The Simon Kenton Lady Pioneers secured their spot at the state tournament after a commanding 63-34 victory over Anderson County, clinching the title of girls’ 8th Region champions. The championship game took place at the Roy L. Winchester Gymnasium in Henry County, Kentucky, marking the second consecutive year and the third in four seasons that the Lady Pioneers have cut down the nets.
With this win, Simon Kenton improved its record to an impressive 31-2, the highest number of victories in a single season for the program. Remarkably, the team remains unbeaten against Kentucky opponents this year. Senior player Haylie Webb expressed pride in the team’s achievements, stating, “We worked really hard this season. Back-to-back, undefeated in Kentucky, and we’ve kept that up. I’m really proud of us. Now we get to go to Rupp and hopefully finish on a good note.”
Looking back, the foundation for this success was laid four years ago when the Lady Pioneers first claimed the championship title. That team featured several younger players, and today, four of those athletes are key starters. Among them, seniors Webb, Anna Kelch, and Meg Gadzala, who unfortunately missed the championship due to injury, have become integral to the team’s success. Kelch noted, “This is my family out there. We play for each other. We’ve been playing with each other for so long that I don’t want this season to end anything short of our last game being the championship in Rupp Arena.”
The championship game showcased contributions from multiple players. Junior Brynli Pernell led the scoring with 19 points and earned the tournament MVP honors. Eighth grader Angela Kabeya, stepping into the starting role for the injured Gadzala, added 16 points. Webb contributed 10 points, while Bella Ober chipped in eight, all of whom made the all-tournament team.
The game began with a quick offensive display from Simon Kenton, as Webb drained two three-pointers and Kabeya added another, establishing a 9-0 lead. The Lady Pioneers maintained a 16-8 advantage by the end of the first quarter. As the second quarter unfolded, Pernell’s six points fueled an 8-0 run, leading to a 31-15 score at halftime. The third quarter saw Simon Kenton extend their lead to 39-21 before Ober’s strong performance in the final frame helped seal the victory.
“The players feed off each other,” commented head coach Jeff Stowers. “They’ve played for each other all year long. When Brynli is on, it’s a new ball game. When Haylie is going to the basket or grabbing rebounds, we’ve got you both ways.”
Anderson County’s top scorer was Andie Beasley, who managed nine points. Beasley, along with teammates Emily Jarrard and Ellie Shouse, earned spots on the All-Tournament team.
With this victory, the Lady Pioneers have won their eighth region title, marking their first back-to-back championships since the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Yet the team remains focused on their next goal: advancing past the first round of the state tournament. Simon Kenton has faced challenges in previous years, often exiting the tournament early, with their last win dating back to 2017. Pernell emphasized the team’s determination, saying, “All the times we’ve been at state, we’ve lost in the first round and it’s devastating. I think we have a really, really good chance of going past the first round and even further this year.”
The Lady Pioneers are set to compete against the winner of the 16th Region, Ashland Blazer, at Rupp Arena on March 14, 2024, at 13:30.
In the championship game, the scoring breakdown was as follows:
Simon Kenton (63): Pernell 19, Kabeya 16, Webb 10, Ober 8, Krohman 3, Sinclair 3, Couch 2, Wiggins 2
Anderson County (36): A. Beasley 9, Shouse 8, Wells 8, Jarrard 7, Cooper 2, Rhody 2
Key game statistics reflected Simon Kenton’s dominance: they made 25 of 48 field goals and converted 10 of 22 three-point attempts. Anderson County managed only 12 of 34 field goals and 6 of 17 from beyond the arc. Simon Kenton also outperformed Anderson County in rebounds (21 to 12), assists (14 to 7), and steals (9 to 1), while both teams committed a similar number of fouls.
Simon Kenton’s journey continues, as they aim to make history at the state tournament.
