Kentucky girls all-stars sweep Indiana in annual high school basketball series
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The Kentucky girls all-stars defeated Indiana in both games of this year's annual series.
- Former Sacred Heart Academy star ZaKiyah Johnson led Kentucky to both wins.
- Former UK basketball recruit Braylon Mullins led Indiana to a sweep in the boys' games.
This year’s annual high school basketball showcase between the Indiana and Kentucky senior all-stars will go down in history for the legendary performances delivered by the Kentucky girls squad in a sweep of their Hoosier counterparts.
Kentucky Miss Basketball ZaKiyah Johnson capped a sensational high school basketball career with two more top showings in Kentucky’s wins on Friday night at Lexington Catholic High School and Saturday night in Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
On the boys’ side, Indiana took both games of the annual series.
Here’s what went down in this year’s showcase event between the top senior high school basketball players from both states.
ZaKiyah Johnson leads Kentucky all-stars to sweep over Indiana
The Kentucky girls all-stars came out with an 84-73 win in Friday’s opener at Lexington Catholic. Kentucky’s ZaKiyah Johnson, the 2025 Kentucky Miss Basketball award winner from Sacred Heart Academy who will be going to LSU, led all scorers with 28 points in that game. Johnson also had 11 rebounds to post a double-double.
Meade County’s Peyton Bradley, who will be playing at Louisville, added 21 points to the Kentucky cause. Franklin-Simpson’s LaReesha Cawthorn, a Tennessee Tech signee, also had a double-double for Kentucky in Friday’s game with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Indiana was led in Friday’s defeat by Maya Makalusky. The Hamilton Southeastern product, who is this year’s Indiana Miss Basketball, had 18 points.
Friday’s victory for the Kentucky all-stars came in turnaround fashion. Indiana led 22-10 after the first quarter and 35-32 at halftime. By the end of the third quarter, Kentucky had opened up a 10-point gap on Indiana.
The Kentucky girls team was without three players for the two-game weekend series. Bethlehem’s Leah Macy, Danville Christian’s Grace Mbugua and Ashland Blazer’s Kenleigh Woods were all out with injuries. Macy will play college basketball at Notre Dame, Mbugua will suit up for Louisville and Woods will be at Eastern Kentucky later this year.
Indiana was also missing three players for Friday’s contest: Meredith Tippner of Noblesville, Kaycie Warfel of Pendleton Heights and Addie Bowsman of Twin Lakes.
On Saturday, the Kentucky girls all-stars completed the series sweep over Indiana with a dramatic 106-103 win in double overtime in Indianapolis.
Johnson led all scorers with 34 points, despite missing all eight of her 3-point tries. Johnson hit three free throws with just seconds remaining in the first overtime period to send the game to the ultimately decisive second overtime.
Bradley scored 26 points for Kentucky, along with logging eight assists, seven rebounds and five steals. Cawthorn and Caroline Eaglin of Newport Central Catholic both scored 11 points for Kentucky.
Indiana led for more than 32 minutes of Saturday’s contest, which featured 13 lead changes. Indiana was up 16-15 after one quarter, 35-32 at halftime and 53-48 after three quarters, before Kentucky erased that five-point gap to force extra periods.
Makalusky again led Indiana in scoring with 29 points.
This marked the first time since 2012 that the Kentucky girls swept Indiana in the all-stars series.
Following this year’s series sweep by Kentucky, the all-time girls series is led by Indiana by a 55-43 margin. The girls series between Indiana and Kentucky began in 1976.
Indiana takes both games of boys all-stars series
In Friday night’s opener at Lexington Catholic, Indiana secured a competitive 98-89 victory over Kentucky. The Hoosiers were led by former UK basketball recruiting target Braylon Mullins. A Connecticut signee, Mullins had 24 points to pace the Indiana team. Mullins was this year’s Indiana Mr. Basketball at Greenfield-Central. Jeffersonville’s Michael Cooper, who will play college hoops at Wright State, had 21 points and six made 3-pointers for Indiana in Friday’s win.
Despite the Friday night loss, several Kentucky players performed well. This group included future UK basketball player Malachi Moreno, who led Kentucky in that game with 22 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. Moreno, who was the 2025 Kentucky Mr. Basketball for Sweet 16 state champions Great Crossing, was the only boys player to record a double-double on Friday night.
Moreno’s teammate at Great Crossing, Vince “Tre” Dawson III, had 21 points and five made 3-pointers for Kentucky on Friday.
Kentucky led Indiana 44-41 at halftime on Friday, but some late turnovers by the Kentucky squad helped swing the game in Indiana’s favor.
Indianapolis Cathedral’s Brady Koehler, who will playing college basketball at Notre Dame, didn’t play for Indiana on Friday. Three Kentucky players didn’t play in Friday’s game: South Oldham’s Julian Miles, Pike County Central’s Jaden Stewart and Ashland Blazer’s Zander Carter.
On Saturday night, Indiana completed the series sweep with a 105-92 victory over Kentucky.
Harlan County’s Maddox Huff led Kentucky on Saturday with 18 points. Joining him in double figures in scoring for Kentucky on Saturday was Cooper’s Andy Johnson (16 points), Breathitt County’s Austin Sperry (15 points), Calloway County’s Jonah Butler (10 points) and Walton-Verona’s Aaron Gutman (10 points). Moreno didn’t play for the Kentucky all-stars on Saturday.
Indiana was again paced on Saturday by Mullins, who scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out seven assists. Indiana led 50-32 at halftime of Saturday’s contest.
Indiana now leads the boys series 106-46. This series began in 1940.
