article Inside the 9th Region (2/14)

We've finally reached the final week of the regular season in the 9th region. All district tournaments have been set and now teams are simply focused on getting to next week's district tournament healthy. Here is where each team ranks heading in to the final week:

1. Covington Catholic (23-5)

The Colonels extended their win streak to 11 games with a 56-39 win over #3 Dixie Heights but would see that win streak end just two days later as they fell to Dunbar, 81-62, in the Colonels worst loss of the season. Cole Vonhandorf and Aiden Ruthsatz led the Colonels with 19 and 17 points, respectively, in the win over Dixie while it was a familiar face in CJ Fredrick who paced Covcath with 21 points (8 rebounds) in his return to the Colonel lineup in the loss to Dunbar. AJ Mayer finished with 16 points and Jake Walter had 12 points.

Up Next:2/14 at Simon Kenton; 2/17 v Madison Central

2. Cooper (21-4)

Since losing to Covcath just shy of a month ago, the Jags have won 7 straight by an average margin of 22 points. This past week we saw Cooper take care of Newcath (72-56) and Campbell County (85-83 OT). Sean McNeil (26 pts) and Adam Kunkel (21 pts) combined for 47 points in the win over Newcath and upped that to 58 points in the win over Campbell County as McNeil went off for a career high 37 points and Kunkel had another 21 point effort. Kunkel added 9 rebounds in the Newcath win, while McNeil had 8 rebounds in the Campbell County win.

Up Next: 2/14 v Dixie Heights; 2/17 at Scott

3. Dixie Heights (24-4)

The Colonels started the week by extendeing their win streak to 12 games with a 64-52 win over Holy Cross but quickly saw after that why many believe this is a two team race for the 9th region crown, as Covcath defeated their Dixie Highway rival, 56-39. Reed Bradfield had 15 points in the loss to Covcath. Hunter Meyer paced Dixie with 15 points in the Holy Cross win.

Up Next: 2/14 at Cooper; 2/17 v Boone County

4. Lloyd (18-10)

Mike Key's team started the week with a 60-49 loss to Walton Verona but took Highlands down, 64-46, three days later. Jamal Neal had 17 points in the loss to Walton, while Sterling Hamilton scored 16 points in the win over Highlands.

Up Next: 2/15 v Bishop Brossart; 2/17 v Trimble County

5. Newport Central Catholic (18-11)

It was a rough week for the Breds as they lost three in a row to Cooper (72-56), Holmes (55-54 OT), and Roger Bacon, OH (64-61) before finally getting one back in the win column against Bellevue (83-38). Luke Moeves was the man for the Breds this week, averaging 17 ppg, while Austin Neff, Brennan Hall, Brendan Luken, and Trey Wurtz also had multiple games scoring double figures. That type of balance will be key if the Breds want to make a run at BB&T Arena.

Up Next: 2/16 at Conner

6. Conner (13-11)

The Cougars have quietly won 5 straight without people really taking notice. That streak extended to 5 games this past week with a 78-58 win over Grant County as Spencer Hemmerich went off for a career high 41 points with Travis Connley scoring 16 and Alec Saffell, 11 points.

Up Next: 2/14 v Holmes; 2/17 v Newcath

7. Holmes (12-14)

The Bulldogs ended a 4 games losing streak this past week with wins over Boone County (63-53) and Newport Central Catholic (55-54) in overtime. Jaiden Greene scored 17 points in the upset of Newcath, while Rico Hollis returned to himself with 15 points. Hollis also played well in the win over Boone with 25 points. Holmes is clearly a different team with him on the floor.

Up Next: 2/14 at Conner; 2/16 v Simon Kenton

8. Holy Cross (8-16)

With wins over Ryle (58-50), Beechwood (59-51), and Highlands (66-50) the Indians find themselves back in the top 10 and playing well at the right time. The key for Ryan Schrand's team has been the balance shown in each win as four players have scored 9 or more points in each game, led by Ty Houston's 11 ppg. Parker Zimmerman, Derrick Barnes, Nolan Schrand, and Jordan Niehaus have also stepped up with solid showings in multiple games.

