Louisville – The annual war between Sacred Heart Academy and South Oldham had been very close, with Sacred Heart winning two years ago by three points, and South winning last year, 68-62. But the odds were heavily stacked in the home team’s favor this time.

The Valkyries came in with a 13-3 record, the state’s #3 ranking, and every starter back from last season’s 20-11 squad. The featured a dominating front line featuring 5’10" Rebecca Kopple, 5’10" Christina Frank, and 6’2" freshman standout Crystal Kelly. Frank, a four-year starter, had already committed to the University of Alabama-Birmingham and was already the number eight all-time scorer in Sacred Heart history – and climbing. Kelly had been nothing short of outstanding since the beginning of the season, leading the team in scoring (17.3 ppg) and rebounding (10.6 rpg). She had been the team’s leading scorer in 12 of their first 15 games, and the leading rebounder in all but one.

The Valkyries had been beaten only three times in sixteen contests: by Highlands (4 points), #1-ranked Jackson County (by 16) and by #8 Oldham County (by 5).

South Oldham, on the other hand, came in a bit under the weather. Starting center Emily Hayes was noticeably slowed by illness; she picked up two quick fouls in the first two and half minutes and did not return until the second half, when she played just a moment or two before leaving for good. Six-foot-one sophomore center Ashley Staude, who had been improving dramatically of late, was out. Finally, sophomore Stephanie Vaughn, typically the first player off the bench, was back after missing the last game with an illness.

South opened the game well, playing solid defense and hitting the boards. Coach Kim Messer had said before the game that blocking the big Sacred Heart front line off the boards would be key, and the Dragons were responding early. But both teams’ defenses came up big, forcing the two squads to each turn the ball over 7 times in the first quarter.

Four and a half minutes into the contest, Sacred Heart led, but by only two at 5-3, when Frank hit two free throws to key a 6-0 Valkyrie run. South’s Megan Lee and Sacred Heart’s Tracey Summa swapped baskets to end the period with the Valkyries ahead, 13-5.

The second quarter started much like the first, and 3:20 elapsed with little scoring. With 4:40 left in the half, Rachel Barrow got her only two points of the night for Sacred Heart, keying a 15-1 run that buried the visitors from Crestwood. By the time Dominique Kennedy answered with a bucket with 1:09 left in the half, South trailed by 33. Kopple – who had eight of her twelve points in the second period – scored to give the home team a 34-9 lead at intermission.

At halftime, South had attempted just 14 shots in 16 minutes, hitting only 3 for 21.4%. They hadn’t been able to catch up at the line, either, as they had missed six of nine free throws.

With the score 36-12 early in the third, Sacred Heart ran off the first of three little mini-runs, outscoring South 6-0. They would have three 6-0 runs in the third, pushing the margin further and further out, and South could only answer with two free throws from Ashley Trosper at the 4:21 mark, a basket by Alexis Fleming with 1:32, and back to back baskets from Stephanie Vaughn and Courtney Cravens to end the period.

Down 54-20 going in to the final period, South looked for player development and small victories. They got one when they forced seven Valkyrie turnovers in the frame. They got another when they tied the home team with 18 points in the period. Still, Sacred Heart had pushed the lead to 41 at 63-22 midway through the period. South then put a flurry of points up in the final half-quarter – 16 points versus 22 scored by the Lady Dragons in the first 3 ½ quarters. Ashley Trosper led the charge with nine points in the period, including the last eight of the game.

The win improves Sacred Heart’s record to 14-3 on the season; South Oldham falls to 3—12.

Unofficial WYKY stats:

South Oldham - Trosper 13, Cravens 6, Fleming 5, Dearmond 4, Lee 3, Cobb 2, Kennedy 2, Vaugn 2, Hayes 1

Sacred Heart – Kelly 17, Kopple 12, Summa 10, Windchy 9, Fischer 7, Frank 7, Garvey 4, Ferch 2, Barrow 2, Speer 2

The next South Oldham broadcast will be on MONDAY, JANUARY 22^nd, when the Lady Dragons travel to Bedford, KY to play an important 31^st District matchup against the Trimble County Lady Raiders. The pregame show will begin at 7 pm on WYKY 105.7 FM

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