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After falling in the 10th Region Semifinals to Bishop Brossart in 2021, the George Rogers Clark Lady Cardinals basketball team made it their mission to regain the 10th Region Championship crown.

As this past week proved, they haven’t looked back.

The Lady Cards won their fourth consecutive 10th Region Championship, this time defeating Bishop Brossart in the championship game at Campbell County Middle School, to advance to the 2025 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Girls’ Basketball Sweet 16 Tournament at Rupp Arena.

They will take on 4th Region Champion Franklin-Simpson High School on Wednesday, March 12, at 6:00 p.m.

“It’s very special,” said Head Coach Robbie Graham. “Someone asked me earlier [if] it ever [gets] old. I [said], ‘Does happiness ever get old? Does joy ever get old? I don’t think so’”

Ranked number two in many state polls, the Lady Cards – after winning their 12th straight District Championship – began the tournament with a matchup against Mason County.

By halftime, the Lady Cards – led by 15 total points from senior Jailenn Green – were firmly in control and cruised to a convincing 77-37 victory.

Four days later, on Friday, March 7, they played Campbell County.

Playing in their home county, the Camels saw junior Izzy Jayasuriya score 11 first half points.

However, she was the only one to do so, as a ferocious Lady Cards defense propelled GRC to a 30-11 halftime lead.

Keeping any player other than Jayasuriya from scoring a field goal until the 3-minute mark of the third quarter, GRC cruised to a 68-34 victory.

Green stood out once again, scoring 22 overall points – 17 in the first half – while creating turnovers on defense as well.

“I just felt like we played well as a team. We do what we can,” she said. “I just try to get my teammates involved as much as [possible].”

Kennedy Stamper added 14 points of her own, two of which ended a brief Campbell County run in the first half that threatened to allow the Lady Camels back in the game.

“We knew they were on a run, so I thought it was important to definitely stop the run and…get back and score,” she said. “Everybody’s [going to] give us their best shot, so we just [have to] be ready to play.” On Saturday, March 8, the Lady Cards played for the 10th Region Championship.

Their opponent, Bishop Brossart, had defeated Montgomery County and Bracken County en route to the game.

Early on, the Lady Mustangs showed no signs of backing down, playing aggressive defense against the formidable Lady Cards.

However, arguably the most fitting moment of the tournament took place.

Last year, senior Ciara Byars – a McDonald’s All American nominee – had been forced to watch the tournament from the sideline after a season-ending ACL injury in January.

This year, she’d play a significant factor in GRC capturing regional gold.

Byars scored 12 points in the first half – finishing with a game-high 14 overall – to help GRC break the game open for a 17-point halftime lead.

They finished with a 71-36 victory.

“Our game plan is always just to go where the mismatches are, and with them being smaller and playing us [man-to-man] defense, having the ball [in] my hands tonight [worked],” she said. “When they were doubling, we were able to cut off [and] get some open shots, so it was a really good …overall team win.”

A number of other players also contributed.

Junior Annette Miller, with both teams battling for points early on, scored two following an offensive rebound and later contributed with a pair of hard-earned defensive rebounds.

“I just want to make sure I do my part so that we can win,” she said.

Senior Khania Jones, who missed over a month in the regular season due to injury and is now in the starting lineup, reflected on the tournament.

“I think it was a good region tournament. We came together,” she said. “We’re just pushing forward. We don’t have time to go back, and I think that [creates] a good vibe in team chemistry.”

For senior Maddie Settles, who dribbled out the ball in the game’s closing seconds, four straight years of 10th Region Championships creates special memories.

“Each time, there’s different girls out here going to Rupp [Arena],” she said. “It’s amazing.”

One of those girls going to Rupp Arena with GRC for the first time is fellow senior Amaya Maxwell, who previously played at Frederick Douglass High School.

“It’s definitely good to get out here, and just be able to win with them,” Maxwell said.

Addressing the community, Coach Graham said he hopes to see a fan section of solid red this upcoming week.

“Come support these girls. They’ve had a heck of a year!” he said.