When it comes to 9th region basketball, there is almost always never any guarantees. Last season the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds and Cooper Jaguars came in as the preseason #1 and #2 teams in the region. Newcath ended up as All “A” Classic state champions and finished with a 30-3 record but were bounced from the region tournament in the first round. The Cooper Jaguars set a school record with 24 wins and 6 losses, winning 16 of their final 18 games, but were eliminated in the region semi finals on an overtime 3 pointer.

 

That brings us to the #4 team in the coaches preseason poll a season ago – the Holmes Bulldogs.

 

The “Dawgs” started the season with a school record 25 consecutive wins and wouldn’t be taken down until they met the previous number one team at home in February. In a double overtime thriller that saw breakout sophomore James Bolden drop 37 points, the Bulldogs were finally taken down and no longer remained the lone undefeated team in the state. The Bulldogs were still considered the favorite to win the region title until two weeks later when a Nick Ruthsatz half court buzzer beater gave Covcath their first district championship since the 2007 season.

 

That Covcath win flipped the region upside down as the region tournament draw put Holmes, Newport Catholic, and Cooper , the top 3 teams in the region to that point, all on the same side of the bracket.

 

It also meant that #1 Newport Catholic and #2 Holmes would meet in the first round of the region tournament in a rematch of arguably the best regular season game in Northern Kentucky last year. The Bulldogs knocked off Newcath 55-50 to get revenge from the double overtime loss but the gauntlet had just begun. Next up was a game against the preseason #2 Cooper Jaguars, who had given Holmes all they wanted during the regular season at Holmes. The Bulldogs struggled throughout against a very good defensive Cooper team but James Bolden saved the day as he sent the game to overtime and then hit a 3 pointer with less than 5 seconds left to give Holmes a 40-39 win and send them back to the region championship for the first time since the 2009/2010 season.

 

Meanwhile, the Colonels of Covington Catholic had taken care of business on the other side, defeating Ryle 52-30 and Newport 63-48. This set up one of the best rivalries in the region – Covington Catholic v Holmes.

 

The two 35th district foes hadn’t met in the region finals since the 2007-2008 season. Led by 26 points from sophomore James Bolden, the Bulldogs won a nail-biter 62-60 and were on their way back to Rupp Arena after knocking off the top 3 teams in the region. Holmes went on to lose to eventual state champion Madison Central in the sweet 16 quarter finals, but when it was all said and done, had lost three games by a combined 8 points with two being in overtime and the other being on a last second half court prayer.

 

The Bulldogs will look to duplicate that 32-3 season from last year but it will be even tougher this year as the region is once again loaded with talent and balance top to bottom. Let’s dive right in to the 9th region top 10 teams:

 

1. Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (Last Season: 30-3, 1st Round Loss in Region Tournament)

 

Key Returnees: 5’10 Jr Zach Pangallo, 6’5 Soph. Ben Weyer, 6’7 Jr Drew McDonald, 6’8 Sr Jake Schulte, 6’1 Sr Mac Franzen, 6’4 Sr Josh Verkamp

 

Key Additions: 6’2 Sr Tanner Moeves, 6’2 Jr Grant Moeves, Soph Eric Anderson, Sop Ryan Anderson, Soph Jacob Smith

 

The Breds will feature one of the best front courts in not only Northern Kentucky but arguably the state in 6’7 junior Drew McDonald and 6’8 senior Jake Schulte. Schulte recently committed to the University of South Carolina-Upstate, while McDonald holds a Northern Kentucky University offer and has interest from several mid major programs. The duo will be joined by 6’5 sophomore Ben Weyer, whose role will increase significantly this season, according to new head coach Ron Dawn.

 

Newcath will have to replace seniors Nick Seibert and Michael Beuter from last year’s team, but received a huge boost to this year’s team when senior Tanner Moeves and brother Grant Moeves, a junior, transferred in at the end of last year from Walton Verona. Tanner currently holds an offer from Division II Christian Brothers and receiving interest from Spring Hill (AL) , Findlay (OH) , both Division 2 programs, as well as Elon University which is a Division I program. The older Moeves led Walton in scoring last year at 19 ppg, while brother Grant averaged 14 ppg as a sophomore.

 

The most important piece of a potential Newcath region championship run, however, is point guard Zach Pangallo. The junior is receiving interest from Ball State but it is on the baseball field where he has made a name for himself with interest from Kentucky, Murray State, East Carolina, Kansas State, USC, Harvard, and Indiana Southeast. Despite not playing AAU basketball over the summer, the lead guard will still be tough for opposing teams to stop this year as the Breds make a transition to more an uptempo, fast paced attack that wasn’t seen much under former head coach Grant Brannen.

 

The biggest question of this year’s Newcath team is their depth but Coach Dawn has high hoops for sophomores Eric and Ryan Anderson as well as Jake Smith to go along with an all around great athlete in Mac Franzen, who didn’t see much playing time last year. Another name to watch is senior Josh Verkamp who has played well throughout the preseason scrimmages.

 

At the end of the day, Newcath’s season will come down to how well they rebound, according to Coach Dawn and the Newcath trio of bigs.

 

“Despite being a bigger team, we have to get more aggressive and rebound better” said Newcath junior Drew McDonald.

