LEXINGTON, Ky. (WMDJ) – Leah Macy scored a game-high 31 points and pulled down 17 rebounds as 5th region champion Bethlehem bounced Pikeville 56-49 in the opening round of the Girls’ Sweet 16 Tournament at Rupp Arena on Thursday.
Macy, a 5-star recruit who has received over 40 scholarship offers to play at the collegiate level including offers from Kentucky, LSU, Georgia and others, shot 12-of-19 from the field and knocked down 7-of-8 from the free throw line in the win for the Lady Banshees, their 13th-consecutive victory.
Pikeville jumped out early leading 19-14 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Panthers came out firing 3-of-5 from the outside. Senior guard Trinity Rowe scored eight points and connected on a pair of 3-pointers to lead the way. Senior Kirsten Whited also hit one outside shot and scored a layup early.
The Lady Panthers enjoyed their largest lead of the game at 29-18 after sophomore Shyla Kidd drained another Pikeville 3-pointer with 4:17 left in the second quarter. Pikeville would lead 32-26 at the break.
Bethlehem flipped the script in the second half with Macy heating up for 10-points in the third quarter. Macy’s jumper at the 2:31 mark gave the Lady Banshees their first lead since midway through the first period at 38-37. Bethlehem would take a 4-point advantage to the fourth at 44-40.
Pikeville tied the game at 44-44 with 7:09 left to play in the game on a goal by senior Kyera Thornsbury.
Bethlehem would lean on Macy the rest of the way as she would score seven more points as the Lady Banshees would do just enough to keep Pikeville out of reach with a 56-49 win.
Rowe finished with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting and dished out six assists for the Lady Panthers in her final game. Seniors Thornsbury and Whited each finished with 14 and 10 points respectfully. Senior Rylee Theiss was 0-of-7 from the field but pulled down seven rebounds.
Pikeville finishes their season at (27-6). Bethlehem moves to (27-8) and will face the winner of George Rogers Clark and Sacred Heart in Friday’s quarterfinals at 6 p.m.
PIKEVILLE (49) – Jackson 2 1-6 8. Theiss 0. Rowe 6 (2) 3-4 17. Whited 4 (2) 10. Thornsbury 6 (1) 1-2 14. Kidd 1 (1) 3. Alvin 0.
FG Pct.: 37.3%. FT Pct.: 41.7%. 3-PT 6-22 (Jackson 0-1, Rowe 2-5, Whited 2-6, Thornsbury 1-8, Kidd 1-2). Fouls 13. Fouled out: Theiss. Rebounds 32. Assists 11. Turnovers 7.
BETHLEHEM (56) – A. Miles 2 2. Leah Macy 12 7-8 31. T. Miles 3 (1) 2-2 9. Clayton 1 2-2 4. Thurmond 1 4-6 6. Osborne 0. McIlroy 1 2. Loren Macy 0.
FG Pct.: 41.7%. FT Pct.: 83.3%. 3-PT 1-10 (Leah Macy 0-1, Miles 1-3, Clayton 0-3, Thurmond 0-3). Fouls 12. Fouled out: A. Miles. Rebounds 30. Assists 5. Turnovers 8.
PIKEVILLE 19 13 8 9 – 49
BETHLEHEM 14 12 18 12 – 56
