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LEXINGTON — Jeff Stowers said he lost his best defender when senior Megan Gadzala was injured earlier this season, but the Simon Kenton High School girls basketball coach didn’t panic.
He knew he had an ace in the hole with eighth-grader Angela Kabeya.
“Folks thought we were dead in the water,” Stowers said. “Everybody felt sorry for us, but little did they know that what I lost on the defensive end I was going to get on the offensive end from Angie.”
Kabeya showcased her promise Thursday, scoring a career-high 29 points to lead Simon Kenton to a 70-61 victory over Ashland Blazer in the first round of the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Sweet 16 in front of 5,027 fans at Rupp Arena.
The 5-foot-9 Kabeya, who entered the game averaging 8.8 points, made 11 of 18 shots and pitched in five rebounds.
“This year we really want to win it all, so we have to put our mind-set to it and lock in,” Kabeya said.
Kabeya was one of four Simon Kenton players to score in double figures, joining Bella Ober (14 points, six rebounds, six assists), Haylie Webb (12 points, eight rebounds) and Brynli Pernell (12 points, five rebounds, five assists).
[IMG alt="Simon Kenton’s Angela Kabeya (30) makes the basket against Ashland Blazer’s Jenna Delaney (23) in their first game of the 2026 Clark’s Pump N Shop KHSAA Girl’s Sweet 16.
March 12, 2026"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-courier-journal/18552abf3ce812b89ebd5066ff12edb5[/IMG]
Ranked No. 3 in the state, Simon Kenton (32-2) improved to 30-0 against Kentucky opponents this season. The Pioneers will face the Owensboro Catholic-Letcher County Central winner in Friday’s 6 p.m. quarterfinal.
No. 14 Ashland Blazer (26-6) got big games from Gabby Karle (22 points, seven rebounds, five assists) and Brookelyn Duckwyler (20 points).
“It’s tough to lose, but it feels better to lose at Rupp than it does anywhere else,” Kittens coach Stacy Davis. “I’m proud of the girls and the way they competed against a top team in Kentucky.”
Simon Kenton led 41-27 midway through the third quarter before Ashland Blazer battled back, pulling even at 51 on Duckwyler’s 3-pointer with 5:35 remaining.
But the Pioneers put together a 9-1 run, with Kabeya’s 3-pointer capping it for a 62-54 lead with 1:39 left.
Stowers compared Kabeya to former Detroit Pistons star Vinnie Johnson, who was known as “The Microwave.”
“She’s our instant offense,” Stowers said.
Davis was impressed.
“We knew that (Kabeya) was the X-factor,” Davis said. “You look at 29 points, and the X-factor pulled it through for them. The future is bright for her.”
ASHLAND 10 14 16 21 - 61
SIMON KENTON 13 14 21 22- 70
Ashland Blazer (26-6) – Alexis Troxler 3, Brookelyn Duckwyler 20, Gabby Karle 22, Jenna Delaney 2, Aryanna Gulley 3, Zoey Smith 11.
Simon Kenton (32-2) – Brynli Pernell 12, Bella Ober 14, Anna Kelch 3, Angela Kabeya 29, Haylie Webb 12.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; [email protected]; Follow on X @kyhighs.
Wednesday, March 11
Frederick Douglass 44, Henderson County 23
Assumption 72, Calloway County 35
Notre Dame 77, Pikeville 38
Taylor County 60, West Jessamine 58
Thursday, March 12
Franklin-Simpson 66, Bullitt East 47
Simon Kenton 70, Ashland Blazer 61
6 p.m. – Owensboro Catholic (26-9) vs. Letcher County Central (23-10)
8:30 p.m. – George Rogers Clark (29-2) vs. North Laurel (25-6)
Friday, March 13
11 a.m. – Frederick Douglass (25-7) vs. Assumption (25-5)
1:30 p.m. – Notre Dame (25-7) vs. Taylor County (28-6)
6 p.m. – Simon Kenton (32-2) vs. Owensboro Catholic-Letcher County Central winner
8:30 p.m. – Franklin-Simpson (25-7) vs. George Rogers Clark-North Laurel winner
Saturday, March 14
11 a.m. – Semifinal No. 1
1:30 p.m. – Semifinal No. 2
7:30 p.m. – Final
More high school basketball: KHSAA Sweet 16 bracket, field for Kentucky boys championships
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA Sweet 16 results, Kentucky girls basketball tournament scores
Continue reading...