 

Coach Dawn added. “ I’ve been pleased with how well we have shot from outside, but we must get better defensively and rebound better than we have so far.”

 

Junior point guard Zach Pangallo talked about the preseason #1 ranking.

 

“We’re anxious for out first game to come around. We know we will have a target on our backs this season so we have to come out every game with an attitude to win.”

 

Expectations are high and anything less than an appearance at Rupp Arena would be a disappointment for this year’s Newcath team.

 

2. Holmes Bulldogs (Last Year: 32-3 Region Champions ; State Quarterfinalist)

 

Key Returnees: 5’11 Jr James Bolden, 6’0 Sr Armani Housely, 6’0 Sr Keyontae Herndon, 6’2 Sr Daquan Glover, 6’5 Sr Marcus Hill, 6’5 Sr Quinton Chames

 

Key Addition: 5’11 Soph Markel McClendon, 6'1 Sr Isaiah Revels

 

The Bulldogs come in to this season with not only the best player in the 9th region but also arguably the best player in the class of 2015 in Kentucky in junior point guard James Bolden who was also a 1st team All State selection last year. Bolden is one of the most heavily recruited players to ever come out of Northern Kentucky with offers from Butler, Xavier, Purdue, West Virginia, and Ohio University and interest from Kentucky, Clemson, and Oklahoma State. Bolden averaged 18 ppg, 5 apg, and 5 rpg last year as a junior but put on a show at Rupp Arena in the Bulldogs’ quarterfinal loss to Madison Central and Mr Basketball Dominique Hawkins. Bolden finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds in that game and comes in to this season stronger, much more explosive, and a tighter handle on the ball after spending the summer playing in the Nike EYBL.

 

“He’s growing in to that leadership role” Said Head Coach Jason Booher. “ This time last year, nobody knew about him. He has a breakout year last year and this year he’s more of a floor general at both ends. He’ll see a lot of double teams this year and junk defenses but we’ve been working on that in practice.”

 

The biggest strength of this year’s Holmes team will be the guard depth. They will return a deep group of seniors in Armani Housely, Keyontae Herndon, as well as Daquan Glover. All three bring something different to the table as Housely give the Dogs as a defensive presence while also being able to fill it up in a hurry. Herndon is an explosive athlete that can provide depth and minutes at the 1 or 2, while Glover is the knock down shooter that the Dogs will need to step up this year, while also being the biggest of the group at 6’2.

 

Holmes got a nice addition at spring break last year, however, with the transfer and addition of sophomore guard Markel McClendon who averaged 11 ppg as a freshman for rival Holy Cross, who played a very challenging schedule. McClendon will make it tough for opposing teams to trap Bolden as he is also capable of handling the ball and able to use his quickness to get easy baskets.

 

“ He helps control the ball which helps me run off screens for open shots,” Said James Bolden. “He’s a good help.”

 

Inside the Bulldogs will feature a pair of 6’5 seniors in Quinton Chames and Marcus Hill. Chames averaged 8 ppg and 8 rpg last year as a junior and has continued to improve and was given the Best Athlete award at the Blue Chip Camp this summer.

 

“ Quinton and Marcus have come a long way inside and have improved almost every week,” Said Coach Booher. “ Quinton was our most improved player last year and continues to get better. We’re expecting big things out of our bigs this year.”

 

Those two will be joined by 6’5 junior Rod Avery who is an unknown right now but is one of the best athletes in the area and will make an immediate impact.

 

Holmes returns a JV team that lost just 3 games last year and won the Northern Kentucky JV region tournament, led by a sophomore class that features 6’2 Andrew Arnold, 6’5 Brandon Moore, and 5’11 Ian Brolley.

 

The key for Holmes this year will be their outside shooting and how well they rebound with the loss of senior Chris Englemon, who averaged a double double last year. Defensive pressure and ability to wear the opponent down will help with what they want to do at the other end on offense.

 

Coach Booher talked about the preseason #2 ranking:

 

“If you saw the first 22-25 practices, you wouldn’t think we were a top 2 team in the region so I’m gonna say we’re not that high right now. We’ve got the tools , though, so hopefully by the end (of the season) we’ll be there.”

 

" People are going to be more prepared for us and know what we want to do this year," Said Bolden. " We have to execute the game plan every night. Come prepared and play our game. We wanna go back to state and bring it back home."

 

3. Covington Catholic Colonels (Last Year: 27-7 Lost in Region Finals)

 

Key Returnees: 5’10 Sr Nick Ruthsatz, 6’2 Nate Wichman, 6’2 Mark Schult, 6’2 Ben Heppler, 6’0 Jr Cooper Theobald, 6’1 Matt Schumate, 6’1 Grant Romes, 6’5 Bo Schuh

 

Key Addition: 6’1 Frosh Cole VonHandorf

 

The Colonels can play and will be tough for opposing teams.

 

Led by University of Findlay commit Nick Ruthsatz, the Colonels will feature one of the best back courts in the region. Ruthsatz averaged 19 ppg and 3 rpg last year as a junior and will be one of the better shooters again in the 9th region. The senior guard has worked to improve his range which will make him that much tougher to defend as he also has the quickness to beat his man off the dribble, while also pulling up for a mid range jumper.

