2022 Girls’ Sweet 16: A glance at every team and predictions for who could win it all

The Mingua Beef Jerky Girls’ Sweet 16 state basketball tournament begins Wednesday at Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington.

All the bracket slots have been filled. Who made it through? Here’s a glance at all 16 region champions, who they’ve beaten, who’s beaten them, plus my predictions for what will happen this week.

1ST REGION: MCCRACKEN COUNTY

Record: 31-1.

Head coach: Scott Sivills Jr.

Leading scorers: Destiny Thomas 17.9 ppg; Claire Johnson, 13.7 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Thomas, 5.9 rpg.

Notable wins: Christian Academy-Louisville, 48-36, Dec. 4; Franklin County, 62-45, Dec. 19; Bowling Green, 45-38, Dec. 22, 65-46, Jan. 14.

Notable losses: Manual, 54-51, Dec. 20.

Win streak: 24, dating to Dec. 21.

H-L Preseason rank: No. 21.

Sweet 16 history: This is McCracken’s first appearance. It was founded in 2013 from the merger of Heath, Lone Oak and Reidland high schools. Only Heath (1980) had ever made it to state.

First-round opponent: Southwestern (25-7) at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Prior meeting: McCracken County and Southwestern have never met.

2ND REGION: HENDERSON COUNTY

Record: 24-4.

Head coach: Jeff Haile.

Leading scorers: Jarie Thomas, 14.6 ppg; Graci Risley, 13.6 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Thomas, 8 rpg.

Notable wins: Central, 57-47, Dec. 21; Owensboro Catholic, 59-46, Feb. 14.

Notable losses: McCracken County, 53-49, Dec. 3; Breckinridge County, 52-46, Dec. 22 Apollo, 58-45, Jan. 11.

Win streak: 17, dating to Jan. 15.

H-L Preseason rank: No. 19.

Sweet 16 history: 18th appearance and fourth straight. Reached last year’s semifinals.

First-round opponent: Franklin County (27-7) at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Prior meeting: Henderson County and Franklin County have not met dating to at least 1997 when the KHSAA’s online records begin.

3RD REGION: MEADE COUNTY

Record: 28-6.

Head coach: Dina Hackert.

Leading scorers: Peyton Bradley, 19.4 ppg; Aubrey Hardesty, 9.2 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Bradley, 5 rpg.

Notable wins: Breckinridge County, 61-50, Jan. 8; 62-39, Jan. 31; 45-36, Feb. 24; and 42-17, March 6.

Notable losses: Franklin County, 52-51, Dec. 4; Sacred Heart, 57-47, Dec. 19; Bullitt East, 69-65 (OT), Feb. 7.

Win streak: Eight, dating to Feb. 9.

H-L Preseason rank: Unranked.

Sweet 16 history: Fifth appearance and their first since 2014.

First-round opponent: Boyd County (21-11) at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Prior meeting: Meade County and Boyd County have not played each other since 2002.

4TH REGION: BOWLING GREEN

Record: 28-7.

Head coach: Calvin Head.

Leading scorers: Meadow Tisdale, 15.6 ppg; Tanaya Bailey, 12.2 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Tisdale, 7.5 rpg.

Notable wins: Bethlehem, 42-30, Dec. 10; Bullitt East, 66-51, Jan. 8; Southwestern, 62-44, Feb. 5.

Notable losses: Sacred Heart, 52-45, Dec. 20; McCracken County, 45-38, Dec. 22 and 65-46, Jan. 14.

Win streak: Five, dating to Feb. 22.

H-L Preseason rank: No. 6.

Sweet 16 history: Ninth appearance and third straight.

First-round opponent: Letcher County Central (26-9) at 11 a.m. Thursday.

Prior meeting: Bowling Green and Letcher County Central have not met dating to at least 1997 when the KHSAA’s online records begin.

5TH REGION: BETHLEHEM

Record: 23-7.

Head coach: Jason Clark.

Leading scorers: Carlie Thurmond, 13.3 ppg; Emma Filiatreau, 13.1 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Filiatreau, 7 rpg.

Notable wins: Mercy, 65-60, Feb. 11.

Notable losses: Bowling Green, 42-30, Dec. 10; Sacred Heart, 64-41, Feb. 15.

Win streak: Six, dating to Feb. 18.

H-L Preseason rank: No. 13.

Sweet 16 history: Third appearance and second straight.

First-round opponent: Bullitt East (30-4) at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Prior meeting: The Banshees and Chargers have not met this season, but were also matched up in the first round of last year’s Sweet 16, a 70-65 Bethlehem win.

