2021 Girls’ Sweet 16: A glance at every team and predictions for who could win it all
The 2021 Mingua Beef Jerky/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16 begins Wednesday at Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington.
All the bracket slots have been filled for this year’s state high school basketball tournament. 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.
* Denotes a Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches Region Player of the Year and Miss Basketball candidate.
1ST REGION: MARSHALL COUNTY
Record: 22-2.
Head coach: Aaron Beth.
Leading scorers: Cayson Conner*, 13.1 ppg; Halle Langhi, 12.6 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Langhi, 8.1 rpg.
Notable wins: Bowling Green, 60-28, Jan. 9; Bardstown, 56-50, Feb. 6; Henderson County 46-45, Feb. 23.
Notable losses: Bethlehem, 67-60, Jan. 8; Southwestern, 48-39, March 6.
Win streak: Four, dating to March 15.
H-L Preseason rank: No. 17.
Sweet 16 history: 24th appearance and second straight; state champion in 1982, 1984.
First-round opponent: Pikeville (25-5) at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: The Marshals and Panthers have not met this season.
2ND REGION: HENDERSON COUNTY
Record: 18-4.
Head coach: Jeff Haile.
Leading scorers: Sadie Wurth*, 13.6 ppg; Jarie Thomas, 12.6 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Thomas, 6.8 rpg.
Notable wins: Bowling Green, 56-49, Jan. 15; Breckinridge County, 62-51, March 5.
Notable losses: Marshall County, 46-45, Feb. 23; Elizabethtown, 51-48 Feb. 27.
Win streak: Nine, dating to March 1.
H-L Preseason rank: No. 23.
Sweet 16 history: 17th appearance and third straight.
First-round opponent: Apollo (16-6) at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: The Colonels defeated the E-gals 50-33 on March 9.
3RD REGION: APOLLO
Record: 16-6.
Head coach: Natalie Payne.
Leading scorers: Kassidy Daugherty, 11.8 ppg; Amaya Curry, 11.5 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Zoe Floyd, 7.2 rpg.
Notable wins: Breckinridge County 47-46, March 27; Owensboro Catholic, 57-47, March 6, 53-31, March 19.
Notable losses: Bethlehem, 69-57, Jan. 9; Bowling Green, 57-43 March 4.
Win streak: Six, dating to March 12.
H-L Preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: Seventh appearance and first since 1997.
First-round opponent: Henderson County (18-4) at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: The E-gals lost to the Colonels 50-33 on March 9.
4TH REGION: BOWLING GREEN
Record: 18-10.
Head coach: Calvin Head.
Leading scorers: LynKaylah James, 16.2 ppg; Meadow Tisdale, 14 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Tisdale, 10 rpg.
Notable wins: Bardstown, 60-48, March 2; Apollo, 57-43, March 4.
Notable losses: Marshall County, 60-28, Jan. 9; Henderson County, 56-49, Jan. 15; Bethlehem, 53-41, Feb. 23.
Win streak: 10, dating to March 2.
H-L Preseason rank: No. 13.
Sweet 16 history: Eighth appearance and second straight.
First-round opponent: Bishop Brossart (21-5) at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: The Purples and Mustangs have not met this season.
5TH REGION: BETHLEHEM
Record: 25-4.
Head coach: Jason Clark.
Leading scorers: Ella Thompson*, 17.6 ppg; Amelia Hodges, 15.4 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Thompson*, 9.7 rpg.
Notable wins: Marshall County, 67-60, Jan. 8; Apollo, 69-57, Jan. 9; Bowling Green, 53-41, Feb. 23; Sacred Heart, 65-59, Feb. 26.
Notable losses: Bardstown, 74-67, Feb. 1, Anderson County, 57-56, Feb. 4; Ryle 62-58, March 3.
Win streak: Seven, dating to March 5.
H-L Preseason rank: No. 5.
Sweet 16 history: Second appearance, the other in 2019.
First-round opponent: Bullitt East (22-2) at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: The Banshees and Chargers have not met this season.
6TH REGION: BULLITT EAST
Record: 22-2.
Head coach: Chris Stallings.
Leading scorers: Gracie Merkle, 17.9 ppg; Emma Egan, 11.9 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Merkle, 11.2 rpg.
Notable wins: South Laurel, 63-39, Jan. 16; Sacred Heart, 63-60, Feb. 3; Franklin County, 62-39, Feb. 22; Butler, 58-50, March 7 and 48-45, March 28.
Notable losses: Ryle, 63-52, Feb. 12; Bardstown, 66-64, Feb. 13.
Win streak: 14, dating to Feb. 20.
H-L Preseason rank: No. 12.
Sweet 16 history: Fourth appearance and second straight.
First-round opponent: Bethlehem (25-4) at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: The Chargers and Banshees have not met this season.
7TH REGION: SACRED HEART
Record: 21-7.
