2025 Girls’ Sweet 16: A glance at every team and predictions for who could win it all
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2025 Girls’ Sweet 16 basketball preview
Click below to view more coverage from the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com previewing the girls’ state high school basketball tournament to be held March 12-15 in Rupp Arena in Lexington.
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The Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Girls’ Basketball Sweet 16 state 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.
Note that the KHSAA’s RPI standings are frozen at the end of the regular season and sometimes don’t accurately reflect a team’s strength or strength of schedule, especially if it played teams from outside Kentucky. That’s why we’ve included the Herald-Leader preseason poll rankings and the final rankings in the Kentucky Girls High School Basketball Media Poll, as well.
1ST REGION: MARSHALL COUNTY MARSHALS
Record: 25-6.
Head coach: Aaron Beth.
Leading scorers: Skylar Waller, 15.3 points; Kenzlee Terry, 13.5.
Leading rebounder: Addi Wall, 4.3.
Notable wins: Calloway County, 40-32 for the 4th District championship on Feb. 26 and 40-27 for the region title on March 8.
Notable losses: Graves County, 42-26 on Jan. 17 and 44-42 on Jan. 31.
Win streak: Eight, dating to Jan. 31 loss at Graves County.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 28.
Sweet 16 history: 25th appearance and first since 2021; state champion in 1982 and 1984; runner-up in 2021.
First-round opponent: 2nd Region champion Henderson County (27-5) at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met on Dec. 23, 2023, a 61-34 Marshall County loss. Last met at the Sweet 16 in the 2021 semifinals, a 50-33 Marshall County win.
2ND REGION: HENDERSON COUNTY COLONELS
Record: 27-5.
Head coach: Stephen Haile.
Leading scorers: Brooklyn Gibson, 13.4 points; A’Tylia Green, 12.7; Allyson Rideout, 12.0.
Leading rebounder: Rideout, 5.0.
Notable wins: Highlands, 52-47 on Dec. 28; Calloway County, 65-57 on Feb. 21.
Notable losses: Franklin-Simpson, 63-50 on Dec. 7; Franklin County, 57-54 on Dec. 30; George Rogers Clark, 55-49 on Jan. 25; Owensboro Catholic, 73-64 on Feb. 17.
Win streak: Five, dating to Feb. 17 loss to Owensboro Catholic.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 7.
Final media poll rank: No. 9.
RPI rank: No. 8.
Sweet 16 history: 21st appearance and seventh straight. Reached last season’s quarterfinals.
First-round opponent: 1st Region champion Marshall County (25-6) at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met on Dec. 23, 2023, a 61-34 Henderson County win. Last met at the Sweet 16 in the 2021 semifinals, a 50-33 Henderson County loss.
3RD REGION: DAVIESS COUNTY PANTHERS
Record: 21-12.
Head coach: Natalie Payne.
Leading scorers: Kennedy Lane, 18.4 points; Zoey Beehn, 14.2; Lily Hoagland, 12.2.
Leading rebounder: Beehn, 9.3.
Notable wins: Breckinridge County, 51-39 on March 7; Owensboro Catholic, 61-46 in Sunday’s region finals.
Notable losses: Cooper, 54-45 on Dec. 22; Simon Kenton, 51-41 on Dec. 23; Henderson County, 58-49 on Jan. 14.
Win streak: Three, dating to 58-50 loss to Owensboro Catholic in the 9th District finals on Feb. 27..
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 61.
Sweet 16 history: First appearance.
First-round opponent: 12th Region champion Danville Christian (25-7) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: This will be their first meeting.
4TH REGION: FRANKLIN-SIMPSON WILDCATS
Record: 28-2.
Head coach: Ashley Taylor.
Leading scorers: LaReesha Cawthorn, 20.8 points; Kloie Smith, 9.1; Vanessa Ray 8.7.
Leading rebounder: Cawthorn, 10.8.
Notable wins: Henderson County, 63-50 on Dec. 7; Taylor County, 54-33 on Dec. 20; Simon Kenton, 48-45 on Dec. 22.
Notable losses: Cooper, 45-35 on Dec. 23; Franklin County, 45-37 on Jan. 18.
Win streak: 14, dating to Jan. 18 loss to Franklin County.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 11.
Final media poll rank: No. 4.
RPI rank: No. 5.
Sweet 16 history: Seventh appearance and first since 2009.
First-round opponent: 10th Region champion George Rogers Clark (25-7) at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: This will be their first meeting in the KHSAA’s online era (since 1998).
5TH REGION: TAYLOR COUNTY CARDINALS
Record: 24-8.
Head coach: Matthew Turner.
Leading scorers: Kennedy Deener, 18.6 points; Kennedy Jackson, 10.3.
