News Summary
The Kentucky All-Stars made a strong statement by sweeping the Indiana All-Stars in the recent girls’ basketball series, achieving a victory in both games. The highlight of the series was a thrilling double overtime win in the second game, where key players like LaReesha Cawthorn and ZaKiyah Johnson delivered standout performances. This marked a significant achievement for Kentucky, as it was their first sweep since 2012, showcasing the bright future of young athletes preparing for collegiate basketball.
Indianapolis, IN – The Kentucky All-Stars achieved a remarkable feat by sweeping the Indiana All-Stars in the 2025 girls’ basketball series, marking the first time since 2012 that Kentucky has won both games in the annual matchup. The decisive victory came after Kentucky defeated Indiana 106-103 in a thrilling double overtime game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday.
LaReesha Cawthorn, a recent graduate from Franklin-Simpson, was a key player in the series, contributing significantly to Kentucky’s win with 11 points and 7 rebounds in the second game. Alongside her scoring, she also recorded 3 steals and 2 assists. This performance solidified Cawthorn’s reputation as a rising talent, as she is set to continue her basketball career at Tennessee Tech.
The star of the game, however, was Kentucky Miss Basketball ZaKiyah Johnson from Sacred Heart Academy, who dominated the court with an impressive 34 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Johnson, who will be signing with Michigan, also contributed 5 assists and made 3 steals, showcasing her all-around skills.
Not far behind Johnson were Louisville signee Peyton Bradley from Meade County and Michigan signee Ciara Byers from George Rogers Clark. Bradley added a stellar 26 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 steals, while Byers secured 9 points and 8 rebounds. Northern Kentucky signee Caroline Eaglin from Newport Central Catholic also made her mark with 11 points and 2 assists.
The first game of the series, played on Friday at Lexington Catholic High School, had already set the tone for the succeeding match. In this game, Kentucky emerged victorious with a score of 84-73. Johnson led the scoring with 28 points and 11 rebounds, while Cawthorn achieved a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, supplemented by 4 assists. Bradley recorded 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals, and Byers added 15 points and contributed 5 rebounds.
On the opposing side, Indiana’s Maya Makalusky, the Indiana Miss Basketball, tried to rally her team with a scoring output of 18 points during the first game, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
While the girls’ series ended in triumph for Kentucky, the boys’ matchup resulted in a different outcome, with Indiana winning both contests. Kentucky fell to Indiana 98-89 on Friday and again 105-92 on Saturday. Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball, Malachi Moreno, a 7-foot-1 signee at Kentucky, was unable to participate in the second game.
In the boys’ game on Saturday, Maddox Huff, a signee for East Tennessee State, led the Kentucky boys’ team with 18 points and 6 rebounds. Illinois-Chicago signee Andy Johnson and Breathitt County graduate Austin Sperry closed out the scoring with 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Historically, the all-time record between the girls’ teams favors Indiana with 55 wins to Kentucky’s 43, continuing a fierce rivalry that dates back to 1976. Conversely, the boys’ series, which began in 1940, is led by Indiana with 106 victories compared to Kentucky’s 46.
This year’s series showcased not only the talent present in both states but also the potential of many young athletes as they prepare to step into collegiate-level play. As Kentucky celebrates its triumph in the girls’ series, both teams look ahead to the future with eager anticipation.
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Additional Resources
- BG Daily News
- Kentucky Sports
- Indy Star
- WBKO
- WNKY
- Wikipedia: Basketball
- Google Search: Kentucky All-Stars girls basketball
- Google Scholar: high school basketball in Indiana
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Basketball
- Google News: Kentucky girls basketball
