Scott Co. tops Bryan Station in girls 42nd District semis. No. 8 Douglass awaits
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- Scott County defeated Bryan Station 40-33 to reach the 42nd District finals.
- Kiersten Young, Belle Banner and Kiley Sweeting combined for key scoring.
- Scott County will face defending champion Frederick Douglass Friday at 6 p.m.
Scott County coach Toby Harris knew his team had it in them.
Despite a 10-18 record heading into the girls 42nd District Tournament semifinals on Wednesday against a Bryan Station team that had swept them in the regular season, including a 55-52 double-overtime defeat on Lexington’s Northside just a week ago, Harris knew.
He needed his Cardinals to realize it.
“Yesterday, we had a bad practice, actually. We sent them home,” Harris said. “When they came back today, they were locked in and ready to go.”
Scott County got a pair of 3-pointers from senior Belle Banner in the first quarter and two more threes in big spots along the way from fellow senior Kiersten Young and eighth grader Kiley Sweeting in a 40-33 win over tournament host Bryan Station that sent the Cardinals (11-18) to their first district finals and 11th Region tourney berth since 2021.
Harris soaked in the water bath he received from a jubilant team as he walked into the locker room after the game.
“This group of girls, we’ve come a long way. And I told them ‘When we get here, we’re going to take care of business,” Scott County coach Toby Harris said. “It’s tough to beat a team three times. And tonight, my girls showed it. We fought. We fought. We fought. We’re young, but we hung in there in a tough environment.”
Scott County’s 16 turnovers helped keep Bryan Station in the game, but Young’s 3-pointer in transition toward the end of the second quarter helped the Cards take a 19-11 lead at half. Sweeting’s 3-pointer in the fourth quarter ended a 9-0 Defenders’ run that had cut the Scott County lead to 27-23 going into the final frame. Bryan Station got no closer.
“Today, we played more as a team, and we were moving the ball a lot better, handling the ball a lot better,” Banner said. “At times, it did feel like we had too many turnovers, but we just got right back in it. … Everyone picked each other up.”
Young led Scott County with 13 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Sweeting and Banner finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Bryan Station (14-12) got 14 points from Akiyah Wade, the only Defender in double figures.
No. 8 Frederick Douglass awaits
Next, Scott County must face defending 42nd District and 11th Region champion Frederick Douglass (20-7) in the district final at 6 p.m. Friday.
The Cardinals, like everyone else in the district and region, so far, suffered double-digit digit defeats to the No. 8 Broncos in the regular season.
“It’s a big challenge, but we’re ready for it,” Harris said. “If we come out and play our game, it’s going to be a good ball game.”
Harris, a key player on Scott County’s 1998 Boys’ Sweet 16 state champions, took over the girls’ program in 2024.
“I started the Scott County thing. I know what it takes,” he said. “We’re just going to keep putting the work in. … We’re building, and this is a big, big step for us.”
Broncos put losing skid behind them
After routing then-No. 1 Sacred Heart 83-63 on Feb. 6 in Louisville, the Broncos lost four of their next five games, all to Kentucky Media Elite 16-ranked teams.
“It’s been a really tough schedule. I feel like we haven’t been locked in the way we should be,” said Douglass junior guard Jaelee Knowles, who led five Broncos in double figures with 13 points in their 79-50 win over Henry Clay in the other semifinal on Tuesday. “You saw today, we picked it up. We’re getting back into the groove, and we’re just going to keep going on here.”
Douglass found its groove to the tune of a 19-0 run to start the game.
In addition to Knowles’ 13 points, the Broncos got 11 from Tamia Waide and 10 each from Peighton Okorley, Miami King and Brin Dumphord. Henry Clay (8-18) was led by Aliyah Baird’s 18 points. Jayden Jefferies added 16. Kelsie Lawson scored 10.
Despite his team’s rocky end of the regular season, Douglass coach Daryl Moberly believes his team is ready to make another run to the state tournament.
“We played top 25 teams almost every night we played, but we’ve got to bring our ‘A’ game and be ready to play,” Moberly said. “I think having a taste of getting to the final four (last year), the girls know what it takes.”
11th Region Tournament field is set
All the finalists in the 41st, 42nd, 43rd and 44th Districts have punched their ticket to next week’s 11th Region Tournament at Eastern Kentucky University’s Baptist Health Arena.
They are Franklin County, Western Hills, Douglass, Scott County, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Lafayette, Madison Southern and Berea. The 44th’s finals were scheduled Thursday. The rest tip off Friday.
The tournament draw will be held Saturday morning.
Girls 42nd District Tournament
At Bryan Station High School.
Monday’s first round: Henry Clay 68, Sayre 57
Tuesday’s semifinal: Frederick Douglass 79, Henry Clay 50
Wednesday’s semifinal: Scott County 40, Bryan Station 33.
Friday’s final: Frederick Douglass (20-7) vs. Scott County (11-18), 6 p.m.
This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM.
