The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Winning with defense
Cards rebound from UConn loss, hand Washington first defeat
Louisville was pressing, which was good and bad.
The 19th-ranked Cardinals used their press defense to help them force three turnovers in the first four minutes and start the game against No. 23 Washington with a 10-2 lead. But forcing passes and attempting hasty shots allowed the Huskies to keep the game close.
The Cardinals (11-2) showed improvement and passed their second big test of the season, dealing Washington (11-1) its first loss, 59-51, on Wednesday night at the KFC Yum! Center. The game was only the second time the teams have played. Louisville won the first meeting, 61-53, on Nov. 20, 2021.
Though Louisville showed improvements, there were moments of inconsistency. The Cardinals went nearly six minutes without scoring in the first quarter and had six of their 14 turnovers in the fourth quarter.
“In stretches, I thought we were really good, and then in stretches, we’re just, we’re bad, and that’s what we’ve got to fix,” Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. “You can’t go from looking organized and executing to just then complete chaos with the same group on the floor . ... It’s just one of those things of trying to get them to understand the importance of going off the screens and setting screens up, changing pace.”
U of L learned from Saturday’s loss against No. 17 UConn and limited Washington’s uncontested points in the paint, causing UW to settle for shots away from the basket.
Washington had some success at it, making three 3-point baskets in the first five minutes of the second quarter to take a 24-21 lead. The Cardinals responded with a 6-0 run to end the half with a 31-26 advantage. Guard Sydney
trip to the Sweet 16.
“I don’t feel like we’re there right now,” coach Rodney Snapp said. “We’re still trying to figure things out. I don’t want to peak right now. Baby steps, baby steps, and then some bigger steps and hit that stride later on.”
Snapp laughed when asked about the “Overrated” T-shirts.
“That was the kids’ doing, not me,” he said. “I didn’t want to do that. … I’m an old-school guy. I played for my dad in Indiana. But if you don’t change with the times … it’s about the kids. I want them to have fun.”
Kinney, the No. 1-ranked sophomore in Kentucky’s Class of 2026 who is being recruited by Louisville and UK, led the way Wednesday with a gamehigh 19 points. He hit 3 of 5 3-point attempts.
Jackson added 17 points and seven assists, and senior Jabari Covington pitched in 11 points and eight rebounds.
Newport jumped to a 34-15 halftime lead and cruised home. Snapp credited his team’s half-court defense for the solid start.
”Just getting stops and allowing one shot and getting in the passing lanes,” he said.
No. 24 Washington County (6-1) got 18 points apiece from Gabe Weis and Beau Baker. Weis, a highly recruited 6foot-7 sophomore, added 13 rebounds and two blocks.
WASHINGTON COUNTY 9 6 15 25 – 55
NEWPORT 10 24 12 18 – 64 Washington County (6-1) – Kamar Phillips 8, Noah Reynolds 6, Tyler Bartley 3, Gabe Weis 18, Camden Abell 2, Beau Baker 18.
Newport (7-1) – Taylen Kinney 19, DaShawn Anderson 4, Jabari Covington 11, DeShaun Jackson 17, James Turner 7, Griffin Starks 4, Amontae Lowe 2.
Bowling Green 73, Harlan County 62
Senior guard M.J. Wardlow scored 25 points to lead the No. 7 Purples (6-2) over the No. 18 Black Bears (7-1).
Deuce Bailey and Mason Ritter both scored 13 points and Luke Idlett added 12 for Bowling Green, which will play Trinity in Thursday’s 9 p.m. quarterfinal.
Bowling Green was 9 for 17 from 3point range, led by Idlett’s 4-for-6 performance. The Purples shot 49.1% overall and won the rebounding battle, 39-23.
South Carolina signee Trent Noah had 20 points and four assists to lead Harlan County.
HARLAN COUNTY 19 17 13 13 – 62 BOWLING GREEN 23 16 15 19 – 73 Harlan County (7-1) – Reggie Cottrell 13, Trent Noah 20, Maddox Huff 17, Caleb Johnson 2, Jaycee Carter 10.
Bowling Green (6-2) – Jace Wardlow 2, Deuce Bailey 13, Braylon Banks 8, Mason Ritter 13, M.J. Wardlow 25, Luke Idlett 12.
Little Rock Central 53, Chicago De La Salle 45
Missouri signee Annor Boateng had 18 points, three assists and three steals to lead the Tigers (9-0) over the Meteors (7-3).
Luke Moore added 14 points for Little Rock Central.
Charles Barnes scored 13 points to lead De La Salle.
DE LA SALLE 10 14 13 8 - 45 LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL 16 9 15 13 – 53
Chicago De La Salle (7-3) – Morgan Travis 2, Bryant Hedrick 2, Remi Edwards 2, Charles Barnes 13, Tavariyuan Williams 8, Richard Lindsey 10, Alioune Mbaye 8.
Little Rock Central (9-0) – Chris Washington 2, Daniel Culberson 7, Annor Boateng 18, Chase Allen 8, Luke Moore 14, Clay Blair 4.