Jacksonville Fl-The long wait is finally over for the Crusaders.
After more than three decades of chasing the dream, Bishop Kenny’s girls basketball team is once again on top of the state. The Crusaders defeated Bishop Moore 58–48 to capture the 2026 Class 4A FHSAA State Championship, marking the program’s first title in 34 years.
The victory also places Bishop Kenny alongside Providence’s boys team as state champions during the 2025–2026 season. For the Crusaders’ girls program, it’s a moment that connects generations of players.
The program’s last championship run came in the early 1990s. Bishop Kenny won its first title in 1990 in Class 2A. The Crusaders followed that with another championship in 1991 and then completed an impressive three-peat in 1992 under former head coach Todd Orlando.
Now, in 2026, a new era has delivered another banner.
Fast Start and Early Back-and-Forth
The championship game began with strong energy from both teams. Bishop Kenny struck first when Shea Donovan knocked down a 2-point field goal to give the Crusaders an early 2–0 lead.
However, Bishop Moore quickly answered. Alex Wolsonovich drilled a three-pointer to put Bishop Moore ahead 3–2. Moments later, Makala DesJarlais scored inside to push Bishop Kenny back in front, 4–3.
The back-and-forth action continued throughout the first quarter. Kylee Trent hit a three-pointer for Bishop Moore, giving her team a 6–4 lead. DesJarlais responded again with another basket to tie the game at 6–6.
Soon after, Sienna Williams knocked down a big three-pointer for Bishop Kenny, helping the Crusaders regain momentum. Donovan followed with another basket to extend the lead to 13–9.
Both teams kept attacking the basket as the pace remained fast. Bishop Kenny eventually built a small advantage, but Bishop Moore refused to go away.
Bishop Moore Surges Before Halftime
Late in the half, Bishop Moore began to heat up from long range. Alysya Smith knocked down a three-pointer that gave Bishop Moore a 19–18 lead.
Donovan quickly answered for Bishop Kenny with another basket, putting the Crusaders back on top 20–19. But the Hornets continued to find success from beyond the arc.
Aaliyah Figueroa drained a three-pointer that pushed Bishop Moore ahead 27–24. After a Bishop Kenny timeout, Malayah Rypien added a basket to extend the Hornets’ advantage.
At halftime, Bishop Moore held a narrow 31–28 lead, setting up a dramatic second half.
Crusaders Take Control in the Third Quarter
Coming out of halftime, Bishop Moore struck first again when Trent connected on another three-pointer to give the Hornets a 36–31 lead.
But that moment sparked Bishop Kenny’s biggest run of the game.
Kathleen Crawley scored inside to begin the comeback. Soon after, Elle Deegan drilled a three-pointer that energized the Crusader bench and gave Bishop Kenny a 38–36 lead.
The momentum clearly shifted.
Bishop Kenny continued attacking on offense and locking down on defense. Crawley added another big three-pointer, and DesJarlais followed with a strong finish inside.
By the time Bishop Moore called timeout, Bishop Kenny had built a 46–38 lead and taken full control of the championship game.
Strong Finish Seals the Championship
In the fourth quarter, Bishop Kenny kept the pressure on. Rilee Kargbo scored inside to extend the lead to 50–41.
Donovan then added another basket, helping keep Bishop Moore at a safe distance.
Despite a late push from the Hornets, the Crusaders stayed calm and closed out the game. When the final buzzer sounded, Bishop Kenny had secured a 58–48 victory and a historic championship.
A Special Season for the Crusaders
The Crusaders finished the season with an impressive 28–4 record. Along the way, several players played key roles in the championship run.
Kathleen Crawley led the team in scoring this season, averaging 16.5 points per game. Donovan also made a huge impact on both ends of the floor, averaging 5.9 assists and 3.4 steals per game.
Kenny 22-21 Moore
— @Isbellphotos (@isbellphotos) March 12, 2026
Girls Championship @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/dz2K4it1eh
DesJarlais, Deegan, Williams, and Kargbo all delivered important moments throughout the title game.
A Milestone for Coach Will Mayer
The championship is also a major moment for head coach Will Mayer.
Mayer took over the Bishop Kenny program in the 2021–2022 season after longtime coach Charlsea Clark stepped down. Before arriving at Kenny, Mayer coached the boys program at Creekside High School, where he posted a 99–46 record in five seasons. During that time, he won two district titles and guided the Knights to the Class 8A state championship game in 2018.
Since arriving at Bishop Kenny, Mayer had come close to winning a title several times, including a state appearance in 2024 that ended in disappointment.
This time, the story ended differently.
The victory also adds another highlight to Mayer’s career coaching record, which now includes more than 300 wins.
tagram.com/embed.js">History Made
For Bishop Kenny, the championship represents both history and a fresh start.
After decades of waiting, the Crusaders are once again champions of Florida high school girls basketball.
And judging by the celebration after the final buzzer, this title was well worth the wait.
Photos by :Heather Isbell
