Johnson Central defeats Paintsville for 57th District girls’ title

STAFF REPORT

BSN

SALYERSVILLE — Notching its fifth straight win, Johnson Central pulled away to defeat crosstown rival Paintsville 51-31 in the 57th District Girls' Basketball Tournament title game at Magoffin County High School on Thursday, March 18.

The win allowed Johnson Central to improve to 20-4.

Paintsville dropped to 14-10 as a result of the loss.

The Lady Eagles forced Paintsville to play from behind during the 57th District girls' basketball title game. Johnson Central outscored Paintsville 13-8 in the opening quarter. The Lady Eagles led 30-21 at halftime and remained in control throughout the second half.

Johnson Central shot 43.2 percent (16-of-37) from the field. The Lady Eagles shot 44 percent (11-of-25) from 3-point range.

Johnson Central shot 50 percent (8-of-16) from the free throw line.

Sammi Sites, who finished as the runner-up for the 2020-21 15th Region Girls' Basketball Player of the Year award, led Johnson Central to the win, scoring a game-high 27 points and pulling down eight rebound. Sites was 7-of-10 (70 percent) from 3-point range.

In addition to Sites reaching double figures, Kelci Blair scored 11 points for the Lady Eagles.

Ava Hyden paced Paintsville, scoring a team-high 10 points for the Lady Tigers.

Paintsville shot 70.5 percent (12-of-17) from the free throw line in the district title game.

Johnson Central defeated Paintsville for the third time in the 2020-21 girls' high school basketball season.

Both Johnson Central and Paintsville advanced to the 15th Region Girls' Basketball Tournament.