Elizabethtown Lady Panthers (27-6) – It was a successful ending to a season which began with injuries and distractions. After losing several players by season ending injuries and having another excused from the team along with losing Whitney Hay, Sydney Clark and Ellie Taylor at different points of the season, Elizabethtown finally got healthy and put forth a great drive to the to the title using Defense holding their three Region Tournament opponents to around 30% shooting from the field for their tenth Region crown. Next season the task gets harder with seven seniors including a huge chunk from their starting lineup. Coach Donnie Swiney will still have Jayla Freeman and should be able to put a great supporting cast around her.
Bethlehem Banshees (31-4)- The Banshees did everything right last season putting together 31-wins and winning the All A State Tournament, but fell just one step short of repeating as Region Champions when they stumbled against Elizabethtown. Still, it was a great season and highlight games from so many performers with plenty of scoring and six different players with over 100-rebounds apiece. Coach Jason Clark will still have a great group coming back, but let’s not forget the contributions by Baeli Young, Mikiah Livers –Bryant and Carly Jones, who will be missed. Still, Amelia Hodges, Eli Thompson, Kasey Spalding and Emma Filiatreau should more than hold their own as the possible early favorites next season.
Bardstown Lady Tigers (20-10)- This was the fourth straight season that coach Amber Courtney’s Lady Tigers came up with a 20-win season, but once again they just came up short of making a state tournament appearance. Still, there were plenty of reasons to look back at a successful season despite injuries to several starters. Katrina Brown was the top scorer and leading rebounder on the team and Kadence Walls had another great season leading the team in three-point shooting. Matija Yocum, Jaileyah Cotton and Jordan Boggs also played well. Next season, the Lady Tigers will be without Brown and Boggs, but Walls, Yocum and Cotton should carry the team successfully and again challenge both Elizabethtown and Bethlehem for the title.
Marion County Lady Tigers (25-8)- Since coming to Marion County, coach Kelly Wood has revitalized the Marion County program and despite losing a talented senior class the previous season, the Lady Knights posted 25-wins and another trip to the Region Tournament. Unfortunately, their stay was short, but there’s no reason to look back and not consider it a great season. Ciara Mosely not only led the team in scoring, but was tops in rebounding. Daily Spalding and Tamika Williams both came up with great seasons and Jayla Cowherd played well while Katie Mattingly led the team in three-point percentage. With Mosely, Cowherd and Mattingly leaving, Spalding and Williams will be counted on to produce more next season.
Central Hardin Lady Bruins (19-11)- Once again coach Kristina Covington-Jones led the Lady Bruins to the 5th Region Tournament and was able to do it around a slightly younger cast of characters. Although Central Hardin ran into Bethlehem again and was dispatched, there’s reason to believe that their success could continue. Sophomore Monica Lindsey led the team in scoring, while senior Emily Bryant was tops in rebounding. Sophomore Alyssa Lindsey led the team in three-point percentage and Juniors Kaniya Kendericks and Kaiden Kendericks also made contributions. At one-point, Central Hardin won eleven straight games after starting 1-4 and this could be a sign that the Lady Bruins may be ready to break out next season.
Green County Lady Dragons (19-11) – After a one season adsence, Green County returned to the Region Tournament and after a thrilling 53-52 first round win against Taylor County, they had their season ended by Bethlehem. The Lady Dragons looked much more efficient on offense and with several younger players stepping up, they could even be better for coach Chris Blaydes next season. The Lady Dragons will lose Kiley McCubbins, but they will return leading scorer Kylie Jackson, top rebounder Tanlee Hudgins, Katlyn Milby, Haley Judd and Madi Corbin and should challenge again for a Region Tourney Spot.
North Hardin Lady Trojans (19-12)- It looked like this would be the season that North hardin would return to the Region Tournament, but an injury to senior point guard Jadeta Gregory changed that and although the Lady Trojans fought back and actually took a lead at the half, they eventually fell in the second round of the District Tournament. Still, Whitney Hooper liked the fight and improvement that this team showed much of the season and they were never out of any game. Addison Sutton led the team in scoring and hit 77-three pointers. Senior Gregory changed her game and became a more effective scorer while leading the team. Freshman Dezirae Bryant and Ella Scherer both took on bigger roles this season and Jerica Johnson played older than her (eighth grader) age. With their top two scorers gone, Bryant, Scherer and Johnson will have to grow up even faster next season.
