Bethlehem Banshees (28-8)- For four of the past five seasons, the Banshees have ruled the 5th Region and last season’s team may have been one of the best despite accomplishing the task with a totally different team from the one which won the first Region (2019) title. Now, the task becomes tougher after losing the Region’s MVP (Emma Filiatreau), but coach Jason Clark must live right as he got a big transfer in Forward Leah Macy (from Mercy), who can do it all. Clark still has senior guard Carlie Thurmond (620-pts/60-made 3’s/83% free throw shooter) and sisters Tessa Miles (429-pts/40 made 3’s) and Ashlyn Miles (424-pts/272-rebounds). Senior guard Kensey Clayton will also be back and reserves Mariela Lozano, Neeley Cheek, Zoe Thurmond and Gracie Osborne will also see playing time.
Taylor County Lady Cardinals (27-7)- The Lady Cardinals had a successful season and came a couple plays short of winning their first Region title when they played Bethlehem in a dramatic Region Final game last season. With no seniors on last seasons team, coach Jamie Vernon will return everybody, but their fortunes may hinge on just how fast guard Grace Bale will recover from a knee injury she suffered during the summer. Bale led the team in points (534) and 3-pointers (46), last season. Despite that, the Lady Cardinals should be an experienced group with Alexis Knifley (397-pts/36-made 3’s) and Kennedy Jackson (299-pts/222-rebounds) also back. Kayley Benningfield (294-pts) and Riley Sprowles (157-pts/207-rebounds) is also back.
North Hardin Lady Trojans (19-13)- The Lady Trojans won the 17th District Tournament for the first time since 2005 and made a trip to the Region Tourney for the first time since 2014 under first year coach Vonce Isom. They also won their first game in the Region Tourney, but were eventually eliminated by Bethlehem in the final four. Isom did that despite being unable to field their starting lineup until late in the season because of injuries. This season, they could repeat even though they lost guards Ella Scherer, Dezirae Bryant, Destiny Barnes and Jerica Johnson. Senior guard Paityn Isom (458-pts/62-made 3’s) and inside player Destiny Scott (268-pts/178-rebounds) will be back.
Hart County Lady Raiders (19-12)- Last season, the Lady Raiders went on quite a run deep in the playoffs and after knocking off Elizabethtown in the first round of the Region Tourney, they stayed close to Taylor County until finally falling. With John Burd stepping down, Jessica Lindsey is the new head coach and will have a pretty good team led by senior guard Dea Bradley (809-pts/46-made 3’s) and as she goes, so do the Lady Raiders fortunes. Lindsey will have to replace Kenly Christy and Emma Smith, who both played huge roles in the team’s outside shooting game. Kennedy Reynolds 9160-pts) will get plenty of playing time as the team adjusts to lineup changes.
Nelson County Lady Cardinals (17-11)- The Lady Cardinals had a very talented team last season with plenty of experience, but this season things will be a little different as second year coach William Dugan will have to be without Kaia Grabbert and Macy Runner. The Lady Cardinals will rely on Alivia Morris (283-pts), Megan Simpson (191-pts) and Kate Nora Simpson (106-pts). Megan Simpson led the team in rebounding (135) and should have a great year.
Elizabethtown Lady Panthers (13-19)- Last season was a rough one for the Lady Panthers and with the retirement of Donnie Swiney, former Bardstown coach Amber Courtney will take over a program which graduated much of their scoring. Elizabethtown will be much younger with guards Miyah Courtney and Miyah Courtney. Sisters Harper and Emerson Gregory will give her two more quick guards in the attack.
John Hardin Lady Bulldogs (13-15)- The Lady Bulldogs had one of their better teams last season with plenty of height and several quick guards, but this season head coach Nicki Coleman will have to scramble a bit after losing three starters. A lot will depend on the scoring of Destini McAllister, who led the team with 450-points and 42 made 3’s. Coleman will also get some minutes from Caroline McCurry, Charlotte McCurry and Jasmine Kennedy.
Central Hardin Lady Bruins (11-14)- Like a lot of teams in the area, the Central Hardin Lady Bruins will be going through some changes. First with Kristina Covington-Jones stepping down, Glenn Peterson will take over and will have to scramble with a different roster. Juliana Stith was the leading scorer with 318-pts and with Khania Jones and Katie Gray gone returning, Peterson will have to rely on others to help scoring. Allie Link should help and give the Lady Bruins some scoring as would Hattie Duckworth and Graci Blair.
