Even before district play this week, most agree the 9th region tourney will be a balanced field with at least half the teams capable of net cutting. I see maybe 2 chances for upsets this week. At region, I see no possible cake walks (not trying to play a pun on the Birds who are certainly one of the teams that could vie for the title) to the finals. Perhaps a blowout or two in round one but tight games in the semis and finals. Which 8 survive districts and whose your favorite to head to Rupp?

 

8 Picks:

Conner

Cooper

St Henry

Lloyd

Beechwood

CovCath

Highlands

Newport

 

CovCath to Rupp.

To be honest, nothing would surprise me in the 9th this year. ANY of the 8 teams that make the Region can win it.

I would agree there is no clear favorite. The top 5 teams in the Region have all beaten each other. Here are their records against one another:

 

Cooper 3-1

CCH - 2-2

Highlands 2-2

Newport 2-2

Beechwood 1-3

 

My prediction: a great tournament!

Even before district play this week, most agree the 9th region tourney will be a balanced field with at least half the teams capable of net cutting. I see maybe 2 chances for upsets this week. At region, I see no possible cake walks (not trying to play a pun on the Birds who are certainly one of the teams that could vie for the title) to the finals. Perhaps a blowout or two in round one but tight games in the semis and finals. Which 8 survive districts and whose your favorite to head to Rupp?

 

8 Picks:

Conner

Cooper

St Henry

Lloyd

Beechwood

CovCath

Highlands

Newport

 

CovCath to Rupp.

 

While I agree that the 8 teams that you have listed will likely be the field of 8 entering the 9th Region Tournament, however Highlands vs. NewCath at NewCath in the 36th District has me intrigued, and not ready to immediately hand things over to the Birds.

 

Also, Dixie vs. Lloyd could potentially be an interesting game where nothing is certain.

I believe 1 of 2 teams will win it (CovCath/Cooper). And, 2 teams could “shock the region” and win it (Beechwood & Newport). And, 4 teams could make any game interesting and possibly win a game (Conner, Highlands, St. Henry, Lloyd).

 

I don’t see Dixie or even NewCath making it to the region and winning a game.

 

I hope it’s the “top 8”, and that will make it the most interesting.

 

Mayer back for CCH is a new problem for all the teams, except CCH themselves.

While I agree that the 8 teams that you have listed will likely be the field of 8 entering the 9th Region Tournament, however Highlands vs. NewCath at NewCath in the 36th District has me intrigued, and not ready to immediately hand things over to the Birds.

 

Also, Dixie vs. Lloyd could potentially be an interesting game where nothing is certain.

 

NCC will not beat HHS. Dixie/Lloyd will be interesting, but I still like Lloyd.

I would rank them like this heading into the post-season:

 

Cooper

CovCath

Newport

Beechwood

Highlands

St Henry

Conner

Lloyd

I would rank them like this heading into the post-season:

 

Cooper

CovCath

Newport

Beechwood

Highlands

St Henry

Conner

Lloyd

 

So Highlands over Beechwood last night means nothing today?

It will come down to matchups in the regional. Some teams matchup better with Cooper/Cov Cath some don’t. No dominant players but any player could drop 20 or 30 from those 8 teams listed.

So Highlands over Beechwood last night means nothing today?

 

Feel free to offer your own opinions, but IN MY OPINION, Beechwood, on a big floor with a lot of space, would beat Highlands.

Feel free to offer your own opinions, but IN MY OPINION, Beechwood, on a big floor with a lot of space, would beat Highlands.

 

Get in line! CCH also wants the rematch with Highlands on a neutral court.

 

But they first anticipate a rematch with Beechwood on a neutral court in the District Finals.

I think Cooper would love a rematch with CCH on neutral floor!

I predict CovCath and Cooper will have another big rematch.

I predict CovCath and Cooper will have another big rematch.

We can only hope.

When you think about it from Cov Cath's perspective, I'm sure they would love a mini "revenge tour" of beating Beechwood for the district title and beating Highlands at NKU on their way to repeating as 9th region champs