By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
On Saturday, the Sacred Heart Lady Knights defeated Ellinwood 43-34 to claim the first state girls’ basketball title in the long history of their program.
Of the 66 schools playing basketball in Class 2A, Sacred Heart stands above the rest, and will for at least 365 days.
This was a generational run for the Lady Knights, who took down the best individual player and St. Mary’s Colgan in the first round, dethroned the defending state champs in Moundridge in the semis, and knocked off the 1-seed and winningest 2A program in Ellinwood in the state championship game.
From the season opener against Beloit St. John’s to the season finale against the Lady Eagles, this was a program that beamed with positivity and joy from start to finish, and one that has left its mark on the 2A world.
“These ladies are the queens of the mountain, and it feels awesome,” Sacred Heart head coach Carl Hines said. “Every player dreams of this when they’re little, and every coach has this as a goal. This group realized their goals, and it feels like a dream come true.”
Saturday’s finale was anything but a cakewalk, and the Lady Knights faced adversity from jump to buzzer.
The first quarter was a low-scoring affair, with Ellinwood taking all six free throws and leading 10-8 after one.
In the second, both offenses came to life, but Sacred Heart knocked down a pair of triples, and thanks to eight first-half points from Emmy Lee, held a 22-19 advantage at the intermission.
Midway through the third quarter, Skylar Douglas was blasted to the hardwood while hunting a loose ball, and after being helped to the bench, many wondered if she would be able to return.
The Lady Knights built their biggest lead of the game, but quickly saw a 31-19 advantage shrink to 32-29 behind a frantic 10-1 Ellinwood run.
As the fourth quarter began, the Sacred Heart student section exploded as number four returned to the floor.
The Lady Knights needed a hero, and Skylar Douglas intended to deliver.
“Skylar was never going to be denied that chance,” Hines said. “We’re pretty sure she has a broken nose, but we got her looked at, got her right, and after a few laps up and down the hallway, she came out ready to go.”
Douglas stopped the run with a corner three on a beautiful feed from Addie Lee to restore a six-point lead.
When Mette Maxwell answered back with a triple of her own, Douglas upped the ante, knocking down another from the opposite corner to keep the Lady Eagles at arms length.
Ellinwood did their best to battle back but the damage was done, and the Lady Knights held their ground, allowing just two points over the final four and a half minutes to secure their crown in a 43-34 victory.
Each of Sacred Heart’s stars got their moment to shine, with Emmy Lee scoring eight of the Lady Knights’ 22 first-half points, Addie Lee accounting for eight of ten in the third quarter, and Douglas cashing in for six of eleven down the home stretch.
Sacred Heart’s defense showed out in a vintage performance, forcing eleven turnovers while coughing up the ball just five times.
Addie Lee led the way with 15 points, followed by Douglas (10) and Emmy Lee (9).
Julia Schlessiger, the 6-2 forward, led the Lady Eagles with 12 points in the win, but was held without a bucket for the final four minutes.
Ellinwood’s still-stellar campaign comes to a close at 27-2.
Sacred Heart wraps up its historic season 25-5, queens of Class 2A, and with a bright future and great expectations moving forward.
“Our expectation every year will be to make the state tournament, maybe not to win it, but to be here,” Hines said. “These girls are going to hang a banner in our historic gym, and they’re going to talk about this for the rest of their lives.”
The Lady Knights will lose three key seniors this offseason as Skylar Douglas, Nicole Richards, and Holly Bonilla all prepare to graduate, but the core group of Addie and Emmy Lee, Edyn Sharpton and Brynn Bechard will all return, eager to defend Sacred Heart’s throne in 2026-27.
The full broadcast of this state championship game is available 100% free on-demand and can be accessed any time below.