6TH REGION: BULLITT EAST

Record: 30-4.

Head coach: Chris Stallings.

Leading scorers: Gracie Merkle, 17.6 ppg; Emma Egan, 12.8 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Merkle, 9.6 rpg.

Notable wins: Southwestern, 73-61, Dec. 11; Sacred Heart, 58-56, Jan. 30; Notre Dame, 66-61, Jan. 30; Meade County, 69-65, Feb. 7; Franklin County, 55-39, Feb. 15.

Notable losses: Sacred Heart, 69-59, Dec. 22 and 65-31, Feb. 18; Bowling Green, 66-51, Jan. 8; Mercy 64-50, Jan. 20.

Win streak: Five, dating to Feb. 21.

H-L Preseason rank: No. 3.

Sweet 16 history: Fifth appearance and third straight.

First-round opponent: Bethlehem (23-7) at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Prior meeting: The Chargers and Banshees have not met this season, but were also matched up in the first round of last year’s Sweet 16, a 70-65 Bullitt East loss.

7TH REGION: SACRED HEART

Record: 32-3.

Head coach: Donna Moir.

Leading scorers: ZaKiyah Johnson, 17.8 ppg; Reagan Bender, 11.5 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Johnson, 7.8 rpg.

Notable wins: Southwestern, 74-43, Nov. 29; Bowling Green, 52-45, Dec. 20; Bullitt East, 69-59, Dec. 22 and 65-31, Feb. 18; Bethlehem, 64-41, Feb. 15.

Notable losses: Bullitt East, 58-56 (OT), Jan. 30; Mercy, 98-96 (2OT), Feb. 13.

Win streak: Eight, dating to Feb. 15.

H-L Preseason rank: No. 1.

Sweet 16 history: Defending champions. Tenth appearance and third straight; also state titles in 1976, 2002, 2003, 2004.

First-round opponent: Anderson County (30-4) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Prior meeting: Faced each other in last year’s Sweet 16 semifinals, a 63-53 Sacred Heart win.

8TH REGION: ANDERSON COUNTY

Record: 30-4.

Head coach: Clay Birdwhistell.

Leading scorers: Amiya Jenkins, 20.8 ppg; Jacie Chesser, 11.4 ppg; Paige Serafini, 9.8 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Chesser, 5.9 rpg.

Notable wins: Male, 87-54, Nov. 29; Cooper, 43-27, Dec. 29; South Laurel, 49-44, Dec. 21; Franklin County, 52-46, Jan. 5, Russell, 54-38, Jan. 15. Ryle, 64-61, Jan. 20.

Notable losses: Clark County, 57-46, Dec. 19; Central, 61-55, Jan. 3; Christian Academy-Louisville, 50-46, Jan. 25; Cooper, 50-45, Feb. 11.

Win streak: Eight, dating to Feb. 14.

H-L Preseason rank: No. 2.

Sweet 16 history: Eighth appearance and third straight. Reached last year’s semifinals.

First-round opponent: Sacred Heart (32-3) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Prior meeting: Faced each other in last year’s Sweet 16 semifinals, a 63-53 Anderson loss.

9TH REGION: COOPER

Record: 23-4.

Head coach: Justin Holthaus.

Leading scorers: Whitney Lind, 16.9 ppg; Logan Luebbers Palmer, 10.6 ppg; Liz Freihofer, 10 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Lind, 6.6 rpg.

Notable wins: South Laurel, 60-39, Dec. 19; Mercy, 59-55, Dec. 28; Anderson County, 50-45, Feb. 11; Ryle, 60-49, Feb. 24; 53-45, March 4.

Notable losses: Mercy 51-40, Dec. 21; Anderson County, 43-27, Dec. 29; Notre Dame, 55-44, Jan. 14; Ryle, 53-49, Feb. 1.

Win streak: 10, dating to Feb. 9.

H-L Preseason rank: No. 20.

Sweet 16 history: This is Cooper’s first state tournament appearance.

First-round opponent: Pikeville (31-2) at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Prior meeting: The Panthers and Jaguars have never met.

10TH REGION: CLARK COUNTY

Record: 30-2.

Head coach: Robbie Graham.

Leading scorers: Ciara Byars, 17.7 ppg; Brianna Byars, 15.6 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Ciara Byars, 7.4 rpg.

Notable wins: Russell, 59-25, Nov. 30; Anderson County, 57-46, Dec. 19; Southwestern, 62-61 (OT), Dec. 21; North Laurel, 74-53, Jan. 15; Franklin County, 64-54, Feb. 12.

