GIRLS' PREP BASKETBALL: Roberts, North look to keep rolling (12/07)

As senior Chanel Roberts goes for her fourth straight double-double tonight, the North Hardin Lady Trojans will look to extend their lengthy winning streak over 17th District rival Fort Knox.

North Hardin (2-1) has reeled off 20 straight wins in the series – but the Lady Trojans were the last district team the Lady Eagles (1-2) beat.

Fort Knox topped North Hardin, 55-52 on Dec. 13, 2002 – a span of 96 district games.

But with Roberts on a tear, the Lady Trojans appear poised to keep their streak intact at 6 tonight at Ron Bevars Gymnasium in Radcliff.

Roberts has averaged 20 points and 15 rebounds in North Hardin’s first three games. She had 20 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Louisville Western, 25 points and 17 rebounds against 5th Region foe Bardstown Bethlehem and 15 points and 13 boards in a loss to Louisville Ballard.

“She’s obviously been rebounding well,” North Hardin coach Chris Corder said. “She hasn’t shot the ball well yet, but she’s playing really hard. Her effort level has been good.”

One big reason Roberts has started off so well, Corder said, is she’s not gotten in a lot of foul trouble.

“That’s helped a lot. The more she’s on the floor the better numbers she’ll get,” Corder said.

The Lady Eagles, meanwhile, are searching for their second win under first-year coach Joe Hammond. Fort Knox beat Kentucky Country Day, 47-38 on Nov. 29, but has been held to a combined 25 points in losses to Caverna and Elizabethtown.

Both North Hardin and Fort Knox also play Saturday. The Lady Trojans face Madison Southern (2-1) at 5:30 p.m. in the first game of the Cameron Irvin Classic, while the Lady Eagles host North Oldham (1-3) at 3 p.m.

In other action:

n The LaRue County Lady Hawks (2-0) travel to Munfordville to take on 18th District rival Hart County in the first game of a girl-boy doubleheader at 6:30 tonight.

Hart County (0-3, 0-2 district) has controlled the rivalry, winning 12 of the last 16 games. But the Lady Raiders are off to their first winless start since the 2004-05 team started 0-2.

LaRue County, which hasn’t played since last Friday’s 60-59 win over Meade County, still hasn’t gotten over last season – when Hart County knocked the Lady Hawks out of the postseason in the district semifinals. But the Lady Hawks will try to start out district play with a win.

n Meade County hosts 11th District rival Breckinridge County at 7:30 tonight. The Lady Waves (2-2, 1-0 district) are coming off a 70-12 win Thursday over Cloverport Frederick Fraize, while the Lady Tigers (3-1, 1-0) have won three straight.

Since becoming district foes in 2005, Meade County has won 12 of the 16 meetings between the longtime rivals. The Lady Waves won both games last season on their way to the district championship.

Breckinridge County rolled to a 60-35 win over Central Hardin on Tuesday.

n John Hardin (2-1) faces Louisville Holy Cross (1-2) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Sam Swope Auto Group Queen of the Bluegrass at Louisville DuPont Manual.

The Lady Bulldogs are coming off a 53-40 win Monday over region foe Washington County, while the Lady Cougars snapped a two-game losing skid with a 73-58 win over Bullitt Central on Tuesday.

Senior Michelle Montgomery posted a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds), while freshman Tyra Jackson scored 15 points in the win over Washington County.

n Elizabethtown (4-0) plays at Bullitt Central (2-1) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The Lady Panthers are coming off a 61-56 win over Nelson County, while the Lady Cougars suffered a 73-58 loss to Holy Cross on Tuesday.

Josh Claywell can be reached at (270) 505-1752 or jclaywell@thenewsenterprise.com.