Simon Kenton advanced to the girls’ state semifinals for the first time in school history with a 63-50 win over Owensboro Catholic on Friday night
In the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena, the Lady Pioneers opened the game with a three-pointers from Bella Ober and never trailed after that. Simon Kenton built a 23-10 lead by the end of the first quarter, forcing seven turnovers and setting the tone with its defensive pressure.
Simon Kenton stretched its lead to as many as 24 points with 6:38 remaining in the third quarter, but Owensboro Catholic chipped away and cut the deficit to nine by the 2:06 mark of the fourth quarter.
“We like to make things hard on ourselves,” Simon Kenton coach Jeff Stowers smirked to open the post-game news conference.
Still, the Pioneers (33-2) answered each time the Lady Aces threatened. Simon Kenton used a 12-0 run early in the third quarter to build its largest lead and stayed in front the rest of the way.
“We need to keep it above 10, just keep it above 10,” Stowers said he urged his team. “Because once they see it’s out of double figures, it’s going to give them a little life.”
Owensboro Catholic guard Brynli Pernell had a game-high 18 points and added four rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Aces. Haylie Webb had 15 points and eight boards, and Angela Kabeya added 10 points and five rebounds.
Anna Kelch, a junior, made her impact felt throughout the game with eight points, eight assists and five steals. Stowers joked afterward about her performance before praising her effort.
“It’s about time she did something,” he said. “When her shot’s not falling, I tell her she’s got to go get rebounds.”
Owensboro Catholic (26-10) never led, but outscored Simon Kenton 27-21 in the second half and made things a little bit interesting late. The Aces’ defense held the Pioneers to just one of eight shot attempts in the fourth quarter, but the Pioneers went 8-for-10 from the free throw line to keep the lead despite their poor shooting.
“I did a bad job,” Aces Coach Michael Robertson said of his adjustments. “I should have changed my defense a little bit earlier.”
Sophia Newby led the Aces with 14 points and 12 rebounds. “I just try to crash the boards,” she said. Taylor Mannahan added 10 points and five assists. She keyed one of Owensboro Catholic’s biggest moments in the fourth quarter with a rebound and a layup that cut the lead to 10 with less than six minutes to go.
But Simon Kenton’s defense and ability to convert turnovers proved decisive. The Pioneers scored 20 points off miscues, compared with eight for Owensboro Catholic.
While the loss hurt, Robertson said his team’s future looks promising. “We bring everybody back,” he reminded.
Simon Kenton will face George Rogers Clark in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon with a spot in the state championship on the line.