Leading rebounders: Jackson, 7.9; Riley Sprowles, 7.5.
Notable wins: Johnson Central, 69-65 on Dec. 28 and 66-42 on Jan. 17.
Notable losses: Franklin-Simpson, 54-33 on Dec. 20; Franklin County, 48-46 on Jan. 19.
Win streak: Five, dating to 68-35 overtime loss to Barren County on Feb. 21.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 27.
Sweet 16 history: Second appearance; the other in 1977.
First-round opponent: 14th Region champion Knott County Central (24-7) at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: No score reported for a scheduled game, Jan. 18, 2003, at Wayne County, their only meeting of the KHSAA’s online era.
6TH REGION: MERCY JAGUARS
Record: 19-14.
Head coach: Nicholas Cann.
Leading scorers: Abby Reitzel, 15.7 points; Maggie Young, 7.8.
Leading rebounder: Addyson Becker 4.7.
Notable wins: Elizabethtown, 64-60 on Dec. 19; Whitefield Academy, 64-46 in the 24th District finals on Feb. 26 and 51-27 in the region finals on March 8.
Notable losses: Sacred Heart, 72-32 on Jan. 12.
Win streak: Six, dating to 60-55 loss to Ballard on Feb. 17.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 106.
Sweet 16 history: 13th appearance, the last in 2023; two-time champion (1992, 2010); two-time runner-up (1982, 2018).
First-round opponent: 9th Region champion Cooper (25-5) at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met in the first round of 2023’s Sweet 16, a 70-64 Mercy win.
7TH REGION: SACRED HEART VALKYRIES
Record: 31-3.
Head coach: Donna Moir.
Leading scorers: ZaKiyah Johnson, 21.3 points; Amirah “Tootie” Jordan, 13.1; Brianna Wilkins, 11.8.
Leading rebounders: Johnson, 7.0; Morgan Frey, 6.7.
Notable wins: Cooper, 60-49 on Jan. 3; Mercy, 72-32 on Jan. 12; Ashland Blazer, 82-48 on Jan. 17; Danville Christian, 77-49 on Jan. 30; George Rogers Clark, 68-42 on Feb. 1 and 80-68 on Feb. 12; Frederick Douglass, 77-61 on Feb. 21.
Notable losses: Simon Kenton, 75-70 in OT on Feb. 14.
Win streak: Nine, dating to Feb. 14 loss to Simon Kenton.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 1.
Final media poll rank: No. 1.
RPI rank: No. 1.
Sweet 16 history: Thirteenth appearance and sixth straight; eight-time state champions (1976, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024); last year became the first team to win four straight titles.
First-round opponent: 15th Region champion Johnson Central (27-3) at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: This will be their first meeting.
8TH REGION: SIMON KENTON PIONEERS
Record: 26-4.
Head coach: Jeff Stowers.
Leading scorers: Brynli Pernell, 14.8 points; Haylie Webb, 9.5.
Leading rebounder: Webb, 6.5.
Notable wins: Sacred Heart, 75-70 in OT on Feb. 14.
Notable losses: George Rogers Clark, 69-34 on Dec. 7; Franklin-Simpson, 48-45 on Dec. 22; North Laurel, 42-39 on Jan. 18; Cooper, 46-40 on Jan. 30.
Win streak: 12, dating to Jan. 30 loss against Cooper.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 20.
Final media poll rank: No. 6.
RPI rank: No. 3.
Sweet 16 history: Seventh appearance and the second in three years.
First-round opponent: 11th Region champion Frederick Douglass (26-6) at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Met on Dec. 2, 2023, a 61-53 Simon Kenton win.
9TH REGION: COOPER JAGUARS
Record: 25-5.
Head coach: Justin Holthaus.
Leading scorers: Haylee Noel, 15.5 points; Addyson Brissey, 9.9; Zene Thompson, 9.5.
Leading rebounder: Noel, 7.5.
Notable wins: Franklin-Simpson, 43-35 on Dec. 23; Simon Kenton, 46-40 on Jan. 30; Danville Christian, 55-45 on Feb. 8; Frederick Douglass, 58-38 on Feb. 18.
Notable losses: Sacred Heart, 60-49 on Jan. 3; Franklin County, 48-38 on Jan. 25; Assumption, 66-56 on Feb. 21.
Win streak: Five, dating to Feb. 21 loss at Assumption.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 6.
Final media poll rank: No. 3.
RPI rank: No. 6.
Sweet 16 history: Fourth straight appearance; lost in semifinals to Sacred Heart last season.
First-round opponent: 6th Region champion Mercy (19-14) at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met in the first round of 2023’s Sweet 16, a 70-64 Cooper loss.
10TH REGION: GEORGE ROGERS CLARK CARDINALS
Record: 25-7.
