LEXINGTON — It took an 11-5 run late in the fourth quarter for Sacred Heart to secure its 11th consecutive state tournament win by upending 11th Region champion George Rogers Clark, 57-53.
The Valkyries’ quest for a third straight Mingua Beef Jerky Girls’ Basketball Sweet 16 championship remainder alive thanks to the play of ZaKiyah Johnson, and Reagan Bender.
The duo combined to score 43 points in the win with Johnson leading the way with a 22-point, 10-rebound effort. Bender had 21 points while hitting 3-of-5 shot attempts from behind the arc.
Sacred Heart hit 21-of-50 shot attempts while outrebounding the Lady Cardinals, 29-25.
Brianna Byars led George Rogers Clark with 23 points and finished with six rebounds. Ciara Byars had eight points, and 11 rebounds while Kennedy Stamper scored nine points.
The Lady Cardinals hit 20-of-42 shot attempts, including a 7-of-16 effort from3-point range.
For the second consecutive game, George Rogers Clark came out red-hot shooting the ball.
Both Stamper, and Chestnut scored six points apiece while also nailing two 3-pointers apiece to give the Lady Cardinals a slim 14-13 edge entering the second quarter.
George Rogers Clark led 14-9 before Sacred Heart closed out the fourth quarter with four consecutive points.
Johnson led the Valkyries with eight points in the first quarter while grabbing three rebounds.
Both teams traded baskets throughout the second quarter with Sacred Heart briefly taking an 18-16 lead with 5:08 remaining thanks to a basket by Johnson.
A basket by Chestnut triggered a 6-0 run by the Lady Cardinals before Claire Russell’s layup at the buzzer to end the first half cut the Valkyries deficit to 23-22 entering halftime.
Johnson led Sacred Heart with 12 points, and six rebounds while the Valkyries shot 9-of-21 in the first half.
Chestnut led George Rogers with eight points while Stamper had six points. The Lady Cardinals shot 9-of-21 in the first half, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range.
After falling behind 27-24 with under six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Sacred Heart closed out the quarter with a 15-10 run to take a 39-37 advantage into the fourth quarter.
The Valkyries led 39-32 but a basket by Ciara Byars, and a 3-pointers by Miller allowed George Rogers Clark to close out the quarter with a 5-0 run.
Sacred Heart began to pull away with seven minutes remaining in regulation.
A 3-pointer by Bender combined with a layup by Johnson triggered an 11-5 run allowing the Valkyries to build a 53-44 advantage with 2:19 remaining they wouldn’t relinquish.
