article Inside the 9th Region (1/3)

With the holiday tournaments finished, the new year begins with most teams playing for district and simply trying to get healthy after a long December. Here is how the teams stand in the first rankings of 2017.

 

1. Covington Catholic (10-3)

The Colonels started the week with a 56-41 in the Skyline Classic in New Jersey over Pope John XXIII but fell for the third time this season in a 48-41 loss to St Augustine Prep. Cole Vonhandorf led the Colonels with 23 points in the win, followed by Aiden Ruthsatz and Luke Lenihan with 11. Ruthsatz was the only Colonel to reach double figures in the loss, with 10 points, but sophomore TJ Deere contributed 9 points as Vonhandorf was held to just 5 points after suffering a broken nose.

 

Leading scorer CJ Fredrick didn't play in either game and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after suffering a fracture and high ankle sprain during practice the week before.

 

Up Next: 1/3 v Holy Cross; 1/6 v Conner; 1/7 at South Laurel

 

2. Cooper (9-3)

Despite playing without leading scorer Sean McNeil, the Jags went to Lexcath and won the Traditional Bank Classic with wins over West Jessamine (91-63), Dunbar (57-55), Lafayette (53-45), and Lexcath (49-45). McNeil led the Jags with 16 points, 6 rebounds in the opening round win over West Jessamine but didn't play the rest of the tournament. Adam Kunkel would finish the tournament scoring 16, 27, 18, and 20 to take home MVP honors. Brayden Runion had 15 points in the win over West Jessamine and 12 in the semi final win over Lafayette. The most impressive part of Cooper's run? They were also without starting point guard Chris McNeil for the semi's and finals after suffering a hand injury in the quarter final win over Dunbar.

 

Up Next: 1/3 v Highlands; 1/6 at Boone County; 1/7 at Harrison County

 

3. Dixie Heights (10-2)

The Colonels picked up wins over North Oldham (65-56) and Danville (48-30) this week but lost to Fern Creek (62-48) in the semi finals of the Mitchell F Irvin Classic at South Oldham. Cam Thornberry (19 points), Reed Bradfield (17); Tyler Schreack (13), and Hunter Meyer (12) combined for a balanced effort in the win over North Oldhamp. Reed Bradfield led the Colonels with 15 points in the loss to 2nd ranked Fern Creek.

 

Up Next: 1/3 at St Henry; 1/6 v Ryle; 1/7 v Bowling Green at Muhlenberg County.

 

4. Newport Central Catholic (6-5)

Newcath finished runner up at the Apollo Holiday Classic, defeating Central Hardin (48-45) and Oldham County (70-58), before falling to Apollo (46-40) in the finals. Luke Moeves and Trey Wurtz both scored 11 points, followed by Brendan Luken with 10 in the win over Central Hardin and the trio had another solid showing in the win over Oldham County as Wurtz finished with 20, Moeves with 19, and Luken with 15. Brennan Hall led Newcath with 23 points in the finals loss to Apollo.

 

Up Next: 1/7 v John Hardin at Central Hardin

 

5. Beechwood (8-4)

Ben Toebbe finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds in a 59-43 win over Meade County and followed that up with 22 points in a 67-48 loss to Eastern. In the Tigers' final game of the week, Owen Alcorn had 21 points, 11 rebounds and Toebbe had 19 points in a 73-67 loss to Bardstown. 8th Grader Scotty Draud also had a solid week with 16 points against Meade County and 10 against Bardstown.

 

Up Next: 1/3 at Harrison County; 1/5 at Newport

 

6. Lloyd (9-4)

The Juggs picked up two wins this week over Newport (65-60) and Dayton (76-50) but lost to Woodford County (55-45) in the opening round of the Lloyd Memorial Invitational. Sterling Hamilton finished in double figures in all three games with 19 , 17, and 12 points while Jamal Neal had 17 points in the win over Newport.

 

Up Next: 1/4 v Conner; 1/7 v Henry County

 

7. Conner (6-5)

Spencer Hemmerich led the Cougars with 22 points in a 70-66 overtime win over Holmes and 25 points in a 63-50 win over Ryle. In the Cougars 69-52 loss to Campbell County, Travis Connelly led Conner with 13 points, while Tanner Craddock had 12. Connelly also had 13 points against Holmes.

 

Up Next: 1/4 at Lloyd; 1/6 at Covcath

 

8. Newport (8-6)

The Wildcats went 1-2 this week as they lost to Campbell County (78-46) and Lloyd (65-60), but picked up a win over Holmes (65-57). MeKell Burries finished with 17 points in the loss to Campbell County, while sophomore Donnie Miller went for 27 points, 10 rebounds in the win over Holmes. Tahj Harding also had a big game against Holmes with 21 points, 15 rebounds. Burries finished with 14 and 13 points in the final two Wildcat games as Harding and Miller both had 13 in the loss to Lloyd. Sophomore Makhi McGuire didn't play in the loss to Campbell or win over Holmes, due to being sick.

