The Taylor County Lady Cardinals had a basketball season to remember! With an impressive 25-9 record, they showcased their talent, grit, and determination from start to finish.
The season kicked off with a tough loss to Bethlehem, but the Lady Cards didn’t stay down for long. They bounced back with big wins over teams like Adair County and Wayne County, showing they were a force to be reckoned with. One of the standout moments came in December when they took down Bardstown in a thrilling 77-70 victory — a true testament to their resilience.
But the real highlight came during postseason play. The Lady Cardinals claimed the 2A Sectional Title and went on to finish as the 2A State Runner-Up — an incredible accomplishment! Their run included a dominant win over Knott County Central in the Girls State Sweet 16, where they jumped out to a 10-0 lead and never looked back, cruising to a 53-35 victory. Their defense was rock solid, holding Knott Central to just 12 points in the first half.
Individually, several players stood out with remarkable performances. Kennedy Deener, an 8th grader, led the team in scoring with an impressive 590 points, averaging 19 points per game. Senior Kennedy Jackson played a crucial role as well, scoring 340 points across 34 games. Sophomore Avery Raikes added 298 points to the season’s total, averaging 9 points per game.
Freshman Greta Bradstreet proved to be a key three-point shooter, knocking down 62 three-pointers while scoring 244 points overall. Sophomore Kallie Vaughn contributed with 164 points, while 8th graders Jaylee Vernon and Abigayle Wilcher added 119 and 80 points, respectively.
As a team, the Lady Cardinals showed efficiency on the court, shooting 40.4% from the field, including a solid 35.5% from beyond the arc with 191 total three-pointers made. They excelled at the free-throw line as well, hitting 71.8% of their attempts. On the boards, they pulled down 1,105 total rebounds, demonstrating their strength inside the paint.
From buzzer-beaters to defensive lockdowns, the Lady Cardinals gave fans plenty to cheer about this season. Their hard work and dedication paid off, cementing their place as one of Kentucky’s top high school girls’ basketball teams.
Congratulations to the Taylor County Lady Cardinals on an outstanding season! Your community is proud of you!