? ❓❗The game most saw as inevitable at the Tournament draw is upon us. 30+ game winners? #1 rankings? Exceptional talent? Superior coaching? Challenging schedules? Tournament champions? Both teams check all the boxes!

Who wins this battle of heavyweights and what are the keys for each team tonight to claim the 2022 KHSAA Basketball Title?

More than the sum of their parts, each team does have that one extraordinary player. The "Irresistible Force Paradox" comes to mind. What happens when an unstoppable force (ZaKiyah Johnson) meets an immovable object (Gracie Merkle)?

Hyperbole? Maybe. If you've followed them all season, or in particular, today's semifinals, you know what I mean.

Tipoff in seven minutes. The starting lineups ~

Let's toss out the February 18 game between the two at Bullitt East where the Valkyries won 65-31. Merkle and Egan sat out for BE, and Triniti Ralston was missing for SHA.

Each team has won a tournament championship game over the other. Sacred Heart won the Queen of the Commonwealth at Bullitt East, 69-59 on 12/22. Bullitt East won the Louisville Invitational Tournament at Valley, 58-56 (OT) on 1/30.

And we're cookin'...

Bender jumper, Johnson FT.

Egan FT x 2.

SHA 3-2

Sacred Heart completes one of the most difficult Sweet 16 draws in Kentucky history and cuts down the nets.  All Top 10 opponents and all wins -- so unbelievably impressive.   

 

Anderson County -> GRC -> Cooper -> Bullitt East.  Wow!!!!

Johnson CAN shoot the trey too.

6-4 Sacred Heart.

Bender layup. SHA up 9-4. 

BE hasn't scored in 3:22. Sounds familiar in a game vs. the Valkyries.

30 sec TO BE.

Two FT by Merkle, nice.

Layup by Hughes for BE, closing to 10-6. 

10-6, 2:44 1Q

What's up @FrankNicodemus?

Lyons jumper for BE ends a 5+ minute drought from the field.

*Intensity*

Bender, SHA and Merkle, BE leading scorers.