Betsy Layne the lead, 48-46 with just over 6 minutes left.
Hall led the Floyd Central rally with a 3-pointer in the right corner to tie the game 53-53 with 5:13 left. Laferty then knocked down a set shot from 15 feet to give the Lady Jags the advantage with just over 4 minutes to play, 55-53.
Pente tied the game again 55-55 at the 3:05 mark. Next possession, another 8th grader for Floyd Central, Maddy Engle hit a driving layup giving Floyd Central the lead back 57-55.
Betsy Layne would tie the game again 57-57, staying that way until Laferty drove to the basket for her last basket, making it 59-57 with 0:33 seconds left.
Floyd Central stretched the lead 61-57 on another layup this time from sophomore Chloe Crase with 0:05 seconds left. Betsy Layne inbounded the ball with Laci Hall sinking a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded making the final 61-60 Floyd Central.
The Lady Jaguars will be searching for their first district tournament title since 2019 when they face Prestonsburg on Wednesday night.
FLOYD CENTRAL (61) - Crase 2, 4. Engle 3 2-3, 8. Compton 6 3-5, 15. Laferty 8 (1) 2-6, 19. Hall 5 (2), 12. Adkins 1 (1), 3. Rackey 0.
BETSY LAYNE (60) - Pente 4 (1) 5-6, 14. Jarrell 3 (1) 7. Hall 2 (1) 5. Martin 6 2-4, 14. Damron 4 (3) 2-2 13. Collins 3 (1) 7. Williams 0. Howell 0.
Besty Layne 20 6 15 18 - 60.
Floyd Central 13 23 10 15 - 61.
