2024 Mingua Beef Jerky/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet Sixteen® Preview
Region 1: McCracken County (29-5)
Top Scorers: Claire Johnson (22.9 PPG), Mikee Buchanan (14.9 PPG), Ava Hughes (6.9 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Mikee Buchanan (6.5 PPG), Reagan Hill (5.1 RPG), Claire Johnson (3.9 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 62.3 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 26.3 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 47.6%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 32.8%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 69.6%
Coach Scott Sivills Jr stated that the Mustangs are super excited to be back at the state tournament for a 3rd year in a row. McCracken County takes great pride in representing their end of the state. When asked about seniors Claire Johnson and Mikee Buchanan, Coach Sivills said they have had this expectation for them for the last 3 years. Buchanan has had a bigger scoring and leadership role for them this season. On top of their high basketball IQ, he noted Johnson and Buchanan have this calmness about them that keeps their teammates calm in tough situations. However, he also pointed out that many other players have stepped up this season. Skaggs, Hill, and Hughes gave them a huge lift in their regional championship game and their development has been huge throughout this season. The Mustangs take a lot of pride in developing players over time. An example of that is eighth grader Ava Hughes who Coach Sivills remembers seeing play for the first time in 2nd or 3rd grade and the game seemed so natural for her even at that time. Now playing up at the Varsity level, Hughes got rattled some early on when playing some of the top competition in the state, but he has seen her become more comfortable and grow a lot this season. Another focus for this team is showing toughness defensively and pushing the pace offensively. Both Coach Sivills and Coach Layne of Russell noted that their groups have similar styles of play. This will be a matchup between two Miss Kentucky Basketball candidates who play with the edge you would want from your PG. Steele and Johnson are both aggressive, elite drivers who can score in so many different ways.
Region 2: Henderson County (25-7)
Top Scorers: Brooklyn Gibson (13 PPG), Allyson Rideout (12 PPG), ATylia Green (11.3 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Allyson Rideout (5.9 RPG), Brooklyn Gibson (5.7 RPG), ATylia Green (4.6 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 55.6 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 27.2 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 41.4%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 29.9%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 67.6%
Coach Stephen Haile started by saying how Henderson County feels honored and fortunate to be representing the 2nd region. His team has played a tough schedule this year to help them prepare for this moment. Despite being young and it being his first year as their head coach, their goal was always to win the region. Coach Haile knew it would take a bit of time, but he recognized early on that the last half of the season would be a lot better for them. As the season has gone on, they’ve gotten more comfortable with understanding coaching and how to play best with one another. A lot of their growth came with time and experience as they were learning to play in a different system. As far as their first-round matchup at Rupp, he actually coached at Daviess County the last 2 seasons, so he is very familiar with Owensboro (who is in the same district as Daviess County) from that time and from their matchup earlier in the season. However, he noted that they were missing one of their best players in Alyrica Hughes when they met earlier in the season.
Region 3: Owensboro (21-11)
Top Scorers: Shalyn Sprinkles (14.4 PPG), Alyrica Hughes (10.3 PPG), Heleina John (9.9 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Heleina John (5.7 RPG), Alyrica Hughes (5.4 RPG), Keeley Harris (4.7 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 56.6 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 29.3 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 37%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 27.8%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 60.6%
Coach Jansen Locher was excited for his team to get a chance to head to Rupp. He said what his team may lack in size, they make up for in heart. He noted it all starts with Unique Carter-Swanagan and her energy. That paired with Sprinkles’ excellent scoring and Hughes’s ability to guard all 5 positions gives this group a chance against anyone. The Lady Devils used people’s doubt to fuel them in the postseason. Coach Locher said a lot of people didn’t even think they’d make it out of their district as they had to beat a very tough Daviess County team in the first round of district play, but they proved all of the doubters wrong. He also noted that they got some transfers that came because they wanted to be a part of something special. It took some adjusting, but once they began to understand how hard they needed to play for the whole game and how to gel together as a team, those players have been huge additions. The keys for his team are to play tough defense, play together, and take care of the ball.
