By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – For the first time in program history, in the continued quest to play the toughest competition available, Bedford North Lawrence will cross the Ohio River. Those new bridges on Indiana’s southern border demand tolls, thanks to the neighboring state governments and their demand for a revenue stream, and the Stars will pay the price for their late-season journey when they face Kentucky’s best.
Sacred Heart, the three-time defending state champion, has been on its own travel adventures to determine its true worth. After winning 51 consecutive games against in-state opponents, the Valkyries have taken lengthy trips this season to Phoenix and Washington, D.C. to clash with the nation’s elite. Their record has paid the toll. Now they will return home to host one of Indiana’s best.
BNL has more wins (277) than any Hoosier team over the last 12 years, with three 4A championships, so perhaps it was inevitable for these two tradition-rich powerhouses to finally collide when the Stars (16-4 and ranked No.12 in Class 4A) visit Kentucky No.1 Sacred Heart (11-6) on Thursday night.
Don’t be unimpressed by Sacred Heart’s record. There’s a reason it still tops the poll. Four losses came against national powers in the Nike Tournament of Champions, the other two came last weekend in the MLK Classic in the nation’s capital. The Valkyries are battle tested, they are loaded with high-level talent, including one of the top players in the 2025 recruiting class.
So why would BNL make this perilous road play (7 p.m., varsity only) as the Indiana postseason looms? Improvement. The Stars will need to be hardened, by iron and fire, for their sectional defense.
“It’s going to be a hard game,” BNL coach Jeff Allen said. “I think life is hard. So choose your hard. Choosing the easy way out, I don’t know if that makes us better for what we want to try to accomplish. Will this be a hard game? Absolutely. We’re playing at their place. But it will give us an opportunity to get better and get ready. You don’t do that by taking the easy way.
“They’re very good. They have some outstanding players. It’s going to be a great test for us, to get us ready for sectional play.”
ZaKiyah Johnson is the most outstanding. She’s a 6-1 junior who’s ranked No.5 in the nation in her class by ESPN, she’s a two-time state Gatorade Player of the Year who’s likely destined to be Miss Basketball. She’s already scored over 2,600 career points (having played two varsity seasons at Shelby County as a middle-schooler, which Kentucky allows), and she’s currently averaging 19.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
“She’s a great athlete, really good skills,” Allen said. “She’s just a well-rounded player who can shoot the ball, can drive it. She will be a handful for us to guard. And she’s not the only one. They have a lot of weapons that will be a problem for us to contain. We’ll have to really guard her with help, that’s tough to do.”
Johnson’s recruiting list includes a who’s-who of college basketball: Connecticut, Louisiana State, Louisville, Notre Dame, South Carolina and UCLA are among the top-12 list she announced on social media.
“What makes her tick is she just loves the game of basketball,” Sacred Heart coach Donna Moir said. “That’s her passion, it drives her. It’s not who she is, but she loves to play and compete. She can play all five spots. She’s so strong and she can get inside and post up, she can run the point, too.”
The other weapons, some who are overlooked but should not be, include senior wing and four-year starter Reagan Bender (13.1 points), senior guard Claire Russell (5.9 rebounds) and 6-3 post Angelina Pelayo (8.8 points. 4.3 boards), who’s on her way to UNC-Wilmington.
“Reagan is a girl that’s always hitting the big shots,” Moir said. “Our glue person is Claire Russell. When you see her, you think ‘Oh, whatever.’ But she does all the little stuff for us. She’s so sound, a real team player.”
Of course, BNL has its own superstar in senior Chloe Spreen, the Miss Basketball frontrunner and McDonald’s All-American nominee. She’s averaging 21.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists, and her reputation has preceded her across the river.
“Our players all talk about her, what a good player she is, how excited they are to play her,” Moir said. “I know they are so fundamentally sound, just a good basketball team. I’ve always been impressed.”
The Stars will also feature senior Madisyn Bailey (10.5 points, 3.7 boards, 4.7 assists) and freshman Miley Sherrill (9.8 points, 4.9 rebounds).
“If we go down there and play our level of basketball, defend and execute, make shots, we’ll give them a game,” Allen said. “But we’ll have to do those things. It will be a tall task to beat them on their home floor, but I think we’re capable of doing it. I hope this brings it out of my kids.”
BNL at SACRED HEART
When: Thursday, 7 p.m. (varsity only)
Records: BNL 16-4 (ranked No.12 in Class 4A); Sacred Heart 11-6 (ranked No.1 in Kentucky)
Last meeting: This is first meeting in program history.
Game notes: Sacred Heart coach Donna Moir is the first woman in Kentucky history to win a state championship as a player (1976) and coach. Sacred Heart has won three consecutive Kentucky state titles.
Starting lineups
Bedford NL Stars
F – Chloe Spreen 5-10 Sr.
F – Miley Sherrill 5-9 Fr.
G – Madisyn Bailey 5-9 Sr.
G – Trinidy Bailey 5-7 So.
G – Tori Nikirk 5-6 Jr.
Sacred Heart Valkyries
F – ZaKiyah Johnson 6-1 Jr.
F – Reagan Bender 5-10 Sr.
C – Angelina Pelayo 6-3 Sr.
G – Claire Russell 5-7 Sr.
G – Amirah Jordan 5-5 Fr.
