Taylor County’s remarkable postseason run concluded Saturday afternoon, with the Lady Cards falling to the Assumption Rockets in the Final Four of the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Sweet 16 tournament.
Despite the defeat, the Lady Cardinals wrapped up a season to remember, making their first-ever appearance in the state semifinals—a milestone that brought excitement and pride to the Taylor County community.
Taylor County was led offensively by Kennedy Deener, who finished with 9 points on 4-of-11 shooting while adding two assists. Avery Raikes contributed 8 points, shooting an efficient 3-of-4 from the field and knocking down a three-pointer.
Kallie Vaughn and Greta Bradstreet each added 5 points for the Lady Cards. Vaughn connected on a three-pointer and went a perfect 2-for-2 at the free-throw line while also pulling down four rebounds. Bradstreet grabbed five rebounds and added two assists while playing a team-high 30 minutes.
Off the bench, Jaylee Vernon chipped in 2 points and three rebounds in 11 minutes of action.
Though the season ended one game shy of the championship, the Lady Cardinals’ run to the Final Four will go down as one of the most memorable seasons in program history. With several key players expected to return next year, the experience gained on the state’s biggest stage could serve as a steppingstone for future success.
For Taylor County, the loss marks the end of a special journey — but also the beginning of higher expectations for a program that proved it can compete with the best in the state.