LEXINGTON, Ky. — Ranked No. 1 in the state all season, the Sacred Heart Academy basketball team was at its best when it mattered most.

With all five starters playing their roles to perfection, the Valkyries shot a blistering 71.1% and rolled past McCracken County 68-53 in Saturday’s championship game of the Mingua Beef Jerky Girls Sweet 16 in front of 3,774 fans at Rupp Arena.

“They could beat the Lakers tonight shooting that percentage,” McCracken County coach Scott Sivills said.

Sacred Heart (36-3) won a third straight state title for the second time in program history, also accomplishing the feat from 2002-04. Laurel County (1977-79) is the only other team to win three straight titles.

With point guard Triniti Ralston the only senior on the roster, Sacred Heart figures to be favored to make it four in a row next season.

“We’re going to enjoy this, for sure,” Valkyries coach Donna Moir said. “I’ve had enough disappointment in all my coaching where we have really good teams and something happens. It’s special to win a championship, and I’m not even thinking about next year.”

Best of the best:Sacred Heart Academy star ZaKiyah Johnson again named Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year

Sacred Heart played it to perfection Saturday night.

Sophomore ZaKiyah Johnson was the best player on the floor, posting 30 points and eight rebounds. She finished one point shy of the Sweet 16 championship game record of 31 points set by Warren Central’s Clemette Haskins in 1983.

En route to three-peat:Reagan Bender's big second half keys semifinal win over George Rogers Clark

Ralston was relentless on defense with seven steals and pitched in five assists.

Junior Reagan Bender filled the role of shooter, making 3 of 6 3-point tries and scoring 19 points.

Junior Angelina Pelayo (17 points, six rebounds) was a force in the paint and reached 1,000 points for her career.

Junior Claire Russell (seven assists, four rebounds) did the dirty work.

Sacred Heart had 25 assists on 27 made field goals.

Champs again:Angelina Pelayo's growth on display as Sacred Heart advances tops Owensboro Catholic

“I’m not surprised about the assists because that’s who we are,” Moir said. “We share the ball and get the ball to the open person.”

Down 5-0 early, Sacred Heart took control with 15 straight points. Ralston had five steals in the first quarter alone.

“I just turn up on defense when I bring the energy, and everything else comes,” Ralston said. “It starts with the defense.”

Added Sivills: “They were just more physical than we were at the beginning. They turned the pressure up, and we just couldn’t make plays. From there on, it was playing catch-up.”

The Valkyries led 31-19 at halftime, and the outcome seemed inevitable. An 11-2 run to open the third quarter made it 42-21.

Title run:Valkyries set KHSAA Sweet 16 record for assists, rout Lawrence County

A look at the final numbers:

• The Valkyries finished with a 19-game winning streak and have won 44 in a row against Kentucky competition since a double-overtime loss to Mercy in February 2022.

• Sacred Heart is ranked No. 12 in the nation ESPN. Its three losses came to No. 7 La Jolla Country Day (Calif.), No. 9 Archbishop Mitty (Calif.) and No. 11 St. Louis Incarnate Word.

• Moir became the first girls coach in state history to win six state titles. Ashland’s W.B. Jackson won five in the 1920s.

“I’m so excited we won, but I’m sad it’s over, too,” Moir said. “Just going to the gym with these girls and my coaching staff, being together every day is just a blessing.”

Johnson was named Sweet 16 MVP for the second time in as many years.

Could she be halfway home to four straight Sweet 16 MVP honors?

“I believe I can do it four times,” she said. “But as long as we’re winning, I don’t care what award I get.”

Girls Sweet 16: After impressive 1st-round win, Mercy Academy's season ends in KHSAA Sweet 16 quarterfinals

MCCRACKEN COUNTY    7          12        12        22 - 53

SACRED HEART               17        14        20         17 - 68

McCracken County (35-3) – Caroline Sivills 11, Claire Johnson 9, Destiny Thomas 9, Mikee Buchanan 13, Briley Benton 9, Reagan Hill 2.

Sacred Heart (36-3) – Triniti Ralston 2, ZaKiyah Johnson 30, Reagan Bender 19, Angelina Pelayo 17.

MVP – ZaKiyah Johnson (Sacred Heart)

5-star prospect:For Sacred Heart star ZaKiyah Johnson, whirlwind recruiting process is 'a dream come true'

All-tournament team – Triniti Ralston, Reagan Bender (Sacred Heart); Caroline Sivills, Claire Johnson, Destiny Thomas (McCracken County); Jarie Thomas, Shalyn Sprinkles (Henderson County); Brianna Byars, Ciara Byars (George Rogers Clark); Leah Macy (Mercy); Kenleigh Woods (Ashland Blazer); Brooke Nichelson (North Laurel); Hailee Johnson (Owensboro Catholic).

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA Girls Sweet 16 basketball: Sacred Heart Academy wins title again