Big Games:

Cooper vs Boone County (Jan. 19)

Boone County vs. Covington Catholic (Jan. 17)

All A Classic at Newport

 

Prediction 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), Beechwood (Runner-Up)

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

 

***Please note games scheduled for 1/12 were canceled due to weather

 

1. Cooper (14-3) – Cooper, playing without leading scorer Adam Kunkel due to an injury, lost to Simon Kenton (60-58). Leading Cooper through 17 games are Kunkel (21.3 ppg. 7.3 rpg), Chris McNeil (11.4 ppg) and Braydon Runion (9.1 ppg). Games coming up: Boone County (Jan. 19)

Previous ranking: 1

 

2. Covington Catholic (13-4) – Played twice this week. The Colonels lost to Winton Woods ( 47-46) and beat Middletown at Flying to the Hoops (49-33). Leading the Colonels for through 17 games is C.J. Fredrick (21.3 ppg), Aiden Ruthsatz (16.9 ppg) and Jake Walter (10.3 ppg). Games coming up: Ryle (Jan. 16) and Boone County (Jan.17).

Previous ranking: 2

 

3. Newport (12-4) – Played once and beat Lloyd (84-52). Through 16 games Newport is led by MeKell Burries (22.8 ppg), Tahj Harding (16.1 ppg), Donnie Miller (11.1 ppg) and Makhi McGuire (10.5 ppg).Games coming up: All A Classic at Newport (Bellevue Jan.15).

Previous Ranking: 3 1-0

 

4. Boone County (10-7) – Played once and lost to Scott (78-50). Through 17 games Boone County is led by Raymond Rodgers (16.8 ppg), Ethan Haynes (16.5 ppg) and Ethan Robbins(13.8 ppg). Games coming up: Covington Catholic (Jan.17) and Cooper (Jan.19).

Previous Ranking: 4

 

5. Newport Central Catholic (8-7) – Played once and suffered a disappointing loss to Beechwood (51-38). Through 15 games Newport Central Catholic is led by Brennan Hall (23.7 ppg), Brendan Luken (12.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and Branden Posey (8.1 ppg). Games coming up: All A Classic at Newport ( Holy Cross Jan.15)

Previous ranking: 5

 

6. Holy Cross (8-7) – Played once and beat South Dearborn, Ind. (81-60). Through 15 games Holy Cross is led by Parker Zimerman (16.7 ppg), Nolan Schrand (15.8 ppg) and Jordan Niehuas (12.5 ppg). Games coming up: All A Classic at Newport ( Newport Jan.15)

Previous Ranking: 6

 

7. Highlands (8-8) — After an 0-4 start, Highlands has stepped up and won eight of 12 games. They played twice, beating Conner (68-67) and Ryle (43-40). Through 16 games Highlands is led by Robby Gabbard (8.4 ppg). Games coming Up: Walton-Verona ( Jan.18).

Previous Ranking: 10

 

8. Beechwood (9-8) – Had one of the biggest wins, beating Newport Central Catholic (51-38), but also lost to Lloyd (63-56). Through 17 games Beechwood is led by Scotty Draud (22.4 ppg) and C.J. Brannen (11.5 ppg).Games coming up: All A Classic at Newport ( Heritage Academy Jan.15)

Previous Ranking: 7

 

9. Dixie Heights (7-9) – Didn’t play this week. Games coming up: Conner (Jan. 17) and Highlands (Jan. 19)*Stats not available

Previous Ranking:8

 

10. Holmes (5-9) – Played once and beat Ryle (62-40). *Stats not available from previous week: Through 14 games Holmes is led by Kerez Race (15.5 ppg), Jarrod Miller (11.7 ppg) and Donavin Saxon (13.0 ppg). Games coming up: Bishop Brossart ( Jan.18) and Bellevue ( Jan.20).

Previous Ranking: 9

 

11. Lloyd (7-9) – Played twice, losing to Newport (84-52) and beating Beechwood (63-56). Through 16 games Lloyd is led by Jordan Fann (14.9 ppg) and Jamal Neal (13.8 ppg). Games coming up: All A Classic at Newport ( Jan 17)

Previous Ranking: 13

 

12. St. Henry (5-8) – Didn’t play this week. After 13 games Wyatt Vieth leads the team in scoring (10.3 ppg). Games coming up: All A Classic at Newport ( Ludlow Jan.15)

Previous Ranking: 11

 

13. Ryle (6-10) – Ryle is struggling and lost twice. The Raiders dropped games to Holmes (62-40) and Highlands (43-42).Through 16 games Ryle is led by Vince Rankin (19.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and Jacob Tarvin (7.3 ppg).Games coming up: Covington Catholic (Jan.16) and Conner ( Jan.19)

Previous Ranking: 12

 

14. Conner (5-13) – Another team that has struggled recently, Conner lost to Highlands (68-67) and Campbell County (75-45). Through 18 games Conner is led by Tanner Craddock (10.6 ppg) and Jared Hicks (10.4 ppg). Games coming up: Highlands (Jan.9) and Campbell County ( Jan.11).

