Yahoo News Girls Sweet Sixteen preview: Devils' duo shows plenty of horsepower: Russell meets McCracken in state opening round
Mar. 13—RUSSELL — There are two names that don't reside at the top of Russell's scoring list on the nightly stat sheet.
Pan to the right and find their contributions are plentiful. The duo plays a huge role in the greatest number of all.
Wins.
Seniors Hannah Sanders and Courtney Fitzpatrick have played a pivotal part in the Red Devils' success this year and their importance increases during the postseason when securing victories presents the toughest challenge of all.
"All of our successful teams have had kids who were vital role players," Russell coach Mandy Layne said, "that understand their roles and they also embrace their role. They will do whatever we need them to do. I feel like those kids are really important."
"They know, especially during possession games (during the postseason), the shots they are comfortable taking," she added. "And they know shots they aren't comfortable taking. When it comes down to taking care of the ball at the end of the game, they know where they are supposed to be and where to get the ball. The same goes defensively."
Both players can score the basketball but accepting and fulfilling roles are the cornerstone of what it means to be a team. The knowledge comes from experience and Sanders wanted to take on a larger leadership role this season.
"I just wanted to be a leader for our team," Sanders said. "I wanted to be a role model for the younger girls.
"It definitely comes with age. Someone has to fill that role. It's important to have that on a team. It builds the energy and it's a big part of winning games. A team needs people to step up."
Fitzpatrick said her role focuses on defense and rebounding. The forward's knack for finding the basketball in traffic has been crucial for maintaining possession and finding open shooters.
"We have been playing together for a long time," Fitzpatrick said. "We all get along really well and such good friends. It all works."
Layne watches the duo go to work every day and doesn't worry about stats or the spotlight. They fight on every possession and they have the battle scars to prove it.
"For Hannah, her maturity has been a huge thing," Layne said. "She embraces her role and she's willing to play in the post. She's never played there but being able to step up and say that I can guard anybody there, is huge along with boxing out and being a rim protector. Offensively, she's trying to post up more. In all those areas, she's really improved."
"The same with Courtney," she continued. "She will battle with anybody. She's had black eyes, elbows, and defensively, she always guards the other team's best post player. She's great in transition getting offensive rebounds. She can find the opening shooter, which is huge for us."
Securing rebounds, serving up crucial blocks and corraling loose balls played important roles in securing the fourth 16th Region title under Layne on Saturday night at Johnson Arena.
Sanders was part of the roster that finally got to play in the state tournament at Rupp Arena in 2021 but didn't experience significant court time with other players in front of her.
Fitzpatrick didn't join the varsity roster until her sophomore year in 2021-22.
It all changes today when they step into a grander atmosphere at the Sweet Sixteen. The key will be finding a comfort level so you can compete.
"It a crazy environment to be in," Sanders said, "and you have to play on a college floor. Everything is so different but it's something that I'm excited for."
"We are going in and play the best we can," Fitzpatrick added," and not get distracted (with our surroundings) too much."
Sanders's growth helps her approach the biggest games of her career with confidence.
"I believe my offensive game has definitely gotten better from last year," Sanders said. "I think averaging just eight to 10 points a game can affect our team winning games. Our four seniors have been playing basketball together as far back as I can remember. There is great chemistry there and we work well together."
The quick turnaround from the girls' region final to the opening round of the state tournament gives teams limited practice time. Russell (28-6) meets First Region winner McCracken County today at 1:30 at Rupp Arena.
The Mustangs will make their third straight Sweet Sixteen appearance and reached the state finals last year.
"We are here to win and here to compete," Layne said. "I am hoping we get the first-quarter jitters out of our system. We can get focused on what we need to focus on. Approach it like every other game and if follow the game plan, be playing on Friday."
Shaelyn Steele, the Red Devils' all-time leading scorer, averages 21.3 points a game. Bella Quinn chips in 10.3 and Kennedy Darnell nets 8.4. Sanders and Fitzpatrick are among the team leaders in rebounding and both shoot over 50% from the field.
McCracken County (29-5) counters with a pair of double-digit scorers in Claire Johnson (22.9 ppg) and Mikee Buchanan (14.9).
"Johnson is a heck of a player," Layne said. "She's a Division I kid and can shoot it from deep. She can drive and does a great job of running her team. Buchanan is a long, athletic kid who will play college basketball. and like us, they have three role players and they are very sound defensively."
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