The biggest change long-time Sacred Heart Academy basketball coach Donna Moir has seen in her team since last season isn’t obvious to the naked eye.
That’s because it has been between the ears.
“I think they are really believing in themselves,” Moir said. “The confidence level seems to be a lot better.”
While that’s good news for Moir, who is beginning her 26th season in charge of the Valkyries, it could be bad news for the rest of the Seventh Region.
25TH DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Central, Manual, Portland Christian, Presentation, St. Francis, Shawnee
That’s because confidence has been about the only thing lacking for Sacred Heart, whose junior class has been highly touted since its members were freshmen, the past couple years. This season the Valkyries have been picked to win the Seventh Region by the region’s coaches and are ranked No. 4 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s preseason Top 25.
The Valkyries have gone 43-19 over the past two seasons, both of which ended with losses to Male in the Seventh Region Tournament semifinals. The eventual state semifinalist Bulldogs beat them 55-50 in 2015, then 63-62 in overtime last season. The latter loss was especially painful considering Sacred Heart entered the fourth quarter with an 18-point lead before its youth and tournament inexperience showed. The Valkyries committed six turnovers to start the period and also missed the front end of a few one-and-one free throw opportunities.
“It was like the perfect storm,” Moir said.
The players and coaches have tried their best to move past the disastrous defeat.
26TH DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Assumption, Brown, Collegiate, Male
“I think the kids have kind of put that behind them and are ready for a fresh start,” said Moir, who said she still hasn’t watched the video of that game.
When you talk about Sacred Heart you have to start with Grace Berger. The 5-foot-11 junior guard averaged 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season on her way to earning first-team all-region honors, for the second consecutive year, and second-team all-state accolades.
Moir expects Berger, who recently committed to Indiana University, to score even more this season.
“She just causes a lot of mismatches,” Moir said. “It’s hard to guard her.”
Three other returning juniors – each of whom play primarily on the perimeter – are Kiki Samsel (12.3 points per game last season), Kia Sivils (7.8 ppg) and Natalie Fichter (7.6 ppg). Last season the 5-5 Samsel was one of the top 3-point shooters in the state, making 79 for 172 (45.9 percent) shots from long range. The 5-7 Sivils, who has committed to Marshall, was second on the team in rebounding (5.5 per game), while the 5-9 Fichter was second in made 3-pointers (35) last season.
27TH DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Atherton, Sacred Heart, Seneca, Waggener
Cierra Scott (3.4 ppg), a 5-10 forward who was a member of the school’s state championship volleyball team, is also part of Sacred Heart’s stacked junior class.
The Valkyries have more than just the Class of 2018 on their roster, though.
Another key returnee is 5-5 sophomore guard Ashlee Harris, who was the team’s third-leading (10.2 ppg) and 3-point maker (33) last season. Moir also expects two freshmen – 6-0 center Kristen Clemons and 5-6 guard Erin Toller – to have immediate impacts this season. Clemons, who was also on the school’s championship volleyball team, will provide a post presence for the Valkyries.
“She moves everybody into their natural position,” Moir said.
Those eight players, along with a few others (including the team’s lone senior, Danielle Wethington), give Sacred Heart some depth as it prepares for the rigorous Seventh Region, and possibly beyond.
28TH DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Ballard, Christian Academy, Eastern, Kentucky Country Day
“They want to get to Northern Kentucky,” Moir said. “That’s a big goal of ours and they know it’s going to be a team effort.”
Male, defending champion Manual and Eastern should be the Valkyries’ biggest challengers in the region with Christian Academy of Louisville not far behind.
“The Seventh Region, as always, will be extremely tough, as there are plenty of talented and well-coached teams all competing for the regional championship,” Crimsons coach Jeff Sparks said. “We know we have our work cut out for us with talented teams like Sacred Heart and Male leading the way in this region.”