Sacred Heart beat McCracken County 60-49 to bring home the program's 8th KHSAA state basketball title in school history and doing what no other basketball team in Kentucky history--boys or girls--have ever done: win four titles in a row (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024). The Valkyries also won championships in 2002, 2003, 2004 and in 1976 when current head coach Donna Bender Moir was a player.
Junior ZaKiyah Johnson, named Kentucky's Gatorade Player of the Year earlier in the week, was named Sweet Sixteen MVP for the third year in a row. Seniors Reagan Bender and Angelina Pelayo were named to the All-Tournament team.
This is Sacred Heart's third state athletic championship of the 2023-24 school year. The Golf team won the state title in Fall 2023 and the Swim & Dive program won the state championship in February 2024 for the 12th year in a row and 35th time in school history. 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.
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Photo: Courier Journal and Eva Carias