Simon Kenton sophomore Brynli Pernell shared the same determination as her entire Lady Pioneer squad.
They refused to let anything stand in their way of another shot at the region title.
Fueled by last season’s disappointing quarterfinal exit, Simon Kenton is back in the championship game after powering past a top contender Anderson County, 49-27, in the 8th Region semifinals on Friday at Henry County.
“We knew we couldn’t get beat,” Pernell said. “No question about it. We made it clear from the beginning of the season that we wanted and needed it to happen.”
The Lady Pioneers and Lady Bearcats are no strangers to each other, having combined for the last five region titles and facing off in six region championship games since 2006.
For Simon Kenton coach Jeff Stowers, this is nothing new.
“I told them the history between us and Anderson County,” Stowers said. “Clay (Birdwhistell) told me that when we play them, it always boils down to the team that wins during the season usually loses in the tournament, and I told the girls, ‘We need to reverse that.'”
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The Lady Pioneers faced a tough challenge, taking on 8th Region Player of the Year and Campbellsville commit Lainey Johnson, who entered the game averaging 21.6 points per contest.
That’s where Meg Gadzala came in.
Typically tasked with guarding the opposing team’s top player, Gadzala took on Johnson next and delivered, holding her to just five points — with zero field goals.
“We knew she was our lockdown girl,” Pernell said. “She was on her the first time we played and she did amazing. We knew Megan was going to do her job.”
Simon Kenton stifled Anderson County, holding every player to six points or fewer, with Faith McGregor, Ella Baum, and Ellie Shouse each contributing six. It’s the third straight game the Lady Pioneers have held the opponent under 30 points.
Though both teams started off sloppy, it didn’t show on the scoreboard, as Simon Kenton led 11-4 after the first period thanks to their defense.
The Lady Pioneers ran into some foul trouble, with Anna Kelch and Gadzala picking up two fouls each, but a team that’s not known for going deep into their bench got a lift from senior Katelin Blevins, who helped extend the lead to 20-11.
Haylie Webb, who finished with 14 points alongside Pernell, came alive in the third quarter with an 8-0 run of her own, and the Lady Pioneers had the game in hand up 36-18 after three.
They extended their lead to 20 and never looked back, the Lady Pioneers improving to 25-4 record. It’s their most wins since the 2019-2020 season and hold a perfect 5-0 mark against other region opponents.
One more team stands between Simon Kenton and a trip to Rupp Arena — Grant County.
A rematch of the 32nd District Championship, where the Lady Pioneers won 41-28, Grant won Friday’s other semifinal 64-26 over South Oldham.
The two teams previously met in the 2023 8th Region Championship, the last time Simon Kenton advanced to the region title game and claimed the championship.
LADY PIONEERS 49, LADY BEARCATS 27
SIMON KENTON — 11-9-16-13 — 49
ANDERSON COUNTY — 4-7-7-9 — 27
Scoring
Simon Kenton (49) — Pernell 14, Webb 14, Blevins 6, Kelch 4, Ober 4, Gadzala 3, Krohman 2, Niece 2
Anderson County (27) — Baum 6, McGregor 6, Shouse 6, Johnson 5, Jarrard 2, Wells 2
Game Stats
3-Pointers: Simon Kenton 6, Anderson County 3
Free Throws: Simon Kenton 7/9, Anderson County 6/12
Fouls: Simon Kenton 13, Anderson County 15
Records: Simon Kenton 25-4, Anderson County 25-9