Head coach: Robbie Graham.
Leading scorers: Kennedy Stamper, 11.4 points; Teigh Yeast, 10.5; Ciara Byars, 10.3.
Leading rebounder: Byars, 5.2.
Notable wins: Henderson County, 55-49 on Jan. 25; Assumption, 66-53 on Feb. 5; Ashland Blazer, 68-38 on Feb. 21.
Notable losses: Sacred Heart, 68-42 on Feb. 1, and 80-68 on Feb. 12.
Win streak: Eight, dating to Feb. 12 loss to Sacred Heart.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 2.
Final media poll rank: No. 2
RPI rank: No. 11.
Sweet 16 history: 17th appearance, fourth straight and eighth in the last nine; lost in first round to Sacred Heart last season.
First-round opponent: 4th Region champion Franklin-Simpson (28-2) at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: This will be their first meeting in the KHSAA’s online era (since 1998).
11TH REGION: FREDERICK DOUGLASS BRONCOS
Record: 26-6.
Head coach: Daryl Moberly.
Leading scorers: Jaelee Knowles, 17.8 points; Tamia Waide, 11.8; Kate Baker, 10.5.
Leading rebounder: Knowles, 9.8.
Notable wins: Madison Central, 64-58 on Feb. 7 and 68-41 on March 8; Franklin County, 62-45 on March 6.
Notable losses: Cooper, 58-38 on Feb. 18; Sacred Heart, 77-61 on Feb. 21.
Win streak: Five, dating to Feb. 21 loss to Sacred Heart.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 14.
Final media poll rank: No. 12.
RPI rank: No. 17.
Sweet 16 history: Second appearance in three seasons.
First-round opponent: 8th Region champion Simon Kenton (26-4) at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Met on Dec. 2, 2023, a 61-53 Douglass loss.
12TH REGION: DANVILLE CHRISTIAN WARRIORS
Record: 25-7.
Head coach: Billy Inmon.
Leading scorers: Grace Mbugua, 22.3 points; Paisley Metz, 14.3; Alaya Quisenberry, 13.6; Amauri Blackford, 11.6.
Leading rebounders: Mbugua, 13.6; Blackford, 10.9.
Notable wins: Bethlehem, 73-59 on Jan. 26 for All “A” Classic title.
Notable losses: Sacred Heart, 77-49 on Jan. 30; Cooper, 55-45 on Feb. 8.
Win streak: Seven, dating to Feb. 8 loss to Cooper.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 9.
Final media poll rank: No. 10.
RPI rank: No. 29.
Sweet 16 history: Second straight appearance.; lost to Cooper in the first round last year; KHSAA member since 2018.
First-round opponent: 3rd Region champion Daviess County (21-12) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: This will be their first meeting.
13TH REGION: NORTH LAUREL JAGUARS
Record: 31-2.
Head coach: Eddie Mahan Jr.
Leading scorers: Brooke Nichelson, 23.7 points; Bella Sizemore, 10.0; Mariella Claybrook, 9.9.
Leading rebounders: Nichelson, 8.8, Claybrook, 8.3.
Notable wins: Knott County Central, 76-38 on Dec. 14; Simon Kenton, 42-39 on Jan. 18; Franklin County, 63-57 on Feb. 10.
Notable losses: Pikeville, 53-52 on Feb. 1; South Laurel, 40-36 on Feb. 6.
Win streak: 12, dating to Feb. 6 loss to South Laurel.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 12.
Final media poll rank: No. 7.
RPI rank: No. 2.
Sweet 16 history: Fourth appearance and third in a row.
First-round opponent: 16th Region champion Ashland Blazer (21-10) at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Won 67-40 on Dec. 30. Note: Kittens leading scorer Kenleigh Woods had not yet returned from a broken leg suffered during soccer season.
14TH REGION: KNOTT COUNTY CENTRAL PATRIOTS
Record: 24-7.
Head coach: Megan Mosley.
Leading scorers: Kyra McAlarnis, 22.8 points; Akasia Bentley, 9.3.
Leading rebounder: Kyra McAlarnis, 7.
Notable wins: Hazard, 54-50 on Jan. 15 and 59-56 on March 8 in region finals.
Notable losses: North Laurel, 76-38 on Dec. 14; Whitefield Academy, 35-30 on Jan. 22.
Win streak: Five, dating to 81-78 loss at Pineville on Feb. 17..
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 64.
Sweet 16 history: Ninth appearance and second in three seasons.
First-round opponent: 5th Region champion Taylor County (24-8) at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: No score reported for a scheduled game, Jan. 18, 2003, at Wayne County, their only meeting of the KHSAA’s online era.
