Second-half surge lifts Barren County over Cumberland County
Published 10:35 pm Sunday, March 2, 2025
The Barren County bench cheers during the Girls Region 4 Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday, March 2. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Barren County senior Kaitlyn Elmore (10) is defended by Cumberland County junior Abby Morgan (3) during the Girls Region 4 Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday, March 2. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Barren County senior Katie Gearlds (30) drives to the basket during the Girls Region 4 Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday, March 2. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Barren County senior Kaitlyn Elmore (10) is defended by Cumberland County sophomore Madi Cooksey (24) during the Girls Region 4 Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday, March 2. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Barren County senior Katie Gearlds (30)is defended by Cumberland County sophomore Madi Cooksey (24) during the Girls Region 4 Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday, March 2. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Barren County sophomore Shelby Byrd (24) gets the rebound during the Girls Region 4 Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday, March 2. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Barren County senior Katie Gearlds (30) defends Cumberland County junior Keagan Walden (4) during the Girls Region 4 Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday, March 2. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Cumberland County sophomore Madi Cooksey (24) is defended by Barren County senior Kaitlyn Elmore (10) during the Girls Region 4 Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday, March 2. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Cumberland County junior Jordyn McDonald (14) drives to the basket during the Girls Region 4 Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday, March 2. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Cumberland County junior Jordyn McDonald (14) is defended by Barren County junior Riley Wilson (32) during the Girls Region 4 Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday, March 2. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Barren County sophomore Shelby Byrd (24) is defended by Cumberland County junior Abby Morgan (3) during the Girls Region 4 Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday, March 2. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Facing an uphill battle against upset-minded Cumberland County, Barren County’s Katies — Gearlds and Elmore — got the ball rolling downhill to lead the Trojanettes to a 52-39 win in the opening round of the Region 4 Girls’ Basketball Tournament on Sunday at E.A. Diddle Arena.
The senior duo sparked an offense that heated up in the second half, allowing Barren County (26-5) to advance to Tuesday’s semifinals.
“I knew it was going to be a tough game,” Barren County coach Piper Lindsey said. “Heck, it’s the Fourth Region tournament. Every game is going to be tough. Cumberland County is a heckuva lot better team than back in December when we played them. We just knew we were going to have our hands full. They’ve got some kids that can score in their offense. They can run it. They execute their offense to perfection. We had to do the little things, be solid defensively and score on the other end to make this happen.”
Barren County started with a pair of 3-pointers in the first three minutes to build a 10-3 advantage, but the Trojanettes went cold over the next seven minutes with only one field goal. Cumberland County (19-8) closed the first quarter with 10 straight points to move in front 13-10.
That margin grew to 17-12 after back-to-back buckets by Keegan Walden in the opening minute of the second quarter. Gearlds’ baseline jumper with 4:39 left in the half ended the Barren County drought and fueled a 6-0 spurt that put the Trojanettes back in front.
Abby Morgan split a pair of free throws for Cumberland County to tie to before a 3 from Ann Ashley Atkinson gave Barren County a 21-18 halftime lead.
The Trojanettes would hold that lead the rest of the way. Cumberland County stayed within striking distance for most of the third quarter before Barren County was able to push the margin to 33-25.
The Lady Panthers got as close as four twice in the fourth quarter, the last time at 39-35, but Barren County closed with a 14-3 run over the final four minutes to secure the win.
“The first half I think we struggled a little bit offensively,” Gearlds said. “We came out and weren’t hitting shots. We weren’t getting calls, but also we weren’t finishing. We were going up weak. I think coming out the second half, coach Lindsey told us to pick up our offense and we would be fine.”
Gearlds led Barren County with 16 points — going 6-for-6 from the field — and seven rebounds, while Elmore added 12 points and seven rebounds. Atkinson had a team-high nine rebounds and Shelby Byrd added nine points and seven rebounds to help give Barren County a 31-23 advantage on the boards.
“That’s just heart right there,” Lindsey said. “That’s effort and that’s heart. (Elmore and Gearlds) I think they combined for 12 rebounds and 28 points. When you have two seniors that can do that, I tell you what these kids have been a joy to coach and we hope it goes on for a lot longer.”
Morgan led Cumberland County with 16 points, while Madi Cooksey added nine points and seven rebounds.
“First off, we are just thankful for the opportunity to be here,” Cumberland County coach Kristen Anderson said. “It’s been 10 years since Cumberland County got to step on the floor at Diddle, so just to get the opportunity to be here was huge for our community and for these girls. We’ve worked hard all year. We are probably one of the smallest schools in the region. To come here — and I don’t think anybody expected this to be a game — and make it a game, I can’t say enough about my girls.”
Barren County advances to face Franklin-Simpson at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The two teams met in an epic double-overtime battle at Barren County last month, with the Lady Wildcats winning 55-49.
“We have a 1-0 mentality right now and that is all we are worried about,” Lindsey said.
CCHS 13 5 8 13 — 39
BCHS 10 11 12 19 — 52
CC — Morgan 16, Cooksey 9, Walden 7, McDonald 6, Willen 1.
BC — Gearlds 16, Elmore 12, Byrd 9, Slagle 8, Atkinson 5, Burton 2.
