The Valkyrie basketball team defeated McCracken County 68-53 to win the KHSAA State Championship for the third year in a row. This three-peat (2021, 2022, 2023) is the second in Sacred Heart Academy's history; the Valkyries also achieved this feat in 2002, 2003, 2004.
This championship is Sacred Heart's 7th KHSAA basketball championship in school history, a state record. The Valkyries' first state title was in 1976 when Coach Donna Moir was a freshman. Coach Moir is the first girls' coach in Kentucky history to win 6 titles, and she has been a part of all 7 titles at Sacred Heart, as a player and as a coach.
Sophomore ZaKiyah Johnson, named Kentucky's Gatorade Player of the Year earlier in the week, was named Sweet 16 MVP for the second year in a row.
Senior Triniti Ralston and junior Reagan Bender were named to the All-Tournament Team. Junior Angelina Pelayo scored her 1000th career point late in the game.
This is Sacred Heart's second state athletic championship in 2023. The Swim & Dive program won the state championship in February 2023. Sacred Heart Academy has been recognized as the #1 Best School for Athletes in Kentucky and #13 in the nation among coed, all-boys, and all-girls schools. Read more about the #1 athletic program here.
Photos: Courier Journal and SHA