Top Performers: 7th Region Semifinals
The 2020 7th Region Girls Semifinals took place at Valley High School on Wednesday night. Christian Academy-Louisville vs Assumption and Sacred Heart vs Manual. I took two players from each winning team and one player from each losing team.
Top Performers
Shelby Calhoun Shelby Calhoun 5'11" | CG Christian Academy Louisville | 2020 State KY (CAL)
A monster performance from the Virginia Tech signee & Miss Kentucky Basketball finalist in their victory over Assumption. She led CAL with 19 points and 17 rebounds to advance to the Girls 7th Region Championship. She attacked the inside with force on both ends of the floor. She grabbed exactly half of CAL’s rebounds. Her presence down-low is a major factor in why this team finds so much success. She continues to impress me every time out on the hardwood.
Erin Toller Erin Toller 5'6" | CG Sacred Heart | 2020 State KY (Sacred Heart)
Slow start for the UK signee but provided a late spark for Sacred Heart down the stretch. Toller finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. For a small guard, Toller loves getting inside and fighting for rebounds. Fellow point guard Destinee Marshall Destinee Marshall 5'6" | PG Sacred Heart | 2020 State KY is out for SHA with a hand injury, so Toller has to step up for the Valkyries to make it to Rupp and compete for a state championship. Not sure how long Marshall is out for but one would hope she returns if they beat CAL in the 7th region championship Saturday. Toller needs to bring her A-game Saturday against a tough CAL team. Should be a fun battle.
Abigail Embry Abigail Embry 5'9" | SG Christian Academy Louisville | 2022 State KY (CAL)
Solid game from the sophomore guard. Embry finished with 14 points, including 2 threes. She shot 4-8 from the field and 4-6 from the free throw line. Embry was patient and always smart with the ball. Made good decisions late in the game and hit some clutch free throws. A bright future for Embry. She’ll be along side with another great sophomore guard Jaya McClure Jaya McClure 5'6" | PG Christian Academy Louisville | 2022 State KY . It should be a fun dynamic duo next year.
Kristen Clemons Kristen Clemons 6'0" | C Sacred Heart | 2020 State KY (Sacred Heart)
The Belmont volleyball signee finished with a team-high 18 points. She also managed to grab 9 rebounds. She was using her great length down-low to get off easy shots in the post. Clemons hit the bench early with two fouls in the first half. Sacred Heart trailed by 3 heading into halftime. SHA had a game plan coming into the 3rd quarter and that was to feed Clemons and it worked. SHA opened up the 3rd on a 15-0 run. Without Destinee Marshall Destinee Marshall 5'6" | PG Sacred Heart | 2020 State KY , players are going to have to step up offensively. Clemons may be that answer.
Kennedy Lee (Manual)
Not much scoring for the sophomore forward in this one but she was incredible on the glass as usual. Lee finished with 8 points and 14 rebounds. I am sure they would have liked to give her the ball more to give them a chance to win the ball game but Sacred Heart did an excellent job in denying her an open shot. A really bright future for this Manual team as a majority of their scoring comes from underclassmen. Manual is going to be a threat with more years under their belt. Lee has blossomed into a superstar and she will just continue to get better. It is a truly scary sight and I am excited to see what she will become in the next two years at Manual.
Payton Cronen Payton Cronen 5'7" | SG Assumption | 2020 State KY (Assumption)
The Newberry College signee tried everything in her power to get the Rockets back into the game. She finished with a team-high 14 points, including 2 threes. Although she went 2-5 from behind the arc, her shooting form and release is fun to watch. A very quick release and who doesn’t love a lefty?! Assumption’s season comes to an end but a new beginning for Cronen starting this summer for Coach Joanna Tincher and the Newberry Wolves.
The 2020 7th Region Girls Championship game between Sacred Heart and Christian Academy-Louisville will be Saturday, March 7th at 12:00 PM ET at Valley High School.