WHITESBURG – Fourteenth Region girls’ basketball title contender Letcher County Central dealt Betsy Layne its first loss Monday night, defeating the Lady Cats 67-50.

Betsy Layne absorbed the loss after carrying a 17-13 lead out of the opening quarter and facing a four-point deficit at the intermission.,

Senior forward Shannon Bays and freshman guard Kelah Eldridge led a balanced Letcher County Central offensive effort, scoring 13 points apiece for the Lady Cougars. Sophomore guard Erica Meade and freshman post player Julie Cornett contributed 12 points apiece as Letcher County Central remained undefeated, improving to 4-0 after winning.

Senior guard Brittany Sexton added eight points for the Lady Cougars.

Letcher County Central led 31-27 at halftime. The Lady Cougars gradually pulled away from visiting Betsy Layne in the second half. Letcher County Central outscored the Lady Cats 16-11 in the third quarter.

Senior guard Megan Hamilton netted a game-high 24 points for the Lady Cats. Junior guard Taylor Hott followed Hamilton in the Betsy Layne scoring column, adding 16 points in the loss. Junior forward/center Taylor Watkins chipped in four points and senior guard Lindsey Martin, junior forward Keleigh Wagner and freshman T.J. Tackett tossed in two apiece for the Lady Cats.

Betsy Layne will face 11th Region championship contender Lexington Catholic Friday in the opening round of the Republic Bank Holiday Classic. Lexington Catholic hosts the annual holiday tournament.

Betsy Layne 64, South Floyd 49: Taylor Hott led a trio of scorers in double figures Friday as Betsy Layne defeated South Floyd. Hott scored a game-high 21 points for the Lady Cats. Lindsey Martin netted 17 points and T.J. Tackett added 13 for Betsy Layne in the 58th District/Floyd County Conference victory.

Megan Hamilton and Courtney Burgess added four points apiece for the Lady Cats. Keleigh Wagner and Taylor Watkins rounded out the Betsy Layne scoring with three and two points, respectively.

Hott recorded a team-high five rebounds for the Lady Cats.

Ashley Castle and Chelsie Tuttled led South Floyd with 10 points apiece. Kayla Hall scored nine points and Gabrielle Bailey added eight for the Lady Raiders.