Top 10: The 11th Region’s best girls basketball teams for the 2025-26 season

Since Daryl Moberly took over Frederick Douglass girls basketball in 2020, his Broncos have been the hunters.

Even after their 2022 11th Region title win and first trip to the Girls’ Sweet 16, the program seen as the one to beat in Central Kentucky resided in Franklin County, home of the Flyers, who won seven region crowns over 10 seasons.

This year, Frederick Douglass is the hunted.

The Broncos are ranked as the No. 5 team in the state, according to the Herald-Leader Girls Basketball Preseason Top 25, and they are the overwhelming choice — a 13-1 margin — as the top team in the 11th by the coaches within the region.

“We’ve done a lot trying to build this culture up,” Moberly said. “We’re just trying to create a hard work ethic to follow up what we did last year … hard work, intensity and energy.”

With every key player back for the team that mowed down last season’s 11th Region Tournament foes on the way to the state semifinals, including Franklin County, the Broncos won’t be an easy champ to take down.

They’ll be led again by Jaelee Knowles, a 5-foot-11 junior guard who ranked among the H-L preseason’s top 10 players. Moberly intends to allow Knowles more freedom on the perimeter this year to round out skills that were already good enough to earn Lexington player of the year honors as a sophomore.

The Broncos have goals beyond the region tournament, too, and to achieve those, they’ll need to raise the level of their game to match Sacred Heart, George Rogers Clark, Cooper and the rest of the state’s perennial powerhouses.

Douglass had trouble matching Clark’s physicality in its 75-52 state semifinals loss. Getting stronger has been a focus of the offseason. The grind of advancing through the state tournament was a learning experience as well.

“If we do make it there again, one of the things we’ll have to do is look at the mental aspect of it,” Moberly said. “Playing three games in four days took a toll on my girls.”

Time will tell if a regular season schedule that includes No. 1 Sacred Heart, No. 3 Assumption, No. 6 Simon Kenton, No. 10 Notre Dame and No. 20 West Jessamine will take a toll on the Broncos before they reach this season’s 11th Region Tournament, where No. 16 Franklin County will surely await.

And there’s always a chance the 11th Region could produce a surprise team that sneaks up on this year’s prey.

THE 11TH REGION GIRLS TOP 10

Here’s a rundown of the 11th Region’s best teams for the 2025-26 season in order of how they were rated in our survey, with last year’s record in parentheses and a brief summary. Coaches were asked to “rank the top 10 teams” in the region. Each team’s name has a link to its schedule in our online story.

1. Frederick Douglass (27-8)

The Broncos seem loaded for a return to Rupp Arena. In addition to Knowles, freshman guard Tamia Waide (11.9 ppg) stepped up her game in the postseason and is drawing Division I college offers. Seniors Mikalee “MK” Bennett and Reagan Gregonis have proved themselves in clutch situations.

Juniors Peighton Okorley and Nia Carr also have big-game experience. Douglass also added a pair of junior transfers in former Henry Clay guard Brin Dumphord (8.4 ppg) and Scott County’s Adri Brown (6.9 ppg).

2. Franklin County (26-6)

Longtime assistant coach Madisen W. Sandford took over the Flyers upon future hall of famer Joey Thacker’s retirement from coaching after last season.

Although Franklin County returns only one starter in 5-6 junior guard Makiyia Wheeler, it also has Kyiah Taylor, one of the most notable eighth grade players in the state who has wowed recruiting circles on the AAU circuit and was hailed by her coach as a player who “makes everyone around her better.”

The rest of the Flyer roster is young and didn’t see much playing time, but Sandford believes they can contend, regardless. “We are quick, disciplined and hungry,” Sandford said. “The standard for Lady Flyers Basketball has not changed.”

3. Madison Southern (11-15)

First-year Eagles coach Juan Byars has 3-point sharpshooter Hadley French back to full go alongside fellow senior and double-digit scorer Laci Sandlin. French, who led the state in 3-point makes as a sophomore with an average of 3.3 per game, missed nearly half of last season as she recovered from an Achilles injury.

Byars will need sophomores Cami Duerson, Bri Hensley, Lilly Kirk and Olivia Coburn to contribute in order for Madison Southern to improve on last season’s record and get back to the 44th District finals and region tournament. Byars noted his team is “very young, which provides a bright future, but we want to win now.”

4. Paul Laurence Dunbar (14-17)

Last season’s injury plagued campaign meant significant minutes for younger players, which coach Erik Daniels said will greatly improve the Bulldogs’ depth as it returns Daniels’ daughter, Eriyaune, from a knee injury and adds 5-5 junior Tates Creek transfer Kaleigh Potts. Layla Flynn, a 5-7 junior guard, who played with Potts on Dunbar’s 43rd District championship soccer team, led last season’s basketball team in scoring at 14.8 points per game. Potts averaged 12 points for the Commodores.

5. Great Crossing (17-14)

Warhawks coach Matt Walls believes his team will see even more offensive production from sophomore guards Kendall Kearney (12.1 ppg) and Samantha Brown (11.8 ppg) after they led the team in scoring last season. He’d also like for 5-9 senior Claire Tierney (7.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg) to become “a double-double machine.” “After our top six, we’re very young,” Walls said. “We need them to grow up fast.”

6. Western Hills (17-14)

The Wolverines return all five starters, including 6-foot sophomore Malia Campbell, who averaged 14.6 points and 11.1 rebounds last season. Coach Jana Hughes has more size in 5-10 guard Aubrey Perkins, 5-11 forward Shelby Simpson and 6-foot Ava Curtis, who is just a seventh grader. “I’m excited for this season,” Hughes said.

7. Lafayette (26-5)

Returning starters Anna Clay Denton, a 5-7 senior, and Addison Combs, a 5-11 junior, both excel at softball as Evansville and Kentucky commits, respectively, and should step into lead roles on the court this season. The rest of the Generals lack game experience, but coach Allison Tate Denton said the roster is “full of energy and potential.”

8. Henry Clay (10-19)

First-year coach Brian Tribble intends to bring a fast-paced style to the Blue Devils with Kentucky State commit Jayden Jeffers, a 5-9 senior, leading the way on offense and defense. She’s the leading returning scorer and rebounder at 8.6 points and 5.2 boards per game. Carolyn Young, a 5-11 senior center, has transformed her body in the offseason and “is more skilled than ever,” Tribble said.

9. Madison Central (28-3)

The Indians graduated 90% of last season’s offense and will look to rebuild a contender around senior guard Jordynn Miles. Coach Scott True expects a breakout season from sophomore guard Abi King and plans to play “eight to 10 players most nights” to see who steps up.

10. Lexington Christian (25-8)

Last season’s Eagles won their second straight All “A” Classic region title and earned their first trip to the end-of-season 11th Region Tournament since 2010. They return senior point guard Piper Graham (14.2 ppg), who earned all region and first team all-city honors. Jentry Bertram, a 5-6 senior Liberty soccer commit, could become LCA’s all-time leading rebounder.

Rounding out

Other teams in order of votes: Tates Creek, Scott County, Lexington Catholic, Bryan Station, Sayre, Berea, Frankfort, Model, Frankfort Christian.

Methodology

The 11th Region’s 19 coaches were asked to rank the 10 best teams in the 11th Region. The list reflects the rating of the 14 coaches who responded to the “top-10 team” question in the survey.

This story was originally published December 1, 2025 at 6:30 AM.

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 25 years. Support my work with a digital subscription