Region 4: Bowling Green (23-10)
Top Scorers: Katy Smiley (10.8 PPG), NaTajia Alexander (7.6 PPG), JaSiyah Franklin (7.3 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Katy Smiley (5.9 RPG), JaSiyah Franklin (4.1 RPG), Chloe Potter (4 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 46.1 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 25.6 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 38.8%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 32.6%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 65.6%
Coach Calvin Head is excited to be a part of the Sweet 16 again, especially considering the doubt his team faced early on from outsiders and the media. He said his group really used that for motivation and it truly added fuel to the fire at the end of the season. There were some bumps in the road for the Lady Purples, but they figured out how to overcome those things as a team as the season went on. Coach Head said losing back-to-back district games might have been the turning point for this group. When they got into postseason play, they held opponents to 35 PPG. While they have always placed a huge premium on defense, this year it’s an even bigger focal point. At times they face struggles scoring the ball, so they recognize if they focus on defense, they can always give themselves a chance even when the ball may not be going in the basket. They are looking forward to a new challenge versus Owsley County in the first round of the state tournament. Coach Head noted that they’re really good and have some nice pieces on their team.
Region 5: Bethlehem (26-8)
Top Scorers: Leah Macy (25.3 PPG), Tessa Miles (14 PPG), Carlie Thurmond (13.9 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Leah Macy (13.8 RPG), Ashlyn Miles (7.5 RPG), Claire Thurmond (3.6 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 72.7 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 35.3 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 49.8%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 38%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 73.9%
Coach Jason Clark started by saying the Banshees are just excited to be here and making it to the state tournament never gets old. His team is playing as well right now as they have all year and is certainly hitting their stride at the right time. Most importantly, this team is like sisters on and off the court. They place a big focus on moving the ball offensively and getting everyone their chances to score. Coach Clark said senior Carlie Thurmond is the most competitive person he has coached and has a true refuse-to-lose attitude, something he notes probably contributed to her becoming Bethlehem’s all-time leading scorer in both soccer and basketball. Coach also pointed out the reason they could add a nationally-ranked player like Leah Macy and it not change the chemistry is because Macy had already played with Bethlehem players like Thurmond, Ashlyn and Tessa Miles, and Kensey Clayton when she was younger. Their time together on that AAU team helped her fit right in immediately. Coach Clark said they were worried about size when they graduated Emma Filiatreau, but adding Leah was huge in helping fill that hole. Another thing that has made this group as close as ever is the adversity they’ve dealt with between the late start to the season (due to multiple Banshees being on the soccer team that won state), Leah’s injury, and the tough personal situation they went through around All A tournament time. Those trials showed how special this team is to play through it all and stay together as a team. When it comes to their first-round matchup, he spoke highly of Pikeville and Panthers senior Trinity Rowe who he said was one of the best players in the state.
Region 6: Butler (26-8)
Top Scorers: Mariah Knight (15.5 PPG), Ramiya White (11.4 PPG), Imari Robinson (6.2 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Ramiya White (7.6 RPG), Mariah Knight (7.2 RPG), Imari Robinson (5.9 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 58.1 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 34.1 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 44.5%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 30.1%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 63.2%
Coach Candyce Wheeler started by saying that she is proud of her team and excited to be back in state tournament. One thing she noticed from her group was that they were able to gain a lot of confidence throughout the season. The Bearettes came together as a team and realized if they listen and do what the coaching staff is asking of them, they can find a way to pull out tough wins. When asked about Kentucky commit Ramiya White, Coach Wheeler said she has grown a ton this season, especially with her conditioning so that she can stay on the floor for longer stretches of time. Fellow senior Mariah Knight was a surprise addition for her, but she instantly showed commitment to working hard, getting better, and being a leader. One of the things her team has focused on is learning how important it is to share the spotlight. Shot selection was a concern at times early on, but as the season has gone on, her team has recognized that it is fun when everyone contributes and they play for each other.
