article BluegrassPreps.com 9th Region Rankings 2/12/18

Prediction for 9th Region Tournament:

33rd District: Cooper (Winner), Boone County (Runner-Up)


34th District: Dixie Heights (Winner), St. Henry (Runner-Up)

35th District: Covington Catholic (Winner), Holy Cross (Runner-Up)

36th District: Newport Central Catholic (Winner), Newport (Runner-Up)








1.Covington Catholic (23-4) – Covington Catholic had a very successful week with its roster finally at full strength.The Colonels have won 12 straight games after defeating Roger Bacon (80-37), Dixie Heights (81-37) and Boyle County (82-55). Leading the Colonels through 27 games is C.J. Fredrick (22.4 ppg), Aiden Ruthsatz (14.6 ppg) and Jake Walter (11.8 ppg). Games coming up: Simon Kenton (Feb.13) and Madison Central (Feb.16). Previous ranking: 1







2. Cooper (20-5) – Cooper has a five-game winning streak after beating Newport Central Catholic (60-44). Leading Cooper through 25 games are Adam Kunkel (20.4 ppg. 7.6 rpg), Chris McNeil (10.8 ppg) and Braydon Runion (8.7 ppg). Games coming up: Dixie Heights (Feb. 13) and Scott (Feb.16). Previous ranking: 2



3. Newport (20-6) – Newport had a very successful week, beating Newport Central Catholic (59-48) and Taft (48-43). The win against NewCath snapped a 16-game losing streak in the series for the Wildcats. Through 26 games Newport is led by MeKell Burries (21.9 ppg), Tahj Harding (15.2 ppg), Donnie Miller (10.7 ppg) and Makhi McGuire (9.7 ppg). Games coming up: St. Henry (Feb.12) and Dayton (Feb.13).Previous Ranking: 4





4. Boone County (15-10) – Had a successful week, beating Holmes (80-66) and Grant County (74-49). Through 25 games Boone County is led by Raymond Rodgers (16.0 ppg), Ethan Haynes (18.1 ppg) and Ethan Robbins (12.7 ppg). Games coming up: Campbell County (Feb.13) and Dixie Heights (Feb.16). Previous Ranking: 5

5. Newport Central Catholic (14-11) –The rollercoaster season continues for the ‘Breds as they lost to Newport (59-48) and Cooper (60-44). They also concluded a previously postponed game with Bellevue that was called while in progress due to the court conditions and won, 56-49. NewCath is led by Brennan Hall (22.0 ppg), Brendan Luken (12.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and Branden Posey (9.1 ppg). Games coming up: Conner (Feb. 15). Previous ranking: 3


6. Dixie Heights (14-12) – Dixie beat Holy Cross (81-68) but lost to Covington Catholic (81-37). Through 26 games Dixie Heights is led by Tyler Schreck (13.8 ppg) and Jabari Karim (12.8 ppg). Games coming up: Cooper (Feb.13) and Boone County ( Feb.16). Previous Ranking: 8

7. Highlands (12-12) — Highlands defeated Lloyd Memorial (65-42). The Bluebirsd will be the district host and meet NewCath in the first round. Through 24 games Highlands is led by Ben Sisson (8.4 ppg). Games coming Up: Holy Cross (Feb.12), Villa Madonna (Feb.15) and Beechwood (Feb.16). Previous Ranking: 9 





8. Holy Cross (11-13) – After receiving news that former Holy Cross faculty/coach Clay Eifert had passed away, the Indians won their biggest game of the year by defeating Beechwood (83-81). Holy Cross also lost to Ryle (66-58) and Dixie Heights (81-68) Through 24 games Holy Cross is led by Parker Zimerman (16.7 ppg), Nolan Schrand (16.2 ppg) and Jordan Niehaus (12.5 ppg). Games coming up: Highlands (Feb.12), Scott County (Feb.14) and St. Henry (Feb.16). Previous Ranking: 7







9. Beechwood (15-12) – The Tigers split a pair of games, defeating St. Henry (79-63), but losing to Holy Cross (83-81). Through 25 games Beechwood is led by Scotty Draud (20.8 ppg), C.J. Brannen (10.8 ppg) and Ben Toebbe (9.9 ppg). Games coming up: Gallatin County (Feb.13) and Highlands (Feb.16). Previous Ranking: 6


10. Holmes (11-13) – Holmes continues to play hard for retiring head coach Mike Listerman, who was honored last week during a Bulldog home game. Holmes beat Harrison County (73-58) and St. Henry (58-53), but lost to Boone County (80-66). Through 24 games Holmes is led by Kerez Race (12.5 ppg), Jarrod Miller (9.5 ppg) and Donavin Saxon (8.1 ppg). Games coming up: Conner ( Feb.13) and Simon Kenton ( Feb.15). Previous Ranking: 10 









