Check back on Wednesday evening when this post is updated with the regional stats report by the coaches association.

What a week it was in the girls’ 10th Region as four of the top five teams in the 10th Region went head-to-head last week, creating one of the most telling stretches of the season. And while the heavyweights battled it out, St. Patrick senior Lillian Klee continued her remarkable tear, entering this week as the state’s third leading scorer and fourth leading rebounder.

Third-ranked Bishop Brossart and fifth-ranked Nicholas County collided in the championship game of the All “A” Classic 10th Region Tournament, the annual proving ground for the region’s small-school contenders. Brossart entered as the favorite, but the Lady Jackets refused to play the part. In a gritty, back-and-forth battle featuring ten ties and 15 lead changes, according to reports, the Lady Stangs finally found daylight. Deadlocked at 47-47 early in the fourth, junior Graylee Kramer helped spark the decisive surge that carried Brossart to a hard-earned 61-55 victory and the program’s 15th small-school regional crown.

Sophomore Kylie Smith powered the Lady Stangs with 21 points, junior Lillie Meyers followed with 15, and Kramer added 10.

Nicholas County was led by junior standout Maggie Simons, who poured in 26 points, while eighth grader Sidney Sexton contributed 11 rebounds.

Now the road leads west. Brossart (17-1) advances to the Kentucky All “A” Classic Girls’ Statewide Tournament at the Owensboro Sportscenter (Jan. 21-25), where they’ll open against Region 5 champion Green County (12-6) on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.

Across the region, top-ranked George Rogers Clark rolled into Montgomery County last Thursday for their annual 40th District rivalry showdown. For three quarters, Coach Jordan Perry’s Lady Indians, playing without junior standout Baylee Warner (13 ppg, 8 rpg), refused to budge, trailing the state-ranked Lady Cards by just five (51-46) entering the final frame. But when MoCo’s leading scorer, Addison Terry, went down with an injury with five minutes remaining, the momentum flipped instantly. Coach Robbie Graham’s squad flourished, unleashing a blistering 38-point fourth quarter, including a jaw-dropping 26 points over the final five minutes, to pull away for an 89-59 win. There was no word on Terry’s status at the time of this writing.

GRC’s balance was on full display, with five players reaching double figures. Eighth grader Eliyah Strode and senior Annette Miller paced the attack with 15 apiece, junior Kennedy Stamper followed with 14, senior Teigh Yeast added 13, and sophomore Kyleigh Chestnut chipped in 10.

Montgomery County was led by junior Elaine Purvis with 15, while Terry finished with 14 before her injury.

These two will see each other again on February 12 in Winchester … circle it!

In another 10th Region matchup featuring crosstown rivals, the Paris Ladyhounds outlasted Bourbon County 29-27 in a defensive slugfest, during the 125th meeting between the two schools separated by just a mile. Junior Molly Mason delivered the go-ahead three that proved to be the difference and finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds to pace the Ladyhounds.

Below is a look at my updated 10th Region rankings following last week’s action, along with insight on each team. All player statistics are based on information submitted to the KHSAA website.

1. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK (12–2) – Coach Robbie Graham’s top-ranked Lady Cardinals, who are still a solid No. 1, opened last week with an easy district win over Bourbon County before turning their attention to their rivalry matchup with Montgomery County. 

In the win over Bourbon, Eliyah Strode led the way with 15 points, Teigh Yeast added 14, and Annette Miller chipped in 10, as 11 of the 12 players who saw the floor reached the scoring column. On Sunday in Pickerington, Ohio, the Lady Cards handled Example Academy (Frankfort, IL) 67-33, using a dominant second half in which they outscored Example 33-11. Yeast and Strode paced GRC with 14 points each, while Kennedy Stamper added 11.

GRC remains in Pickerington for the Classic in the City and returns to action today against Kings Christian Collegiate (Oakville, ON). They’ll resume district play on Friday with a short trip to Paris to face the Ladyhounds. On Saturday, the Lady Cards head to Louisville for Mercy Academy’s Raatz Fence O’Shea’s Classic, where they’ll square off with national power Incarnate Word Academy out of St. Louis, Missouri, a program that, just two years ago, owned a national-best 100-game win streak.

Yeast continues to lead GRC in scoring at 12.7 points per game.

2. CAMPBELL COUNTY (11-2) – The Lady Camels, now riding a nine-game win streak, remain a firm No. 2 after posting two more 10th Region victories last week over Mason County and Scott High. In the victory over Mason, senior Isabella Jayasuriya powered the way with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Fellow senior Faith Whitford added 17, and sophomore Addie Davis chipped in 14. Against Scott, Jayasuriya delivered again with 17 points and 9 boards, while sophomore Kendall Augsback scored 13 and Whitford added 12.

