Grant County won the girls 32nd District last year, but Simon Kenton nicely rebounded – the Pioneers won the 8th Region for the first time in five years.
Simon Kenton coach Brenden Stowers didn’t celebrate long. After the police escort and dinner with the team, he went home and watched Henderson County, which ended Simon Kenton’s Sweet 16 run in the first round, 56-54 in double overtime March 9.
“That’s kind of how I celebrated,” Stowers said. “I enjoy the competition, the scouting aspect, I just like that stuff. My wife (Rachael) doesn’t always appreciate me doing that all the time; it’s one of those things I enjoy doing.”
Walton-Verona’s streak of four straight district titles ended last season, they missed the region tournament for the first time since 2017, and KABC 8th Region Player of the Year Grace Brewer graduated.
Simon Kenton (19-15 last season)
It’s a blessing – at least in Independence – that much of last year’s 19-15 squad returns, especially three of four leading scorers, freshman Brynli Pernell (11.8 points a game) and sophomores Anna Kelch (8.5) and Haylie Webb (7.2).
“(Pernell) doesn’t back down from anything,” Stowers said. “She wants every single challenge given to her and even some that she just creates on her own.”
Pernell doesn’t disagree.
“I just play really, really hard, and I give all my effort on the court,” she said.
Webb averaged a team-high six rebounds per game and had 10 double-figure rebound games last season, but that’s not all Stowers wants.
“I would love for her to guard everywhere; that’s the goal for her,” Stowers said. “She has aspirations of playing at the next level, and at the next level, she’ll be asked to guard all five positions.
“Anna Kelch, she’s the quiet competitor … Her play speaks for her.”
It’s going to be a while before Simon Kenton has a home game – after the Pioneers open with road games at Owen County (Nov. 28), Ryle (Nov. 29) and Dixie Heights (Dec. 2) in the Hoops for Harvest, it’s off to the Billy Hicks Classic Dec. 5-9 in Georgetown and Dixie Heights again Dec. 12 before hosting Walton-Verona Dec. 15.
Later road trips include the Queen of the Commonwealth tournament Dec. 19-22 at Bullitt East, the Republic Bank Louisville Invitational Tournament beginning Jan. 24 and a four-game swing with defending Ninth Region champion Cooper (Feb. 1), Eighth Region semifinalist North Oldham (Feb. 5), Holy Cross (Feb. 14) and three-time defending state champion Sacred Heart (Feb. 16).
Look for Simon Kenton to have a 10-player rotation. Stowers doesn’t know who’ll round out the starting lineup.
“We play 30 games in a year,” Stowers said. “There could be 30 different starting lineups.”
Walton-Verona (16-14)
Despite losing Brewer, second-year coach Bearcats coach Rianna Gayheart is optimistic.
“I’m excited about our younger girls,” Gayheart said. “We’re doing a lot of things different this year.”
Freshman shooting guard Elin Logue averaged 10 points a game and hit 45% of her 3-pointers and 85% of her free throws.
“She played a little bit as a seventh-grader and was a major factor as an eighth-grader,” Gayheart said. “She has a very good overall game; she gets to the rim well, she handles the ball well.”
At 6-2, junior center Braylin Terrill could provide an inside presence; she averaged 6.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.
Junior guard Campbell Christy (7.4 points) and senior guard Avery Geiman (2.6 points) are back and should start. Gayheart said the fifth starter has yet to be determined.
With five freshmen, Nova Dryden, Ava Kendall, Emily King, Macey Monday and Addison Vonhandorf, the Bearcats’ bench is mostly youthful. Macy Sawyer is the only other senior, and Ava Fuller and Winter Vandiver are juniors.
“We’re very young, very inexperienced, and that’s through our starters and our bench,” Gayheart said. “It’s very much equal opportunity. We’re pushing the girls, they’re pushing each other.
Grant County (20-11)
Braves coach Shawn West’s expectations haven’t changed – retain the district title.
“At this point, we haven’t determined our fifth starter, but are working toward that,” West said.
Grant County’s other four starters seem set. Junior guard Jada Cummins, whose 12.2 points a game led the team, returns, as does senior Sarah Russell, who averaged 7.5 rebounds. Freshman point guard Olivia Ginn and junior Caroline Barnes round out the lineup.
West said junior forward Skyler Menefee, senior guard Addyson Vanholten and junior guards Sophie Kightlinger and Grayson Gutman will all see significant time throughout.
A mid-season test comes Jan. 6 when Simon Kenton comes to Dry Ridge.
Williamstown (3-18)
Former Bracken County girls, Bellevue boys and Gamble Montessori boys coach Brad Wolfzorn is the Demons’ third coach in as many seasons.
Two starters, seniors Gracey Crump and Jolee Lutz, return. Crump averaged 16.9 points and 9.7 rebounds last year, and Lutz, averaged 9.7 points and 2.3 rebounds.
“Gracey can score from anywhere on the floor—she is an excellent 3-point shooter, she can drive, and she can score inside,” Wolfzorn said. “Jolee will run the point for us most of the time and she is also a really good 3-point shooter.”
Three others, sophomores Carlee Dupuy and Liliana Manriquez and freshman Shelby McCandless are back, and sophomore Kadence Hendren transferred from Grant County.
“We will have an inexperienced team overall, but we have two seniors who are excellent players,” Wolfzorn said. “… This was a team that won three games last year, but this is not a three-win team. Even though we will still be a young team, we feel like we should be able to compete with the small schools on our schedule and in the All “A.”