 

Taking away some of the pressure from Ruthsatz is the addition of Cole VonHandorf, who averaged 14 ppg and 3 rpg last year as an 8th grader starting varsity at Villa Madonna. VonHandorf is a strong guard that handles the ball well and possess a great basketball IQ. Expect to see him handle some of the point guard duties with Ruthsatz moving over to the 2 guard spot in Covcath’s offense that slows several different guys to bring the ball up the floor.

 

Cooper Theobald will look to step in to the role that was occupied by departed senior and current Bellarmine guard Nick Fredrick. Theobald has worked hard in the weight room over the summer to add weight to his frame and could be the shooter needed to take pressure off VonHandorf, who is known as a slashing guard. Knocking down 3’s will get Theobald a lot of playing time this season along with fellow guard Matt Schumate, who is inter-changeable at the 2 and 3 positions.

 

The Colonels won’t be big but the front court trio of Wichmann, Schult, and Heppler bring a toughness that won’t be matched by many teams. Wichman and Schult are glue guys who are all about the little things and making a living by being in the right place at the right time. Wichman is more likely to fill the void left by Mr. Do it all, Sawyer Pauly from last year’s team.

 

That brings us to junior Bo Schuh. At 6’5, he is able to play the 3, 4, and 5, but could be very affective for the Colonels at the 3. Schuh is an explosive athlete that shoots the ball well from outside. If he improves his ball handling, he can be a very valuable asset to Coach Scott Ruthsatz as a big wing out on the perimeter.

 

The philosophy of Coach Ruthsatz and his team is that they want to be the toughest team on the floor.

 

You can still win a lot of games by being being both mentally and physically tough when your shots aren’t falling. With the group that Ruthsatz returns, anything is possible, as we seen last year with the run that his team made after starting the season 13-1 but finishing 10-5 and still being able to win 4 straight to get back to the region championship.

 

Senior Nick Ruthsatz summed up this year's team.

 

'We don't back down from anybody. We want to go to state."

 

 

4. Dixie Heights Colonels (Last Season: 17-14 1st Round Loss in Region Tournament)

 

Key Returnees: 6’2 SR Brandon Hatton, 5’9 Sr Adam Daria, 5’11 Jr Liam Rabe, 6’1 Jr Austin Schreck, 6’3 Jr Nick Niehaus, 6’4 Jr Matt Isbel, 6’5Andrew Hedger, 6’7 Jr Mitch Bolin

 

Key Addition: 6’3 Jr Drew Moore

 

The Dixie Heights Colonels come in to this season with a player that could end up breaking the Northern Kentucky all time scoring record in Vermont signee Brandon Hatton. Hatton has been around for what seems like forever, having played varsity basketball since his 7th grade year. Despite injuries last season and this summer, the hard work finally payed off when he signed his letter of intent to play basketball for Vermont University. Hatton comes in to the season with 2,365 points and is the first Dixie Heights Colonel boys basketball player to sign a Division I letter of intent in over 50 years. Needless to say, Dixie has the type of scoring guard that could lead them all the way to Rupp Arena and with him finally being healthy after offseason back surgery, he feels better than ever.

 

Helping alleviate some of the pressure off of Hatton will be fellow senior Adam Daria who, according to Coach Ken Chevalier, has had a great summer and really played well. Daria bring a toughness to the team at both ends that isn’t matched by anyone else on the team. Daria averaged 7 ppg and 3 rpg as a junior.

 

Young and inexperience last season, the Colonels return one of the deepest junior classes in Northern Kentucky in Liam Rabe, Austin Schreck, Nick Niehaus, Matt Isbel, and Mitch Bolin. Rabe and Schreck provide a nice 1-2 punch at the point and 2 guard position that will keep Hatton from having to deal the ball handling duties. Both had a great summer on not only the AAU circuit, but also the weight room and look to improve on the 5 ppg apiece that they both averaged as sophomores. Rabe spent time working out with former Xavier player Brad Redford working to improve his shooting and ball handling, while working on his strength and conditioning with former Georgetown Tiger and current assistant Stephen McFarland. Rabe has put on 10 lbs of muscle along with fellow junior Matt Isbel. Isbel is a high flying athlete that has worked hard to improve his mid range game to go along with his athleticism to allow him to beat his man off the dribble and finish at the rim.

 

Inside, the Colonels will feature Nick Niehaus, who started last season as a sophomore, and Mitch Bolin, who also improved his strength over the summer and played very well on the AAU circuit. Niehaus has battled injuries but Coach Chevalier was pleased with how well he played down the stretch last season and fully expects that trend to carry over in to this season.

 

The key for the Colonels will be how well junior Andrew Hedger adjusts to starting at the 5 spot in place of departed senior Alex Milligan. Hedger, who is also a football player, averaged 4 ppg and 3 rpg last season. That production should increase with him seeing more minutes.

 

The strength of this team will obviously be the depth and size that they have. Coach Chevalier expects his team to be much quicker and athletic with the addition of junior Drew Moore and has the ability to use several different lineups that match up with a variety of tempo and style. Dixie could also sit back in a zone and use the length to force teams to shoot over top of them.