Region 7: Sacred Heart (27-7)
Top Scorers: ZaKiyah Johnson (18.9 PPG), Reagan Bender (13.6 PPG), Angelina Pelayo (10.3 PPG)
Top Rebounders: ZaKiyah Johnson (7.3 RPG), Claire Russell (6.2 RPG), Angelina Pelayo (4.4 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 67.8 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 33.6 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 47.7%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 33.3%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 66.3%
Coach Donna Moir is excited to be heading back to Rupp and excited her Valkyries have the chance to defend their title. As a team that has had so much success, they just try to celebrate all of the little things along the way. One of the more special moments I saw at the 7th Region tournament was the Valkyries celebrating Coach Moir for her 800th career victory. It was a special moment because you could see that celebrating their coach meant just as much to them as celebrating their regional tournament win. She said that meant a lot to her to see her team’s excitement in celebrating that milestone. Coach Moir also noted that they have a chance to do something very special this year as no one has ever won 4 straight state championships in Kentucky. The Valkyries played some top teams nationally this season and that is where their losses came from. While it was hard losing those games, it showed her team what they can do as they competed hard with some of the best teams in the nation. Coach Moir also said they have a freshman running point for their team (Amirah “Tootie” Jordan) and she has watched her grown up a lot throughout this season. She mentioned that players like Angelina Pelayo and Claire Russell may not receive the attention some of the others do, but they are huge parts of the Valkyries success and embrace their roles so well. When it comes to Sacred Heart’s first round matchup, Coach Moir said they know they are facing a tough, experienced ball club in GRC.
Region 8: Anderson County (32-2)
Top Scorers: Lainey Johnson (19.1 PPG), Jenna Satterly (18.3 PPG), Ella Baum (8.4 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Lainey Johnson (6.6 RPG), Ella Baum (5.6 RPG), Jenna Satterly (4.2 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 59.5 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 30.9 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 45.3%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 35%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 75.9%
Coach Clay Birdwhistell said both himself and his team are very excited to be here. The commitment he saw from his players in the offseason was huge and has led to a very special season. Coach brought up the fact that Lainey Johnson and Jenna Satterly were still in middle school in his first run to the state tournament in 2020 and now they have younger players like seventh grader Ellie Shouse in that spot. Coach Birdwhistell had high praise for the way Jenna Satterly stepped up for the Bearcats this year and credits her for being a difference-maker for this team. Not only has Satterly increased her scoring significantly, but Coach Birdwhistell noted her efficiency numbers are off the charts. She also has become the all-time leading free throw leader for Anderson County despite being a point guard and she can guard four positions effectively. However, he wanted to be sure to note he doesn’t want those compliments to take away from the impact Lainey Johnson has made as she is a very special player as well and there is a clear reason why coaches and media have consistently seen her as their regional player of the year. When it comes to their first-round matchup, what stood out to him about Butler is their size. In fact, their center is almost a foot taller than the Bearcats center.
Region 9: Cooper (29-4)
Top Scorers: Logan Palmer (16.1 PPG), Liz Freihofer (12 PPG), Bella Deere (7.7 PPG), Haylee Noel (7.7 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Haylee Noel (5.6 RPG), Liz Freihofer (4.7 RPG), Logan Palmer (4.5 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 57.5 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 26.8 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 41.6%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 31.2%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 69.5%
Coach Justin Holthaus said the Jaguars are super excited to be representing the 9th region for the 3rd straight year. This group bought into the defensive end of the court early on and they put an emphasis on keeping the intensity from start to finish. Cooper has not had an easy schedule by any means, intentionally traveling to places like Louisville to challenge themselves in some of the top tournaments in the state. He credited the parents for being willing to constantly make those drives to support the team no matter how quick of a turnaround they might have. Cooper also plays in one of the most competitive regions and they had to beat both Holy Cross Covington and Ryle, two of the top teams in the state, in their regional tournament. Coach Holthaus mentioned he has a very special group of seniors and that gives him peace of mind as a coach because they are so selfless and truly care for one another.