Hart County Lady Raiders (16-12) – Coach john Burd has done a marvelous job with the Lady Raiders and after their second straight trip to the Region Tournament and although they were quickly defeated by eventual champion Elizabethtown, there is plenty of reasons to believe the Lady Raiders could be better next season. Leading scorer Haley Sturgeon led the team with 429-points and is only a sophomore. Kiley Adcock is also a sophomore and led the team in three-point percentage, while eighth grader Dea Bradley and freshman Kenly Christy made major contributions as did Sophomore Jacy Gedda. Everyone should be back and they should be better.
Nelson County Lady Cardinals (11-20) – Some time ago, the Lady Cardinals were a seriuos threat to wrestle the Region away from Elizabethtown, but then the program fell on hard times, but thanks to a great coaching job by Micheal Menifee that has changed. Nelson County went from one –win last season to eleven this season and still played everyone tough with a young lineup. The future is still bright with one junior, a freshman and two eighth graders coming back next season. Macy Runner led the team in scoring and was tied for made three pointers. Zaria Burton was second in scoring, while Cameron Pike was tied for the lead in threes. Avery Wilson and Addison Riley also played well. All will be back except for Burton and the win total should increase as well.
Taylor County Lady Cardinals (11-19)- After taking over the Lady Cardinal program which had lost three major contributors from last season’s team which made a Region appearance, Jamie Vernon did a great job molding this season’s version into a Region contender again. Although they fell in the first round of the Region Tournament in a thriller to Green County, Vernon returns everyone and should be better with leading scorer Emma Maynard, who also leads the team in rebounding. The Lady Cardinals play very aggressive on the boards as four teammates have over 100-rebounds. Sophomore LeeAnn Goodin leads the team in three point shooting, while eighth graders Riley Sprowl and Gracie Hunt are consistant as is junior Avery Smith.
John Hardin Lady Bulldogs (10-20)- At one time one of the Region powerhouse contenders, the Lady Bulldogs fell on hard times for awhile, but new head coach Nikki Coleman has helped start a revival as John Hardin was competitive in many games down the stretch. The Lady Bulldogs were very reliant on eighth-grader Sharon Tidwell, who led the team in scoring and rebounding, while Brooke Graham was the team’s top three point shooter and Mackenzi Graves was second in rebounding. Quionna Clay and Jayden Young made contributions as well. Except for Graham and Graves, everyone will be back.
Meade County Lady Waves (20-12) – In what was viewed by many as Kendall Wingler’s senior season, the Lady Waves had a great season winning 20-games and making another trip to the 3rd Region Tournament they made it to the second round before falling to Owensboro Catholic. It was still a banner season as Wingler scored 861-points despite missing a few games and led the team in three pointers as well. Outside of Wingler, the Lady Waves have several players coming back and coach Dina Hackert should be able to build around. Juniors Jenna Gallimore and D Griffin will be back and had great seasons, while sophomore Aubrey Hardesty and seventh grader Peyton Bradley should improve.
Breckinridge County Lady Tigers (21-11) – Once again, the running pressing Lady Tigers had a successful season under coach Chad Moorman as they put 20-wins up again, but after another trip to the Region Tournament won game one, but just fell three points short against Muhlenburg County. Despite not having a defined inside threat, the Lady Tigers were very effective and shot the three-pointer well as four players made 30 or more. Isabel Grimes led the team in scoring and, also led them in three-point shooting as well. Natalee Tabor, the only senior on the squad had a great season as well. Aleigh Mucker led the team in rebounding while finishing second in scoring and Cassiday McDaniel was the third scorer on the team. Both Sydney and Skylar Tucker both had good seasons and will be back as will everyone else (other than Tabor) so the Lady Tigers should be a threat again.