Head coach: Donna Moir.
Leading scorers: Triniti Ralston, 12.8 ppg; Reagan Bender, 9.9 ppg; Josie Gilvin, 9.6 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Gilvin, 7.2 rpg
Notable wins: Ryle, 71-62, Jan. 15; North Laurel, 87-76, Jan. 23; Central, 54-51, March 28..
Notable losses: Anderson County, 69-68, Feb. 20; Bethlehem, 65-59, Feb. 26; Bullitt East, 63-60, Feb. 23.
Win streak: Four, dating to March 18.
H-L Preseason rank: No. 6.
Sweet 16 history: Ninth appearance and second straight; state titles in 1976, 2002, 2003, 2004.
First-round opponent: Knott County Central (20-7) at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: The Valkyries and Patriots have not met this season.
8TH REGION: ANDERSON COUNTY
Record: 26-2.
Head coach: Clay Birdwhistell.
Leading scorers: Amiya Jenkins, 17.2 ppg; Tiffany Riley, 9.2 ppg; Sophie Smith, 8.8 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Rebounding stats not reported to KHSAA.
Notable wins: Franklin County, 64-32, Jan. 12; Bethlehem, 57-56, Feb. 4; Sacred Heart, 69-58, Feb. 20.
Notable losses: Ryle, 67-64, Feb. 25; Boyd County, 51-47, Feb. 27.
Win streak: Seven, dating to March 1.
H-L Preseason rank: No. 3.
Sweet 16 history: Seventh appearance and second straight.
First-round opponent: Southwestern (20-3) at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: The Bearcats and Warriors have not met this season.
9TH REGION: DIXIE HEIGHTS
Record: 27-2.
Head coach: Joel Steczynski.
Leading scorers: Madelyn Lawson, 14.4 ppg; Sydney Lockard, 12.2 ppg; Laci Reinhart, 11.6 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Lawson, 8.2 rpg.
Notable wins: Notre Dame, 45-43, March 6, 45-43, March 29; Cooper, 64-55, March 25.
Notable losses: Ryle, 69-51, Jan. 8; Cooper, 40-35, Jan. 22.
Win streak: 22, dating to Jan. 23.
H-L Preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: Third appearance and first since 1992.
First-round opponent: Russell (19-5) at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: The Colonels and Red Devils have not met this season.
10TH REGION: BISHOP BROSSART
Record: 21-5.
Head coach: Kevin Bundy.
Leading scorers: Marie Kiefer*, 20.1 ppg; Rosie Jump, 6.7 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Kiefer, 10.9 rpg.
Notable wins: Central Hardin, 59-22, Jan. 16; Clark County, 56-49; March 29.
Notable losses: Ryle, 62-59, Feb. 11; Cooper, 47-42, Feb. 13.
Win streak: Seven, dating to March 5.
H-L Preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: Second appearance with the other in 2001.
First-round opponent: Bowling Green (18-10) at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: The Lady ’Stangs and Purples have not met this season.
11TH REGION: FRANKLIN COUNTY
Record: 17-5.
Head coach: Joey Thacker.
Leading scorers: Brooklynn Miles*, 16.4 ppg; Patience Laster, 13.7 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Laster, 8.1 rpg.
Notable wins: Southwestern, 51-49, Jan. 5; Highlands, 46-45, March 10.
Notable losses: Anderson County, 64-32, Jan. 12; Bullitt East, 62-39, Feb. 22.
Win streak: Eight, dating to March 4.
H-L Preseason rank: No. 2.
Sweet 16 history: Sixth appearance, finalist in 1980, 2016, 2017.
First-round opponent: South Laurel (20-10) at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: The Flyers and Cardinals have not met this season.
12TH REGION: SOUTHWESTERN
Record: 20-3.
Head coach: Junior Molden.
Leading scorers: Alexa Smiddy, 15.1 ppg; Kaylee Young, 10.1 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Marissa Loveless, 4.8 rpg.
Notable wins: South Laurel, 66-46, Jan. 15; Marshall County, 48-39, March 6; Mercer County, 65-56, March 28.
Notable losses: Franklin County, 51-49, Jan. 5; Wayne County, 64-58, Feb. 1.
Win streak: 12, dating to Feb. 5.
H-L Preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: Second appearance with the other in 2019.
First-round opponent: Anderson County (26-2) at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: The Warriors and Bearcats have not met this season.
13TH REGION: SOUTH LAUREL
Record: 20-10.
Head coach: Chris Souder
Leading scorers: Rachel Presley, 14.8, Brianna Howard, 10.1.
Leading rebounder: Presley, 7.4 rpg.
Notable wins: Wayne County, 66-50, Feb. 20; Danville, 67-57, March 1; North Laurel, 63-57, March 29.
Notable losses: Southwestern, 66-46, Jan. 15; Bullitt East, 63-39, Jan. 16; Pikeville, 77-47, March 5.