Region 10: George Rogers Clark (30-4)
Top Scorers: Kennedy Stamper (11.8 PPG), Jailenn Green (10.6 PPG), Teigh Yeast (10.1 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Khania Jones (6 RPG), Teigh Yeast (3.9 RPG), Makili Tabor (3.2 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 67 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 27.5 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 43.5%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 32.9%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 67.3%
Coach Robbie Graham said he keeps getting asked if the winning ever gets old and the answer is no – it never gets old and is just as exciting every year. His team has faced some adversity this year. On top of getting transfers comfortable in a new system, GRC’s nationally-ranked junior, Ciara Byars, had a season-ending knee injury. While they knew they would miss Byars performance and high IQ plays on the court, the coaches were very worried initially about replacing her leadership on the court. However, Byars has been constantly coaching up this group since being sidelined. Coach Graham was asked about players like Teigh Yeast and Anaya Chestnut as well. When it came to Yeast, he talked about how she has been an excellent addition as she is a high-character kid who works hard. He praised Chestnut for being a gym rat who’s constantly working on her game and said she’s probably the best on-ball defender for the Cardinals. Regarding their first-round matchup against the 3x defending state champions, Sacred Heart, Coach Graham said they are obviously a great team and ZaKiyah Johnson is one of the best players in the history of Kentucky girls’ basketball. The key for GRC is to take care of the ball as they had some unforced turnovers in their first meeting in February. The Cards lost that game 61-49, but it was a very competitive game until the final minutes.
Region 11: Franklin County (29-6)
Top Scorers: Leia Hogan (11.1 PPG), Juliana Frazee (9.8 PPG), Rachel Shropshire (9.5 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Juliana Frazee (6.5 RPG), Logan Kennedy (5.3 RPG), Keyonna Taylor (5 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 61.6 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 34.3 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 47.6%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 37.1%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 63.1%
Coach Joey Thacker started by saying that his kids have worked extremely hard to get back to the state tournament this year. He was not only happy for the team but happy for the community to get to go back to Rupp. The Flyers are heading into the state tournament on a 16-game winning streak. Coach Thacker has some young point guards (a freshman and a sophomore), and he has watched them improve and learn how to best take care of the ball all season long. What makes this moment so special for him is that his wife, who is about to start her 2nd cancer battle in 11 years, has been a huge part of this team. The team has taken it upon themselves to commit to playing for her in the last couple of weeks and they constantly want her to be a part of every special moment they experience. The Flyers have grown as much this season as any team Coach Thacker has ever coached. Senior Rachel Shropshire has become much more versatile and has really matured into an excellent leader for the Flyers this season. That being said, he noted they have a monumental challenge in North Laurel in the 1st round and complimented Brooke Nichelson by saying she is as good of a guard as you’ll find in the state.
Region 12: Danville Christian (29-2)
Top Scorers: Grace Mbugua (25.4 PPG), Paisley Metz (12.1 PPG), Amauri Blackford (10.7 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Grace Mbugua (15.4 RPG), Amauri Blackford (9.8 RPG), Grace Meyer (5.5 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 61.5 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 43.4 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 39.9%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 23.7%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 55.1%
Coach Billy Inmon started by saying how thankful they are to be able to participate in the state tournament as it’s not easy to even field a team sometimes with the size of their school. When the media asked about DCA’s star player Grace Mbugua, he said that she is just such a humble kid despite leading the state in rebounding every year since her freshman season. He also mentioned that she is very self-motivated and grabbed 29 rebounds in the regional championship game. Coach Inmon noted that Cooper will present a real challenge for them. However, he is hoping the All A experience helps them both mentally and physically. He just hopes the moment isn’t too big for them since this will be the biggest stage a lot of these players will experience for the first time. What has been great about this team is that when opponents have focused on Grace, he’s had many different players step up.
