Taylor County narrowly escaped with a thrilling 60-58 victory over West Jessamine in their opening-round matchup of the 2026 KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena on March 12, 2026.
The game was a tale of two halves. Taylor County came out firing on all cylinders, shooting an incredible 78% in the first quarter to build an early 19-8 lead. They extended their advantage to as much as 17 points late in the second quarter and went into halftime comfortably ahead 34-23.
However, West Jessamine stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring Taylor County 17-7 to cut the deficit to a single point at 41-40 heading into the final frame. The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth battle that saw three lead changes and a tie. West Jessamine briefly took a 45-44 lead, but Taylor County responded down the stretch. With under 20 seconds remaining, Greta Bradstreet scored a crucial layup to put Taylor County up 59-55. West Jessamine’s Ariana McLoney hit a clutch three-pointer with six seconds left to cut the lead to one, but Bradstreet hit a free throw to seal the 60-58 win.
Key Factors and Statistics:
- Shooting vs. Rebounding: Taylor County won the game with incredible efficiency, hitting 51.4% from the field and a blistering 52.6% (10-of-19) from three-point range. Conversely, West Jessamine stayed in the game by dominating the glass, out-rebounding Taylor County 35-19. Their 17 offensive rebounds led to a 13-0 advantage in second-chance points.
- Time with the Lead: Despite the close finish, Taylor County controlled the lead for over 30 minutes of the contest, while West Jessamine led for just 1 minute and 25 seconds.
Standout Performances:
Taylor County:
- Kennedy Deener: 19 points, 3 assists
- Greta Bradstreet: 18 points (3 three-pointers)
- Kayley Benningfield: 13 points, 4 rebounds (3-of-4 from deep)
West Jessamine:
- Katie Mastin: 20 points (4 three-pointers)
- Claire Marshall: 9 points, 19 rebounds (8 offensive), 10 assists, and 3 steals.
