HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: St. Mary sweeps Community Christian in home games. | 2B The PaducahSports Sun | Friday, December 13, 2013 | paducahsun.com Section B Murray State’s Williams rules boards with his head BY JAMES D. HORNE to be fed in the post as much as he want to get me the ball, but will [email protected] can be, but he understands that when they get the opportunity to.” There’s a certain mindset a there are times it’s just not pos- Murray State (4-5) has gotten basketball player has to have to sible. things together better during its be a good rebounder and Mur- “It gets frustrating at times, be- two-game winning streak and is ray State’s Jarvis Williams has cause I was more of an offensive doing it without one more cog be- displayed those skills in his short guy more than anything so I’m cause of the injury to 6-8 sopho- career. trying to transition into turning more forward Zay Henderson, The 6-foot-8 junior and junior into an effort guy, a defensive who could be back for the SIU college transfer from Gordon principle guy who blocks shots, game. State JC leads the Racers in re- rebounds and get my shots off “I’ll know more once he starts bounding with his 11.3 a game the offensive glass,” the Macon, to practice.” Murray State coach average and ranks second in the Ga., native said. “It’s harder when Steve Prohm said of Henderson. Ohio Valley Conference in that guys are fronting you and they’re “The biggest thing I’ve got to see category in his nine games. stronger so I’m trying to wedge is how much the pad Zay’s wear- “I try to put myself in other guys and push them up the line ing affects him. He’s got a pad on guy’s position, guys who are taller and get my points from high-lows his hand for the next two to four and stronger than me,” Williams with teammate (Jonathan) Faire- weeks. He has been cleared to said. “But at the end of the day, it’s ll. practice and that means he has all about who wants it more and “But I trust my teammates to get been cleared to play. Now it’s my has that mindset to get it. Every- me the ball when they can com- decision on if I put him in or not.” one has a different mindset about pletely. Like when the pass is not Williams says when Henderson it. You can have a 6-10 guy who open, I’ll ask them why they didn’t comes back, he, Fairell and the feels like he can stand straight up give me the ball and they’ll tell me rest of the big men will be even and go get it. But in my mind, I’ve it’s because there was a guy play- more formidable down low. got to jump as high as I can and go ing help side so if they would have “It’s just going to add depth,” ALLIE DOUGLASS | The Sun and get the ball no matter what.” thrown it in there they would have Williams said. “It’s going to give Murray State’s Jarvis Williams leads the Racers in rebounding av- And like most big men, Wil- collapsed and trapped me. But I us more time for one of us to get eraging 11.3 a game and is second in the OVC in that category. Wil- liams, who’s third on the team av- feel confi dent they’re going to get liams tries to get into the right midset to battle on the boards. eraging 12.8 points a game, wants me the ball. It’s not that they don’t Please see BOARDS | 2B Hilltoppers Massac, Carbondale prepare for sweep Kentucky teams No. 6 Cards BY JAMES D. HORNE seconds left. [email protected] The Lady Bombers tied the METROPOLIS — The City of game at 26-all on Shelley’s put- Associated Press Metropolis Girls Tournament back with 3:54 to go in the second. BOWLING GREEN — Western ended its third and fi nal day with But Carbondale ended the half Kentucky’s second early-season two games Thursday. with a 35-31 lead thanks to Mill- opponent from last year’s Final In the fi rst, Carbondale used a er’s jumper with 48.2 seconds left Four will be very familiar as the big second half to down Ballard in the second. Hilltoppers face defending na- Memorial 74-37. Carbondale started to pull away tional champion and in-state The nightcap saw a thrilling in the third period and took a 59- rival Louisville on Saturday. fi nish with host Massac County 36 lead at the end of it on Achash WKU (5-3) seeks its fi rst win holding off a gritty Murray High Greer’s jumper with 7.6 seconds since 2008 against the sixth- squad 