 

Top to bottom, the Colonels could end up being the deepest and most complete team in the region which is why they are very dangerous, despite being in the #4 spot. We will know right away where the Colonels are as they open up the season against #1 Newport Central Catholic.

 

 

5. Cooper Jaguars (Last year: 24-6 Lost in Region Semi Finals)

Key Returnees: 5’10 Sr G Aaron Morgan, 6’0 Sr Zach McNeil, 6’0 Sr Spencer Holland, 5’10 Sr Shawn McNair,6’2 SR Nick Brandel, 6’1 Jr Jon Liechty, 6’4 Jr Colin Hathorn

Key Additions: 6’6 Jr Phillip Hawkins (transfer from Dixie), 6’2 Frosh Sean McNeil, 5’11 Frosh Dante Hendrix

 

The Cooper Jaguars had a school record season last year, finishing 24-6 and making their second straight appearance in the region semi finals, while also leading the region in defense, giving up just 45 ppg. Defense has become a staple of Coach Tim Sullivan’s teams at Cooper.

 

“The bar has been set,” Said Coach Sullivan. “Each year we have gotten a little better so expectations continue to rise. Our success will hinge on us gang rebounding and getting stops defensively.”

 

This year, however, it could be the offense that has people talking.

 

The Jags return a trio of guards that will be as good as they come in the 9th region in point guard Aaron Morgan, shooting guard Zach McNeil, and combo guard Spencer Holland. Morgan is the facilitator that makes the offense go. He doesn’t make many mistakes and does a great job distributing the ball to his shooters. Morgan is a very good athlete that will always be a defensive presence at the top of the key.

 

The next guard in the Cooper trio is Zach McNeil. McNeil is one of the toughest competitors in the region, having played varsity basketball at both Walton Verona and Cooper since his 7th grade year. During the off season, McNeil dedicated himself to getting in better shape and it has shown as he is currently in the best shape of his life which has elevated his game to a whole different level compared to what was seen from him last year. McNeil is receiving interest from some DIII schools but has also been on a visit to Division II Lincoln Memorial and hopes to elevate his game enough to land him somewhere in the D2 ranks when it comes time to make a college decision.

 

The third member of Coach Sullivan’s explosive trio is Spencer Holland, who had a coming out party with 27 points in the district tournament against Conner last year. That performance helped bring back the Jaguars from a late deficit and eventually propelled them to a district championship win over Ryle. Holland will be counted on to continue to produce at a high level, but he’s ready for the challenge and it shows in the battles he has with Zach McNeil during practice.

 

“We are constantly going at eachother hard and battling to make one another better,” Said Holland. “ Every day Coach makes an example of us with how hard we go in practice and how competitive we make everything.”

 

“Aaron’s been our starting point guard since his sophomore year and he’s a great leader.” Said Coach Sullivan. “Spencer and Zach are seniors that have been through it and can score in multiple ways. With those two and Jon Liechty, we’ve got some guards who can really fill it up and attack people off the bounce.”

 

Liechty is a another combo guard that should see an expanded role this season with the loss of seniors AJ Collins, Drew Shelton, and Lou Maniacci. Liechty is currently dealing with a stress fracture but should be expected to make a healthy return.

 

With the loss of Shelton and Maniacci, that leaves a several holes in the front court. Coach Sullivan talked about how he plans to fill those voids at both ends.

 

“ Obviously filling the role of those two young men is going to be tough but we’re going to do it with committee and play a little more open….with a great set of guards we’ll look to be attacking more rather than playing inside out.”

 

Still, Coach Sullivan feels like he has a trio of guys who can step in and make an impact in Colin Hathorn, Phillip Hawkins, and Kyle Henderson.

 

Hathorn is most known for breaking the backboard this summer with a thunderous two hand dunk in transition during a drill but it is that type of toughness and tenacity that was instilled by Shelton and Maniacci that will allow him to be successful. Hathorn is another Cooper player who really hit the weight room and dedicated himself to improving his body to make him more explosive and tougher to handle around rim. Those traits were very noticeable when watching a Cooper practice as he was dominating drills around the rim. If he can consistently play like that with the set of guards Cooper has, they are far from a long shot to make a run at winning the region title.

 

Helping Hathorn down low will be 6’6 Dixie Heights transfer Phillip Hawkins. Hawkins sat out last year due to an injury but will help Cooper immediately on the defensive end. At 6’6 he plays straight up and is very long. The big man is still somewhat raw at the offensive end but Coach Sullivan has a plan in place to bring the big guy along and get him to where he needs to be by season’s end.

 

Of all the newcomers to this year’s team, it is a freshman that impressed me the most. Remember the name Sean McNeil. The younger brother of Zach McNeil will see significant varsity time this year off the bench and could be the 6th man for Coach Sullivan’s team. Sean is very versatile and has the ability to mix it up inside with bigger guys or knock down an outside jumper.

 

Overall, expect Cooper to be a very good shooting team that has more depth than a lot of folks are expecting. With guys like Kyle Henderson, Shawn McNair, and senior Nick Brandel coming off the bench, Coach Sullivan has a lot of weapons to work with this season.

 

Unlike last year when Cooper played inside out, the Jags will want to get out and push it more to force an uptempo game that allows their guards to get in transition and make plays, while also wearing the opposition down.

