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VISUALS: Franklin-Simpson girls basketball wins back-to-back fourth region titles

Libby Simpson and Sam Huffman
March 8, 2026
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Barren Country Trojanettes Addy Sagle (11) makes a drive on the hoop on Saturday, March 7, 2026 during the Region 4 Girls Tournament Finals in E.A. Diddle Arena. (Sam Huffman)
Franklin-Simpson High School senior point guard Allye Pennington (24) is fouled, falling to the ground, during the KHSAA Fourth Region girls basketball championship game against Barren County High School at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Franklin-Simpson received the ball and made a successful play. (Libby Simpson)
Barren County senior power forward Riley Wilson waits her turn as her teammates are announced before the KHSAA girls basketball championship game against Franklin-Simpson High School at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Libby Simpson)
Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats and Barren Country Trojanettes struggle for a rebound on Saturday, March 7, 2026 during the Region 4 Girl’s Tournament Finals in E.A. Diddle Arena. (Sam Huffman)
Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats point guard Tiffany Harrigan (5) attempts to toss the ball into the hoop while being guarded by Barren County Trojanettes forward Hannah Bragg on Saturday, March 7, 2026, during the Region 4 Girls Tournament Finals in E.A. Diddle Arena. (Sam Huffman)
Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats point guard Tiffany Harrigan (5) shoots a free throw on Saturday, March 7, 2026, during the Region 4 Girls’ Tournament Finals in E.A. Diddle Arena. (Sam Huffman)
The Franklin-Simpson High School girls basketball team watch their teammates play in the KHSAA girl’s basketball Fourth Region championship game at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The team has two players ranking top in the state with No. 1 rankings in free throws and three-point field goals. (Libby Simpson)
Franklin-Simpson High School senior point guard Tiffany Harrigan (5) dribbles through Barren County High School senior power forward Hannah Bragg (24) during the KHSAA Region Four girls basketball championship game at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Libby Simpson)
Franklin-Simpson High School fans closely watch as the team regains its lead over Barren County High School during the KHSAA Fourth Region girls basketball championship game at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The game was close, with both teams keeping a 2-point difference throughout the majority of the game. Franklin-Simpson would go on to win the Fourth Region championship title in overtime. (Libby Simpson)
Barren County Trojanettes guard Mahalia Burton (3) attempts to control the ball before it leaves the court while being pressured by Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats guard Allye Pennington (24) and forward Kloie Smith (15) on Saturday, March 7, 2026, during the Region 4 Girls Tournament Finals in E.A. Diddle Arena. (Sam Huffman)
Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats point guard Tiffany Harrigan (5) attempts to block a layup from Barren Country Trojanettes short forward Shelby Byrd on Saturday, March 7, 2026 during the Region 4 Girls Tournament Finals in E.A. Diddle Arena. (Sam Huffman)
Ashley Taylor, the Franklin-Simpson High School girls basketball head coach, gives the team a look at a play before the team’s introduction during the KHSAA Fourth Region championship game against Barren County at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The team has a 7-0 record for their district and a 22-7 record for the 2025-2026 regular season. (Libby Simpson)
Franklin-Simpson County point guard Tiffany Harrigan (5) pushes past Barren County Trojanettes short forward Shelby Byrd (24) while making a drive on the hoop on Saturday, March 7, 2026, during the Region 4 Girls Tournament Finals in E.A. Diddle Arena. (Sam Huffman)
Franklin-Simpson High School girls basketball head coach Ashley Taylor questions a play made by one of her players during the KHSAA Region Four girls basketball championship game against Barren County High School in E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Libby Simpson)
Franklin-Simpson High School fans question a call by a referee during the KHSAA girls basketball championship game against Barren County at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Libby Simpson)
Franklin-Simpson senior point guard Allye Pennington (24) makes a three-pointer as Barren County High School sophomore point guard Mahalia Burton (3) attempts to block her during the KHSAA Fourth Region girls basketball championship game at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Pennington is No. 19 in the state as a top-scoring leader with an average of 20.8 points per game. She has played 30 games and made 623 points. (Libby Simpson)
Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats fans cheer from the stands on Saturday, March 7, 2026, during the Region 4 Girls Tournament Finals in E.A. Diddle Arena. (Sam Huffman)
Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats point guard Tiffany Harrigan (5) celebrates after scoring on Saturday, March 7, 2026, during the Region 4 Girls Tournament Finals in E.A. Diddle Arena. (Sam Huffman)
Frankin-Simpson Lady Cats guard Allye Pennington (24) shoots a free throw on Saturday, March 7, 2026 during the Region 4 Girls Tournament Finals in E.A. Diddle Arena. (Sam Huffman)
Franklin-Simpson High School senior point guard Tiffany Harrigan (5) celebrates as her team enters a four-point lead with less than 15 seconds on the clock in overtime during the KHSAA Fourth Region girls basketball championship game at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The team’s 60-56 win earned them their second Fourth Region championship title in a row. (Libby Simpson)
Franklin-Simpson High School senior point guard Mylah Riggsbee (10) and senior forward Tahlia Spencer (11) celebrate after their team wins the Fourth Region championship title during the KHSAA Fourth Region girls basketball championship game against Barren County High School at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Libby Simpson)
Franklin-Simpson High School junior Allie Utley (3) and senior McKenzie Taylor (21) embrace after their team wins the KHSAA Fourth Region girls basketball championship title against Barren County at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. This is the team’s second KHSAA Fourth Region win in a row. (Libby Simpson)
Franklin-Simpson High School senior Reece Mylor (20) cuts off a piece of the net after the team wins the KHSAA Fourth Region girls basketball championship title against Barren County High School at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Libby Simpson)
After a tough loss, Barren County High School girls basketball team watch as Franklin-Simpson High School recieves the KHSAA Fourth Region championship trophy during the KHSAA Fourth Region girls basketball championship game at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The final score was 60-56 and went into overtime. (Libby Simpson)
The Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats celebrate after winning the Fourth Region Championship finals with a 60-56 overtime win against the Barren County Trojanettes on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in E.A. Diddle Arena. (Sam Huffman)
In an emotional post-game, the Franklin-Simpson High School girls basketball team gathered on the bench together after their KHSAA Fourth Region championship win over Barren County High School at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The team gained a 60-56 lead over Barren County in overtime, leading to their second Fourth Region championship win in a row. (Libby Simpson)
Franklin-Simpson High School girls basketball head coach Ashley Taylor waves the goal net after her team wins the KHSAA Fourth Region girls basketball championship title against Barren County High School at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026. This is Taylor’s fifth year as the team’s head coach and her second KHSAA Fourth Region championship win. (Libby Simpson)
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About the Contributors
Libby Simpson
Libby Simpson, News Reporter
Libby Simpson is a news reporter and photographer for the Herald. She is a junior double majoring in journalism and photography. Originally from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, this is her third year on the Hill and second year working on the Herald staff.
Sam Huffman
Sam Huffman, Staff Photographer