A trio of Simon Kenton girls and Simon Kenton boys basketball coach Trent Steiner were among those selected for All-Region teams by the 8th Region coaches association.
Brynli Pernell, Haylie Webb and Anna Kelch made the All-8th Region team. Anderson County’s Lainey Johnson was selected as girls 8th Region Player of the Year, Bearcats’ girls basketball coach Clay Birdwhitsell girls Coach of the Year.
Walton-Verona’s Braylin Terrell and Elin Logue were also selected to the girls’ All-Region team.
Steiner was named boys’ 8th Region co-Coach of the Year with South Oldham’s Steven Simpson. Pioneers’ Jay Bilton and Walton-Verona’s Aaron Gutman were named to the All-8th Region team. South Oldham’s Julian Miles was named boys 8th Region Player of the Year.
Pernell, Webb and Kelch have Simon Kenton as the clear favorite to win the 8th Region and make it to Rupp Arena for the Sweet 16. Simon Kenton is 22-4, with only three of those games against 8th Region opponents, including challengers Anderson County and Walton-Verona. They most recently ended Sacred Heart’s 92-game winning streak against in-state opponents.
Pernell leads Simon Kenton with 15.3 points per game. She’s hitting 45% of her shots from the field, 40% from the 3-point line and 78% of her free throw attempts.
Kelch puts up nine points per game for the Lady Pioneers, knocking down 41 three-pointers this season and the team’s second leading rebounder with 3.4 per game.
Webb is the team’s leading rebounder with 6.7 per game while also averaging nine points per game.
Steiner has guided the Pioneers to a 21-6 record. After a 2-4 start, they’ve won 19 of their last 21 and are currently on a seven-game winning streak as they close out the regular season Thursday night against Owen County. Steiner is in his 22nd season with the team, amassing a 360-283 record in his stead. After an 8th Region runner-up finish last season, the Pioneers are once again in the hunt for an elusive 8th Region title. They sport an 8-1 record in region play, including a victory over South Oldham, one of the contenders for an 8th Region title. Their lone loss in region play came to North Oldham back on Dec. 13.
His floor general is Jay Bilton as he leads the Pioneers in scoring with 12.2 points per game while hitting 60% of his shots from the field. Bilton is a 41% 3-point shooter and knocks down 76% of his free throws.
Gutman is the driving force behind Walton-Verona on the cusp of a 20-win season. He’s putting up 24 points per game and also leads the team in rebounding with 6.8 per game. Gutman hits 50% of his shots from the field and recently put up a 45-point game in a 96-76 victory over Tates Creek on Feb. 14.
The Walton-Verona duo of Terrell and Logue have helped the Lady Bearcats to a 19-9 record, looking for a 20th win of the season at Newport Central Catholic on Friday.
Terrell is second on the team in points with 14.4 per game and the team’s leading rebounder with 8.7 per game while shooting 55% from the field. She also hits 74% of her free throws.
Logue is the leading scorer with 15.3 points per game and a big threat from the 3-point line, knocking down 79 three-pointers this season at a 42% clip and also hits 87% of her free throw attempts.
The Boys All-8th Region Team: Carson Sutherland (Anderson County), Caden Gaither (Collins), Matthew Griffin, Andrew Jonah Brinker (Gallatin County), Benjamin Bosse (Grant County), Baylor Nolin (Henry County), Austin Sears, Brooks Cargould (North Oldham), Henry Marcum (Oldham County), Kandyn Beckham, Malachi Mefford (Owen County), Jay Bilton (Simon Kenton), Jack Armstrong (Spencer County), Julian Miles (South Oldham), Aaron Gutman (Walton-Verona); Armelo Boone (Woodford County).
Player of the Year: Julian Miles, South Oldham
Coach of the Year: Trent Steiner, Simon Kenton and Steven Simpson, South Oldham
The Girls All-8th Region Team: Lainey Johnson, Faith McGregor (Anderson County), Jada Cummins, Olivia Ginn (Grant County), Kylee Steffen, Zoey Webster (Owen County), Brynli Pernell, Haylie Webb, Anna Kelch (Simon Kenton), Madison Young, Brynn Brickey (South Oldham), Braelyn Cundiff, Kayla Basham (Spencer County), Elin Logue, Braylin Terrell (Walton-Verona), Hailee Gordon (Woodford County).
Player of the Year: Lainey Johnson, Anderson County
Coach of the Year: Clay Birdwhitsell, Anderson County
