‘I don’t even believe it yet.’ 11th Region shocker dethrones perennial champion.

For the first time since 2014, a Lexington school is guaranteed a spot in the Girls’ Sweet 16 as the 11th Region Tournament champion after Lexington Catholic and Frederick Douglass each gutted out tough semifinals comebacks Wednesday night at Eastern Kentucky University’s Baptist Health Arena.

Lexington Catholic toppled three-time defending region champion Franklin County 61-59 in the first semifinal and Douglass overcame a 17-2 first-quarter deficit to rally for a 57-50 win over Madison Central in the nightcap.

The Knights and Broncos are scheduled to face each other at 6 p.m. Saturday as part of a tripleheader that will include the 11th Region boys’ semifinals earlier in the afternoon at EKU.

“It’s so crazy. Coming in my freshman year, we didn’t even make it out of districts,” LexCath senior Katherine Truitt said. “And here we are, now.”

LexCath turns tables on Flyers

During its 53-game win streak against 11th Region foes, Franklin County has been the team more able to maintain its composure, make shots and create turnovers on the way to wins that were often blowouts.

There would be no blowout Wednesday, but Franklin did have a chance to tie the game on its final possession after an incredible rally from 11 points down with 1:06 left in the game.

After the final, close-range shot missed the mark and the horn sounded, LexCath’s players swarmed each other in jubilation.

“I don’t even believe it yet,” said junior guard Lydia Kennedy, who helped key an 11-0 fourth quarter run that gave the Knights just enough cushion to pull off the upset. Although Kennedy professed disbelief in the result, she also maintained that “belief” had everything to do with their win. “They had us ranked ninth in preseason and just believing we could do it is the main thing.”

The Herald-Leader preseason rankings actually ranked LexCath (19-10) as the region’s No. 8 team as voted by the coaches this preseason. Franklin County (26-8) was No. 1.

Lexington Catholic signaled early on it would not be another one of Franklin County’s region tournament blowout victims by going on a 15-0 run in the first quarter to grab its first lead.

It took the lead again on back-to-back three-pointers by Truitt. Her second three gave LexCath a 28-25 edge just a few seconds before the halftime buzzer.

Lexington Catholic has been known more for its harassing defense this season than its shooting prowess. The Knights have made less than 25 percent of their three-point attempts and shot just 35.6 percent from the field overall. Head coach Lee Tegt noted that the trend has been changing of late.

“We’re making shots at the right time,” he said. “We’ve been in a good rhythm for two weeks, ever since the Madison Southern game on the road (a 56-42 win on Feb. 15).”

Franklin responded in the third quarter by feeding 6-foot-2 sophomore Juliana Frazee in the post. The results were devastating. Frazee went scoreless in the first half due partially to having to sit with two fouls, but she scored 14 of Franklin County’s 16 third quarter points as the Flyers took a 41-36 lead into the fourth.

“It’s Franklin County we’re talking about,” Tegt said. “There’s a reason they’ve been in the state tournament so many times. Coach (Joey) Thacker’s team is going to make you earn it.”

Lexington Catholic didn’t flinch. The Knights opened the fourth with an 11-0 run started by another Truitt three-pointer and capped by seven straight points from Kennedy that included her second three-pointer of the game. Franklin County went 0-for-6 from the field during that span and committed four turnovers.

“We started taking jump shots instead of throwing the ball to Juliana,” Franklin County’s Thacker said. “... You’ve got to be able to score (inside) when you’re that much bigger than your opponent. And we did that a couple of times to get us back in the game. And then we got amnesia about where to throw it.”

LexCath twice built an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter and held a 58-47 edge with 1:06 left. But Franklin rallied again, cutting its deficit to one point in a breathtaking sequence. Franklin trailed 60-59, with 13 seconds left. LexCath miscues helped spark a 10-0 Flyers run that included two three-pointers by Leia Hogan.

LexCath senior point guard Mary Martin Hampton steadied the Knights down the stretch, scoring 14 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter. She went to the free-throw line 15 times in the fourth and made 10 of those foul shots. She made one of two free throws with 12 seconds left to set up Franklin’s last gasp.

“We got enough of a lead that we were able to hold on there and make just enough plays,” Tegt said. “I knew it was going to be a battle down to the wire. I knew they were going to make us earn it. I’m so proud of our girls.”

Truitt finished with a game-high 24 points. She made three of her four three-point attempts. Kennedy finished with 14. Frazee led Franklin County with 21 points.

Douglass sheds early nerves for clutch win

The Broncos’ first appearance in a regional semifinal got off to a horrid start as Madison Central opened the game on a 17-2 run that included two three-pointers from Brooke Campbell, another by Olivia Metcalfe and six points from Bailey Hensley.

Clearly, the Indians were more comfortable in the college gym where they play their district tournament every season.

“I didn’t think it was going to be that bad, but I knew it was going to be different — bright lights, big stage … — I felt like we had the jitters a little bit,” Douglass Coach Daryl Moberly said.

Douglass recovered enough in the first half to trail by only six points at the break, 29-23. The Broncos rallied to a 41-41 tie at the end of three quarters.

“We buckled down in the second half,” Moberly said. “We started playing our game and got some easy baskets. We started taking advantage of our bigs and getting the ball down low.”

Douglass (23-8) got a boost with the return of standout 6-foot-2 junior forward Ayanna Darrington, who took the last four games off to rest a nagging ankle injury. Darrington came off the bench and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the field for eight points and six rebounds in the first half. She finished with a game-high 20 points to go with 10 rebounds. She missed only one shot attempt.

“I’m OK. I’m overcoming this ankle injury,” Darrington said.

Though sophomore guard Niah Rhodes struggled from three-point range for much of the game, her three three-point makes in 10 attempts each helped shift momentum for the Broncos. Her first started Douglass’s rally in the first quarter. Her second trimmed Madison Central’s lead to 33-32 midway through the third quarter. Her third, moments later, gave Douglass a 41-38 lead.

“I kept telling myself when I kept missing ‘I got it. I’ve got this,’” Rhodes said.

Rhodes finished with 17 points. Jermyra Christian added 10 points for the Broncos, including the first bucket of the fourth quarter to give Douglass the lead for good.

Douglass capitalized on six Madison Central turnovers in the fourth quarter to outscore the Indians 16-9 in the final frame.

Madison Central (22-7) was led by Hensley’s 18 points and 15 rebounds. Eden Carter added 16 points.

11th Region finals*

Saturday at Eastern Kentucky’s Baptist Health Arena, Richmond.

6 p.m.: Frederick Douglass (23-8) vs. Lexington Catholic (19-10).

*Schedule subject to change if EKU’s men’s basketball team gets to host the ASUN Conference Tournament championship. Will depend on Thursday night’s ASUN results.