Coach Kirk Comer and the Monroe Central girls basketball team will play at noon Saturday in the Class A Tri-Central Regional against Lafayette Central Catholic. But Comer said and his team will have a clear rooting interest in the regional’s other semifinal as well. That game pits Randolph County rival Union against Carroll (Flora).
“It’s neat that we’ve got another team in our conference and our county both that’s playing in the same regional,” Comer said. “We’re rooting for them to get to the finals and I’m sure they’re rooting for us to get to the finals. And it’d be really neat to have a Randolph County final.”
In order to potentially face Union in the title game, Monroe Central would need to first win its semifinal game. Lafayette Central Catholic (20-6) is ranked No. 2 in the state in the final Class A poll. Comer said LCC’s athleticism presents a challenge, and the Knights also have a versatile scoring attack.
Monroe Central is 13-12, having won its last two regular-season games before three straight victories in the Southern Wells Sectional. The run was culminated by a 30-28 win in the championship game against Southern Wells. Freshman Kinzie Williams hit two tie-breaking free throws to give the Golden Bears the tight win. Abigail McGrath had a big day with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Mikaela McGrath also scored 12 points.
That title was Monroe Central’s first since 2011.
For the Golden Bears, who have a youthful roster with only one senior, preparing for regionals has been a new challenge. Comer said his players have taken a business-like approach to the task.
“We want to enjoy this, but they’ve come in and they’re working really hard in practice, and they’re approaching it just like they did going into sectional, to be honest,” Comer said. “When it comes practice time, it’s pretty much been all business.”
Union has also picked up milestones en route to its sectional title.
The Rockets won a second straight Randolph County title, then went on to claim a share of their first Mid-Eastern Conference championship in 16 years and only the second sectional crown in program history.
Two wins on Saturday would give the Rockets their first regional title in school history — but they won’t come easy.
Union (22-3) will meet Carroll (Flora) at 10 a.m. in the first semifinal. The Cougars are 21-3. Carroll is ranked 10th in the state, while Union is outside the top 10.
Union’s special season has relied heavily on two outstanding juniors in DeAnn Kauffman and Rylee Davis.
Kauffman averages 18.5 points per game and surpassed 1,000 career points during the first round of the sectional.
Davis scores 12.6 and leads the team with 8.8 rebounds per game.
Class A Tri-Central Regional
•Union vs. Carroll (Flora), 10 a.m. Saturday
•Monroe Central vs. Lafayette Central Catholic, noon Saturday
•Championship game, 8 p.m. Saturday