15TH REGION: JOHNSON CENTRAL GOLDEN EAGLES
Record: 27-3.
Head coach: Jim Hicks.
Leading scorers: Karlea Stanley, 11.4 points; Adyson Burchett, 11.1; Kaylyn McKenzie, 10.7.
Leading rebounders: Haylee Marsillett, Stanley and McKenzie, 4.2.
Notable wins: Danville Christian, 82-48 on Dec. 19 (DCA without Mbugua); Campbell County, 53-48 on Dec. 20.
Notable losses: Taylor County, 69-65 on Dec. 28 and 66-42 on Jan. 17.
Win streak: 13, dating to Jan. 17 loss to Taylor County.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 14.
Sweet 16 history: Eleventh appearance and first since 2018.
First-round opponent: 7th Region champion Sacred Heart (31-3) at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: This will be their first meeting.
16TH REGION: ASHLAND BLAZER KITTENS
Record: 21-10.
Head coach: Stacy Davis.
Leading scorers: Kenleigh Woods, 15.4 points; Brookelyn Duckwyler, 10.1; Gabby Karle, 11.4.
Leading rebounder: Alexis Troxler, 5.6.
Notable wins: West Jessamine, 70-46 on Jan. 25; Russell, three times including 72-42 in region finals on March 8.
Notable losses: North Laurel, 67-40 on Dec. 30*; Sacred Heart, 82-48 on Jan. 17; George Rogers Clark, 68-38 on Feb. 21.
Win streak: Four, dating to Feb. 21 loss at George Rogers Clark.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 8.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 40.
Sweet 16 history: 19th appearance and second in three years; five-time state champion (1921-24, 1928-29).
First-round opponent: 13th Region champion North Laurel (31-2) at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Lost 67-40 on Dec. 30. *Note: Woods had not yet returned from a broken leg suffered during soccer season.
KHSAA RPI STANDINGS
A complete look at the KHSAA’s RPI standings as they were at the end of the regular season for teams in the Girls’ Sweet 16. The RPI score is computed with factors including winning percentage, opponents’ winning percentage and the opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage except in cases of out-of-state opponents who are given a generic value.
1. Sacred Heart, 0.7217.
2. North Laurel, 0.72001.
3. Simon Kenton, 0.7031.
5. Franklin-Simpson, 0.68937.
6. Cooper, 0.68933.
8. Henderson County, 0.67706.
11. George Rogers Clark, 0.66208.
14. Johnson Central, 0.65504.
17. Frederick Douglass, 0.649.
27. Taylor County, 0.63202.
28. Marshall County, 0.63141.
29. Danville Christian, 0.62871.
40. Ashland Blazer, 0.61088.
61. Daviess County, 0.58623.
64. Knott County Central, 0.57978.
106. Mercy Academy, 0.52563.
@HLPREPS PICKS
Elite Eight: North Laurel, George Rogers Clark, Frederick Douglass, Taylor County, Danville Christian, Henderson County, Sacred Heart, Cooper.
Final Four: George Rogers Clark, Frederick Douglass, Danville Christian, Sacred Heart.
Title game: George Rogers Clark, Sacred Heart.
Champion: Sacred Heart.
2025 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.
Online bracket: Girls’ Sweet 16 schedule
WEDNESDAY’S FIRST-ROUND GAMES
11 a.m.: Ashland Blazer (21-10) vs. North Laurel (31-2)
1:30 p.m.: Knott County Central (24-7) vs. Taylor County (24-8)
6 p.m.: George Rogers Clark (25-7) vs. Franklin-Simpson (28-2)
8:30 p.m.: Frederick Douglass (25-7) vs. Simon Kenton (26-4)
THURSDAY’S FIRST-ROUND GAMES
11 a.m.: Johnson Central (27-3) vs. Sacred Heart (31-3)
1:30 p.m.: Mercy (19-14) vs. Cooper (25-5)
6 p.m.: Henderson County (27-5) vs. Marshall County (25-6)
8:30 p.m.: Danville Christian (25-7) vs. Daviess County (21-12)
FRIDAY’S QUARTERFINALS
11 a.m.: Ashland Blazer-North Laurel winner vs. George Rogers Clark-Franklin-Simpson winner
1:30 p.m.: Frederick Douglass-Simon Kenton winner vs. Knott County Central-Taylor County winner
6 p.m.: Danville Christian-3rd Region winner vs. Henderson County-Marshall County winner
8:30 p.m.: Johnson Central-Sacred Heart winner vs. Mercy-Cooper winner
SATURDAY’S GAMES
11 a.m.: Semifinal 1: Winners of Friday’s afternoon session
1:30 p.m.: Semifinal 2: Winners of Friday’s evening session
7:30 p.m.: Championship
This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 5:40 PM.