Coach Davey Johnson’s squad is set for a three-game week, beginning tonight with a trip to Franklin County. On Friday and Saturday, they’ll compete in the Kitten Classic at Ashland, where they’ll square off with Ashland and Russell, respectively.

Jayasuriya continues to anchor the Lady Camels, averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds per game.

3. BISHOP BROSSART (17-1) – The winningest team in the 10th Region with the best record, kept rolling last week, playing twice in the All “A” Classic 10th Region Tournament and capturing its 15th small-school regional title. Coach Aaron Stamm’s squad cruised past Bracken County in the semifinals behind juniors Hadley Eviston (16 points), Greylee Kramer (14), and Avery Wietholter (10). Sophomore Kylie Smith added 9 points and 11 rebounds, while senior Rachel Shewmaker controlled the glass with 12 boards to go with 5 points.

This week, the Lady Stangs meet Mason County this afternoon at Bracken County’s MLK Classic. On Wednesday, they open All “A” State Tournament play against Green County, and depending on how far they advance, they could be in action Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Owensboro. Their scheduled home game against Walton-Verona on Saturday will need to be canceled and rescheduled if they remain alive in the bracket.

Smith continues to lead Brossart, averaging 18.1 points per game.

4. MONTGOMERY COUNTY (9-6) – Coach Jordan Perry’s Lady Indians dropped two games last week, starting with a tough loss to GRC before falling to Hazard on Saturday in a tight contest. With back-to-back losses, some may wonder why they didn’t slip in the rankings – and the answer is simple: they went toe-to-toe with GRC for 27 minutes, and that tells me everything I need to know. Perry’s team did open the week with a not-so-easy 56-53 win over a scrappy Menifee County squad. Junior Elaine Purvis led the way with 21 points, while senior Addison Terry added 17 points and 7 rebounds.

This week, the Lady Indians hit the road for a Thursday matchup at No. 7 Scott, then stay away from home Friday with a trip to Lexington to face Henry Clay.

Terry continues to pace MoCo, averaging just under 20 points per game along with 6.5 rebounds.

5. NICHOLAS COUNTY (9-6) – Coach Reesa Martin’s Lady Jackets played two games last week, both in the All “A” 10th Region Tournament. They opened by fighting off a pesky Paris squad in the semifinal, riding Maggie Simons’ 28-point performance to pull away in the final quarter. Paris pushed them throughout, but Nicholas had just enough to finish the job. The win sent the Lady Jackets into the championship game against No. 3 Bishop Brossart, who entered as a heavy favorite. Nicholas, however, made the Lady Stangs earn every bit of it before Brossart finally escaped late. That effort, and that competitiveness, is why the Lady Jackets hold firm in this spot.

This week, Martin’s team heads to Lexington to face Lafayette before returning home Friday for a district matchup with Robertson County.

Simons, the state’s 7th-leading scorer, continues her outstanding season, averaging 25.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

6. PENDLETON COUNTY (10-3) – Coach Patrick Kelsch’s Lady Cats played twice last week, opening with a win over Ludlow before falling 51-48 at home to Beechwood. Pendleton led for most of the night against the Tigers before losing control late, and they did it without leading scorer Lilly Ashcraft (17.1 ppg), who missed her second straight game. That absence alone keeps the Lady Cats in this spot, because with Ashcraft, it’s hard not to believe Pendleton County wins that matchup. Senior Laci Tackett paced Kelsch’s squad with 18 points. In the win over Ludlow, juniors Savannah Rarrieck and Hannah Spaulding led the way with 16 points each, while Tackett added 11 points and 8 rebounds.

This week, PC heads to Newport Central Catholic on Tuesday before making the short trip to Cynthiana for a key district showdown with Harrison County on Friday.

Spaulding continues her strong season, averaging 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

7. SCOTT (6-9) – Coach Eric Pouncey’s Lady Eagles played two tough games last week as they continue navigating one of the state’s toughest schedules. Scott took a heavy loss to Cooper, arguably (IMO) the best team in the 9th Region, and then traveled to Campbell County for a district matchup that the No. 2 team in the region was in total control. Still, because of the strength of their schedule to this point, Pouncey’s squad stays in this spot until the teams behind them prove they can beat Scott.

The road doesn’t get any smoother this week. The Lady Eagles open with a trip to Beechwood on Wednesday, host No. 4 Montgomery County on Thursday, and wrap up the week Saturday against Newport Central Catholic, yet another top-tier 9th Region opponent.

Even through the losses, sophomore standout Noelle Price continues to shine. She scored 19 against Cooper and erupted for 29 at Campbell County, knocking down seven three-pointers. Price is averaging just under 17 points and 5 rebounds per game.

8. MASON COUNTY (9-5) – Coach Jay Fite’s Lady Royals went 1-1 last week, falling big to No. 2 Campbell County before bouncing back with a solid win over visiting West Carter. Senior Amirah Reed led Mason with 15 points against Campbell, while junior Kyleigh Kirk added 12. In the victory over West Carter, Reedagain paced the Lady Royals with 21 points and 7 rebounds. Fellow senior Olivia Hughes matched her with 21, and Kirk chipped in 12.