Region 13: North Laurel (29-5)
Top Scorers: Brooke Nichelson (17.8 PPG), Chloe McKnight (13.8 PPG), Haley Combs (7.4 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Brooke Nichelson (10 RPG), Chloe McKnight (8 RPG), Mariella Claybrook (7.2 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 55.4 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 33.9 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 48.6%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 34.4%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 70.4%
Coach Eddie Mahan Jr said the Jaguars are very excited to be back for the 2nd year in a row. When asked about Brooke Nichelson, he stated that she has done a great job taking a big step up this year, along with Chloe McKnight who he feels has proven she’s a top post in the state. Going into the state tournament, they know they’re going to be tested and want to make a statement. When it comes to newcomers, Haley Combs has been a tremendous asset. She is a player who stays in the gym and always comes prepared. Coach Mahan noted that he felt she really completed this team as far as chemistry goes, both on and off the court. They will face Franklin County in the first round. The Flyers are an extremely well-coached team with great post play which will make for an interesting matchup as that is a typical advantage the Jags have on most teams.
Region 14: Owsley County (26-9)
Top Scorers: Carly Smith (16.1 PPG), Addison Terry (13.8 PPG), Aaliyah Lynch (12 PPG), Macey Brown (12 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Macey Brown (11.4 RPG), Addison Terry (8.6 RPG), Shelby Murray (7.3 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 66.5 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 38.4 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 46.2%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 43.2%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 71.2%
Coach Travis Smith started by saying how his group is extremely excited to make it to the state tournament. He said it was truly a dream come true for the players and coaches, especially with how special Kentucky’s state tournament is. When asked about getting to coach his daughter, Carly, he spoke about how it’s not always easy, but it is also so rewarding getting to experience moments like this with her. Winning the regional tournament was a very special moment for a group that’s been playing together for a long time now. Coach Smith said scheduling this season was very intentional to challenge them and prepare them for postseason play. The Owls played some tough games against teams with different styles in the regional tourney which should also help them prepare for varying styles come Wednesday when the state tournament kicks off.
Region 15: Pikeville (27-5)
Top Scorers: Trinity Rowe (16.2 PPG), Kyera Thornsbury (13.9 PPG), Kristen Whited (11.8 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Rylee Theiss (8.7 RPG), Leighan Jackson (5.1 RPG), Kyera Thornsbury (4 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 68.1 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 27.5 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 47.2%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 37.6%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 71.2%
Coach Kristy Orem said her team has had an exciting past day or so. The Panthers did a lot to challenge themselves this season to prepare them for these kinds of moments. They emphasized challenging themselves not just locally, but on the national level because they got tired of showing up at Rupp and simply being happy to be there. As far as their first-round matchup goes, they’ll be playing a familiar team in Bethlehem that they faced at the end of December. Pikeville got a 78-52 win in that game, however, the Banshees will look much different this time around as Leah Macy did not play in the first game. Coach Orem recognized that Macy isn’t a player they will be able to stop, so they just have to do the best they can on her in that matchup on Thursday. She also discussed her trust in senior PG Trinity Rowe to go out and play her game. She added that Kyera Thornsbury and Rowe complement each other so well and are great leaders for their team, along with Kristen Whited who has really stepped things up this year. The key for Pikeville going into the opening round is to relax and have fun, but also stay structured.
Region 16: Russell (28-6)
Top Scorers: Shaelyn Steele (21.3 PPG), Bella Quinn (10.3 PPG), Kennedy Darnell (8.4 PPG)
Top Rebounders: Shaelyn Steele (6.1 RPG), Hannah Sanders (4.3 RPG), Kennedy Darnell (3.6 RPG)
Team Points Per Game: 60.1 PPG
Team Rebounds Per Game: 25.7 RPG
Team FG Percentage: 43.6%
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 34.5%
Team Free Throw Percentage: 72.8%
Coach Mandy Layne spoke about the similarities between her team and the McCracken County Mustangs in the pre-tournament media conference. They have similar defensive styles, and both have some star players with a strong supporting cast. She had some high praise for Mustangs seniors Claire Johnson and Mikee Buchanan. Coach Layne discussed how big Shaelyn Steele has been not only this season but throughout her entire career. Steele brings a ton to the court, as does Bella Quinn and the remainder of their rotation. When asked about the community support, she said they have been great and noted that Russell High School is giving their community the day off school on Wednesday so that they can come to support them in their 1:30 PM matchup at Rupp Arena.
