No doubt defending champion Sacred Heart is the team to beat at state

josie-gilvin

Josie Gilvin, last year's state tourney MVP, is a versatile player/defender and will go against UK signee Amiya Jenkins of Anderson County again Thursday in the state tourney. (KHSAA Photo)

Sacred Heart is not unbeatable — but the Valkyries are not going to be easy for anyone to beat again this year in the state high school tournament that opens Wednesday at Rupp Arena. Sacred Heart is 32-3 going into Thursday night’s game with 8th Region champion Anderson County. One loss was by four points to Rock Bridge (Missouri) in Naples, Fla. Another loss was 58-56 to Bullitt East, another state tourney team, in the Louisville Invitational Tournament. The final loss was a thrilling 98-96 double overtime loss to Mercy, a top 10 team.

“You just have to hope they are off,” said Southwestern coach Junior Molden. “If somebody does not have them as the favorite to win the state I am surprised. They are extremely talented at every position. They can put the ball in anybody’s hands. They can switch every position defensively. They are great.”

Bowling Green coach Calvin Head said Sacred Heart has “set the bar” for girls basketball in the state this year.

“Just look at their body of work.  They have a veteran team coming back and a lot who played in the state title game,” Head said. “Coach (Donna) Moir has not won 700 games by default.”

Freshman ZaKiyah Johnson was not on last year’s state championship team. However, the transfer leads Sacred Heart in scoring (17.8) and rebounding (7.8).

“She is the best player in the state as a freshman,” Head said.

Reagan Bender, a sophomore forward/guard, adds 11.5 points per game while sophomore Angelina Play contributes 9.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game and senior forward Alexandra Wolff adds 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

Senior forward Josie Gilvin, last year’s state tourney MVP, and a three-sport standout, averages 7.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

“You just don’t see kids like Josie who affect the game like she does and not put up points,” Moir said.

Sacred Heart was not expected to win last year’s title like it is this season. Moir said her team just took care of business last season but “this year the monkey has been on our back all year” as the state favorite.

“I never put it out there about being No. 1 or favored (to win state),” Moir said. “These kids just want to play and perform.”

Anderson County coach Clay Birdwhistle knows what his team is facing in its first game.

“Sacred Heart, you are talking five, six, seven Division I kids on it and we don’t to put it bluntly,” the Anderson coach said. “They have just beat the dog out of everybody. They are running clock top 10 teams. They are extremely talented.”

Bullitt East coach Chris Stallings knows Sacred Heart has more talent than any team in the state.

“It’s going to take a special effort and a special group to beat them,” Stallings said. “We were fortunate enough to do it the LIT. If we get fortunate enough (to play them again), hopefully, we will be ready and give them a game. But they are really good.”

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