Fite’s team will get another measuring-stick opportunity today when they face No. 3 Bishop Brossart at Bracken County’s MLK Classic. On Thursday, they return to Brooksville for a 39th District matchup with Bracken County, then close the week at home on Saturday when Paul Laurence Dunbar makes the 90-minute trip from Lexington.

The Lady Royals continue to be led by Reed, who averages 17 points and 3 rebounds per game.

9. HARRISON COUNTY (9-9) – Coach Bill Watson’s Fillies picked up two wins last week, defeating Estill County and Robertson County to climb back to .500 on the season. In the win over Estill, senior Keylee Custard led the way with 18 points and 7 rebounds, while sophomore Naomi Farrar-Laws (four threes) and senior Resa Heimlich (5 rebounds) added 14 points apiece. Senior Lauren Hicks controlled the glass with 10 rebounds. Against Robertson, Custardagain paced the Fillies with 13 points, as 12 of the 13 players who saw action scored, and Hicks reached double figures on the boards once more with 10 rebounds.

This week, Watson’s squad faces Madison Southern in the MLK Classic at Bracken County this afternoon. On Friday, Pendleton County visits Cynthiana for a key district matchup.

Custard continues to lead Harrison County with averages of 15.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

10. BRACKEN COUNTY (7-6) – Coach Jonathon Nelson’s Lady Bears played just one game last week, falling to Bishop Brossart in the semifinal round of the All “A” 10th Region Tournament. Beginning tonight, things ramp up quickly, as Bracken County is set for four games in six days. They’ll take on Greenup County this evening in their own MLK Classic, host Mason County on Thursday, then hit the road for trips to Augusta on Friday and Lewis County on Saturday.

Sophomore Kailey Sharp continues to lead the Lady Bears, averaging 16.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

11. PARIS (12-6) – Coach Aaron Speaks’ Ladyhounds used a clutch three from junior Molly Mason to pull out a 29-27 victory over visiting Bourbon County on Saturday evening inside Redwine Gym, as the Lady Colonels went the entire second half without a made field goal. Earlier in the week, Paris fell to No. 5 Nicholas County in the All “A” 10th Region Tournament. Unlike the first meeting, a 26-point Nicholas win, the Ladyhounds battled much tougher this time, thanks to six three-point goals from Mason, but junior Maggie Simons took over late to keep the Lady Jackets in control.

Paris now turns its attention to a challenging three-game homestand, hosting district powers Montgomery County on Tuesday and George Rogers Clark on Friday, before welcoming a tough Gallatin County squad on Saturday.

Mason leads the Ladyhounds, averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds per game.

12. BOURBON COUNTY (4-13) – Coach Kylie Hilander’s young Lady Colonels picked up a win last week, defeating Bluegrass United inside Russ Day Gymnasium. Sophomore Paisley Hutchison led the way with 19 points, while senior Regan Ring posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. That victory was sandwiched between two 40th District losses, one to top-ranked GRC and the other a nail-biter against rival Paris on Saturday night.

Bourbon opens this week on the road tonight at Wolfe County. The Lady Colonels stay away from home Thursday with a trip to Nicholasville to face East Jessamine, then continue their road swing Friday heading up north to take on a particularly good Beechwood team.

Hutchison continues to pace Bourbon County with just under 10 points per game, while Ring anchors the interior with 10.3 rebounds per outing.

13. AUGUSTA (4-8) – Coach Dana Bach’s Lady Panthers were idle last week, with their most recent game coming back on January 10 when they fell to Bishop Brossart in the All “A” 10th Region Tournament. Augusta returns to action Thursday with a trip to Robertson County, then closes the week at home Friday against Bracken County.

Freshman Kahghan Hinson continues to lead the Panthers, averaging 12 points and 5 rebounds per game.

14. ROBERTSON COUNTY (3-10) – Coach Brian Dufresne’s Lady Devils dropped a district matchup to Harrison County last week. They’ll hit the road on Wednesday to Bellevue, return home Thursday to face Augusta, and then close out a three-games-in-three-days stretch Friday at No. 5 Nicholas County.

Junior Peyton Jolly continues to lead the way for the Lady Devils, averaging 14.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

15. ST. PATRICK (1-12) – Coach Isaac Klee’s Lady Saints dropped two games last week, falling to Lewis County by a single point before taking a loss against Ripley Union Lewis Huntington (Ohio). Senior star Lilian Klee continues her excellent play, entering this week as the state’s third leading scorer at 29.2 points per game while also ranking fourth statewide in rebounding at 15.2 boards per outing.

St. Patrick heads to West Union (Ohio) on Wednesday before returning home Friday to host Villa Madonna.