By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
It didn’t take long for Simon Kenton to find out why George Rogers Clark was the top-ranked girls basketball team in Kentucky for much of the season when they met in the semifinals of the state tournament at Rupp Arena on Saturday.
The Cardinals made five 3-point shots in the first quarter to open up a 23-6 lead and went on to defeat Simon Kenton, 66-40, to return to the state final. It was the Pioneers’ only loss to an in-state opponent during their historic 33-3 season.
The Simon Kenton girls, ranked No. 3 in the final state media poll, set a team record for most wins and reached the final four in the state tournament for the first time in the history of the program. But George Rogers Clark ended their storybook season with a dominant performance.
“We just didn’t get it done, that’s obvious,” Simon Kenton coach Jeff Stowers said in a post-game press conference. “It’s not like we weren’t prepared. We knew exactly what they were going to throw at us … and we didn’t respond. And I’m just going to tip my hat to GRC.”
After their first-quarter scoring spree, the Cardinals maintained a big lead through out the rest of the game. They ended up scoring 21 points from 3-point range and 26 points in the paint, with 11 coming on second chance baskets.
The GRC defense forced 18 turnovers and held Simon Kenton to 38.9 percent (14 of 36) shooting. The Pioneers’ leading scorers were junior guard Brynli Pernell and sophomore forward Bella Ober with 12 points each.
Simon Kenton senior forward Haylie Webb had six points, nine rebounds, five assists three blocks in her final high school game. The other departing seniors are Anna Kelch and Megan Gadzalla, who missed much of the season with a knee injury.
Gadzalla’s replacement in the starting lineup was eighth-grader Angela Kabeya, who was named to the state all-tournament team along with Pernell.
“Getting this far still means a lot,” said Webb. “Even though we lost, we still did some pretty good things this year and I’m really proud of us. And I think this team coming up is going to do great things next year.”
Simon Kenton won three 8th Region championships over the last four years with Webb, Kelsh and Gadzalla on the court. Pernell will be the only returning senior starter next season with Ober and Kabeya as junior veterans.
GRC defeated Louisville Assumption, 48-43, in the state championship game Saturday night. The Cardinals will have three starters coming back next season along with Simon Kenton. There’s a good chance both teams will be ranked among the top contenders for the 2027 state title.
SIMON KENTON 6 9 11 14 — 40
GEORGE ROGERS CLARK 23 8 14 21 — 66
SIMON KENTON (33-3): Pernell 5 1 12, Ober 3 6 12, Kabeya 3 1 8, Webb 2 2 6, Krohman 1 0 2. Totals: 14 10 40.
GEORGE ROGERS CLARK (32-2): Stamper 6 6 18, K. Chestnut 4 0 10, Edmonson 5 3 14, Goodwin 0 2 2, Howard 0 1 1, Yeast 4 1 12, Strode 1 0 2, A. Chestnut 2 0 5, Kennedy 0 2 2. Totals: 22 15 66.
Three-pointers: SK — Pernell, Kabeya. GRC — Yeast 3, K. Chestnut 2, A. Chestnut, Edmonson.
Assist leaders: SK — Webb 5, Pernell 2. GRC — K. Chestnut 6, A. Chestnut 4.
Rebound leaders: SK — Webb 9, Kabeya 4. GRC — Strode 7, Edmondson 5, Yeast 5.