By Kayley Bruener
The Pendleton County Ladycats gave a perfect performance over the holiday break, finishing 3-0 at the Pam Browning Classic hosted by Carroll County. The three-day stretch tested the Ladycats and they answered the challenge with wins over Christian Academy of Louisville, Greenwood, and Lloyd Memorial in the tournament finals.
Pendleton County opened the classic on December 29, with a hard-fought 63-59 victory over Christian Academy of Louisville. The Ladycats relied on balanced scoring and clutch free-throw shooting to secure the win. Senior Lilly Ashcraft and junior Selena Rarrieck led the way with 18 points apiece. Rarrieck knocked down four 3-pointers, while Ashcraft was aggressive attacking the basket and finished 12-of-16 from the free-throw line. Juniors Savannah Rarrieck and Hannah Spaulding added nine points each, with Spaulding also pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds. Pendleton County shot 50 percent from beyond the arc and converted 19 free throws to close out the tight contest.
The Ladycats returned to the court the next day and delivered their most complete performance of the tournament with a 77-56 win over Greenwood. Senior Laci Tackett led all scorers with 24 points, shooting an efficient 10-of-13 from the field while knocking down four trey's. Ashcraft followed with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Spaulding chipped in 13 points and 10 boards for a double-double. Selena Rarrieck added 12 points as Pendleton County shot an impressive 56 percent from the floor and 60 percent from three-point range, pulling away early and maintaining control throughout.
Pendleton County wrapped up the classic with a gritty 57-49 victory over Lloyd Memorial. Despite struggling from the perimeter, the Ladycats found success inside and at the free-throw line. Ashcraft once again paced the offense with 17 points, while Spaulding was dominant on the glass, recording 16 points and 15 rebounds. Selena Rarrieck added 10 points, and the Ladycats finished with 38 rebounds as a team. Pendleton County converted 22 free throws to seal the win and complete the undefeated run.
At 6-2, the Ladycats look to continue to build momentum heading into a busy week ahead. Pendleton County will host Bourbon County on January 7 at 7:30 p.m., travel to Robertson County the next evening for their first district game of the season at 6:00 p.m., and close out the week by hosting Fleming County on January 10, at 7:30 p.m.