The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Sacred Heart unanimous No. 1
Sacred Heart Academy is the unanimous No. 1 team in the Kentucky High School Girls Basketball Media Poll as it begins its quest for a fourth straight state championship.
The Valkyries (22-7) received all 16 first-place votes in the final poll of the season. Sacred Heart has won 64 straight games against Kentucky competition and will host the 27th District Tournament, facing Atherton at 5:30 p.m. Monday in a semifinal.
Cooper (24-4) is No. 2 in the poll and is followed by George Rogers Clark (25-4) and Covington Holy Cross (25-5). Owensboro Catholic (25-4) and Pikeville (23-5) are tied for the No. 5 spot.
Russell (23-6), which has an eight-game winning streak, moved into the poll at No. 13. Notre Dame dropped out.
The Kentucky High School Basketball Media Poll is conducted by 16 sports journalists — one from each of the state’s 16 basketball regions. Along with the statewide top 15, voters provide top-five rankings for their respective regions.
First-place votes in parentheses; records through Friday’s games Rank-school (FPV) Record Pts LW
1. Sacred Heart (16) 22-7 240 1 2. Cooper 24-4 217 2 3. George Rogers Clark 25-4 195 3 4. Covington Holy Cross 25-5 170 4 5. (tie) Owensboro Catholic 25-4 146 6 5. (tie) Pikeville 23-5 146 5 7. Anderson County 27-2 130 8 8. Franklin-Simpson 27-1 123 9 9. McCracken County 24-5 122 7 10. Ashland Blazer 24-6 80 10 11. Franklin County 24-6 69 12 12. North Laurel 24-5 65 15 13. Russell 23-6 44 NR 14. Butler 21-8 41 11 15. Ryle 18-10 23 14
Others receiving votes: Notre Dame 21, Bethlehem 15, Corbin 13, Johnson Central 13, Danville Christian 8, Boyd County 7, Pulaski County 7, Manual 6, Simon Kenton 6, Meade County 5, Frederick Douglass 3, Assumption 2, Montgomery County 2, Henderson County 1.
First Region
Chelsea Ladd, The Paducah Sun
1. McCracken County 2. Calloway County 3. Marshall County 4. Graves County 5. Mayfield
Second Region
Edward Marlowe, WKDZ-FM
1. Christian County 2. Henderson County 3. Crittenden County 4. Lyon County 5. Madisonville-North Hopkins
Third Region
Mark Mathis, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer
1. Owensboro Catholic 2. Daviess County 3. Breckinridge County 4. Owensboro 5. Meade County
Fourth Region
Micheal Compton, Bowling Green Daily News
1. Franklin-Simpson 2. Bowling Green 3. Barren County 4. Warren East 5. Russell County
Fifth Region
Josh Claywell, Bardstown Kentucky Standard/LaRue County Herald News
1. Bethlehem 2. Taylor County 3. North Hardin 4. Bardstown 5. Elizabethtown
Sixth Region
Dominique Yates, WLKY-TV
1. Butler 2. Whitefield Academy 3. Mercy 4. Bullitt East 5. Pleasure Ridge Park
Seventh Region
Jason Frakes, The Courier Journal
1. Sacred Heart 2. Assumption 3. Central 4. Manual 5. Christian Academy
Eighth Region
James Weber, Cincinnati Enquirer
1. Anderson County 2. Simon Kenton 3. Grant County 4. Spencer County 5. South Oldham
Ninth Region
Brendan Connelly, Cincinnati Enquirer
1. Cooper 2. Covington Holy Cross 3. Ryle 4. Notre Dame 5. Highlands
10th Region
Evan Dennison, LinkNKY.com
1. George Rogers Clark 2. Montgomery County 3. Campbell County 4. Bishop Brossart 5. Scott
11th Region
Jared Peck, Lexington Herald-Leader
1. Franklin County 2. Frederick Douglass 3. Henry Clay 4. Madison Central 5. Tates Creek
12th Region
Mike Marsee, Danville freelancer
1. Danville Christian 2. Pulaski County 3. West Jessamine 4. Southwestern 5. Rockcastle County
13th Region
Les Dixon, 13thRegionMediaNetwork.com
1. North Laurel 2. Corbin 3. South Laurel 4. Knox Central 5. Pineville
14th Region
Brendon Miller, Bluegrass Sports Nation
1. Letcher County Central 2. Leslie County 3. Owsley County 4. Perry County Central 5. Knott County Central
15th Region
Randy White, Appalachian News-Express
1. Pikeville 2. Martin County 3. Johnson Central 4. Paintsville 5. Shelby Valley
16th Region
James Collier, WLGC-FM
1. Ashland Blazer 2. Russell 3. Boyd County 4. Fleming County 5. Bath County