The Henderson County Lady Colonels sent a clear message to the rest of the Second Region this past week: they are still the team to beat.
After starting the season with an even 6-6 record, the Lady Cols have gone 12-3 since the start of 2026, with their last two wins coming over Lyon County and Crittenden County, who are atop the standings in the region according to the KHSAA’s RPI rankings. Henderson currently sits at number three.
On Thursday evening, HCHS welcomed the visiting Lady Rockets to Colonel Gymnasium for a highly anticipated matchup. After a sloppy start for both teams, marred by turnovers and fouls, a back-and-forth quarter ended with a 13-12 Henderson County lead.
Maggee Melvin and A’Tylia Green each knocked down a three in the opening period, but more importantly, JaNyla Locher and Addy Gish collected two fouls apiece.
With Locher and Gish in foul trouble on the bench, the Lady Cols were unable to hold onto their lead in the second quarter. An 8-0 run to start the quarter allowed the Lady Rockets to open up a 20-13 lead before Green found Kenley Evans for her only basket with 2:55 left in the half. After the teams traded three-pointers, Crittenden County owned a 23-18 lead heading into the break.
The Lady Rockets took their biggest lead of the game at 28-20 in the third quarter. A free throw from Callie Burnett and back-to-back buckets by Gish pulled the Lady Cols to within three. Henderson got hot late in the third with consecutive threes from Locher and Green, followed by a free throw line jumper by Green with under five seconds to go to cut the deficit to 35-33 at the end of the third.
Henderson would then use its patented lockdown defense, as well as superb guard play from the seniors Green and Gish to secure the game in the final quarter. With 4:48 to play, Gish used nifty dribbling to work her way into the paint before finding Burnett for a layup which gave the Lady Cols a 37-36 lead they would not relinquish. A basket from Melvin, who finished with seven points, and two more field goals from Green widened the gap. Gish sank four straight free throws to end the game and give Henderson the 48-39 victory.
The win was Henderson’s 32nd straight region victory, further confirming its dominance in the Second Region. Henderson County moved to 18-9 on the season while Crittenden County fell to 19-5.
Green led all scorers with 20 points, shooting 3-of-7 from three. Gish chipped in 10 points and five rebounds, including going 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Locher added six points, while Burnett scored three.
