There’s nothing quite like a Sacred Heart Academy fan section, especially one that comes alive to support a SHA basketball game. A vibrant mix of nuns, students, and parents pack the stands, creating an atmosphere unlike anything else in Connecticut high school girls’ basketball. There is something about basketball, at least in the eyes of many at SHA, which brings this school together. Maybe it’s the stinky, sweaty gym that somehow feels like home, the nonstop whistles and cheers, or the intensity of a program built on decades of tradition. Whatever it is, basketball at Sacred Heart Academy has become the epitome of what SHA stands for.
Last season, the SHA basketball team made history, finishing unanimously number one in the state while winning both the SCC Conference Championship and the Class LL State Title. Leading the way were seniors Lyla D’Errico and Connecticut Player of the Year Emily Mennillo. Yet, according to Head Coach Jason Kirck, it wasn’t star power or individual statistics that made the season or even this program so extraordinary-it is the school itself.
“SHA basketball is full of traditions dating back to the teams in the ’90s,” Coach Kirck said, “Ever since then, the SHA community has been supporting our players on the court. Representing our school community is very important to our players and coaches. We know that when we play games, we are not only playing for ourselves-we are playing for our whole SHA family. That special motivation allows us to dig deeper, work harder, and push each other to strive ever higher, thus being excelsior.”
Excelsior, Latin for “ever higher,” is the motto of SHA and remains to be the heartbeat of the basketball program. Each season begins with the same core goals: grow more, work harder, push higher, and never lose sight of what the team represents.
As the program shifts from celebration to preparation, the mindset stays clear. The goals are still high, the standards still demanding, and the expectations still rooted in the school’s culture built over decades, but each season brings new roles and new challenges, making the team hungry to prove themselves once again.
When asked what stands out about this team, senior captain Molly Gunning said “The sisters are at every game. The Shark Tank is packed. That is what makes SHA basketball so special- the unwavering community that supports us no matter what.” Her co-captain, Bianca Coughlin, added, “No matter if it is a random Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at SHA or 7 p.m. at Mohegan Sun, our fans always show up for us.”
SHA’s basketball season officially begins on December 1st, with the home opener taking place on December 16th against Greenwich. With fresh faces, returning talent, the same championship mentality, and the SHA community’s support inspiring them every step of the way, the Sharks prepare once again to go ever higher, embodying what it means to be excelsior.
