The GRC Lady Cardinals came up short of the state title this year, after a loss to the eventual State Champions Sacred Heart in the Elite Eight.

In their game against the Valkyries the Cards led 24-22 at the half and looked good.

Unfortunately, Sacred Heart went on a 19-3 run out of the half and the deficit was just too large for the Cardinals to overcome. The Cards were able to go on a run at the end of the third quarter to cut the lead to eight, but the Valkyries were able to put the game away early in the fourth.

The loss to Sacred Heart means GRC Hoops has lost to the state champion eight times out of their 15 appearances in the Sweet 16. 

Head Coach Graham has fallen to the eventual Champions in four of six trips to the state tournament. Sometimes it’s just luck of the draw and it seems as if every year GRC gets an unfortunate draw. 

It was still a terrific season for the Cards finishing 31-3 on the season, winning their ninth district title in a row, and winning their sixth region title under Graham. 

The Lady Cards swept their arch rivals the Montgomery County Indians playing them four times and winning every one. They finished with some really great wins in the regular season beating teams that made it into the state tournament like Boyd County, Anderson County, Southwestern, and Franklin County. 

The Cardinals were able to protect their home court, finishing with a perfect 10-0 record at GRC Arena. 

The future is still very bright for Coach Graham’s team, and Hoops could be the favorite to win next year’s region title. 

The Lady Cards will lose some depth down low in Tyra Flowers and Amber Miller, but they’ll have both the Byars sisters back to lead the team and should be able to take care of the glass. 

They get a tremendous point guard in Kennedy Stamper back who will only be an eighth grader next year. They also will get the sharp shooter Trinity Gay back after she reclassified this season. 

They lose Asja Garrard who was a really good on-ball defender but Stamper will help defensively. 

GRC will have four really solid players next year, but if the Cards are going to want to return to the state tournament they’ll need some people to step up. 

Upcoming junior Makili Tabor and incoming freshman Jaylynn Goodwin could be huge pieces to the Cardinals success next season.

These two players didn’t score a whole lot, but will be key pieces next year. They both have great potential and if they are able to make some strides in the off season, they both could be a huge help for the Cardinals next season.

The only concern for next year is the depth. Coach Graham isn’t going to be able to play five players the whole game, so it’ll be interesting to see what players will step up and become the first players off the bench or even into the starting lineup. 

The season didn’t finish the way the GRC Hoops program would have liked, but it was still another great year for the program.

Coach Graham is one of the best coaches in the state and you know he’ll have his team back and better than ever for next year’s season. 

CAMERON ANDERSON’S STATE PHOTO GALLERY