Final.....

 

Ruffin had 22 pts, 17 rebs, and 5 assists. Merriweather had 16 pts, 9 rebs, and 5 assists. Samsel had 9 pts, Maggie Colley with 6 pts, and Johnson with 5 pts.

 

NCC was led by Kiernan with 20 pts and 12 rebs. NCC shot 28% for the game.

 

F

Tough day for the Bred's. Kiernan got 2 fouls in less than two minutes into the game and Mayes got her second with less than three minutes into the contest. They had to play tentative on defense the rest of the first half and couldn't challenge SH inside. At the half the score was 30 to 18. Ncc made a run and cut it to five midway through the 3rd period spurred on by Kiernan but then SH made a run and Ncc went stone cold and couldn't make a basket. Was hard for Ncc to get into the flow with constant foul trouble. SH has a very good team with quickness all over the court and seemed to get almost every loose ball. Ruffin was a force. Tough stretch playing Brossart, Simon Kenton and SH in four days. The Bred's now get ready for the all A tourney.

Sacred Heart is very good when Ruffin is healthy. I honestly feel they are the state champs if they stay healthy and play to their ability. This is not a horrible loss for NCC. NCC is very good, but Kiernan foul trouble can be an achilles heal for them. Ruffin has a way of doing that to you.

Breds had one hell of week against some top notch opponents, I applaud their efforts.

 

28% from the field is tough to overcome against a team of Sacred Hearts caliber.

Basketball, Girls:

Louisville Sacred Heart 59, Newport Central Catholic 45:

The Thoroughbreds (13-2) finished the tough week with a road loss to the Valkyries (10-3) of the 7th Region.

Nikki Kiernan finished with a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead NewCath. Teammate Michaela Ware followed with 11 points.

DaiJia Ruffin led Sacred Heart with 22 points and 17 rebounds. Teammate Raven Merriweather followed with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Neither team shot free throws well. NewCath hit 8-of-14 for 57 percent and Sacred Heart made 6-of-15 for 40 percent.

NewCath starts the 9th Region All “A” Tournament on Monday at 7:30 p.m. The Thoroughbreds play host to Villa Madonna (7-5).

 

Fort Thomas Sports: Highlands boys, NC girls drop Saturday games

Tough loss for the lady Breds. Nikki Kiernan is a great player and we were talking yesterday how good Ware has become.

Wow NCC took one on the chin for sure.

I can see why NCC only had one loss going into this game against SHA. They are really good with Kiernan in the middle and a talented support cast. No disrespect to Highlands, but I don't know how they lost to the bluebirds. NCC is a high caliber KY girls basketball team and SHA got a huge win.

 

Most of the top teams have one common enemy and that is foul trouble. When any of their best players get in early foul trouble, it is a recipe for disaster. SHA had the same problem in their only loss to a KY team this year at Glasgow. It was NCC turn in this game. Many of these games outcomes can be influenced on how the game is called by the officials. The team that adjusts quickly and stays out of foul trouble has an advantage.

 

Coach Moir typically plays a MTM defense most of the time, but went to a zone in the third quarter that paid dividends. NCC was missing their shots and SHA was rebounding and beating NCC down the floor for easy baskets which fueled SHA's run in the third qtr. Ruffin gets a lot of press (well deserved), but Merriweather was a beast on the boards. Our other guards utilizing their speed and quickness played well on the perimeter and got out for some fast break opportunities. Merriweather is also a go to player that can create her own shot when needed or when Ruffin is being double and triple teamed. SHA also shoots the ball pretty well from outside the arc this year, especially since Ruffin has been kicking the ball out from the post.

 

Next up for SHA is a trip to Notre Dame on Tuesday and looking for the sweep in Northern Kentucky.

Sacred Heart is very good when Ruffin is healthy. I honestly feel they are the state champs if they stay healthy and play to their ability. This is not a horrible loss for NCC. NCC is very good, but Kiernan foul trouble can be an achilles heal for them. Ruffin has a way of doing that to you.

 

I honestly think they have the possibility to put themselves in position to win a State title this year, but there is a lot of parity among the top 8 teams this year. I'll be happy getting out of the 7th region this year. Ballard is really talented and could cause us some match up problems.

 

NCC is also a factor if they get out of the region.

Has NKU shown any interest in Kiernan?

Has NKU shown any interest in Kiernan?

 

I don't know, but I was at the NKU women's game last night........Nikki could play for that team.

 

Was also told that she turned down a "full ride" to the Florida school she visited a month ago, don't ask what school I forget.

Sacred Heart is very good when Ruffin is healthy. I honestly feel they are the state champs if they stay healthy and play to their ability. This is not a horrible loss for NCC. NCC is very good, but Kiernan foul trouble can be an achilles heal for them. Ruffin has a way of doing that to you.

 

haven't seen sha play but have seen etown. theyre probably my pick to win the trophy

haven't seen sha play but have seen etown. theyre probably my pick to win the trophy

Etown is definitely in the mix along with about 5 other teams. SHA and etown scrimmage pretty hard against each other in Nov. It's a pickem game.

 

 

This would make a good topic on another thread.

On Kiernan ,

 

It's was NSU out of Fort Lauderdale, an excellent school. NKU was talking to her last year but did not offer anything. I believe she want to stay close to home and Thomas More is a likely spot for her. Been watching her since seventh grade and believe she could play for just about anyone. Especially Now since she makes 3's with ease.

On Kiernan ,

 

It's was NSU out of Fort Lauderdale, an excellent school. NKU was talking to her last year but did not offer anything. I believe she want to stay close to home and Thomas More is a likely spot for her. Been watching her since seventh grade and believe she could play for just about anyone. Especially Now since she makes 3's with ease.

 

Who is NSU?