Tiffany Harrigan got hot in the second half for Franklin-Simpson and helped turn a close game into a blowout in the first round of the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Sweet 16 state tournament.
The senior made six consecutive shots to score 12 of the Wildcats’ first 15 points after the break and helped them blow by Bullitt East 66-47 on Thursday at Rupp Arena. Harrigan scored 20 points and added four rebounds in the win. Junior Allye Pennington led all scorers with 28 points and 10 boards.
The Wildcats (25-7) had a slim 24-23 halftime lead before Harrigan’s scoring spree to open the second half.
“Third quarter, they blew hot, shot 70% from the field and 60% from behind the arc,” said Bullitt East Coach Chris Stallings, whose team was outscored 42-24 in the second half. “That was a big turning point for us as the game played out.”
Franklin-Simpson’s dynamic duo of Pennington and Harrigan carried the offensive load, combining for 48 of the Wildcats’ 66 points, including all 23 points in the third quarter.
“That’s just kind of our offensive style … the ball stays in their hands and they make the read,” Franklin-Simpson coach Ashley Taylor said. “If they end up being the ones that score it, nobody else in the white jersey cares.”
The pair ended up combining for 33 second-half points, while Bullitt East scored just 24 points in the half. They had 48 of the team’s 66 total points.
“Harrigan’s more of an off-the-dribble driver and she’s hard to keep in front of,” Stallings said. “Pennington, you can’t give her any space. If she’s got space, she’s gonna score.”
Stallings’ Chargers (19-13) were paced by Anna Tinelli and Mollie Johnson, who had 16 points apiece.
Franklin-Simpson missed its first six shots of the game before Pennington scored the team’s first six points to tie the game after four minutes.
“We subbed a lot early, just to try to get those nerves settled… I think I played nine, maybe 10, people in the first quarter,” Taylor said. “This is a different stage.”
The Wildcats closed out the the first quarter with a 7-0 run in a 1:46 span, taking a 13-11 lead into the second quarter. A two-minute scoring drought allowed the Chargers to regain an 18-16 lead early.
Bullitt East went scoreless for over four minutes to start the fourth quarter, allowing Franklin-Simpson to grab a 17-point lead with 3:40 to play.
The Wildcats will face the winner of North Laurel and Clark County in the quarterfinals on Friday night at 8:30.