 

“We’ll be a work in progress but as we go through the year, guys understand. They know what is expected of them and now they know the bar is set high. We’re trying to win the 9th region championship but we have to take it day by day. If these guys understand that they have to work together and not worry about the box score, we could be very special this year.”

 

6. Boone County Rebels (Last year: 13-16 Lost in the 1st round of the District Tournament)

Key Returnees: Jr Aaron Floyd, Jr Brenden Stanley, Jr Junior Stockwell Jr Brett Mayberry Sr Hunter Hixenbaugh, Sr. Barry Ordu , Sr Brannen McDonald

 

It was a disappointing year for Coach McQueary’s squad last year as they failed to make the region tournament after winning the 9th region crown the year before. Despite the disappointment, expectations are set high for this year’s team as they return 8 players who either started or saw significant minutes last year on a team that featured a lot of youth and inexperience.

 

The backcourt will be led by the duo of Hunter Hixenbaugh and Brett Mayberry. Both are strong guards that get after it defensively and are very fundamentally sound at both ends. Neither will be expected to score much but won’t be needed with the versatile Brenden Stanley.

 

Stanley was the Rebels leading scorer last year as a sophomore and is one of the most versatile players in the region, being able to play the 1, 2, 3, or 4 against most teams. Stanley needs to improve his jump shot to keep teams from playing off him to defend penetration, but Stanley still possesses the strength to get to the rim and finish through contact.

 

The athletic duo of Barry Ordu and Junior Stockwell will be featured at the 3 and 4 positions to provide depth and allow Stanley to play other positions with different lineups. Ordu is glue guy, while Stockwell really saw his stock rise over the summer with big games becoming a regular thing for the junior. Stockwell is a little undersized but very strong around the rim and attacks the glass hard.

 

At the center position will be 6’7 big man Brannen McDonald. McDonald has division I lineman size as he tips the scales at somewhere close to 275 lbs, but has great footwork from playing football this past season and a soft touch around the rim. In a region where there aren’t too many teams with a player over 6’5, McDonald has the chance to put up close to a double double if he becomes more aggressive at both ends.

 

Boone is dark horse to win the region but may be a year away from seriously contending. Still, this is a team with a very deep junior class that is going to continue to improve as the season progresses.

 

 

7. Conner Cougars (Last year: 13-15 Lost in Semi Finals of District Tournament)

 

Key returnees: Sr Sam Hemmerich, Sr Landon Lamblez, Sr Will Ruholt, Sr Andrew Way, Jr Nick Watts

 

Key Additions: Soph Alec Garnett, Frosh Michael Scott

 

Conner is a team that had some good wins last year but lacked consistency, which led to the 13-15 record. Six times last year, the Cougars won back to back games only to lose the following game. With a deep senior class leading this team, experience should help carry them to a few more wins than a season ago.

 

Leading the way is one of the best scorers in the region in 6’4 wing Sam Hemmerich. Hemmerich had multiple games last year of 20 or more and with Drew Barker graduating early to attend Kentucky on a football scholarship, he should be given even more touches and opportunites to score. Hemmerich is a versatile wing who can score from anywhere on the floor.

 

The season will hinge on guard play, however. Conner really struggled against pressure last year and got inconsistent play from their guards. With more experience this year and the emergence of junior Nick Watts, those problems shouldn’t be as big of a factor in the outcome of games.

 

While only a sophomore, the addition and progression of Alec Garnett at the varsity level will be intriguing to follow throughout the season as the biggest weakness of Coach Hicks’ squad right now seems to be their depth.

 

Conner returns a JV group that lost in the region championship last season but the question is how will that translate to the varsity level?

 

8. St Henry Crusaders (Last year: 10-16 Lost 1st round Region Tournament)

Key returnees: Sr Jake Noble, Sr Jordan Noble, Sr Jake Plummer, Sr Nick Rechtin, Jr Connor Kunstek

Key Addition: Soph Adam Goetz

 

The Crusaders started the season 0-6 last year but were able to win 5 of their next 6 to give them a little momentum heading in to the new year. The Cru had signature wins over Lloyd by 28 and region semi finalist Newport by 22.

 

Looking at this year’s team, the biggest improvement needs to come from beyond the arc as last year’s team shot just 29% from outside but 42% overall from the floor.

 

The strength of this year’s team will be in the front court with the return of Jordan Noble and Conner Kunstek.

 

Noble and Kunstek are both solid around the rim and are able to use their strength to finish through contact but their versatility and ability to knock down the mid range jumper are what meke them tough to defend.

 

Kunstek is a motor guy that plays at a high level at both ends and rebounds the ball extremely well despite being undersized and in the 6’3 range.

 

The backcourt duo of Nick Rechtin and Jake Plummer will be counted on to replace the production of departed senior Michael Best.

 

Regardless, depth seems to be an issue with the Crusaders as Adam Goetz seems like the only other candidate to make any sort of impact in a starting role. One name to remember is Paul Wallenhorst. The sophomore guard is deceptively quick and has a nice jumper. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the varsity level as the season progresses.

