The Lady Royals face a tall task vs. GRC in region semifinals

The Mason County Lady Royals' reward for beating the Nicholas County Lady Jackets on Monday night in the 10th Region Tournament? A semifinal game vs. George Rogers Clark on Friday at 6 p.m. at Bourbon County.

GRC is 28-4 and has a 35-game winning streak vs.10th Region opponents over the last three seasons.

The Lady Cardinals advanced to the quarterfinals of the state tournament in 2022 and to the state semifinals last season, losing to eventual state champion Sacred Heart both years.

GRC's leading scorer, Ciara Byars, suffered a season-ending injury on January 6. The Lady Cardinals have gone 13-4 without Byars. 

Mason County has not played GRC since 2021. The Lady Cardinals have won six straight games in the series. Mason County's last win over GRC was in the 2016-17 season.

Pendleton County and Campbell County meet in the other semifinal game at 7:45.

The championship game is Saturday at 7 p.m.

The GRC Lady Cardinals beat the Montgomery County Lady Indians 74-47 for second straight 10th Region championship

The George Rogers Clark Lady Cardinals are 10th Region champions for the second straight year and the sixth time in the last seven years.

Anaya Chestnut made seven 3-pointers and scored 18 points and Briana Byars was 7-of-7 from the field and scored 17 points to lead the Lady Cardinals to a 74-47 victory over the Montgomery County Lady Indians in the championship game at The Fieldhouse on Sunday.

Eighth grader Kennedy Stamper added 15 points and Ciara Byars had 13 points and nine rebounds for GRC (26-7).

Elaine Purvis led Montgomery County (22-13) with 13 points and Hayden Barrier added 12 points.

After leading 16-13 at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Cardinals pulled away by outscoring the Lady Indians 22-10 in the second quarter.

GRC ran its winning streak to nine games. The Lady Cardinals have won 22 straight games against the Lady Indians.

GRC will play 12th Region champion Mercer County in the first round of the Mingua Beef Jerky Girls' Basketball State Tournament Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Rupp Arena. 

George Rogers Clark    16 22 18 18 — 74

Montgomery County      13 10 11 13 — 47  

George Rogers Clark — Stamper 15, K. Chestnut 3, C. Byars 13, Miller 2, B. Byars 17, Tabor 6, A. Chestnut 18

Montgomery County — Orazen 2, Routt 1, Dillon 8, Oney 5, Purvis 13, Barrier 12, Warner 4, Harris 2

10th Region media basketball awards announced

Media members throughout the 10th Region voted for the region's players of the year and coaches of the year. Votes were compiled by WFTM sports director Travis Scaggs.

George Rogers Clark sophomore Ciara Byars is the girls' Player of the Year and GRC senior Jerone Morton is the boys' Player of the Year.

Pendleton County's Patrick Kelsch is the girls' Coach of the Year and Mason County's Brian Kirk is the boys' Coach of the Year.

10th Region media votes Ciara Byars Player of the Year and Aaron Speaks and Robbie Graham Co-Coaches of the Year

George Rodgers Clark freshman guard Ciara Byars has been named the 10th Region Girls Basketball Player of the Year in voting by media members in the region.

WFTM Sports Director Travis Scaggs compiled the votes.

Byars averages 17 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. She is shooting 52.6% from the field, 33.3% from three-point range and 79.4% from the free throw line.

The media voted Aaron Speaks of Paris and Robbie Graham of George Rogers Clark the 10th Region Girls' Co-Coaches of the Year.

Speaks has guided to the Paris Lady Hounds to a 16-9 record so far. Paris won the 10th Region All "A" Classic in January.

Graham's GRC Lady Cardinals are 24-1 and ranked No. 1 in the state.