Notable losses: Tates Creek, 46-45, Dec. 7. Notre Dame, 60-44, Feb. 17.

Win streak: Five, dating to Feb. 21.

H-L Preseason rank: No. 8.

Sweet 16 history: 14th appearance and fifth in the last six years.

First-round opponent: Corbin (25-6) at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Prior meeting: The Cardinals have not faced the Redhounds since 2014’s Sweet 16, a 79-70 Clark win.

11TH REGION: FRANKLIN COUNTY

Record: 27-7.

Head coach: Joey Thacker.

Leading scorers: Nevaeh Carter, 11.3 ppg; Patience Laster, 11.7 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Laster 8.1 rpg.

Notable wins: Meade County, 52-51, Dec. 4; Owen County, 58-52, Dec. 20, Russell, 67-64, Dec. 22.

Notable losses: McCracken County, 62-45, Dec. 19; Southwestern, 54-40, Jan. 3; Anderson County, 52-46, Jan. 5, Clark County, 64-54, Feb. 12; Bullitt East, 55-39, Feb. 15.

Win streak: Seven, dating to Feb. 16.

H-L Preseason rank: No. 12.

Sweet 16 history: Seventh appearance and third straight, finalist in 1980, 2016, 2017.

First-round opponent: Henderson County (24-4) at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Prior meeting: Franklin County and Henderson County have not met dating to at least 1997 when the KHSAA’s online records begin.

12TH REGION: SOUTHWESTERN

Record: 25-7.

Head coach: Junior Molden.

Leading scorers: Ayden Smiddy, 14.7 ppg; Kinsley Molden, 14.1 ppg; Payton Acey, 12.5 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Acey, 6.8 rpg.

Notable wins: Cooper, 46-40, Dec. 20; Franklin County, 54-40, Jan. 3.

Notable losses: Sacred Heart, 74-43, Nov. 29; Corbin, 53-40, Dec. 3; Bullitt East, 73-61, Dec. 11; Clark County, 62-61, Dec. 21; Bowling Green, 62-44, Feb. 5; Anderson County, 55-41, Feb. 8.

Win streak: Four, dating to Feb. 24.

H-L Preseason rank: No. 15.

Sweet 16 history: This is Southwestern’s third appearance and second straight.

First-round opponent: McCracken County (31-1) at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Prior meeting: Southwestern and McCracken County have never met.

13TH REGION: CORBIN

Record: 25-6.

Head coach: Isaac Wilson.

Leading scorers: Kallie Housley, 15.6 ppg; Shelby Steward, 13.9 ppg; Darcie Anderson, 12.0 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Raegan Walker, 4.8 rpg.

Notable wins: Southwestern, 53-40, Dec. 3; Letcher County Central, 66-47, Dec. 11; South Laurel, 43-41 (OT), March 5.

Notable losses: South Laurel, 59-44, Jan. 11 and 61-54, Feb. 24; North Laurel, 71-62, Feb. 1.

Win streak: Three, dating to Feb. 28.

H-L Preseason rank: Unranked.

Sweet 16 history: Seventh appearance and first since 2014.

First-round opponent: Clark County (30-2) at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Prior meeting: The Redhounds last met the Cardinals in the 2014 Sweet 16, a 79-70 Corbin loss in the first round.

14TH REGION: LETCHER COUNTY CENTRAL

Record: 26-9.

Head coach: Keith Baker.

Leading scorers: Kaylee Banks, 13.5 ppg; Keira Couch, 12.9 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Loren Boggs, 5.9 rpg.

Notable wins: Knott County Central, 58-51, Jan. 14; 60-54, Feb. 22. Owsley County, 53-52, March 4.

Notable losses: South Laurel, 72-55, Nov. 29; Corbin, 66-47, Dec. 11; Ashland Blazer, 68-50, Dec. 29; Pikeville, 68-32, Feb. 17.

Win streak: Five, dating to Feb. 20.

H-L Preseason rank: Unranked.

Sweet 16 history: Fifth appearance, the last in 2020.

First-round opponent: Bowling Green (28-7) at 11 a.m. Thursday.

Prior meeting: The Cougars and Purples have never met.

15TH REGION: PIKEVILLE

Record: 31-2.

Head coach: Kristy Orem.

Leading scorers: Trinity Rowe, 16.2 ppg; Kyera Thornsbury, 11.1 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Rylee Theiss, 10 rpg.

Notable wins: Boyd County, 47-40, Jan. 22; Lawrence County, 46-43 (OT), March 5.