 

 

9. Ryle Raiders (Last Year: 12-18 Lost 1st Round Region Tournament)

Key Returnees: 6’5 Sr Will Stuhr, 6’0 Sr Tanner White, 6’0 Travis King, 6’2 Sr Josh Bellew, 6’3 Sr Greg Rice

Key Additions: 6’4 Sr JB Allen, 6’0 Soph PG Tyrek Owens

 

The Raiders are coming off a disappointing 12-18 season but should be expected to have a much different look this season with a senior laden team led by new head coach David McFarland. Under McFarland, the Ryle squad should push the ball more while also playing more of an uptempo style that leads to easy baskets and take pressure off the half court offense.

 

Returning in the back court are a pair of guards in Tanner White and Travis King that will be counted on to knock down outside shots and take pressure off of the inside presence of Will Stuhr, who averaged close to a double double last season as a junior and had a game of 20 points, 20 rebounds.

 

"Tanner has one of the best pull up jumpers in Northern Kentucky." Said Coach McFarland.

 

Josh Bellew and Greg Rice are athletic forwards that should be able to get stick backs for easy baskets but it is the addition of JB Allen, who was cut the last two seasons, that has made the biggest splash this off season. Allen is one of the best athletes on the team and will help at both ends because of his length.

 

Sophomore Tyrek Allen will take over the reigns at the point guard position but will need to limit his turnovers in order for the Raiders to have a productive season. Expect jr Eric Moore to also get some time at the point guard position as a defensive help.

 

Overall, the season will come down to how well Ryle defends. They aren’t the most athletic group and need to get tougher, but have the tools and pieces to be a solid 9th region team that could rise a few spots in the rankings and get back to the 9th region tournament

 

 

10. Highlands Bluebirds (Last year: 12-16 Lost 1st Round District Tournament)

Key Returnees: 6’1 Sr Drew Houliston, Sr Ryan Green, Sr Brendan Buten, Sr Luke Brocket, Jr Jensen Feggins, JR Justin Weyer, Jr Parker Harris

Key Additions: Jr Beau Hoge

 

This is a team that will likely want to get out and run with the loss of senior Jake True, who is focusing on football after to committing to Western Kentucky and was the only post presence for the Birds at 6’5. True led the team in rebounds per game at 6 last year and was 4th on the team in scoring at 6.7 ppg.

 

The Bluebirds will now instead lean on a set of guards led by Drew Houliston, who averaged 11.3 ppg and 3 rpg. Houliston is one of the better scorers in the region and should see his numbers go up with the loss of Luke Turner and Bailey Witte to graduation.

 

Ryan Greene and Justin Weyer, along with point guard Brenden Buten will all be counted on to step in and fill the void left by Witte and Turner. The Birds should be deeper this season with a healthy Brandon Hergott as well as footballers Luke Brockett and Jensen Feggins but there are still a lot of questions to be answered before December 13th. One thing’s for sure. The team will play hard and be fun to watch playing for new head coach Kevin Listerman, who likes to play an uptempo style and get after defensively from end to end.

.

 

Rounding out the 9th Region teams:

 

11. Newport Wildcats- The Wildcats are coming off a Region Semi final appearance and 21-11 record. This year’s team will have to replace the production by the departed Short brothers, but will be a work in progress with a mix of youth and experience. Leading the way will be sophomore Ethan Snapp, who is one of the best scorers for the class of 2016 in the 9th region. Paul Price and Dom Joseph will be counted on as glue guys that provide intense defensive pressure, but it is the leadership of Joseph and senior Mike Turner that will determine how successful the Wildcats are. Sophomore Kameron Covington will be counted on to man the middle.

 

 

12. Beechwood Tigers- The Tigers will also feature a new head coach in Erik Goetz, who left Holy Cross to take the Beechwood position. Goetz will transition Beechwood to more of an uptempo style that tries to wear the opposition down. Beechwood will be a young team, with just one senior in Max Shover. The junior class is the strength of the team, however, led by Jacob Huff.

 

 

13. Holy Cross Indians- Gone are Tony Campbell, Christian McClendon, Burt Pouncy, and Blake Tiberi from a team that finished 16-12, losing to Covcath in the district tournament semi finals. This year’s team, led by new head coach Ryan Schrand, will feature a lot of youth and could potentially start 5 sophomores as they transition to a new style that likely has them “live by the 3, die by the 3.” Holy Cross will be led by sophomores Hamilton Scott and Tyler Bezold, as well as junior Jared Seibert and seniors Nick Thiel and Zach Wehrman. It will be a bumpy road for the Indians, who play in one of the toughest districts in the state.

 

 

14. Bellevue Tigers- The Tigers will be led by senior Zach Poinsett and sophomore Austin Woodyard. Poinsett was third on the team in scoring last year at 9.1 ppg, while Woodyard averaged 8.7 ppg. Sophomores Zach Barrett and Nate Arnzen, along with senior Tyler Ackerson also return after averaging 3 ppg last season.

 

 

15. Ludlow Panthers- The Panthers will look to improve on last season's 13-13 record led by seniors Mitchell Cody and Jerad Howard.

 

16. Lloyd Juggernauts- The Juggs are coming off a rough 8-19 season and things won't get much easier this year as they will try to replace their three leading scorers from last year in Niko Carter, DeAndre Thompson, and Jarice Ewell. This year they will be very young with no seniors but will look to a deep junior class to lead the way. Hayden Molitor, Sergio Gutierrez, and Zach Riddle should be the go to guys.

