Sacred Heart returns to top in girls basketball Elite 16 media poll

Sacred Heart is back on top of the girls basketball Elite 16 media poll after knocking off rival Assumption on Sunday.

Sacred Heart Academy is back on top of the Kentucky High School Girls Basketball Elite 16 after beating its rival.

The Valkyries rallied to knock off previous No. 1 Assumption 68-66 on Sunday at St. Xavier. Sacred Heart has defeated the Rockets 19 consecutive times dating to 2013.

Sacred Heart received 11 of 16 first-place votes and is followed by Assumption, George Rogers Clark, Calloway County and Simon Kenton in the top five.

Calloway County (21-0) is the only undefeated team in the state and captured the Kentucky 2A Championships title Sunday with a 49-46 victory over Taylor County.

The Kentucky High School Girls Basketball Elite 16 is conducted by 16 sports journalists — one from each of the state’s 16 basketball regions. The poll will be released online each week throughout the regular season.

Along with the statewide top 16, voters will provide top-five rankings for their respective regions.

Here are the rankings:

Girls statewide poll

Sacred Heart’s Tahri Ralston celebrates making a 3-pointer against Assumption at St. Xavier High School on Sunday night, Jan. 18, 2026. Scott Utterback/Courier Journal

First-place votes in parentheses; records through Monday’s games

Rank-school (FPV)                 Record     Pts      LW

1. Sacred Heart (11)                12-3         246       3

2. Assumption (1)                   11-5         228       1

3. George Rogers Clark (1)    13-2         221       2

4. Calloway County (3)           21-0        199       T4

5. Simon Kenton                     19-1         189       T4

6. Cooper                                13-3         182       6

7. Frederick Douglass             13-3         168       7

8. Taylor County                      16-3          112       9

9. Ashland Blazer                     13-1         103       10

10. Campbell County              12-2          95        12

11. Notre Dame                       11-5          88         8

12. North Laurel                       12-5          75        11

13. South Laurel                       14-5          70        13

14. Henderson County           11-7          54        14

15. Covington Holy Cross      14-2          44        T15

16. Bishop Brossart                 18-1          39        NR

Others receiving votes: Boyd County 14, Butler 9, Ryle 8, Barren County 7, Daviess County 7, Mercy 5, Franklin County 3, Manual 3, Marshall County 3, McCracken County 3, St. Henry 1.

First Region

Steve Springer, Murray Ledger & Times

1. Calloway County

2. Marshall County

3. McCracken County

4. Carlisle County

5. Ballard Memorial

Second Region

Edward Marlowe, WKDZ-FM

1. Henderson County

2. Lyon County

3. Crittenden County

4. Hopkins County Central

5. Christian County

Third Region

Mark Mathis, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer

1. Daviess County

2. Owensboro Catholic

3. Breckinridge County

4. Meade County

5. Edmonson County

Fourth Region

Micheal Compton, Bowling Green Daily News

1. Barren County

2. Allen County-Scottsville

3. Cumberland County

4. Monroe County

5. Franklin-Simpson

Fifth Region

Josh Claywell, Bardstown Kentucky Standard/LaRue County Herald News

1. Taylor County

2. Bethlehem

3. John Hardin

4. Campbellsville

5. Green County

Sixth Region

Alyx White, Rise Up Sports Media

1. Butler

2. Bullitt East

3. Mercy

4. North Bullitt

5. Bullitt Central

Seventh Region

Jason Frakes, The Courier Journal

1. Sacred Heart

2. Assumption

3. Central

4. Manual

5. Christian Academy

Eighth Region

James Weber, Cincinnati Enquirer

1. Simon Kenton

2. Anderson County

3. Woodford County

4. Spencer County

5. Owen County

Ninth Region

Brendan Connelly, Cincinnati Enquirer

1. Cooper

2. Covington Holy Cross

3. Notre Dame

4. Ryle

5. Highlands   

10th Region

Evan Dennison, LinkNKY.com

1. George Rogers Clark

2. Campbell County

3. Bishop Brossart

4. Montgomery County

5. Nicholas County

11th Region

Jared Peck, Lexington Herald-Leader

1. Frederick Douglass

2. Lafayette

3. Paul Dunbar

4. Franklin County

5. Madison Southern

12th Region

Mike Marsee, Danville freelancer

1. Rockcastle County

2. West Jessamine

3. Boyle County

4. Southwestern

5. Pulaski County

13th Region

Les Dixon, 13thRegionMediaNetwork.com

1. South Laurel

2. North Laurel

3. Knox Central

4. Bell County

5. Corbin

14th Region

Brendon Miller, Bluegrass Sports Nation

1. Hazard

2. Letcher County Central

3. Knott County Central

4. Breathitt County

5. Leslie County  

15th Region

Randy White, Appalachian News-Express

1. Johnson Central

2. Pikeville

3. Paintsville

4. Martin County

5. Floyd Central

16th Region

James Collier, WLGC-FM

1. Ashland Blazer

2. Boyd County

3. Russell

4. Rowan County

5. East Carter

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; [email protected]; Follow on X @kyhighs.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA girls basketball rankings, Kentucky High School Elite 16 poll

Category: General Sports