Both girls basketball teams hoped to earn a big win and gain momentum for the postseason.
Host Simon Kenton wound up dominating Newport Central Catholic from the tip in a 59-26 victory. The Pioneers made 11 three-pointers in the win.
NewCath had no answers for Simon Kenton phenoms Brynli Pernell and Haylie Webb. The duo scored 17 points each and Rylie Flynn scored 10. Pernell made five triples and Webb had two.
The two had plenty of help as Anna Kelch and Bella Ober returned to action after missing a couple games due to injury. Senior Natalie Hernandez helped the Pioneers build a 44-13 halftime lead, adding two 3-pointers.
“I think things are flowing really well, especially at the end of the season when we really need to come together as one team and make sure everything is nearly perfect for the postseason,” Hernandez said. “We need to make sure we’re moving the ball around to get good shots. We have good outside shooters that come off the bench. It’s hard to defend inside and outside.”
Caroline Eaglin led NewCath with 10 points and Jaylee Brannen scored seven. Eaglin came into the game averaging 22 points per game.
“We just kind of switched onto her so she didn’t have any daylight to see a driving lane or see a shot opening,” Simon Kenton head coach Brenden Stowers said. “We expected everyone to step up and be able to meet that challenge. (Eaglin) is a great player. If you are able to guard really good players, that looks going into the postseason. Those kind of players are hard to contain and you’re not going to be able to shut them down. But we just wanted to make it difficult. It worked out in our favor.”
Simon Kenton (19-10) takes on Walton-Verona on Monday at Grant County in the 32nd District semifinals at 7 p.m.
NewCath (19-11) faces Bellevue on Tuesday in the 36th District semifinals at Newport at 7:30 p.m.