The Simon Kenton (16-13) and Walton-Verona (16-14) girls basketball teams normally meet for the 32nd District championship.
With Grant County knocking off both during the regular season, it meant the two met in the 32nd District semifinals on Monday trying to keep their seasons alive for the first time since 2017.
After a tight game at half, Simon Kenton exploded with five 3-pointers in the third quarter to build a double-digit lead, then put the Bearcats away in the fourth quarter on their way to a 66-47 victory.
The loss ended Walton-Verona’s shot at a fifth straight district tournament championship as a result. Simon Kenton takes on the Braves (17-10) for the title Thursday at 7 p.m.
“We’re not relying on making shots. We’re relying on our defense to hold us down and then get runouts,” said Brenden Stowers, Simon Kenton head coach. “Maybe not like (Monday), but we know shots are eventually going to fall. But I’m just so proud of these young girls in the up and down season. We’ve fought through adversity and we’ve looked good the last few games. I know we lost the last two. We played hard. These younger girls are getting some valuable experience. The older girls are leading them.”
Simon Kenton made 10 three-pointers in the contest, senior forward Emilee Eggleston and eighth grade guard Brynli Pernell made three triples each on their way to 14 and 12 points, respectively.
“We didn’t want this to be our last game,” said Eggleston, one of the Pioneer seniors. “It’s nice to see everyone come together. These younger girls are going to keep getting after it and continue to get better.”
Pernell made her three triples in the third quarter helping the Pioneers build a 50-32 lead. Freshman forward/guard Anna Kelch and junior guard Ava Slusser made two three-pointers each. Kelch finished with 12.
“We’ve been practicing those shots,” Pernell said. “It was nice to see them go in. We got into a nice rhythm.”
Freshman forward Haylie Webb had some offensive putbacks on her way to 12 points. Webb said facing Highlands 6-foot-2-inch sophomore center Marissa Green helped her be effective in this game. The Pioneers won the rebounding battle, 33-26 including a 13-8 advantage on the offensive glass.
“I learned how to make good moves against taller players,” Webb said. “I had to be strong in the paint.”
Walton-Verona struggled from the field in making 15-of-43 shots, but made up for it by hitting 14-of-18 free throws. Bearcats senior standout wing Grace Brewer scored 23 points and made 9-of-11 free throws as Simon Kenton limited her touches attacking the rim.
But Brewer was the only Bearcat to make it to double figures. Eighth grade guard Elin Logue and sophomore guard Cam Christy scored eight points each. Logue made two threes in the first half.
“You’re never going to shut down good players,” Stowers said. “But what you can do is make it difficult on them. We wanted to run their shooters off the line. If they’re dribbling and shooting two’s, they’re not doing what they want to do. That’s all we really wanted to do.”
Walton-Verona had 12 turnovers to 11 for Simon Kenton. The Bearcats had six steals and five assists.
The Pioneers led 14-13 after one. Slusser made a three with 20 seconds left before Walton-Verona sophomore 6-2 center Braylin Terrell scored with 5.8 seconds left.
Walton-Verona scored five straight to go up 23-21 after Brewer made a free throw. But Simon Kenton responded with its own 5-0 to take the lead for good at 26-23 following an Eggleston three with 2:50 left.
After senior wing Jenna Rodgers made two free throws, Slusser made her second three and sophomore guard Rylie Flynn made two free throws to give the Pioneers a 31-25 lead. Christy made a jumper and Brewer hit two free throws in the final minute of the half to trim the Pioneer lead to 31-29 at the break.
“We felt good. We just knew we were going to have to grind it out,” said Rianna Gayheart, Walton-Verona head coach. “They were going to continue to pressure us and speed us up. They missed a lot of shots in the first half that they made in the second. It was a good effort by them. We just dug ourselves a hole and couldn’t get out of it.”
The Simon Kenton explosion came in the middle of the third quarter. The Pioneers hit four straight triples and five in the quarter to go up 50-32 with 1:45 left in the quarter. But Brewer scored three straight to make it 50-38 Simon Kenton entering the fourth quarter.
Simon Kenton pulled away in the fourth quarter scoring the first eight points to go up 58-38 with 3:48 left in the game. Brewer hit two free throws with 3:22 left before Simon Kenton scored six straight to build a 64-40 advantage with 1:37 left.
Walton-Verona will miss the region tournament for the first time since 2017. The Bearcats graduate three seniors in Brewer, Rodgers and point guard McKaila Hatton.
“They’ve just been great for this program,” Gayheart said. “I can’t say enough good things about them. They’ve worked hard since middle school. They earned every accolade that they’ve gotten along the way. But most important, they’re good people. They’ve taught our girls what it looks like to represent our program. They come from great families who are always supportive. They’re three that we’re going to miss a lot not just on the court, but off the court as well.”
Simon Kenton is back in the region tournament for the second straight year. The Pioneers won six straight district championships from 2013-18.