Raiders’ road ends in heartbreak: Keenan girls fall in 3A finals to Walhalla
The Walhalla girls basketball program moved to elite status in school history
A year after winning the school’s first state championship in more than 70 years, the Razorbacks repeated as champs with a dominating win over Keenan, 70-58, on Friday in the Class 3A championship game.
“I know winning the first one in program history is amazing. But going back to back is amazing,” Walhalla junior Ashlyn Frick said.
Before last year’s title, Walhalla hadn’t won a team state championship in any sport since 1952.
This year’s championship might be more impressive. Walhalla (26-2) finished the season on a 21-game winning streak, with both losses coming against Daniel.
It was the Razorbacks’ second title game and came against one of the top girls and boys programs in the state.
Keenan was playing in its 10th state championship game since 2011 and just a few miles from its campus.
But Walhalla’s fans outnumbered Keenan’s at Colonial Life Arena, and the team put on an impressive display, outrunning and out-hustling the Raiders.
Frick scored a career-high 23 points to lead Walhalla, three more than her previous mark set against Chapman earlier this postseason. Baylee Cannon added 19 points and Kami Roach had 12. The Razorbacks shot 52 percent from the floor in the first half and finished 48 percent for the game. Walhalla was 16 of 21 from the free-throw line.
“It was impressive,” Walhalla coach Byron Wimphrie said. “We just do it one game at a time and one practice at a time and the results fall into form. And I am glad they fell in our favor today.”
Walhalla took control of the game with a 22-7 run in the first half to lead 36-19 with three minutes left in the second quarter. The lead grew to as many as 23 points in the second half.
But Keenan was able to make a final run and Xalesha Dwyer ‘s 3-pointer cut Walhalla’s lead to 68-56 with 4:51 left.
The Raiders had four possessions to cut the lead but couldn’t convert. Keenan only had one field goal the rest of the way after Dwyer’s 3-pointer.
“They started out and got a lead early, and we had to dig and claw back. That took a lot of energy out of us,” Keenan coach Reggie McLain said. “But they are a good team. They shot the ball well and were driving to the basket, getting dribble drives and dishes, something I didn’t think we would give up.”
McLain said that Walhalla was able to get the Raiders (20-7) out of their game plan, not playing as much zone as they wanted and having to use more full-court pressure than usual.
Class 3A Player of the Year Taelor Lee-Suton led Keenan with 20 points. Kristin Brown had 14 and Aareonna Caughman had 13. The Raiders shot just 31.6 percent from the field and hit only four 3-pointers.
Lee-Sutton, a sophomore, will be back and will be one of the cornerstones of the program going forward.
“We are excited about the future. Of course, we would rather be on the other side of the result today,” McLain said. “I don’t think a lot of people thought we would get here. We made a great run.”
Keenan: Aareonna Caughman 13, Taelor Lee-Sutton 20, Dwyer 3, Kristin Brown 14, Robinson 4, Williams 4
Walhalla: Ashlyn Frick 23, White 8, Baylee Cannon 19, Kami Roach 12, Medlin 6, Williams 2
This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 4:48 PM.
