While last year it was considered a massive upset that shocked the entire state, this year you’d be hard pressed to call it an upset.
For the second straight season, Simon Kenton’s girls basketball team took down Sacred Heart, this time traveling to Louisville and getting the job done against the five-time reigning champs.
The Lady Pioneers (25-2) took down the Valkyries (19-5) by a score of 56-49. Not only was it another marquee win for Simon Kenton, but it moved their record to 6-0 against the current Elite 16 statewide media poll. Just over the past two weeks, they’ve taken down four in the poll, starting with North Laurel, then Cooper, Frederick Douglass and Sacred Heart following.
It was a big night for Brynli Pernell, the junior scoring 28 points and surpassing the 2,000 point mark for her career. She also added four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
PHOTOS: Slideshow provided by Charles Bolton
Haylie Webb and Angela Kabeya also hit double figures in the victory, scoring 10 points each. Webb pulled down four rebounds and fought through foul trouble while hitting 5-of-6 shots from the field. Kabeya grabbed seven rebounds. Anna Kelch played big, pulling down 12 rebounds, six of them offensive while adding six points.
Simon Kenton jumped out to a 19-8 advantage after a quarter of play and led 36-26 at halftime. Sacred Heart cut the lead to 48-41 after three, but could inch no closer in the fourth.
The Lady Pioneers hit 12-of-13 from the free throw line and held a 14-8 edge in points off turnovers. They held Sacred Heart to 2-of-19 shooting from the 3-point line.
Simon Kenton closes out their regular season on Tuesday at home against Highlands before the postseason begins in the 32nd District tournament the following week.
The Lady Pioneers aren’t the only NKY school to take down Sacred Heart this year, Cooper did it back on Jan. 2.