Previous Ranking: 14

 

15. Bellevue (8-8) – Played once and beat district rival Dayton (49-26). Through 16 games Bellevue is led by Brett Maehren (16.6 ppg. 7.6 rpg.) and Tommy Ratterman (13.3 ppg). Games coming up: All A Classic at Newport ( Newport Jan.15)

Previous Ranking:15

 

16. Villa Madonna (9-7)- Played once and had a big win against Calvary Christian (70-67). Through 16 games played Villa is led by Sean McIntyre (13.5 ppg) and Ben Zalla (12.6 ppg). Games coming up: All A Classic at Newport (Jan.17)

Previous Ranking: 16

 

17. Ludlow (3-12) – Played once and beat Heritage (68-37). Through 15 games Ludlow is led by Trey Donahue (12.3 ppg and 6.6 rpg) and Max Hathaway (8.7 ppg.). Games coming up: All A Classic at Newport ( St. Henry Jan.15)

Previous Ranking:17

 

18. Dayton (3-12) - Played once and lost to Bellevue (49-26). Games coming up this week: All A Classic at Newport ( Jan.15) and Bracken County ( Jan.20). * Stats not available from Previous week Through 15 games Dayton is led by Michael Marksberry (10.0 ppg.) and Julian Jimenez (10.4 ppg.).

Previous Ranking: 18

 

19. Heritage Academy (1-8) – Lost to Ludlow (68-37). Through nine games Heritage Academy is led by Jacob Chalk (18.5 ppg). Games coming up All A Classic at Newport (Beechwood Jan.15)

Previous Ranking: 19

Would you have had CCH #1 has they not lost to Winton Woods?

As a fan of good high school ball these rankings depress me. If the #4 team loses by 30 to Scott and couldn’t beat Cooper without Kunkel and Runion then the region is in bad shape.

Who else you going to put number 4?

As a fan of good high school ball these rankings depress me. If the #4 team loses by 30 to Scott and couldn’t beat Cooper without Kunkel and Runion then the region is in bad shape.

Sorry, but it is hard to generate a lot of hype in the 9th region after the top two or maybe the top three spots.

As a fan of good high school ball these rankings depress me. If the #4 team loses by 30 to Scott and couldn’t beat Cooper without Kunkel and Runion then the region is in bad shape.

 

My take, #1 and #2 are having a hard time finding competitive games inside the region which results in boring games for the fans that involve these two teams. The question I have, is it just one of those years where the top two teams are just that much better then the rest or is the 9th region #3 through #19 down?

 

I did not take this as "who else should be ranked 4?

You have HC ranked ahead of Beechwood and Holmes but like BW to get to the region out of the 35th? Any reason why you like BW over HC ? Just curious. I think it will be a battle when those 2 teams play.

Who else you going to put number 4?

 

 

No idea. That’s my point.

There is 2 teams in the region that can win it. Cooper and Cov Cath. The rest is a crap shoot Night to night.

How can Boone County and CCH be considered a big game ?

How can Boone County and CCH be considered a big game ?

Boone has played well in spurts this season. Also, if it's not CovCath vs. Cooper, what can be considered a big game? The 9th Region is really struggling except for those two programs. So to answer your question, what game is bigger than Boone vs. CovCath?

I could have put the All "A" Classic as big games, but even these match ups are less than intriguing. NewCath losing early hurt the All "A" in a lot of ways because they were the one team I thought could make a run at the state All "A" title. Newport has good players, but I still question how good of a team they are. Holy Cross could win the regional now.

If you don't have a marque game, don't try to assign a blowout game as one. A competitive 12/13 is better than a 1/4 blowout IMO.

I could have put the All "A" Classic as big games, but even these match ups are less than intriguing. NewCath losing early hurt the All "A" in a lot of ways because they were the one team I thought could make a run at the state All "A" title. Newport has good players, but I still question how good of a team they are. Holy Cross could win the regional now.

Looks to me that the All A was listed. I doubt that NCC would have been much of a factor in the big show anyway. Why would you rank Newport over NCC if you are saying NCC is the better of the two? Good luck to who ever wins the All A.

How can Boone County and CCH be considered a big game ?

 

I agree.

 

Boone plays both Cooper and CCH this week and will lose both by more than a combined 40 points.

 

Why are Boone and Cooper playing again? I would think this game would be considered "bigger" because of the district implications and the rematch of a close game but still dont expect it to be close with AK in the lineup - assuming he is ...