When Simon Kenton freshman guard Brynli Pernell was asked what she learned from Saturday’s game against Frederick Douglass, she saw Pioneers coach Brenden Stowers flexing his arms.
“I learned that we’re really, really strong when we’re under pressure and that we can take pressure really, really well,” Pernell said.
Pernell was plenty strong. Her 24 points led the defending 8th Region champions to a 61-53 win at the Hoops for Harvest at Dixie Heights.
This meant Simon Kenton could forget about Wednesday’s 72-45 loss at Ryle.
“We just have to calm down,” Pernell said. “We just got really in a rush (at Ryle), so we were just all over the place.”
Pernell wasn’t the only reason Simon Kenton improved to 2-1. Sophomore forward Haylie Webb added 16 points.
Nice as the scoring was, the more Stowers thought about it, a defensive play was equally important. With a little less than six minutes remaining, Pernell took a charge (the Broncos’ Mikalee Bennett fouled out on the play), and Webb’s bucket staked the Pioneers to a 49-44 lead.
“I think that helped us out a lot,” Stowers said. “It was a one-possession game there for a while.”
Webb remembered the play – and her points.
“I know how to use my body in the right way,” the 5-foot-8 Webb said. “I’m not the biggest as the other bigs are.”
Stowers said the preparation for Frederick Douglass, the defending 11th Region champions, began at the state tournament last March.
“We knew they were big inside,” Stowers said. “We knew they had girls that could fill up the scoresheet. We just wanted to clean some stuff up from Ryle – our matching up, our communication out there on the court.”
Pernell stands just 5-3, but she has a good memory, an important trait on the court.
“I just know where the gaps are from previous plays, so I go after them on the next one,” Pernell said.
Saturday, Pernell noticed the Broncos’ big players come above her teammates’ screens.
“After the screen I would use my quickness and go around the bigs,” she said. “I would either pass it or go finish.”
What also helped Simon Kenton: fine free throw shooting. Over the final 1:09, Pernell and Bella Ober made a combined seven of eight.
From the beginning, Frederick Douglass (1-1) had little answer for containing Pernell. Her 13 first-half points included three 3-pointers.
The Broncos nicely countered – Niah Rhodes and Jaylee Knowles each scored nine points by halftime. Knowles finished with 17 points, and Rhodes added 16.
Pernell did a little of a lot in the second quarter – two triples in 11 seconds and a long defensive rebound that became a layup.
Simon Kenton didn’t corral Knowles or Rhodes. They teamed up for eight of Douglass’ final 14 points, and Rhodes found Ella Bolden for an uncontested layup.
Frederick Douglass hung around. Ayanna-Sarai Darrington’s two layups pulled the Broncos to within 52-51 with 2:25.
Pioneers 61, Broncos 53
FREDERICK DOUGLASS 13 21 8 11 – 53
SIMON KENTON 19 14 12 16 – 61
Frederick Douglass (53) — Gregonis 4, Rhodes 16, McGinnis 2, Darrington 11, Knowles 17, Bolden 3. 3-Pt. FG: 1 (Rhodes). FT: 8-11. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Bennett.
Simon Kenton (61) — Pernell 24, Flynn 2, Hernandez 2, Badzala 4, Ober 6, Kelch 7, Webb 16. 3-Pt. FG: 7 (Pernell 3, Webb 3, Badzala). FT: 20-28. Fouls: 23. Fouled out: None.
Records: FD 1-1, SK 2-1