By MATT OVERING

movering@amnews.com

STANFORD — From the opening tipoff, Monday’s game in Lincoln County was a challenge for West Jessamine.

The Colts struggled against Southwestern’s size and speed in the opening round of the 12th Region tournament, falling 72-34.

Southwestern’s full-court pressure caused problems for West’s young squad. West scored in single digits in each of the first three quarters and trailed 42-11 at halftime.

“Coming in we were feeling good, we had just played Mercer and we were able to beat their press,” West head coach Chris Begley said. “We were able to get the ball down the court. We felt good about that.”

But Southwestern, led by junior Kallie Sheron, had a balanced attack and were able to force the Colts into turnovers and tough shots throughout Monday’s contest.

“We’re playing so underhanded, we’ve got only really got two girls with varsity experience,” Begley said. “So we’ve been working all year on getting the young kids up, but they just weren’t ready for this situation. Maybe in a couple of years we’ll be there, but right now we’re not ready for it, just being honest.”

Sheron was one of three Warriors in double figures, and she finished with a game-high 13 points. Eleven different Southwestern players scored.

West was led by Faith Osborne and Madlynn McDonald, who scored nine points apiece. Alleyse Steinkuhl scored eight points off of the bench for the Colts.

“Faith Osborne, Madlynn McDonald and McKenzie Ivey, if they don’t lead us by scoring, we’re in trouble,” Begley said. “We have to rely on those three to score. If they score well, we’re in the game, but if they don’t, we struggle.”

Ivey — the only senior on the team — wasn’t on the score sheet, but Begley said she has been a great senior leader for the team in her final season.

“She’s been a great senior leader, she won a scholarship award tonight that we submitted her for,” he said. “She’s the type of girl that I wish every person would get the chance to coach. She’s always there, always willing to do whatever she needed to do to help the team. She’s the type of player that any coach would be happy to have.”

The Colts finish this season 11-16 and 6-6 in region play. Begley is hopeful about the future: West scored 18 points in the fourth quarter when both teams had youth in the game. 

“Hopefully we’ll be here every year,” the coach said. “Again, we’re just trying to build. You look at our roster, we’re very young. Next year we’ll have three seniors back and they’ll have this year behind them. Hopefully they’ve seen it and now they’ll be ready. Give Southwestern credit, they’re well coached and they did a great job.”

12th Region

quarterfinals

SOUTHWESTERN (23-7, 14-2): Kallie Sheron 13, Regi Cundiff 12, Kennedy Harris 12, Kaylee Young 7, Grace Taylor 7, Marissa Loveless 4, Alexa Smiddy 4, Kylie Foreman 4, Hannah Phelps 3, Jenna Wood 3, Ayden Smiddy 3.

WEST JESSAMINE (11-17, 6-6): Faith Osborne 9, Madlynn McDonald 9, Alleyse Steinkuhl 8, Delaysia Thomas 6, Asia Montgomery 2.