Preface (too short to be a 'Prelude'): Well the final week of the season is upon us. There will be some very competitive games and some not-so competitive games.

 

Next week's article is a little different because we combine our rankings with a district tournament preview.

 

 

Regional Rankings

 

 

1. Covington Catholic (23-5): Cov-Cath lost to Male last week. They play Madison Central on the 21st. The Colonels will play Holy Cross in the first round of the district tournament.

 

2. Conner (18-5): Conner has not lost since January 4th. The Cougars finish the regular season with a pair of away games against Holmes and New Cath. I believe they are hosting the 33rd district tournament.

 

3. Beechwood (19-9): The Tigers may have had the best week overall. A win at St. Henry was probably their most significant win of the year (Paintsville has turned out to be really good too) and by defeating the Indians, they grabbed the #2 seed. Draud and Downton each had double-doubles in the Holy Cross game and Cole Busald scored 11 points. Brandon Hughes also played a huge game with Mitchell Riley nursing a sprained ankle. Beechwood travels to Lloyd before hosting Highlands to finish the regular season.

 

4. Highlands (23-2): The Bluebirds play the Tigers and Crusaders this week; both are away games. Highlands did end the season being undefeated at home during the regular season. They should play the winner of Dayton and Bellevue in the 1st round of their district tournament.

 

5. St. Henry (20-4): The loss to Beechwood drops the Cru a little bit. This is not an insult because all of these top teams are very good. St. Henry hosts Highlands on Wednesday, I will be in attendance. Drop by and say “Hello.”

 

6. Newport Central Catholic (16-8): The Breds are on a 5-game winning streak and face Conner to end the season. I assume they play Newport High in the 1st round of their district tournament, but I have not seen a bracket yet.

 

7. Cooper (9-14): The Jags played Highlands very tough last week. Cooper has improved every week this season. Coach Sullivan is a fine coach.

 

8. Lloyd Memorial (14-11): The Jugs beat two 8th Region teams before losing to Highlands by 26. Lloyd will host Beechwood before traveling to Trimble County. Lloyd is not a member of the Northern Ky Athletic Conference as they joined the NCKC a few years ago. Thus the reason for more games against 8th Region teams.

 

9. Holmes (11-14): The Dawgs are playing a little better. They have won 3 of their last 5 including victories over Campbell County and Holy Cross as well as a 10-point loss to St. Henry. Coach Carr’s crew face two tough opponents in Conner and Simon Kenton.

 

10. Dixie Heights (7-19): The Colonels beat the Indians to move up a few spots. They should get one more win before facing Lloyd in the district tournament.

 

11. Ryle (12-14): Ryle beat the Bearcats last week. They play Cooper in the 33rd district. The Raiders could win.

 

12. Holy Cross (13-11): Dick Vitale would call the Indians a bunch of “Dow Jonesers” as they continue to play like the stock market. It’s hard to predict what they will do. Recent losses to Holmes and Beechwood result in a district semi-final match-up against Covington Catholic. The entire state of Kentucky is rooting for the Indians in their district match-up next week.

 

13. Newport (13-13): Newport played the Breds very close last week. They travel to Breathitt County for their last game. It should be a fun bus ride.

 

14. Boone County (5-12): I am flipping Boone back on top of Ludlow. They played close with some decent teams in Grant County, Ryle, and Holmes.

 

15. Ludlow (17-9): I am surprised that Ludlow lost to Gallatin by 18. I thought it would be a closer score.

 

16. Dayton (9-19): The Devils should get double-digit wins this year. They play Latin and Buchanan.

 

17. Villa Madonna (6-21): Villa beat Augusta in overtime. Augusta is a fun place to watch a competitive game.

 

18. Heritage Academy (6-16): Heritage ends the season with three small schools before playing Boone County in the District Tournament.

 

19. Bellevue (3-21): Its been a while since the Tigers were in a close game. If they don’t beat Trimble this week, I do not see any chance for another “W.”

 

20. Covington Latin (0-14): Nothing new to report. No Stats posted all year.

 

12. Holy Cross (13-11): Dick Vitale would call the Indians a bunch of “Dow Jonesers” as they continue to play like the stock market. It’s hard to predict what they will do. Recent losses to Holmes and Beechwood result in a district semi-final match-up against Covington Catholic. The entire state of Kentucky is rooting for the Indians in their district match-up next week.

 

Your bias is showing again. I don't believe I've ever seen a Regional "reviewer" continue to take shots at one particular school. It's indefensible in a reporting context.

Hmmmm

Edited February 18, 20206 yr by PP1

@Runcible Owl Okay, I actually found an example. You could say I insulted Villa last week when I reported their loss to St. Francis.

 

I assume that is what you are referring to?

@PP1, so the thread can return to focus on the 9th Region teams, may we continue this via PMs?

So after you Criticize me publicly... ok PM it is.

Your bias is showing again. I don't believe I've ever seen a Regional "reviewer" continue to take shots at one particular school. It's indefensible in a reporting context.

 

You don't think that is true? Didn't everyone want to see the Patriots get beat? I agree with @PP1. I think everyone hopes Male gets beat too. No one wants to play those teams.

Your bias is showing again. I don't believe I've ever seen a Regional "reviewer" continue to take shots at one particular school. It's indefensible in a reporting context.

 

Have you ever heard of DUKE?

So after you Criticize me publicly... ok PM it is.

 

I think his criticism is more the calling a spade a spade. You seem to have a pretty open distaste for CCH.

 

That's fine if that's your position. There are programs around that I don't like either. There are opinion columns out there, and then there's reporting the news. They're different things.

 

If you're going to voice an opinion publicly, shouldn't it be fair game for somoeone to challenge or criticize your opinion publicly?

I think his criticism is more the calling a spade a spade. You seem to have a pretty open distaste for CCH.

 

That's fine if that's your position. There are programs around that I don't like either. There are opinion columns out there, and then there's reporting the news. They're different things.

 

If you're going to voice an opinion publicly, shouldn't it be fair game for somoeone to challenge or criticize your opinion publicly?

 

Is this thread news or opinion?

Just give me one example. Just one, of when I displayed distaste for any 9th region team:

Just give me one example. Just one, of when I displayed distaste for any 9th region team:

 

Are you not openly stating that you're against CCH, seeing that you're part of the "entire state of Kentucky" rooting against CCH?

 

12. Holy Cross (13-11): Dick Vitale would call the Indians a bunch of “Dow Jonesers” as they continue to play like the stock market. It’s hard to predict what they will do. Recent losses to Holmes and Beechwood result in a district semi-final match-up against Covington Catholic. The entire state of Kentucky is rooting for the Indians in their district match-up next week.

Are you not openly stating that you're against CCH, seeing that you're part of the "entire state of Kentucky" rooting against CCH?

 

I'm a part of the "entire state of Kentucky," and I support this message.

Woe is me. Sorry CCH fans. You have to learn to live with a target on you. You are the Patriots and your coaches are Belichek. No one outside your own alumni wants you to win. The spoils of being a dominant program are yours.

Woe is me. Sorry CCH fans. You have to learn to live with a target on you. You are the Patriots and your coaches are Belichek. No one outside your own alumni wants you to win. The spoils of being a dominant program are yours.

 

My feelings weren't hurt at all. Trust me. That's pretty much exactly what I meant when I told PP1 "that's fine if that's your position."

 

He just seemed like he was prickling at having someone dislike his take. To borrow from your post, VOR, when you write something like this, "you have to learn to live with a target on you."