Up Next: 2/15 at Newport; 2/17 v St Henry

9. Newport (13-14)

Four straight losses for the Wildcats makes it tough to really gauge where the Wildcats are, especially after losses to Breathitt County (92-81) and Bracken County (51-50). Mekell Burries (30 pts), Donnie Miller (21 pts) and Tahj Harding (16 pts) combined for 67 of Newport's 81 points in the Breathitt loss. Those three were the only three to score in the loss to Bracken as Burries finished with 21 pts, Miller 17 pts, and Harding 12 pts.

Up Next: 2/15 v Holy Cross; 2/17 at Villa Madonna

10. Beechwood (13-12)

Gannon Huff scored 18 points to pace the Tigers in a 72-46 win over St Henry, as Scott Draud (17 pts) and Ben Toebbe (12 pts) also scored in double figures, with Owen Alcorn pulling down 11 boards. In the two losses to Holy Cross (59-51) and Gallatin County (60-59), Ben Toebbe had a double double (22 & 11) against Holy Cross, while 8th grader Scotty Draud had a career high 30 points against Gallatin County.

Up Next: 2/14 v Grant County; 2/17 at Highlands

11. Highlands (12-15)

With losses to Holy Cross (66-50) and Lloyd (64-46), the Birds fell out of the top 10 after coming in at #6 last week. Braden Posey scored 10 in the loss to Lloyd, while Kyle Finfrock scored 18 in the loss to Holy Cross.

Up Next: 2/17 v Beechwood

12. Boone County (7-19)

Raymond Rodgers scored 23 points in a 63-53 loss to Holmes but the Rebels were able to bounce back with a 74-67 win over Grant County. Rodgers was once again in double figures with 11 points along with Ethan Nyman, while Ba Ousmane and Ethan Robbins scored 18 points, followed by Ethan Haynes with 14 points.

Up Next: 2/14 v Campbell County; 2/17 at Dixie Heights

13. Ryle (13-15)

The Raiders ended a 4 game losing streak with a 76-64 win over Scott as sophomore Vince Rankin had 23 pts, 14 rbs. Ryle followed that win with a 58-50 overtime loss to Holy Cross, as Braden Cheesman scored 18.

Up Next: 2/14 at St Henry; 2/17 v Campbell County

14. St Henry (5-19)

It's been a season to forget the Crusaders as they have lost 17 of their past 18, including 6 straight after losses to Beechwood (72-46) and Walton Verona (59-38). Mitch McArton scored 12 in the loss to Beechwood, while Stephen Maley scored 11against Walton Verona.

15. Ludlow (11-14)

Four Panthers scored in double figures, led by Justin Blackburn's 16 points, in a 69-44 win over Silver Grove. Chandler Booker scored 16 points in a 67-23 win over Heritage.

Up Next: 2/14 v Scott

16. Villa Madonna(12-14)

The Division III Conference Champs dropped a head scratcher to Calvary Christain (54-53) and then lost to Gallatin County (76-44), before getting back on track against St Francis in a 69-65 win. Thomas Schutzman scored 13 and 11 points in the two Blue Lightning losses.

2/17 v Newport

17. Dayton (11-18)

The Devils beat Bellevue (66-57) and Calvary Christian (73-61) but lost to Washington County (70-61)

Up Next: 2/17 v Robertson County

18. Bellevue (7-21)

Four losses last week to Bishop Brossart (64-48), Dayton (66-57), Carroll County (89-61), and Newcath (83-38), guaranteed the Tigers won't win atleast 10 regular season games for the first time since the 2010-2011 season.

Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?

Have to admit that as tough as it's been to rank teams this season, this past week might have been the toughest yet. Simply no accurate way to rank the teams after the top 3 consistently.

A minor upset will happen in the 9th region tournament.

Cooper will win the region knocking off Covington Catholic.

Great job as always Walter!!!

Looking back on the season and the records above I think this year proves very clearly talent is much more important than coaching.

Looking back on the season and the records above I think this year proves very clearly talent is much more important than coaching.

I agree with you, but what teams/players/coaches specifically bring you to that conclusion?