Win streak: Six, dating to March 6.
H-L Preseason rank: No. 7.
Sweet 16 history: Fourth appearance and second straight.
First-round opponent: Franklin County (17-5) at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: The Cardinals and Flyers have not met this season.
14TH REGION: KNOTT COUNTY CENTRAL
Record: 20-7.
Head coach: Jeff Honeycutt.
Leading scorers: Keara Mullins, 13.5 ppg; Abby Maggard, 12.2 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Mullins, 7.7 rpg.
Notable wins: Owsley County, 91-79, March 29; Letcher County Central, 86-79 4 OT, March 30.
Notable losses: North Laurel, 74-54, Feb. 5 and 74-51, Feb. 9; Pikeville, 74-52, Feb. 20..
Win streak: Five, dating to March 13.
H-L Preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: Seventh appearance and first since 2019.
First-round opponent: Sacred Heart (21-7) at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: The Patriots and Valkyries have not met this season.
15TH REGION: PIKEVILLE
Record: 25-5.
Head coach: Kristy Orem.
Leading scorers: Trinity Rowe, 15 ppg; Mackenzie Maynard 11.7 ppg; Kristen Whited, 10.3 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Maynard, 7.3 rpg.
Notable wins: Knott County Central, 74-52, Feb. 20; South Laurel 77-47, March 5.
Notable losses: Boyd County, 81-58, Jan. 23 and 57-53, Jan. 26.
Win streak: Seven, dating to March 8.
H-L Preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: Fifth appearance and third consecutive.
First-round opponent: Marshall County (22-2) at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: The Panthers and Marshals have not met this season.
16TH REGION: RUSSELL
Record: 19-5.
Head coach: Mandy Layne.
Leading scorers: Aubrey Hill, 14.7 ppg; Shaelyn Steele, 13.7 ppg.
Leading rebounder: Hill, 7 rpg.
Notable wins: Boyd County, 58-55, Feb. 25; 72-61, March 27.
Notable losses: Butler, 57-45, Feb. 6, Anderson County, 48-45, Feb. 13; Boyd County, 67-62, March 4.
Win streak: Eight, dating to March 5.
H-L Preseason rank: No. 18.
Sweet 16 history: Sixth appearance and second straight.
First round opponent: Dixie Heights (27-2) at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: The Red Devils and Colonels have not met this season.
@HLPREPS PICKS
Elite eight: Sacred Heart, Bishop Brossart, Franklin County, Anderson County, Marshal County, Bethlehem, Henderson County, Dixie Heights.
Final four: Sacred Heart, Anderson County, Bethlehem, Dixie Heights.
Finals: Anderson County, Bethlehem.
Champion: Anderson County.
@HLpreps 2021 postseason record: In my girls’ postseason preview, I correctly picked seven of the 16 region title winners, and I listed Bowling Green, Sacred Heart and Southwestern as region favorites and Apollo, Dixie Heights, Bishop Brossart, South Laurel, Knott County Central and Russell as potential spoilers, but picked against them.
For the Boys’ Sweet 16 I picked two of the semifinalists and called eight of the 15 games correctly.
As always, picks are just for fun and conversation. Love being right. Never sweat being wrong because that’s fun, too. Good luck to all.
Girls’ Sweet 16
What: Sixteen-team tournament to decide Kentucky’s high school basketball state champion
When: Wednesday through Saturday
Where: Rupp Arena
Tickets: Seating is limited because of COVID-19. Tickets available for purchase at KHSAA.org.
Girls’ Sweet 16 schedule
At Rupp Arena
Wednesday
11 a.m.: Knott County Central vs. Sacred Heart
2 p.m.: Bowling Green vs. Bishop Brossart
5 p.m.: Franklin County vs. South Laurel
8 p.m.: Anderson County vs. Southwestern
Thursday
11 a.m.: Pikeville vs. Marshall County
2 p.m.: Bethlehem vs. Bullitt East
5 p.m.: Henderson County vs. Apollo
8 p.m.: Dixie Heights vs. Russell
Friday
11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m.: Quarterfinal games
Saturday
11 a.m., 2 p.m.: Semifinal games
8 p.m.: Championship game
CANTRALL RATINGS
Dave Cantrall’s Rating the State rankings for teams in the Sweet 16:
1. Bethlehem 86.6
2. Anderson County 86.5
3. Bullitt East 84.8
4. Dixie Heights 84.6
5. Marshall County 84.0
6. Henderson County 82.9
7. Sacred Heart 82.7
8. Southwestern 82.0
9. Russell 81.2
10. Bowling Green 78.9
11. Franklin County 78.6
11. Pikeville 78.6
13. Bishop Brossart 77.2
14. Apollo 76.6
15. South Laurel 73.3
16. Knott Central 66.3
This story was originally published April 5, 2021 at 8:02 AM.
