By this point, Simon Kenton might want to keep a ladder and scissors close by.
For the second straight year and third time in four seasons, the Lady Pioneers cut down the nets as girls 8th Region champions, defeating Anderson County 63-34 at Roy L. Winchester Gymnasium at Henry County High School in New Castle.
It had been a goal since before the season began, but for a team that has spent the year among the state’s best, the moment felt almost inevitable. Simon Kenton improved to 31-2, the most wins in a single season in program history, remaining unbeaten against teams from the state of Kentucky.
“We worked really hard this season,” senior Haylie Webb said. “Back-to-back, undefeated in Kentucky and we’ve kept that up. I’m really proud of us. Now we get to go to Rupp and hopefully finish on a good note.”
Even four years ago, when the Lady Pioneers won the title, there may have been foreshadowing for a squad that included an 8th grader, a 7th grader and three freshmen, a group that would soon make history.
Fast forward and four of those same players were starters in yet another region championship victory. Three of them are seniors, Webb, Anna Kelch and Meg Gadzala, who had been a starter, but previously suffered an injury that has put her out for the season.
“It’s our last run,” Kelch said. “This is my family out there. We play for each other. We’ve been playing with each other for so long that I don’t want this season to end anything short of our last game being the championship in Rupp Arena.”
As in their previous title seasons, the Lady Pioneers got contributions from every level Saturday night.
Junior Brynli Pernell led the way with 19 points, earning tournament MVP honors, while 8th grader Angela Kabeya, who has replaced Gadzala in the starting lineup, scored 16. Webb added 10, and Bella Ober contributed eight, all of whom also made the all-tournament team.
The game started with Webb stepping outside for two triples, with Kabeya adding another to give Simon Kenton a 9-0 lead. The Pioneers took a 16-8 advantage into the second quarter, when Pernell heated up, scoring six points in an 8-0 run that helped push the lead to 31-15 at halftime.
From there, it was business as usual, with Simon Kenton holding a 39-21 lead heading into the fourth quarter. That’s when Ober went on an 8-0 run of her own, helping the Lady Pioneers close the door.
“We feed off each other,” Simon Kenton head coach Jeff Stowers said. “They’ve played for each other all year long. When Brynli is on, it’s a new ball game. When Haylie is going to the basket or grabbing rebounds, we’ve got you both ways.”
Anderson County was led by Andie Beasley with nine points. She, along with Emily Jarrard and Ellie Shouse were named to the All-Tournament team.
For the first time since the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the Lady Pioneers are back-to-back champs, giving the program its eighth region title all-time.
But the goal was never to stop there.
Though Simon Kenton has had their previous trips to the state tournament, their runs ended in the first round, leaving the last tourney win in 2017.
Fuel to the fire.
“All the times we’ve been at state, we’ve lost in the first round and it’s devastating,” Pernell said. “I think we have a really, really good chance of going past the first round and even further this year.”
The Lady Pioneers will face the winner of the 16th Region, Ashland Blazer, at Rupp Arena on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
LADY PIONEERS 63, LADY BEARCATS 36
SIMON KENTON —16-15-8-24 — 63
ANDERSON COUNTY — 8-7-6-15 — 36
Scoring
Simon Kenton (63) — Pernell 19, Kabeya 16, Webb 10, Ober 8, Krohman 3, Sinclair 3, Couch 2, Wiggins 2
Anderson County (36) — A. Beasley 9, Shouse 8, Wells 8, Jarrard 7, Cooper 2, Rhody 2
Game Stats
Field Goals: Simon Kenton 25/48, Anderson County 12/34
3-Pointers: Simon Kenton 10/22, Anderson County 6/17
Free Throws: Simon Kenton 3/4, Anderson County 7/11
Rebounds: Simon Kenton 21, Anderson County 12
Assists: Simon Kenton 14, Anderson County 7
Turnovers: Simon Kenton 8, Anderson County 15
Steals: Simon Kenton 9, Anderson County 1
Fouls: Simon Kenton 12, Anderson County 11
Records: Simon Kenton 31-2, Anderson County 23-10