11. St. Henry (10-14) – St. Henry had a tough week, losing three times. St. Henry lost to Beechwood (79-63), Holmes (58-53) and Walton-Verona (80-51). After 24 games Wyatt Vieth leads the team in scoring (10.0 ppg). Games coming up: Newport (Feb.12) and Holy Cross (Feb.16).Previous Ranking: 11
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12. Conner (8-18) – Lost to Scott (75-62), but beat Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (74-65). Through 26 games Conner is led by Tanner Craddock (10.1 ppg) and Jared Hicks (10.2 ppg). Games coming up: Bellevue ( Feb.12), Holmes ( Feb.13) and Newport Central Catholic ( Feb.15).Previous Ranking: 13 








13. Ryle (10-16) – The rollercoaster season continues for Ryle, which had wins against St. Patrick (70-59) and Holy Cross (66-58). The Raiders also lost to Scott (89-73). Through 23 games Ryle is led by Vince Rankin (18.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and Jacob Tarvin (7.7 ppg). Games coming up: Lloyd Memorial ( Feb.13) and Campbell County ( Feb.15).Previous Ranking: 14




14. Lloyd (9-15) – Played twice, losing to Walton-Verona (72-33) and Highlands (65-42). Through 24 games Lloyd is led by Jordan Fann (15.6 ppg) and Jamal Neal (14.3 ppg). Games coming up: Ryle ( Feb.13) and Trimble County ( Feb.16).Previous Ranking: 12 











15. Bellevue (12-14) – Played three times, beating Dayton (68-38) and Ludlow (66-31), but losing to Newport Central Catholic (56-49). Through 26 games Bellevue is led by Brett Maehren (16.2 ppg. 7.9 rpg) and Tommy Ratterman (13.0 ppg). Games coming up: Conner( Feb.12), Bishop Brossart( Feb.14) and Silver Grove ( Feb.15). Previous Ranking:15 










16. Villa Madonna (13-13) – Villa beat Augusta (35-34), but lost to Calvary Christian (55-53). Through 26 games Villa is led by Sean McIntyre (12.8 ppg) and Ben Zalla (11.7 ppg). Games coming up: St Patrick (Feb. 13) and Highlands (Feb. 15). Previous Ranking: 16 




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17. Ludlow (5-18) – Ludlow lost to Bellevue (66-31) but beat Heritage Academy (56-18). Through 23 games Ludlow is led by Trey Donahue (13.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and Ian Vallandingham (10.2 ppg). Games coming up: Scott (Feb. 12), Augusta ( Feb.15) and Silver Grove (Feb. 16).Previous Ranking: 17 









18. Dayton (5-21) - Dayton lost twice last week, falling short to Villa Madonna (63-41) and Bellevue (68-38). Dayton also picked up a win against Heritage Academy (65-36). Games coming up this week: Newport ( Feb.13) and Robertson County ( Feb.16). * No Stats available , Stats from Previous week. Through 26 games Dayton is led by Michael Marksberry (8.6 ppg.) and Julian Jimenez (10.0 ppg). Previous Ranking: 18 


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19. Heritage Academy (3-17) – Heritage Academy lost three games, falling short to Dayton (65-36), Ludlow ( 56-18) and June Buchanan (78-64). Through 20 games Heritage is led by Jacob Chalk (12.9 ppg). Games coming up: Evangel Christian (Feb.13)
. Previous Ranking: 19

Hard to argue with the rankings.

I haven't seen Davin listed lately for CCH. Injured or sick?

Should be some interesting districts and I would think the seeding is already set.

33rd (@ ?) Cooper vs Conner/Heritage and Boone vs Ryle

34th (@Ludlow?) Dixie vs Villa/Ludlow and St.Henry vs Lloyd

35th (CovCath hosting at Holmes) CCH vs Beechwood and Holmes vs Holy Cross

36th (@Highlands?) Newport vs Dayton/Bellvue and Newcath vs Highlands

I believe 33rd district tourney is at Ryle this year.

I am a little confused by this weeks rankings, and I do add a thank you and I know it's an opinion, Holmes has beat, Beechwood, Dixie, Newport and Highlands, not sure how they are behind all of them.

I just hope the 9th Region draw works out to where we see a Cooper-CovCath final.

I'm happy to see Dixie ranked at a position more in line with their strengths. I get how after the top 3 or 4 it's a little difficult to rank the top 10 when there's not much difference between them, and cases can be made over and again how this team beat that team, but turned around and beat that team, and how this team wasn't at full strength and so on.

With that said, I probably wouldn't have Highlands as high as they are, and would likely put them at 10, and move Holy Cross, Beechwood, and Holmes each up one. Obviously it sounds a bit knit picky to even mention as we all pretty much realize that 5-10 are sorta too close to call anyhow.

No matter what, I look forward to, and appreciate your efforts in putting this together week by week. It's always an interesting read. :thumb:

I am a little confused by this weeks rankings, and I do add a thank you and I know it's an opinion, Holmes has beat, Beechwood, Dixie, Newport and Highlands, not sure how they are behind all of them.

So Holmes should be #3?

No disrespect to the Wildcats, Rebels, or Breds but the gap between 2 and 3 in this region is as wide as it is anywhere in the state.

No disrespect to the Wildcats, Rebels, or Breds but the gap between 2 and 3 in this region is as wide as it is anywhere in the state.

I don’t think you’ll hear much disagreement with that statement.