 

17. Dayton Greendevils- The Devils will look to improve upon a 2-23 record under new head coach William Rogg. Dayton will be led by seniors Austin Brockman, Robbie Hayes, and Ryan Meyer.

 

18. Villa Madonna Blue Lightning- Coach Dilts team is coming off a 16-13 team but lose their top 5 leading scorers from that team. This year's team will feature five 8th graders, 4 freshmen, 2 sophomores, and a senior. Lone senior Jared Bockweg will be leaned on heavily for leadership.

 

 

19. Heritage Academy Eagles- The Eagles lose their top 4 scorers but do return Daniel Vargas, who averaged 8.4 ppg last year. Senior Phil Baker and Junior Rhett McCarty should see an increased role this season.

 

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What makes a lot of the top tier teams special is the talent that leads them. The 9th region is absolutely loaded with talent this year. One coach from the Louisville area stated that the 9th could potentially have 4 of the top 15 teams in the state. I must admit that this year was the hardest it has ever been to rank the top 10 players. If you don’t see your name, do not be discouraged. Instead, use that as motivation to prove me wrong because in all honesty, outside of the top 6 or 7 players, there are 10 more who could make an argument for being included somewhere else in the rankings. With that said, let’s jump in to the player rankings and why.

 

Top 10 Players

 

1. 5’11 Jr James Bolden (Holmes)

Bolden is regarded as one of the top 150 players in the country for the class of 2015 for a reason. The junior point guard has not only improved his strength and explosiveness, but the experience he gained from playing in the Nike EYBL has taken his game to a level not matched by anyone else in the 9th region. Bolden is an elite level athlete who has the ability to score at all three levels while also having great court vision. One of the most underrated aspects of his game is his defense.

 

 

2. 6’2 Sr Brandon Hatton (Dixie Heights)

Hatton comes in to this season with 2,635 points and honestly could have been ranked in the top spot. He is finally healthy which will help elevate his game to the level that we saw during his sophomore season when he led Dixie to the region championship. Simply put, he will be a problem for opposing teams this year. Hatton is the best pure scorer in the region and with an experienced team surrounding him, he will have less pressure to do everything himself.

 

 

3. 5’10 Sr Nick Ruthsatz (Covington Catholic)

Ruthsatz has unlimited range on his jumpshot and despite being able to fill it up from anywhere on the floor, he is at his best when distributing the ball and getting open looks for his teammates. With VonHandorf relieving some of his ball handling duties, expect the senior to have another huge year.

 

 

4. 6’7 Jr Drew McDonald (Newport Cental Catholic)

There isn’t a more complete big man in the 9th region. The junior burst on the scene as a freshman and has continued to get better every year. McDonald’s strengths are his ability to knock down the mid range jump shot while also being a great passer, which is rarely found in a guy his size. With the work he put in over the summer to improve his conditioning and body, while also extending his range out to the 3 point line, expect him to be a match up nightmare for almost everyone in the 9th region.

 

 

5. 6’8 Sr Jake Schulte (Newport Central Catholic)

Jake struggled some his sophomore season, seeing much less time than what was expected after playing varsity his freshman year, but really worked hard to improve his game and that work landed him a Division I scholarship. Expect the senior big man to block a lot of shots this year with his length and athleticism around the rim. Schulte should average close to a double double this year.

 

 

6. 6’5 Sr Quinton Chames (Holmes)

When it comes to athleticism, there isn’t a better athlete in the 9th region. The senior forward was Holmes’ most improved player last year, averaging 8 ppg, 8 rpg and should be counted on to be a double double guy this season. Chames’ strength will make him a problem to deal with down low as he is able to draw a lot of contact and finish in the post.

 

 

7. 6’1 Sr Zach McNeil (Cooper)

McNeil is another experience guard that has been playing varsity basketball for years. He has the strength to score in a variety of ways at all three levels, while also being one of the better defenders in the region. With the dedication he put in to improve his body over the summer, he is much quicker and more explosive now which allows him to get to the rim easier and jump passing lanes for easy transition buckets at the other end.

 

 

8. 6’4 Sr Sam Hemmerich (Conner)

Hemmerich put up huge numbers last year and one of the best scoring wing forwards in the region. He didn’t receive much publicity last season because of the Cougars struggling with inconsistency but he is a guy that can drop 25+ on you on any given night and do it consistently.

 

9. 6’2 Jr Brenden Stanley (Boone County)

Stanley didn’t have much help around him last year because of how young and inexperience his team was, but he was still consistently in double figures and leading the Rebels. Another kid that has been playing varsity basketball since his freshman year, he should be expected to average close to a double double. His versatility allow him to play multiple positions, making him tough to defend.

 

10. 6’5 Jr Bo Schuh (Covington Catholic)

It is still left to be seen what position Schuh will play this year for Covcath. Ideally, he will play the 3 which creates match up problems for opposing teams because of his ability to handle the ball and knock down the outside shot, but he must get stronger in the post if that is where he is used. Athletically, Schuh is one of the better athletes not only for his class, but also Northern Kentucky.

