In a season of FIRSTS, the Lady Cardinals made their first trip to Rupp one to remember
Last Wednesday afternoon, Rupp Arena welcomed the Taylor County Girls Basketball team into the 2025 KHSAA State Tournament and the shoe seemed to fit. As first timers, Taylor County’s girls program had only made just one such appearance way back in 1977 and exited quickly (Madisonville 88 Taylor County 70) in the first round. This time around they made their stay a bit longer with a first round win over Knott County, but an Elite Eight matchup against Frederick Douglas turned out to be the end of the road for the Lady Cardinals as they fell after falling behind and taking a one point lead late in the fourth, but failed to score in the remaining 2:52 and lost to end their season.
Afterwards, both seniors Kennedy Jackson and Riley Sprowl shared an emotional hug afterwards as they later spoke about the honor of playing for the Red and Black. Sprowl had been a Varsity member since seventh grade while Jackson came over from Green County and became an important part of the program as a sophomore just as the Lady Cardinals were about to make their historic run and vaulted themselves into the 5th Region Power Arcy as the area was about to change structure after 2020.
After playing the most important game in their career’s in the 2023 5th Region Championship game at home and watching the energy of the home Campbellsville following the rise of the program was in full swing under coach Jaime Vernon and not even a coaching coach before the 2024-25 season, the loss of a couple major contributors and then add to that losing their point guard for pretty much the last two seasons was able to slow them down. Eighth grader Kennedy Deener stepped right in and became the next go-to-player, while freshman Greta Bradstreet moved in and sometimes took the point position and became a dangerous three point shooter, while sophomore Avery Raikes became another scorer and rebounder along with giving the Lady Cardinals another defender with reach as both Jackson and Sprowl were valuable shot blockers as well.
Also, Matthew Turner had them prepared for such big moments with a challenging schedule and even playing on a college size court in Class 2A in the Owensboro Sportscenter. The different backdrops were also an adjustment as the Lady Cardinals were unable to practice on the Rupp floor until the warms before the game. The Lady Cardinals attack, which according to the players became much faster since Turner came aboard as he wanted them to get into transition faster down the floor was tailor made for the Rupp Arena floor as they love to drive to the basket, either kicking it out or drawing contact to go to the free throw line and it did work for much of their visit even though opponents tried to take the inside game away at first in both games, but eventually as the outside shooting opening everything up inside.
“This season has been a blessing and they’ve preached playing for each other and I couldn’t ask for a better way to end my varsity career,” said Sprowl. The importance of a trip to State, no matter what the sport I invaluable not in just setting a culture for the next several seasons, but also getting the town involved as Campbellsville fans showed up in masses at Rupp Arena. Now, that the present has been set, WHAT NEXT? Although the future looks bright, no one knows what is in store for the team next season.
They will return a strong base and there are youngsters ready to move in, but as we have seen in the past that guarantees nothing. Even Bethlehem, which just came on the end of a historic four-peat had their possible five-peat ended because of a major injury. Most importantly, the 5th Region isn’t going to just roll over and let Taylor County own it without a fight. Just as important, will the team have a little luck on it’s side as well. Just being good sometimes isn’t good enough.
After their Regional final appearance in 2023, the team was upended by Bardstown in the Regional Semi-finals the following year. Still, you can’t repeat as Region Champs unless you win the first one and Kennedy Jackson understands that. “I will definitely follow them for sure in the Region Finals. I have all the confidence in the world that it will continue.” Just as important as culture on a team is the feeling that they should never forget how hard it was to get there. For a team which had to wait 48 years to get back, they certainly made the trip worth the wait.
Taylor County 53 Knott County Central 35- The Lady Cardinals made a splash in Lexington with an 18-point win over Knott County Central, Wednesday afternoon. Taylor County took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter before Knott County responded with a 4-0 run. Avery Raikes scored the first eight points with two three pointers and a tip-in. After Knott County close at 13-6 after one quarter, before both Deener and Bradstreet hit consecutive threes to push the lead up to 19-8. Taylor County led 26-12 at the half and despite Knott County making a 16-9 run in the third quarter, the Lady Cards close the game with a 18-7 fourth quarter to finish up a 18-point win and their first for the Girls program in it’s history. Deener led the way with 27-points on 8-11 shooting. Raikes had 11-points and Jackson and Sprowl had 16-rebounds between them as they outrebounded Knott County 38-22 and hit five more shots (18-49 to 13-40). They also won the free throw battle (9-11 to 5-7).
Frederick Douglas 61 Taylor County 53- In an Elite Eight battle between two twenty-plus win teams, Frederick Douglas showed why they are one of the top teams in the state with an eight-point win over the Lady Cardinals, but it was anything but easy and maybe a glitch in the arena clock may have played into their win. Although it was a battle all the way as the Broncos sped out to an early 11-4 lead before Taylor County came to life with their transition attack. Two free throws and a three pointer by Raikes along with another three by Bradstreet made it 13-12 and then a layup by Deener and a jumper by Raikes put Taylor up 16-13 at the half. The taller Broncos and their physical play began to wear on the Lady Cardinals in general and Deener in particular, but a run by the Broncos that put them up 44-35 after three quarters and the Lady Cardinals looked finished. That’s when things changed very quickly. Seven straight points by Deener (three-point play, layup and two more FT’s) made it 48-42 with 5:37 left. Then a basket by Kallie Vaughn and two Free throws by Raikes cut it two at 48-46. A layup by the Broncos Knowles made it 50-46 and then a three by Vaughn cut it to 50-49. After two free throws by Sprowl put Taylor County up 51-50, Okorley put the Broncos back up 52-51 with 3:19 left. After Deener was fouled, their was a clock malfunction which stopped play during her free throws. After Deener canned both giving Taylor County it’s last lead of the game at 53-52, the Broncos went on a 9-0 run which finished the game. Late, the clock issue may have allowed the Broncos a second wind as the Lady Cards definitely had them on the run. Frederick Douglas made just two more baskets (18-40 to 16-42) and after making 4-three pointers in the first half made none in the second while Taylor was 4-10 from outside. Douglas did outrebound the Lady Cards (34-19) and that did play into most of their second chance baskets. Both teams had 11-steals and turnovers were about even (27 to 22).