2026 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Kentucky Girls Sweet 16 – Tournament Recap
Rupp Arena | Lexington, Kentucky
For five days in March, the center of the Kentucky high school basketball world once again shifted to Rupp Arena, where sixteen of the best teams in the state gathered with one goal: survive the week and leave as the Kentucky Girls Sweet 16 State Champion.
What unfolded throughout the tournament was a week full of dominant performances, defensive battles, rising young stars, and one program ultimately proving it had the toughness to win four games in five days.
At the end of it all, the GRC Lady Cardinals stood alone, cutting down the nets and bringing the 2026 Girls Sweet 16 Championship back to Winchester.
Opening Round – Setting the Tone
The first round immediately showed the depth of the field. Several teams arrived with impressive resumes and explosive offenses, but the first day also proved that defense and discipline would matter just as much as scoring.
Frederick Douglass opened the tournament with a 41-19 win over Henderson County, suffocating the Lady Colonels with relentless defensive pressure and forcing turnovers that fueled their offense.
Assumption quickly made a statement of their own in the opening round, defeating Calloway County 72-35 behind the scoring duo of Ashlinn James and Se’Rae Bundrent-Palmer. The Rockets dominated the paint and controlled the glass, immediately positioning themselves as a championship contender.
Other first round matchups were far more competitive. Franklin-Simpson survived a tough battle with Bullitt East 66-47, while Simon Kenton outlasted Ashland Blazer in one of the tournament’s most exciting games 70-61, powered by junior Brynli Pernell and breakout 8th grader Angela Kabeya.
Owensboro Catholic closed out the opening round with a dominant performance against Letcher Central, winning 59-35 after forcing a staggering turnover margin.
Quarterfinals – The Field Narrows
By the quarterfinals, the contenders began separating themselves from the rest of the pack.
Franklin-Simpson continued its strong run, while Simon Kenton knocked off Owensboro Catholic 63-50, setting a school postseason record with nine three-pointers.
Taylor County survived a defensive battle with Notre Dame Academy 44-36 to punch its ticket to the semifinals.
Meanwhile, GRC began to show the form that would eventually carry them to the championship. The Lady Cardinals overwhelmed Franklin-Simpson 69-33, shooting efficiently and dominating transition play. Teigh Yeast, Kennedy Stamper, and Eliyah Strode all played major roles in the decisive victory.
With the quarterfinals complete, the Final Four was set:
• Assumption
• Taylor County
• Simon Kenton
• GRC
Semifinals – Championship Dreams
The semifinals featured two very different styles of games.
Assumption used its size and depth to pull away from Taylor County in the morning semifinal, earning the first spot in the championship game.
The second semifinal between Simon Kenton and GRC was one of the most anticipated matchups of the week.
Simon Kenton entered the game riding momentum behind Pernell and Kabeya, but GRC came out firing early. The Lady Cardinals exploded to a 23-6 first quarter lead, setting the tone with defensive pressure and balanced scoring.
Simon Kenton battled throughout the game, but GRC maintained control and advanced with a 66-40 victory, earning a chance to play for the state championship.
Championship Night – GRC Finishes the Job
The title game between Assumption and GRC was a defensive battle from the opening tip.
Assumption controlled much of the early action behind the scoring of Ashlinn James, taking a 21-19 halftime lead in a game defined by physical defense and limited three-point shooting.
In the third quarter, GRC finally found its rhythm. Eliyah Strode and Teigh Yeast sparked a run that gave the Lady Cardinals their first lead of the game.
The fourth quarter belonged to GRC.
Yeast opened the final period with a 6-0 run, and clutch free throws from Kennedy Stamper and Anaya Chestnut helped seal the victory as the Lady Cardinals defeated Assumption 48-43.
Tournament Honors
The tournament also showcased some of the best individual talent in the state.
All-Tournament Team
Assumption
• Ashlinn James
• Se’Rae Bundrent-Palmer
• Kylie Moore
GRC
• Kennedy Stamper
• Eliyah Strode
Tournament MVP
• Teigh Yeast (GRC)
Yeast’s leadership, defense, and timely scoring throughout the tournament helped guide the Lady Cardinals through one of the toughest brackets in the state.
A Championship for Winchester
Winning the Sweet 16 requires more than talent. It takes depth, composure, defense, and the ability to perform under the brightest lights in Kentucky high school basketball.
Throughout the week, GRC displayed all of those traits.
From the opening round to the final buzzer, the Lady Cardinals played with confidence, physicality, and resilience.
And when the nets came down inside Rupp Arena, the celebration belonged to Winchester.
The 2026 Kentucky Girls Sweet 16 Champion:
GRC Lady Cardinals.
