The postseason is underway for girls basketball in the state of Kentucky. 

In what’s always an exciting time for Winchester, fans of George Rogers Clark High School once more have reason to celebrate. 

The GRC girls’ basketball program (22-7) won its 12th consecutive 40th District Championship on Wednesday night by defeating Montgomery County High School 60-34 at Paris High School, two days after a 73-29 victory over Bourbon County in the district semifinals. 

“They’re always exciting. They never get old,” said Head Coach Robbie Graham. “Hopefully, it continues for many, many more [years] to go.” 

In their first matchup of the tournament, during which the Lady Cards took on the Lady Colonels (14-17), GRC – which is ranked number two statewide by most polls – jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. 

Despite starting point guard Kennedy Stamper, a sophomore, sitting on the bench throughout the second quarter, as she was called for a third foul in the opening quarter’s final seconds, they extended a 21-point lead to 44 at halftime and led by as many as 52 points in the second half before moving on to a 44-point victory. 

With 13 points, senior Ciara Byars was named the team’s MVP award, while Bourbon County senior Morgan Howell received the award for her team. 

“Everyone who got on the court played how we knew they could, and it was just a team win,” said senior Khania Jones. “One thing that we’re starting to display a little bit more is attacking the rim…it’s better to get more points in the paint.” 

Two days later, the Lady Cards played the also highly touted rival Montgomery County Lady Indians (20-12). 

While GRC had defeated Montgomery County twice already this season, the Lady Indians showed no signs of backing down early. 

Led by 13 points throughout the game from junior Addison Terry, they battled GRC near even in the first half and even had a chance to tie the game in the final minute before halftime. 

However, a defensive stop and three-point basket by sophomore Kyleigh Stakelin gave GRC a 27-22 lead at halftime in what was an intense first half. 

Coming out for the third quarter, the game told a slightly different story. 

The Lady Cards burst out with a 9-0 run and extended their lead en route to a 26-point victory, outsourcing the Lady Indians 33-12 in the second half in a game much closer than the final score might indicate. 

“We felt like our offense would come…we get a lot of points off of our defense, so just amping it up and really sitting down and guarding without fouling was…the biggest thing that was expressed at halftime,” said GRC senior Ciara Byars, who finished with 10 points and is committed to play at the University of Michigan beginning next season. 

Junior Teigh Yeast, who finished with a game-high 15 points, also spoke about second half changes. 

“[We] came out [in] the second half ready to go,” she said. “[We] really pushed the tempo [offensively].” 

Coach Graham noted that – each year – one of the exciting factors in winning a District Championship is seeing new players experience it. 

Such was the case for seventh grader Eliyah Strode, who scored the game’s final points on her own rebound. 

“It feels really good,” she said. “I just kept putting it back up until I made it.” 

Montgomery County Head Coach Jordan Perry credited GRC postgame. 

“At the end of the day, that’s the team that everyone’s chasing and they’re chasing them for a reason…they’re really good at what they do. Down the stretch, whether it be fatigue or just the way the game went, they just weighed on us.” he said. “There’s no moral victories…but we feel like incremental growth has happened every time we play them.” 

Freshman Kyleigh Chestnut, finishing with 11 points after entering the starting lineup for the first time this postseason, was named the game’s MVP. 

From GRC, members of the 40th District All Tournament team included Byars, Yeast, Stamper, and senior Jailenn Green. 

Up next for the Lady Cards will be the 10th Region Tournament beginning Monday, March 3. 

The draw to determine who will play each other takes place at Biancke’s restaurant in Cynthia on Friday, February 28, at 9:00 a.m. 

In addition to GRC and Montgomery County, fellow teams in the 10th Region Tournament are Campbell County (17-9), Bishop Brossart (24-7), Mason County (21-8), Bracken County (21-10),  Nicholas County (18-12), and Harrison County (15-15).