In another exciting chapter of the 8th Region championship, the Simon Kenton Lady Pioneers are set to face off against Anderson County for the title, a matchup that head coach Jeff Stowers has dubbed the “SK-AC Invitational.” The road to this championship was not without its challenges, as Simon Kenton initially struggled in their semifinal game against Spencer County.
The Lady Pioneers found themselves trailing 13-10 with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter. However, they quickly regained their composure, showcasing their talent and determination as they surged ahead to secure a convincing 58-37 victory at Henry County High School in New Castle. A pivotal moment came when Simon Kenton closed the first half with a dominant 21-6 run, leading to a 31-19 advantage at halftime.
“We just needed to get in the right mindset,” stated junior Brynli Pernell. “There”s always a tough game in whatever tournament you”re playing in. That was one of our harder starts. They scouted us really well and we didn”t perform how we were supposed to. But we know who we are.”
Once the Lady Pioneers settled in, they returned to their signature style of play. Known for their tenacious defense, they forced 22 turnovers from Spencer County and recorded 14 steals. The Lady Bears” top scorer, Lily Hughes, who had been averaging 12.1 points per game, was limited to only four points throughout the contest. Brynne Keefe was the leading scorer for Spencer County, contributing 13 points.
Simon Kenton also found their offensive rhythm, shooting nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc with nine three-pointers and finishing the game with a 54 percent shooting percentage overall. Pernell led the scoring with 22 points, including five of the team”s nine three-pointers, while senior Haylie Webb added 18 points to the total. “We responded with more pressure and started getting some of what we wanted on offense as well,” Coach Stowers remarked. “We got a couple run-outs, which really helped us.”
After tying the game at 13-13, Simon Kenton began the second half with a 9-0 run, establishing a firm grip on the game. They outscored Spencer County 19-8 in the third quarter, extending their lead to 50-31. From that point, the Lady Pioneers maintained control, ultimately sealing their victory.
This matchup carries additional significance, as the two teams have only met three times since 2020. Their last encounter was a closely contested game in the 2024 8th Region quarterfinals, where Spencer County managed to pull off a last-second upset, winning 46-45. Pernell, Webb, and fellow starters Bella Ober and Anna Kelch were all part of that match, providing extra motivation for this rematch.
“As soon as we found out that”s who we had next, that was all that was running through our minds,” Pernell reflected. “There was a lot of stress and momentum. We knew we had to beat them, whether it was by 30 or by one.”
With this victory, the Lady Pioneers (30-2) are headed to their second consecutive 8th Region championship game. They will take on Anderson County on Saturday at 7 PM at Henry County. The two programs have a storied history, having faced each other 20 times since 2006, with Simon Kenton winning 13 of those encounters, nine of which occurred during the 8th Region tournament.
Looking ahead to the rematch, Coach Stowers has a straightforward strategy: “Be us. Do what we do. It”s that simple. I think if we be us and do what we do, we”re going to be hard to beat.” Earlier in the season, the Lady Pioneers defeated Anderson County decisively with a score of 56-20 on January 10.
Final Score:
Simon Kenton 58, Spencer County 37
Scoring Summary:
Simon Kenton: Pernell 22, Webb 18, Kelch 7, Ober 6, Kabeya 5
Spencer County: Bry. Keefe 13, Bro. Keefe 9, Cornell 5, Hughes 4, Scott 4, Brown 2
Game Stats:
Field Goals: Simon Kenton 22/41, Spencer County 15/29
3-Pointers: Simon Kenton 9/23, Spencer County 4/11
Free Throws: Simon Kenton 5/8, Spencer County 3/4
Rebounds: Simon Kenton 14, Spencer County 15
Assists: Simon Kenton 21, Spencer County 8
Turnovers: Simon Kenton 5, Spencer County 22
Steals: Simon Kenton 14, Spencer County 2
Fouls: Simon Kenton 11, Spencer County 13
Records: Simon Kenton 30-2, Spencer County 22-9
