In another thread it was mentioned to me that since I am new to NKY and live in the 9th Region, to get out and see as much of the basketball as possible. So what are the must see things? Players to watch? Good coaches? Best gyms/atmosphere? Best rivalry games? Traditions? I am open to any suggestions and appreciate the feedback. I love high school hoops and am not picky about size/type of school. Thanks!

Well the big storylines this year are going to be the return of Mike Listerman (former CovCath coach) to the sideline, this time for CovCath's district rival Holmes (also it will be fun to watch him coach against his son at Highlands and former longtime 9th region coach Ron Dawn at NCC), the continued rise of PG James Bolden at Holmes, the reigning state champ CovCath Colonels run at a repeat, and if anyone can break the blockade at the top between CovCath, Holmes, and NewCath.

I'll give you a start:

 

Best player - James Bolden Holmes

 

Best Inside / Outside Duo - Drew McDonald and Zac Pangallo Newport Central Catholic

 

Deepest Team - Dixie Heights ( can go 10 deep with nice players )

 

Best Cheering Section - CovCath Crazies

 

Must see games - any at the BOK center

The two guys you have to see this year are Bolden and Snapp. Lots of other good players but these two are worth the price of admission.

I'll give you a start:

 

Best player - James Bolden Holmes

 

Best Inside / Outside Duo - Drew McDonald and Zac Pangallo Newport Central Catholic

 

Deepest Team - Dixie Heights ( can go 10 deep with nice players )

 

Best Cheering Section - CovCath Crazies

 

Must see games - any at the BOK center

 

Do they play a lot of games at BOK center? Never been in there yet. Thanks for the info.

I did some researching on the KHSAA scoreboard website (that is awesome). Do the Boone County schools get into big rivalries? What about the river schools? Are the Catholic school rivalries as intense as the Cincinnati ones (LaSalle, Elder, St. X, and Moeller)? Are there any cool trophies or items that any of the rivalries play for? Thanks. Sorry for all the questions.

I did some researching on the KHSAA scoreboard website (that is awesome). Do the Boone County schools get into big rivalries? What about the river schools? Are the Catholic school rivalries as intense as the Cincinnati ones (LaSalle, Elder, St. X, and Moeller)? Are there any cool trophies or items that any of the rivalries play for? Thanks. Sorry for all the questions.

 

We have nearly 30 high schools in 3 counties playing boys basketball. That means you are going to have a lot of teams where the opposing players and coachs know each other really well as well as the fan bases. Games that historically have a chance at selling out because of local rivalry and interest - NewCath - Highlands, NewCath - CovCath, CovCath - Highlands (very intense football rivalry), Brossart - NewCath, Brossart - Highlands, Brossart - Campbell Co., Bellevue - Dayton (more so in football), Newport - NewCath (rarely but there's been years, and there is a trophy for the football game), CovCath - Holmes, Holy Cross - CovCath, Holy Cross - Holmes, and to some extent all the Boone County schools though I would know less in-depth information about rivalries than what I know about Kenton and Campbell. I would cover my feelings about the schools in Boone County by saying that the 34th district is always a fun one to watch because it is unpredictable and has had a lot of great games, characters on the sidelines, and talent on the court. But the intensity of the rivalry between those schools can't match some of the ones in the smaller communities in the other counties, especially the rivalries in and around Newport and Covington.

In another thread it was mentioned to me that since I am new to NKY and live in the 9th Region, to get out and see as much of the basketball as possible. So what are the must see things? Players to watch? Good coaches? Best gyms/atmosphere? Best rivalry games? Traditions? I am open to any suggestions and appreciate the feedback. I love high school hoops and am not picky about size/type of school. Thanks!

I will simply say this. If you are a Basketball fan, this is a great place to live for High School Basketball.

This area doesn't turn out a lot of sate championship teams, just a few over the past generation, but the competitive games can't be beat.

 

In the 9th Region alone you can flip a coin each year to see who will emerge and the games to decide the regional champion are classics!

 

Holmes, Cov Cath and NCC have been the 3 teams of late usually fighting for that king of the hill bragging rites, with Holmes through history winning the battle the majority of the time, but there are others that can give them a run for their money come tournament time. Teams like Conner and Ryle have been crowned recently also. The Boone County schools usually beat eachother up each year but can put up a nice run for the 9th also. 2 years ago for instance, the eventual state runner up was Holmes, but they didn't have an easy road to the Sweet 16, they first had to overcome a tough Cooper squad that had them beat until the last seconds of the game when Beetle hit a 3 at the buzzer to give Holmes the victory. They then had to go through this past years state champion Cov Cath to get down state.

 

It's a great area for some great high school basketball. You really can't go wrong most nights when you choose which game to take in.

The two guys you have to see this year are Bolden and Snapp. Lots of other good players but these two are worth the price of admission.

 

Snapp's a good player but he is not even on the same level as Bolden. I would watch Bolden and Covcath team and Newcath's team play if I was new to 9th region.

Gyms and atmosphere? Cov Cath Vs a number of teams at Cov Cath. Best cheering section as well, actually recognized nationally as one of the best HS cheering sections in the country. I am not sure where you are from before you moved here, but the BOK is like the Cintas Center, just a little smaller, and as was mentioned, it's a nice place to watch some games. The newer-ish HS gyms that I like are Boone, Ryle, Cooper. Coaches? I like CCH, (Holmes will be interesting this year), Dixie, and even though they are not the 9th region, Simon Kenton and Scott. Cov Cath Vs NCC, Holmes and Dixie are the games that stick out as good ones to see.

Snapp's a good player but he is not even on the same level as Bolden. I would watch Bolden and Covcath team and Newcath's team play if I was new to 9th region.

 

You may be overvaluing Bolden or undervaluing Snapp. Both are worth watching.

You may be overvaluing Bolden or undervaluing Snapp. Both are worth watching.

 

I have to agree with HeGotGame. While Snapp is a nice player, I don't feel he has proven enough to be considered Top 5 in the 9th Region.

You may be overvaluing Bolden or undervaluing Snapp. Both are worth watching.

 

Are you saying it's your opinion Bolden and Snapp are close to equal?

Are you saying it's your opinion Bolden and Snapp are close to equal?

 

Nope. I like Bolden. He's the best player in the area. I'm saying that if you want to see guys that will impress you, these are the two. There are many good players in the area but these are the two that will make you remember them.

 

Nope. I like Bolden. He's the best player in the area. I'm saying that if you want to see guys that will impress you, these are the two. There are many good players in the area but these are the two that will make you remember them.

 

Snapp when he is hot can sizzle the net and has a very good handle. In the same token there is not a shot he will not take and he can get out of control. Still a very good player. I would vote Bolden by a bunch and see the NC group. I believe they are going to have a special year. Snapp was fun to watch against HHS in district!!