‘It’s been a great ride.’ Loss to No. 1 Sacred Heart can’t spoil historic season for Lawrence County

Perhaps the biggest underdog in the 2023 Mingua Beef Jerky Girls’ Sweet 16, 15th Region champion Lawrence County had a Louisville mountain to climb against No. 1 Sacred Heart, the two-time defending state champs, in the tournament’s first round Wednesday.

No, Lawrence did not pull off the upset against the vaunted Valkyries in a 70-33 loss, but they walked off the court to a standing ovation from the home faithful who covered swaths of Rupp Arena’s blue seats with red and black.

“Just looking up into the stands with all of our red and black. It was just really special,” said senior forward Kensley Feltner.

It was Lawrence’s first trip to state and for a while the Bulldogs gave Sacred Heart all they could.

“We played good for the first 14 minutes, and then they were a whole lot to handle,” said Lawrence Coach Melinda Feltner, who is also Kensley’s mother. “I was very proud of our girls for not ever quitting. … We didn’t knock some shots down that we normally knock down, but that’s what a No. 1 team does to you.”

Over the first quarter and a half, there were five ties and three lead changes.

After Sacred Heart’s Triniti Ralston picked up two quick fouls, Coach Donna Moir subbed her out. As Lawrence County continued to trade baskets, she changed her mind.

“I took a little shot there. You know, a lot of times, I won’t play somebody with two fouls in the first half,” Moir said. “But she came right in and got three steals and opened things up for us a little bit.”

Tied 18-18 with 3:13 left in the second quarter, Sacred Heart went on an 11-0 run to end the half, started by a ZaKiyah Johnson three-pointer off a Ralston assist and fueled by two Ralston steals. Ralston didn’t enjoy her break on the bench.

“It was just kinda like anxious sitting on the bench and not being able to help my team defensively,” she said. “My mindset was just to stay out of foul trouble and make sure I stayed on the floor.”

Sacred Heart kept that momentum in the third quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs 23-8 to blow the game open.

Ralston finished with a school record 13 assists, one shy of the tournament all-time mark. As a team, the Valkyries dished out 28 assists on 30 made field goals, which broke the previous tournament record its 2004 team shared with Laurel County.

Earlier Wednesday, Sacred Heart’s Johnson earned her second consecutive Gatorade Player of the Year award. The sophomore sensation had 21 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Teammate Reagan Bender led the Valkyries with 24 points. Angelina Pelayo added 14.

“Gatorade Player of the Year is pretty big two years in a row, but I know I still have a lot of work to do,” said Johnson, who has scholarship offers from every top college team you can think of.

Sacred Heart will play 3rd Region champion Owensboro Catholic in Friday’s quarterfinals at 11 a.m. Owensboro Catholic beat Bowling Green 54-51 in Wednesday’s first game.

It’s been a historic year for Lawrence County. They avenged an overtime loss to Pikeville in last year’s region finals to make the school’s first Sweet 16 and had the program’s first 30-win season.

Kensley Feltner finished her career as a leading Miss Basketball candidate and the fourth leading scorer in Kentucky girls’ high school basketball history with more than 4,000 points. She led the Bulldogs with 14 on Wednesday.

“Ten years ago, this program opened their arms up to me and Mom, that’s when she started coaching my third grade here,” Kensley Feltner said. “And I’m just forever thankful for the support that we’ve gotten from school. It’s been a great ride.”

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