3rd Region Hoops- The 2023-24 GIRLS 3rd Region Basketball season is officially over. Yesterday the Owensboro Lady Devils saw their season end at the hands of 2nd Region power, Henderson County. In a season where if we’re being honest, nobody would’ve predicted OHS to be representing the region on Basketball’s BIGGEST stage, the Lady Devils were able to breakthrough. The last 2 seasons, Coach Jansen Locher’s bunch has been knocking down walls that hadn’t been knocked down in 30 years. They have solidified themselves as one of the Regions best teams after a long run of being the punching bag of the 9th District and a bottom feeder in the region as a whole. Finishing as the 3rd Region Runner-up last season, The Lady Devils had aspirations of getting back to Sunday of the 3rd Region Tournament. After losing to state power & cross town rival Owensboro Catholic in overtime of the 9th District Tournament, those within the region knew that those two teams could end up playing again for the Regional Final. OHS however, had to get through another Regional power if it wanted to achieve a goal that had long been an afterthought; WIN THE REGIONAL TITLE. After handling Butler County in the first round, Breckinridge County stood in the way of them getting back to the regional final. In a tightly played contest, the Lady Devils made just enough plays to beat the Lady Tigers in the Final Four. Now, all that stood in the way of OHS was the O’Cath Lady Aces who were playing without KABC Player of The Year, Hailee Johnson, who sustained a knee injury in the Lady Aces opening round VS Grayson County. The Lady Devil’s would defeat The Lady Aces to advance to the GIRLS State Tournament for the 1st time since 1992. Their opponent? Henderson County. Henderson County came in to the matchup, much like O’cath, without their best player Brooklyn Gibson, who suffered a season ending knee injury in the 2nd Region Tournament. This was a game that OHS was the favorite to win. A short handed Lady Colonel team against an insanely athletic and stingy OHS team. Shalyn Sprinkles, Alyrica Hughes, Unique Carter-Swanagan and the ELITE play from Heleina John over the last month made it look really promising for HC Jansen Locher. After the 1st QTR, with OHS leading 19-9 and Heleina John seeming to be a mismatch nightmare for Henderson County, it looked like the Lady Devils would run away with it. Henderson would win the 2nd QTR 10-7 to make the halftime score 26-19 OHS on top. Coming out of the break, OHS’s shooting struggles would only worsen and they would only score 2 points in the 3rd QTR. Those lone two points would come from the free throw line. Henderson County headed into the 4th QTR leading 31-28 and all the momentum was in their favor. The Lady Colonels would go on to win the game 43-39 and end OHS’s season. The Lady Devils simply did not get Heleina John involved in the 2nd half. The loss, however, does not take away from just how special this season was for the girls on Frederica Street. They accomplished something that hadn’t been done in 30 years – THEY BROKE THROUGH – and being the 2023-24 Regional Champions can never be taken away. The struggles of Coach Locher’s first 5 seasons were well worth it, as this season it all came full circle and Locher would find himself roaming the sidelines of the State of Kentucky’s biggest stage; RUPP ARENA. OHS will graduate a senior class led by Alyrica Hughes & Alicia Phillips, who gritted through the lows and now ends her career atop the region. Back for next year are Unique Carter-Swanagan, Heleina John, Shalyn Sprinkles, Abby Sapp among others. No longer do they seek to prove they belong, they’ll now seek to prove this season was just beginning. As always, the 3rd Region will be deep and very talented so doing it again will be extremely difficult but for this season, It all ended at RUPP Arena & this version of Lady Devils will forever be known as the team that led the OHS Breakthrough.