Indiana Girls All-Stars Fall to Kentucky in Heartbreaking Buzzer Beater

LEXINGTON, Ky. – In a thrilling conclusion to the girls’ Indiana All-Star game, the team faced a gut-wrenching defeat against the Kentucky All-Stars, thanks to a last-second shot by Brianna Wilkins. With just 3.2 seconds remaining, Indiana’s Brooklynn Renn tied the game by hitting two free throws, prompting Kentucky to call a timeout to set up their final play.

During the timeout, Kentucky Miss Basketball Ashlinn James, who is set to join Indiana University, executed an inbounds pass to Wilkins in the corner. “The original plan was I was going to catch the ball, and Ash was going to cut and get it back,” Wilkins explained. However, time was running short, and as James was closely guarded, Wilkins seized the moment, drove to the baseline, and sank the game-winning shot as time expired, securing a 59-57 victory for Kentucky at Lexington Catholic High School.

Indiana struggled in the second half, failing to score for over five minutes and finding themselves down 52-41 with under six minutes to play. However, the team rallied with an 11-0 run, briefly taking the lead with a three-pointer from Warsaw’s Brooke Zartman, who finished as Indiana's top scorer with 13 points. Despite the surge, Kentucky regained the advantage with a steal and layup from James, who added a free throw to extend their lead to 57-55.

After Renn's crucial free throws tied the game, the stage was set for Wilkins' decisive play. Indiana coach Joe Huppenthal expressed concern about his team's slow start and acknowledged the absence of key player KK Holman, who missed the game due to illness. “You can’t win if you don’t finish,” he remarked, reflecting on Indiana's struggles with shooting, particularly in the second half where they shot just 26.7%.

James led Kentucky with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Wilkins added 21 points, showcasing their chemistry despite being rivals during the regular season. As Indiana prepares for a rematch on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Huppenthal emphasized the need for his team to rebound and fight back. “We have to come back (Saturday) and fight. That’s the biggest thing. We have to fight,” he stated.