 

Honorable Mention:

 

5’11 Jr Zack Pangallo (Newport Central Catholic)

If James Bolden weren’t in the 9th region, Pangallo would be arguably the best pure point guard in the region. He is one of the few players in the region who have the quickness to stay with Bolden defensively and an improved jump shot should make him tough to sag off of, which allows easier lanes for penetration. Pangallo’s court vision and ball handling allow him to hurt you in multiple ways.

 

 

- 6’2 Sr Tanner Moeves (NewCath)

Moeves was left off the list, despite having more college interest than a few of the other players, but only because he is a newcomer to the region and we really don’t know what to expect from him yet. Talent wise, there aren’t many with the skills that he has and he will be an immediate help to an already stout Newcath starting lineup. His slashing ability and ability to finish at the rim make him tough to defend. His ability to consistently knock down the 3 point shot is the only question at this point.

 

-6'4 Sr F Jordan Noble- St Henry

Noble is a kid that is solid in every aspect of the game and will be a huge factor for St Henry once again this year. He possesses underrated athleticism and can score in a variety of way while also making an impact on defense both on the glass and with blocks.

 

- 6’0 Sr Spencer Holland (Cooper)

Holland is absolutely fearless and because of his strength, is able to play any where on the floor. A streaky shooter, he has the ability to put up points in a hurry and can score in a variety of ways on the floor. Defensively, Holland is the definition of a motor guy and doesn’t know anything else but to go hard at both ends.

 

 

- 6’5 Sr Will Stuhr (Ryle)

When it comes to production, Stuhr is one of the best in the region. A lot of what he does is him simply being in the right place at the right time, while going hard at all times. Stuhr has decent footwork but lacks the athleticism of some of the guys listed ahead of him. Still, Stuhr should be expected to have a huge senior season and average either close to or right at a double double.

 

- 6’1 Sr Drew Houlison (Highlands)

Houliston is not only a star on the gridiron, but is also pretty good on the hardwood as well. He burst on the scene as a sophomore dropping 25 points in his first varsity game but dealt with sickness and injuries last season that prevented him from showing just how good he can be. Houliston is a strong player who could see his numbers elevate even higher than the 11 ppg from last year if he can stay healthy.

 

- 6’3 Jr Nick Niehaus (Dixie Heights)

Niehaus struggled some last season at the beginning with a big of a sophomore slump but after a long talk with head coach Ken Chevalier, really came on late in the season for the Colonels. Niehaus has a nice mid range game and rebounds well for a small forward.

 

6'4 Jr Colin Hathorn- Cooper

By season's end, you could see Hathorn as a top 10 player. The junior is an absolute animal around the rim and if he stays healthy, will be a threat every night to put up a double double. Hathorn can score both inside and outside and his strength makes him tough to handle at both ends.

 

- 5’10 Soph Markel McClendon (Holmes)

The now sophomore guard averaged 12 ppg for Holy Cross last season against an elite schedule and should be an immediate help to a Holmes team that runs an offense more suited to his style of play. What makes McClendon so tough is his quickness that allows him to flat out get after opposing guards on defense, while also being able to blow by his man on offense. If he can improve his jump shot, he will be extremely tough to handle.

 

]B]- 6’5 Soph Ben Weyer (Newcath)[/b]

Weyer was one of the few freshman who saw minutes last year in the region and should be expected to make an even bigger impact as a sophomore under new head coach Ron Dawn. Weyer has an above average mid range game for a guy his size and is also able to mix it up inside. Will need to add strength to make a serious run at the top 10.

 

 

Key Dates To Remember::

 

December 3rd

#3 Dixie Heights at #1 Newport Central Catholic

 

December 6th

#3 Dixie Heights v Johnson Central at Tates Creek (Mr Basketball Classic)

 

December 7th

#4 Covington Catholic at Cincinnati Moeller

 

December 14th

#2 Holmes v Cordia at EKY Expo Center

#3 Dixie Heights v Cincinnati St Xavier

#4 Covington Catholic at Louisville St Xavier

 

December 20th

#3 Dixie Heights v Louisville Male at Holmes (Stop DWI Classic)

 

December 23rd

#4 Covington Catholic at Cincinnati Winton Woods

 

January 3rd

Cincinnati St. Xavier at #4 Covington Catholic

 

January 7th

#4 Covcath at #2 Holmes

 

January 8th

#5 Cooper at #1 Newcath

 

January 10th

#1 Newcath at #4 Covcath

 

January 17th

#2 Holmes at #5 Cooper

 

January 23rd

#5 Cooper at #6 Boone County

 

January 25th

Holmes v Louisville Trinity at Montgomery Co (Joe B Hall Classic)

 

February 5th

#2 Holmes at #3 Dixie Heights

 

February 7th

Bishop Brossart at #1 Newcath

 

February 11th

#4 Covington Catholic at #5 Cooper

 

February 14th

#2 Holmes at #1 Newcath

#3 Dixie Heights at #4 Covington Catholic

#6 Boone County at #5 Cooper

 

February 18th

#1 Newcath at Louisville Trinity

 

February 19th

#5 Cooper at #3 Dixie Heights

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Awesome work Walter!!!

Awesome work Walter!!!

 

Thanks, G!

 

Now just waiting to hear how wrong I am with this ranking or that ranking :lol2: