The GRC Hoops team fought like heck today and came so close to pulling through and advancing to the championship game, but fell to the Sacred Heart Valkyries, 57-53. 

It was Coach Robbie Graham’s third appearance in the Final Four since his arrival at GRC and he has dealt with some tough draws. If Sacred Heart wins tonight, it will be the fifth time GRC would fall to the eventual state champion, out of Graham’s six state tournament appearances (the tournament was canceled in 2020). 

Coach was extremely proud of his team’s performance today and how they fought. “Credit to these young ladies, for advancing to the Final Four,” he said. “We had a tremendous season and we played a really tough schedule. We’ve played teams from out of state, and played some of the best teams in the state. I’m extremely extremely proud of these young ladies. For 32 minutes they went out and laid it on the line, and just fell a little short, a play here and a play there.” 

The Cardinals were in it the whole game and deserved to win. Just a few mistakes were just enough to give the Valkyries a win. GRC led after the first quarter by one thanks to some threes by Kennedy Stamper and Anaya Chestnut. Sacred Heart would continue to push but the Cardinals would always respond to maintain their lead and led at halftime, 23-22. 

After only leading for 14 seconds in the first half, Sacred Heart took the lead to open the third quarter by one, and would never trail again. Late in the third quarter the Valkyries were up five and had the Cardinals scrambling, but Annette Miller drilled a triple from the corner that cut it to one, quickly giving the Cardinals a ton of momentum heading into the final quarter. 

In the final quarter it was Ciara and Brianna Byars who kept the Cardinals in the game. Early in the quarter it was Ciara who finished with eight points, hitting a big time three to tie the game, but Sacred Heart quickly responded, leading by five with just over five minutes left.

 It seemed like every time the Valkyries would get a lead, Brianna would find a way to put in a basket and keep it close. In what would be her final game as a Cardinal, Brianna led the team in points with 23 and grabbed 6 boards. 

Coach Graham had this to say about one of his star players after the game. “I don’t think we have enough time today, enough time tomorrow, enough time this week, enough time next month, or enough time this year to speak on what she has meant to our program,” he said. “She is a tremendous young lady first and foremost — a leader in our building, and a leader on our team, clearly. I love my players like they’re my own kids. It’s not just words; it’s factual. Bri has been so important to our program. I’m gonna hate to see her leave; she’s been a huge, huge part of our program.”   

The Cardinals continued to fight and stay in the game, trailing by just three with around three minutes to go. After Bender drilled a three with three minutes left, Sacred Heart had the spark they needed.

GRC did a great job defending Reagan Bender in the first half, keeping her scoreless. In the second half though she lit it up, scoring 21 points and hitting three massive threes for the Valkyries.  

“She just got loose on us,” Graham said. “We knew she was a great great shooter, so we wanted to really squeeze her and make her put it on the deck. We knew if she got caught with her feet set wide open she was going to knock it down. We just kind of lost her in a couple of transition baskets.” 

GRC Hoops finished the year with an overall record of 28-8, another district and region title, and yet another deep run in the state tournament. Coach Graham loved how his team played this year and can’t wait to have another opportunity in the state tournament with Sacred Heart next year.  

“There are no pats on the back in our program,” he said. “I don’t want to sound arrogant or anything, but we feel like we’re an elite program in the state of Kentucky as well. Our kids, they fight their tails off. We were going to go at Sacred Heart; we weren’t backing down. We told our returning players that we’re going to take a little time off, but then we’re going to be right back at it. We want to right back here again next year. Sacred Heart is going to be loaded again, and we know that. We want to be right back in this situation to go nose and nose again.”