54-47. left. ranked Cardinals (8-1). The The All-Tournament Team con- “We’ve had a hard time put- contest also begins a fi ve-game sisted of Carbondale’s McKena ting four quarters together,” Bal- stretch including Division I Miller, Ballard Memorial’s Abbi lard Memorial coach Kayla Vance Southern Mississippi, Murray Denton, Murray High’s Macey said. “We had six days off in a State, Ole Miss and Sun Belt Turley, an eighth-grader, and row before the tournament and Conference foe South Alabama, freshman Maddie Waldrop and just haven’t had time to practice. who are a combined 26-9. the Lady Patriots’ Natalie Bai- We’re going to get things togeth- Non-league play has often ley and tournament MVP Emily er. We just have to be able to put been challenging for the Hill- Hoard. four quarters together.” toppers, which makes this year’s Ballard Memorial got it back start somewhat impressive. But Carbondale 73, down to 22 points twice in the it has also paid off during Sun Ballard Memorial 47 fourth, the last time on Shelley’s Belt competition as they’ve won layup that cut it to 69-47 with BOBBY MAYBERRY | The Sun back-to-back tournament titles Leah Shelley (54) of Ballard Memorial shoots over McKena Miller of The game was tight throughout 1:55 to play. and are preseason favorites this Carbondale in the City of Metropolis girl’s Tournament on Thursday the fi rst quarter and Ballard Me- Carbondale ended the game season. night. Shelley, an eighth-grader starting varsity, scored 20 points for morial led at the end of it 16-14 on WKU aims to make it even the Lady Bombers. Leah Shelley’s 3-pointers with 5.5 Please see PATRIOTS | 2B better with a signature win over Louisville and slow its recent roll in the series that the Hill- toppers lead 39-37. “We have to fi nd out how Harper, Evans get Kentucky women past DePaul tough we are and how good we really can be,” junior guard T.J. BY JACK MCCARTHY points, Megan Rogowski had 19, was second on the team in scoring with seven consecutive points in Price said. “It is going to be a Associated Press and Megan Podkowa and Jasmine (14.2 points), rebounds (7.0) and the fi nal 38 seconds, including fi ve tough schedule. It’s going to be CHICAGO — Linnae Harper Penny added 17 apiece as DePaul fi eld-goal percentage (.560). from Goss and a fast-break layup something we have to dig deep scored 18 points and Kastine Ev- (4-3) lost for the third time in four DePaul’s Podkowa and Rogows- by Azia Bishop with 12 seconds and grind through. We’ve been ans added 14 to lead No. 5 Ken- games. ki each had two 3 pointers and left, to tie the score at 44 at the through some tough times. ... tucky to a 96-85 victory over De- Samarie Walker scored 13 combined for 17 points as the Blue break. “I feel like we’re tough, not Paul on Thursday night. points, Jennifer O’Neill had 12 and Demons took a 21-10 lead less than Kentucky took its fi rst lead since to compare those (upcoming) Harper, a Chicago native who Makayla Epps added 10 for the 7 minutes in. the opening minutes at 50-49 on teams to the teams we’ve played starred at Whitney Young High Wildcats. Kentucky pulled within three Evans’ layup with 17:30 left in the but just to have something to be School, led a balanced offense as Kentucky entered the game points on fi ve occasions over the second half. It was short-lived as confi dent about and know that 10 players scored for the Wildcats third in nation in scoring at 98.8 next 9 minutes but DePaul replied Penny replied 20 seconds later it’s doable.” (10-0). points per game — including and each time until the fi nal minute. with a jumper. The Hilltoppers have faced Kentucky broke away from a 44- 103.8 per game over its last fi ve. Hrynko’s 3 pointer gave the Blue From there the game featured Wichita State — which lost to 44 halftime tie and took the lead The Wildcats were without se- Demons a 44-37 lead with 2:43 to fi ve lead changes and two ties until Louisville in the national semi- for good after Harper’s jumper nior forward DeNesha Stallworth, play in the fi rst half, and Jasime the Wildcats pulled ahead for good fi nal — and are coming off last put the Wildcats ahead 60-59 with out two to four weeks after un- Penney’s layup kept it at seven at 60-59 on Harper’s jumper with 14:15 left in the second half.