3 Teams with Impressive Wins to Start 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Basketball is the heartbeat of the Bluegrass State, and 2026 has opened with a statement. These programs are not easing into the new year. They are attacking it. Big wins, rising confidence, and momentum that is impossible to ignore. These three teams are making it clear they are built to compete!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thomas Nelson Lady Generals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas Nelson started 2026 with a massive road win at Washington County, immediately putting the 5th Region on notice! This group continues to grow, compete, and show toughness every time they take the floor under Coach Mattingly!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Danya Parsley was dominant with 16 points and 14 rebounds! She controls the paint, finishes through contact, and owns the glass on both ends! On the season she is averaging 7.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshman Emily Ward added 11 points, knocking down two threes and showing no fear! She is one of the team's most reliable shooters, currently second on the roster in made threes and free throws this season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cali Fulkerson delivered another strong performance with a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds! She leads the team in scoring at 10.3 points per game while also pulling down 10.8 rebounds per game!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aubrey Hey buried two shots from deep for 6 points! Her ability to stretch the floor is a major weapon and she leads Thomas Nelson in made three-pointers!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>⸻</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pineville Lady Lions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pineville has come out on fire to start 2026! The Lady Lions are 3–0 and Region All A Champions, building serious momentum under Coach Green!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='647307' first='Rachel' last='Howard'] is a problem inside! The 6'0 post is averaging 18.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, finishing through traffic, scoring with her back to the basket, and demanding double teams every night!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madison Johnson brings nonstop energy and toughness! She impacts the game in countless ways, rebounds outside her area, and does the dirty work that fuels winning basketball! She is averaging 9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clara Strange is steady and reliable in every phase of the game! She understands spacing, makes smart decisions, and can score inside or out! She ranks top three on the team in both scoring and rebounding!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaiti Hommontree is the team's sniper from the perimeter! Her shooting stretches defenses and opens everything up offensively! She leads the Lady Lions in made three-pointers!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>⸻</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carlisle County Lady Comets</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carlisle County has opened 2026 undefeated and winners of their last three games! Coach Wright has this group locked in and rolling into the second half of the season with confidence!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1239005' first='Macee' last='Hogancamp'] continues to dominate as the leader on the floor! She is a true force in the paint on both ends, averaging 19.2 points and nearly 12 rebounds per game while controlling the interior!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1192413' first='Gracyn' last='Edging'] has been a consistent scoring threat all season! She can score it at all three levels and is shooting over 42 percent from three while averaging 14.9 points per game!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1191104' first='Eden' last='Bruer'] is making her presence felt early! She battles inside, scores in double figures, and ranks second on the team in rebounds!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another freshman, Olivia Webb, brings grit and physicality every night! She attacks the boards, defends hard, averages 8 points per game, and ranks top three on the team in rebounds!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->