 

Up Next: 1/5 v Beechwood; 1/7 at Highlands

 

9. Holmes (6-6)

Playing without senior big man Jaiden Greene, the Bulldogs dropped their fifth straight game with losses to Conner (70-66 OT) and Newport (65-57) but got back on track with a blowout win over Dayton (82-29). Rico Hollis finished with a career high 29 points in the loss to Conner and followed that strong showing with 12 and 18 points in the final two Bulldog games. Raavai Commodore had 17 against Conner and 19 against Newport. Mike Englemon (14), LJ Miller (12), and Trey Gaither (12) all reached double figures in the win over Dayton.

 

Up Next: 1/3 at Scott; 1/6 v Holy Cross; 1/7 at Mason County

 

10. Ryle (7-7)

After a 68-52 win over Dayton, the Raiders lost their final two games of the week to Conner (63-50) and Woodford County (62-46). Vince Rankin led three Raiders in double figures with 13 points, followed by Deon Polk and Aaron O'Hara with 10, each. Austin McDaniel led Ryle with 17 points in the loss to Conner.

 

Up Next: 1/3 v Boone County; 1/6 at Dixie Heights

 

11. Highlands (5-8)

The Rebels started the week with a 64-59 loss to Daviess County, but ended the week with wins over Hart County (77-39) and Russell County (70-53). Kyle Finfrock averaged 18 ppg, 9 rpg, including 24 points, 11 rebounds in the loss to Daviess County. Bryce Traylor (16) and Brayden Posey (13) both finished in double figures against Russell County, while Jacob Noe led the Birds with 18 points against Hart County.

 

Up Next: 1/3 at Cooper; 1/7 v Newport

 

12. Boone County (4-8)

The Rebels won their opening game of the Red River Classic over Harrison County (72-54) but fell to host Powell County (58-57) and Wolfe County (98-71) in their final two games of the tournament. Ethan Haynes (21), Ethan Robbins (17), and Ethan Nyman (14) led the Rebels against Harrison County. Haynes and Robbins also led the Rebels in the loss to Powell County with 16 and 15 points.

 

Up Next: 1/3 at Ryle, 1/6 v Cooper; 1/7 at Sayre

 

13. Holy Cross (2-11)

The Cross started the week with a win over Warren Central (60-58) but fell to Apollo (49-46) in overtime and then Oldham County, 67-49. Nolan Schrand led the Indians with 21 points in the win over Warren Central.

 

Up Next: 1/3 at Covington Catholic; 1/6 at Holmes

 

14. St Henry (4-7)

St Henry has now lost 4 straight after falling to Indiana schools Centerville (66-58), Lawrenceburg (64-60), and Union County (61-55). Stephen Maley averaged 15 ppg over the three games while Michael Schaefer scored 10 and 16 for the Cru in their final two games of the week. Mitch McArtor and Alex Westerbeck both had 11 in the loss to Centerville.

 

Up Next: 1/3 v Dixie Heights; 1/6 at Lexington Catholic

 

15. Villa Madonna (5-6)

The Blue Lightning will look to stay undefeated in DIII conference play after not playing since December 21st.

 

Up Next: 1/6 v Dayton

 

16. Ludlow (2-7)

The Panthers lost their only game last week to North College Hill (OH), 45-42.

 

Up Next: 1/3 v Bishop Brossart; 1/5 v Silver Grove; 1/7 at Calvary Christian

 

17. Bellevue (4-8)

Bellevue went 1-1 last week with a 52-47 win over Calvary Christian and 61-36 loss to Seven Hills, OH.

 

Up Next: 1/10 at Dayton

 

18. Dayton (3-10)

The Green Devils played a big school schedule last week and ended with 3 losses to Ryle (68-52), Lloyd (76-50), and Holmes (82-29). Adrian Hall and Sam Brewer both reached double figures with 15 and 12 in the loss to Ryle. Draven Garcia (15), Adrian Hall (12), and Chris Perkins (11) were in double figures against Lloyd, but Garcia was the only one to reach double figures against Holmes with 16 points.

 

Up Next: 1/3 v Calvary Christian; 1/6 at Villa Madonna

Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?

Any insight on whether or not Greene will be in the lineup this week?

Any insight on whether or not Greene will be in the lineup this week?

 

Expected to play tonight v Scott.

Expected to play tonight v Scott.

 

Good. Super talented kid. Hope he can stay on the court.

Kunkel is 33/67 from 3. Impressive.

Bryce Traylor for Highlands is 34-65 from the 3pt line.

Bryce Traylor for Highlands is 34-65 from the 3pt line.

 

5/21 from 2.

 

Crazy stat.

5/21 from 2.

 

Crazy stat.

 

True!

Any information on the time frame for the McNeil boys to return from their injuries?

Any information on the time frame for the McNeil boys to return from their injuries?

 

Chris is for sure out 3 weeks with the hand/wrist injury. (Buckle fracture)

 

Sean wont play this week but could be back the following week depending on what the Doc said when they met today. Knee feels good from what I'm told but he won't play until he is 100% healthy. No reason to risk any setbacks in January games that mean nothing as far as the postseason goes.