Lady Cougars take down Triopia in Regional Championship

By Editor | February 25, 2026 |

By Kent Coultas

Ali Little and Paisley Sturtevant each scored in double figures to lead West Central to a 44-20 win over Triopia Friday, Feb 20, in the championship game of the Bluffs 1A IHSA Girls Basketball Regional.
The Cougars (25-8) played Carlyle Tuesday night in the Bunker Hill sectional.
West Central and Triopia (19-11) had split two previous games this season. The Cougars took control of this game early as they led 13-0 after one quarter.
Sturtevant made a three-point basket for the first points of the game with 6:17 remaining in the quarter. Evynn Gregory scored, and West Central led 5-0.
Sturtevant made a free throw, and Little scored on a runner in the lane. Sturtevant made the first of two free throw attempts, but Jackie Lashmett grabbed the offensive rebound and scored. Lashmett scored off an assist from Gregory with 25 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Triopia missed eight field goal attempts and committed four turnovers in the quarter.
Little made consecutive three-point baskets and extended the lead to 21-4 in the second quarter. Adrienne Kaufmann scored at the buzzer off an assist from Sturtevant, and West Central led 26-9 at halftime.
West Central led 28-11 in the third quarter before scoring seven straight points. Kaufmann scored, and Little scored five points and extended the lead to 35-11. They led 35-13 after three quarters.
Little scored 16 points and had six rebounds and two assists to lead West Central. Sturtevant scored 10 points and had seven rebounds and three assists.
Gregory scored eight points and had seven rebounds. Kaufmann and Lashmett each scored four points. Braylee Littig scored two points.
Little scored 27 points to lead West Central to a 52-17 win over Western on Feb. 17 in the regional semifinals.
The Cougars led just 9-5 but ended the quarter with a 7-1 run. Gregory and Little both scored and extended the lead to 13-4. After Western made a free throw, Little converted a three-point play to give West Central a 16-6 lead after one quarter.
West Central outscored Western 18-3 in the second quarter and led 34-9 at halftime. Little scored 13 points, and Lashmett scored four in the quarter.
Little made two free throws, and the Cougars led 42-12 in the third quarter. Littig made a three-point basket, and Lashmett made two free throws as West Central led 50-14 after three quarters.
Kaufmann scored eight points and had two steals for the winners. Lashmett scored six points. Gregory scored four points and had seven rebounds and two steals. Littig scored three points.
Sturtevant scored two points and had two steals. Ellie Wahl scored two points, and Sofie Grubb had eight rebounds. Little had five rebounds and two steals.