Simon Kenton defeated Ashland Blazer 70-61 in the opening round of the 2026 KHSAA Girls Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena .
Simon Kenton controlled the game from the tip, leading for over 28 minutes and never allowing Ashland Blazer to take the lead.
Although the game was tightly contested early on and saw five ties, Simon Kenton used a massive 14-0 run to build a 14-point advantage late in the third quarter.
Ashland Blazer fought hard and managed to tie the game again in the fourth quarter, but Simon Kenton responded and pulled away to secure the nine-point victory.
Key Factors and Statistics:
Shooting Efficiency: Simon Kenton was highly efficient, shooting 48.1% from the field and an impressive 86.7% (13-of-15) from the free-throw line.
Ashland Blazer shot 41.5% from the field but struggled at the charity stripe, hitting just 57.9% (11-of-19) of their free throws.
Controlling the Paint and Turnovers: Simon Kenton dominated the interior, outscoring Ashland Blazer 42-30 in the paint. They also heavily capitalized on mistakes, scoring 20 points off turnovers compared to Ashland’s 11.
Standout Performances:
Simon Kenton: Angela Kabeya was the star of the matchup, pouring in a game-high 29 points on highly efficient 11-of-18 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three-point range.
Bella Ober filled the stat sheet with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals.
Brynli Pernell (12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) and Haylie Webb (12 points, 8 rebounds) also provided crucial balanced scoring.
Ashland Blazer: The offense was largely carried by a dynamic duo. Gabby Karle led the team with 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Brookelyn Duckwyler closely followed with 20 points, knocking down 4 three-pointers and grabbing 3 steals.
Zoey Smith provided a solid spark off the bench, adding 11 points.