Notable losses: Ashland Blazer, 52-48, Dec. 4; Owensboro Catholic, 43-41, Jan. 29.

Win streak: 12, dating to Feb. 1.

H-L Preseason rank: No. 10.

Sweet 16 history: Sixth appearance and fourth consecutive.

First-round opponent: Cooper (23-9) at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Prior meeting: The Panthers and Jaguars have never met.

16TH REGION: BOYD COUNTY

Record: 21-11.

Head coach: Pete Fraley.

Leading scorers: Audrey Biggs, 17.5 ppg; Jasmine Jordan, 10.8 ppg; Taylor Bartrum, 10.1 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Jordan, 8.4 rpg.

Notable wins: Ashland Blazer, 54-53, Feb. 10, 47-44, Feb. 23; 51-35, March 5.

Notable losses: Pikeville, 71-46, Dec. 11 and 47-40, Jan. 22; Clark County, 69-34, Dec. 18.

Win streak: Five, dating to Feb. 21.

H-L Preseason rank: Unranked.

Sweet 16 history: Ninth appearance and first since 2019.

First-round opponent: Meade County (28-6) at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Prior meeting: The Lions and Waves last met in 2002.

@HLPREPS PICKS

Elite Eight: McCracken County, Franklin County, Bullitt East, Meade County, Cooper, Bowling Green, Clark County, Sacred Heart.

Final Four: McCracken County, Bullitt East, Cooper, Sacred Heart.

Title game: McCracken County, Sacred Heart.

Champion: Sacred Heart.

@HLpreps 2022 postseason record: In my playoffs preview, I correctly picked 10 of the 16 region title winners. Of my misses, I named Meade County, Cooper and Southwestern as potential spoilers and Bullitt East as a favorite (though I picked Mercy). And I completely whiffed on Corbin and Boyd County. Love being right. Don’t mind missing a few. Picks are for fun and conversation. I hope your favorite team wins.

GIRLS’ SWEET 16

What: Sixteen-team tournament to decide Kentucky’s high school basketball state champion.

When: Wednesday through Saturday

Where: Rupp Arena

Tickets: Tickets available for purchase at KHSAA.org.

Girls’ Sweet 16 schedule

At Rupp Arena

Wednesday’s first-round games

11 a.m.: Boyd County (21-11) vs. Meade County (28-6)

1:30 p.m.: Bullitt East (30-4) vs. Bethlehem (23-7)

6 p.m.: McCracken County (31-1) vs. Southwestern (25-7)

8:30 p.m.: Henderson County (24-4) vs. Franklin County (27-7)

Thursday’s first-round games

11 a.m.: Bowling Green (28-7) vs. Letcher County Central (26-9)

1:30 p.m.: Pikeville (31-2) vs. Cooper (23-4)

6 p.m.: Corbin (25-6) vs. Clark County (30.2)

8:30 p.m.: Sacred Heart (32-3) vs. Anderson County (30-4)

Friday’s quarterfinals

11 a.m.: McCracken County-Southwestern winner vs. Henderson County-Franklin County winner.

1:30 p.m.: Bullitt East-Bethlehem winner vs. Boyd County-Meade County winner.

6 p.m.: Pikeville-Cooper winner vs. Bowling Green-Letcher County Central winner.

8:30 p.m.: Corbin-Clark County winner vs. Sacred Heart-Anderson County winner.

Saturday’s games

11 a.m.: Semifinal 1: Winners of Friday’s morning session.

1:30 p.m.: Semifinal 2: Winners of Friday’s evening session.

7 p.m.: Championship.

CANTRALL RATINGS

Dave Cantrall’s Rating the State rankings for teams in the Girls’ Sweet 16:

1. Sacred Heart, 86.2

2. Clark County, 85.4

3. Anderson County, 84.7

4. McCracken County, 84.1

5. Cooper, 83.8

6. Bullitt East, 83.6

7. Henderson County, 82.7

7. Meade County, 82.7

9. Bowling Green, 81.5

10. Pikeville, 80.8

11. Southwestern, 80.1

12. Corbin, 77.5

13. Franklin County, 77.4

14. Bethlehem, 74.5

15. Boyd County, 72.9

16. Letcher County Central, 63.7

This story was originally published March 8, 2022 at 2:09 PM.

Jared Peck

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-488-2883

Jared Peck, the Herald-Leader’s Digital Sports Writer, covers high school athletics and has been with the company as a writer and editor for more than 20 years. Support my work with a digital subscription