He knew he had an ace in the hole with eighth-grader Angela Kabeya.
“Folks thought we were dead in the water,” Stowers said. “Everybody felt sorry for us, but little did they know that what I lost on the defensive end I was going to get on the offensive end from Angie.”
Kabeya showcased her promise Thursday, scoring a career-high 29 points to lead Simon Kenton to a 70-61 victory over Ashland Blazer in the first round of the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Sweet 16 in front of 5,027 fans at Rupp Arena.
The 5-foot-9 Kabeya, who entered the game averaging 8.8 points, made 11 of 18 shots and pitched in five rebounds.
“This year we really want to win it all, so we have to put our mind-set to it and lock in,” Kabeya said.
Kabeya was one of four Simon Kenton players to score in double figures, joining Bella Ober (14 points, six rebounds, six assists), Haylie Webb (12 points, eight rebounds) and Brynli Pernell (12 points, five rebounds, five assists).
[IMG alt="Simon Kenton’s Angela Kabeya (30) makes the basket against Ashland Blazer’s Jenna Delaney (23) in their first game of the 2026 Clark’s Pump N Shop KHSAA Girl’s Sweet 16.
March 12, 2026"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-courier-journal/18552abf3ce812b89ebd5066ff12edb5[/IMG]
Ranked No. 3 in the state, Simon Kenton (32-2) improved to 30-0 against Kentucky opponents this season. The Pioneers will face the Owensboro Catholic-Letcher County Central winner in Friday’s 6 p.m. quarterfinal.
No. 14 Ashland Blazer (26-6) got big games from Gabby Karle (22 points, seven rebounds, five assists) and Brookelyn Duckwyler (20 points).
“It’s tough to lose, but it feels better to lose at Rupp than it does anywhere else,” Kittens coach Stacy Davis. “I’m proud of the girls and the way they competed against a top team in Kentucky.”
Simon Kenton led 41-27 midway through the third quarter before Ashland Blazer battled back, pulling even at 51 on Duckwyler’s 3-pointer with 5:35 remaining.
But the Pioneers put together a 9-1 run, with Kabeya’s 3-pointer capping it for a 62-54 lead with 1:39 left.
Stowers compared Kabeya to former Detroit Pistons star Vinnie Johnson, who was known as “The Microwave.”
“She’s our instant offense,” Stowers said.
Davis was impressed.
“We knew that (Kabeya) was the X-factor,” Davis said. “You look at 29 points, and the X-factor pulled it through for them. The future is bright for her.”
ASHLAND 10 14 16 21 - 61
SIMON KENTON 13 14 21 22- 70
Ashland Blazer (26-6) – Alexis Troxler 3, Brookelyn Duckwyler 20, Gabby Karle 22, Jenna Delaney 2, Aryanna Gulley 3, Zoey Smith 11.
Simon Kenton (32-2) – Brynli Pernell 12, Bella Ober 14, Anna Kelch 3, Angela Kabeya 29, Haylie Webb 12.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; [email protected]; Follow on X @kyhighs.
KHSAA Girls Sweet 16 bracket, results
Wednesday, March 11
Frederick Douglass 44, Henderson County 23
Assumption 72, Calloway County 35
Notre Dame 77, Pikeville 38
Taylor County 60, West Jessamine 58
Thursday, March 12
Franklin-Simpson 66, Bullitt East 47
Simon Kenton 70, Ashland Blazer 61
6 p.m. – Owensboro Catholic (26-9) vs. Letcher County Central (23-10)
8:30 p.m. – George Rogers Clark (29-2) vs. North Laurel (25-6)
Friday, March 13
11 a.m. – Frederick Douglass (25-7) vs. Assumption (25-5)
1:30 p.m. – Notre Dame (25-7) vs. Taylor County (28-6)
6 p.m. – Simon Kenton (32-2) vs. Owensboro Catholic-Letcher County Central winner
8:30 p.m. – Franklin-Simpson (25-7) vs. George Rogers Clark-North Laurel winner
Saturday, March 14
11 a.m. – Semifinal No. 1
1:30 p.m. – Semifinal No. 2
7:30 p.m. – Final
More high school basketball: KHSAA Sweet 16 bracket, field for Kentucky boys championships
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA Sweet 16 results, Kentucky girls basketball tournament scores
Continue reading...
