Stamper going toe-to-toe with Kentucky's best lead guards
By:Kenneth True
George Rogers Clark HS in Kentucky is the top team in their region and the #6 team in the state of Kentucky, now what if we told you this team is piloted by a 8th grader. An 8th grader who has had to go toe-to-toe with some of the states best guards early on in her career. On that feat Kennedy Stamper says “When going toe-to-toe with elite guards I seize the moment. Going against such amazing competition as (Haven Ford) tests me and pushes me to get better.”
The Rowan County standout Ford had this to say about Stamper “She’s a solid guard, and see’s the floor well. Playing on the varsity level as young as she is, she holds her own.” Ford will head to Murray State following this season and is up for the state’s prestigious Ms. Basketball award.
The Lady Cardinals have played one of the toughest schedules across the state, including that matchup with Ford they’ve faced fourth ranked Mercy twice, ninth ranked Ryle, eighth ranked Madison Central, twentieth ranked Christian Academy of Louisville, twenty-first Notre Dame Academy, rough out of state competition in Miami Country Day (FL), Example Academy (IL), and Prep Charter (PA), district rival Montgomery County, second ranked DuPont Manual, sixteenth ranked Frederick Douglass, fifth ranked McCracken County, and a talented Mercer County ball club all with Sacred Heart, Nelson County, Notre Dame, and Central still to come. Stamper spoke on maintaining focus with such a tough schedule and said “It’s hard especially with all the games and practicing but it’s important to maintain focus and realize that it’s making us better. It’s preparing us for the end goal being that we want to win that last game in Rupp. Going against the best makes you better and that’s what we’re currently doing. We are gonna be ready when our time comes.”
After a rough stretch in the Lady Cards season, Kennedy said “In order to reel back in our focus we are practicing hard, bonding, and buckling in cause this season ain’t over. Those losses don’t define us. We have something to prove nowand are striving to reach for our end goal. We’re ready for anything, anybody throws at us, and we aren’t backing down.”
As the point guard you have to make tough decisions and Kennedy has had to make some tough ones, so we asked with time ticking down who are you giving the ball off to for the last second shot and the leader of the Cardinals said “If I had to give the ball to someone to make the last shot, I would give it to Ciara Byars. She has been able to hit some clutch shots for us this season and if I know anybody that could make a play with the clock winding down it would be her.”
If you haven’t caught the Lady Cards yet this season they welcome the #1 Sacred Heart Valkyries tonight in Winchester, go check out Kennedy as she gets another tough matchup and perhaps her toughest yet against Zakiyah Johnson. One thing we know this young lady ain’t backing down.
On the season Kennedy is averaging 7.9 ppg and 3 rpg for the 17-6 Lady Cards.
George Rogers Clark HS in Kentucky is the top team in their region and the #6 team in the state of Kentucky, now what if we told you this team is piloted by a 8th grader. An 8th grader who has had to go toe-to-toe with some of the states best guards early on in her career. On that feat Kennedy Stamper says “When going toe-to-toe with elite guards I seize the moment. Going against such amazing competition as (Haven Ford) tests me and pushes me to get better.”
The Rowan County standout Ford had this to say about Stamper “She’s a solid guard, and see’s the floor well. Playing on the varsity level as young as she is, she holds her own.” Ford will head to Murray State following this season and is up for the state’s prestigious Ms. Basketball award.
The Lady Cardinals have played one of the toughest schedules across the state, including that matchup with Ford they’ve faced fourth ranked Mercy twice, ninth ranked Ryle, eighth ranked Madison Central, twentieth ranked Christian Academy of Louisville, twenty-first Notre Dame Academy, rough out of state competition in Miami Country Day (FL), Example Academy (IL), and Prep Charter (PA), district rival Montgomery County, second ranked DuPont Manual, sixteenth ranked Frederick Douglass, fifth ranked McCracken County, and a talented Mercer County ball club all with Sacred Heart, Nelson County, Notre Dame, and Central still to come. Stamper spoke on maintaining focus with such a tough schedule and said “It’s hard especially with all the games and practicing but it’s important to maintain focus and realize that it’s making us better. It’s preparing us for the end goal being that we want to win that last game in Rupp. Going against the best makes you better and that’s what we’re currently doing. We are gonna be ready when our time comes.”
After a rough stretch in the Lady Cards season, Kennedy said “In order to reel back in our focus we are practicing hard, bonding, and buckling in cause this season ain’t over. Those losses don’t define us. We have something to prove nowand are striving to reach for our end goal. We’re ready for anything, anybody throws at us, and we aren’t backing down.”
As the point guard you have to make tough decisions and Kennedy has had to make some tough ones, so we asked with time ticking down who are you giving the ball off to for the last second shot and the leader of the Cardinals said “If I had to give the ball to someone to make the last shot, I would give it to Ciara Byars. She has been able to hit some clutch shots for us this season and if I know anybody that could make a play with the clock winding down it would be her.”
If you haven’t caught the Lady Cards yet this season they welcome the #1 Sacred Heart Valkyries tonight in Winchester, go check out Kennedy as she gets another tough matchup and perhaps her toughest yet against Zakiyah Johnson. One thing we know this young lady ain’t backing down.
On the season Kennedy is averaging 7.9 ppg and 3 rpg for the 17-6 Lady Cards.