North Marion sinks record 35 free throws, captures AA title

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Class AA No. 1 North Marion is back on top in high school girls basketball.

The Huskies (27-1) on Saturday won their first state championship since 2011 (AAA), beating No. 2 Wyoming East 72-62 for the Class AA title in what was a tight back-and-forth battle through three and a half quarters.

“It’s just great to be back on top,” said North Marion coach Mike Parrish. “We won those three in a row back in 2009, 2010 and 2011. We’ve been down here (since) and haven’t got the job done. It’s just great for these kids to have this experience.”

The two teams were tied 31-31 at the half and 47-47 after three quarters.

The Huskies, though, took control of the game in the fourth as Leah Parrish, the coach’s daughter, hit a 3 to open the final stanza. That shot, ultimately, put North Marion up for good, 50-47.

“I’m still speechless,” Leah Parrish said. “I was really frustrated the past couple of games when my shots weren’t falling, but you have to find another way and I’m just glad that they went in today.”

Parrish scored nine points in the win, going 3 of 5 from 3.

That final 3 was the only made field goal of the fourth quarter for North Marion – the Huskies only attempted two shots in the fourth.

Instead, North Marion worked time off the clock on the perimeter and forced Wyoming East into fouling, playing keep-away with the lead.

“We got the lead and knew that they had to foul,” Parrish said. “Our kids have been shooting free throws really good and that was our plan – get the lead, make them foul us and get to the foul line to win it. If you make layups and free throws, you win basketball games. Today, we won a state championship with it.”

The Huskies went an incredible 20 of 20 in free throw attempts in the fourth quarter alone.

Overall, North Marion set an overall girls basketball state tournament record, making 35 free throws on the day, missing just one attempt.

“We’ll take that on any day,” Parrish said. “We

Individually, Taylor Buonamici set an individual overall girls state tournament record, making 21 free throws (21 of 22).

“We work on it every day in practice,” Buonamici said. “When we’re tired, we work on it. It was just like practice – it was no different.”

Except it was different. Buonamici’s effort on Friday was critical on the biggest stage, in the biggest game – winning a state championship.

“We’ve shot 71 percent from the foul line as a team (on the year),” Parrish said. “Today we shot 97 percent – and we needed all 97 percent of them.”

Buonamici led North Marion with 33 points, while Hannah Shriver scored 11 points and Brielle Osborne added 10 points.

Wyoming East (22-4) was led by Emily Saunders and Kara Sandy who both scored 16 points apiece.

Saunders set the Class AA state tournament record with 12 blocks. She also finished with the overall AA state tournament record of 25 total blocks combined in the three games.

When it was apparent North Marion would secure the title, the two coaches agreed to bring Wyoming East’s Gabby Lupardus into the game and give her an opportunity at the free throw line.

Lupardus reinjured her knee back in Wednesday’s quarterfinals and was sidelined for most of tournament play.

She received a standing ovation from both fan bases and calmly sank two free throws.

“I can’t describe it,” Lupardus said. “It took me by surprise. I was breathless. I had all of the emotions. We lost the game, but I was so happy that we were here together doing this.”

The all-tournament team included Hanna Shriver, Buonamici and Cara Minor from North Marion. Sandy, Jazz Blankenship and Emily Saunders made the team from Wyoming East. Frankfort’s Abby Beeman and Wayne’s Aeriel Adkins were the other two all-tournament team selections.

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