2021-22 Ninth Region Girls Basketball

[The Double Deuce]

Had a conversation with a Highlands dad over the weekend and it got me thinking about this coming season.  Thought I'd throw this thread out there to stimulate some conversations.  Please share your thoughts on the below teams in no particular order:

*  Ryle -- going to be loaded, I think, and will certainly be a threat to win the 9th.

*  Cooper -- also should be loaded to the hilt with talent, if they stay healthy, have to be one of the top 2 or 3...right?

*  Notre Dame -- the third that, to me, seems like a lock to be near the top of the Region.  Bradshaw & Hubert are back, what else?  

*  Highlands -- no clue what they return, but the dad I spoke to was certainly optimistic.  

*  Dixie -- what do the defending 9th Region Champs bring back, and do they have enough in the stable to defend their crown? 

*  Holy Cross -- they have a lot of young talent returning, a dominant post player, but beyond that, don't know much.  Can they crack Top 5?

*  Conner -- what do the Cougars have returning?  Any chance to get out of that brutal district?

*  NewCath -- the Brannen girls here?  Not sure what they have on their roster returning, but I know those two can be special players.

*  Beechwood -- much in the pipeline for the Tigers?  Any shot here of getting past Holy Cross and out of their district?

*  Boone County -- I have nothing, but I know they play in an awfully tough district.

*  Holmes -- a long year last year for the Bulldogs, optimistic about turning it around this year?  

*  Ludlow -- Coach Stamm's team had a very nice year last year, behind an outstanding player, who I think is now a senior.  Another move forward for the Panthers?

*  Lloyd -- I don't know much here, what will Lloyd's year look like?

*  Newport -- any help here?

*  St. Henry -- the Cru had a very long year last year, 4-17, any hope at taking a big leap forward this year?

The rest of the teams, anyone have a chance at jumping up into the top 10 at any point this year?

Season will be here before we know it!!

[The Double Deuce]

Some 9th Region players to also kick-start a best players' conversation:

*  Abby Holtman, Junior, Ryle

*  Lacey Bradshaw, Senior, Notre Dame

*  Noelle Hubert, Junior, Notre Dame

*  Macie Feldman, Senior, Notre Dame

*  Whitney Lind, Junior, Cooper

*  Logan Palmer, Sophomore, Cooper

*  Jenna Lillard, Senior, Ludlow

*  Sarah Baker, Sophomore, Ryle

*  Quinn Eubank, Sophomore, Ryle

*  Julia Hunt, Sophomore, Holy Cross

I'm sure I missed some, sorry in advance, that was just a Top 10 (not in any order besides as they came to me) off the top of my head.

[Defense_Wins_Games]

On 9/13/2021 at 2:56 PM, The Double Deuce said:

Had a conversation with a Highlands dad over the weekend and it got me thinking about this coming season.  Thought I'd throw this thread out there to stimulate some conversations.  Please share your thoughts on the below teams in no particular order:

*  Ryle -- going to be loaded, I think, and will certainly be a threat to win the 9th.

*  Cooper -- also should be loaded to the hilt with talent, if they stay healthy, have to be one of the top 2 or 3...right?

*  Notre Dame -- the third that, to me, seems like a lock to be near the top of the Region.  Bradshaw & Hubert are back, what else?  

*  Highlands -- no clue what they return, but the dad I spoke to was certainly optimistic.  

*  Dixie -- what do the defending 9th Region Champs bring back, and do they have enough in the stable to defend their crown? 

*  Holy Cross -- they have a lot of young talent returning, a dominant post player, but beyond that, don't know much.  Can they crack Top 5?

*  Conner -- what do the Cougars have returning?  Any chance to get out of that brutal district?

*  NewCath -- the Brannen girls here?  Not sure what they have on their roster returning, but I know those two can be special players.

*  Beechwood -- much in the pipeline for the Tigers?  Any shot here of getting past Holy Cross and out of their district?

*  Boone County -- I have nothing, but I know they play in an awfully tough district.

*  Holmes -- a long year last year for the Bulldogs, optimistic about turning it around this year?  

*  Ludlow -- Coach Stamm's team had a very nice year last year, behind an outstanding player, who I think is now a senior.  Another move forward for the Panthers?

*  Lloyd -- I don't know much here, what will Lloyd's year look like?

*  Newport -- any help here?

*  St. Henry -- the Cru had a very long year last year, 4-17, any hope at taking a big leap forward this year?

The rest of the teams, anyone have a chance at jumping up into the top 10 at any point this year?

Season will be here before we know it!!

Conner returns four of the five starters from last year, Anna Hamilton, Juliet Strange, Lauren Hawthorne, Kelsee Simpson/Aubrey Fisher.  Their only senior this year will be Lauren Hawthorne.  

[The Double Deuce]

Shame on me forgetting about Anna, her I'm very familiar with.  That is what I get for doing that off the top of my head.  Sounds like Conner will be very formidable -- wow, that district has 3 really good teams in it.  That will be a ton of fun to keep an eye on over the course of the season.

[PaulBlart]

Holy Cross has a senior transfer from Grant County, Hanna Robinson. Can really shoot the ball and the team looked really good this summer when all together. With the dominant play of Hunt inside and the way they move the ball, should be a fun season for the girls. They should compete with everyone.

[The Double Deuce]

On 9/18/2021 at 8:36 AM, PaulBlart said:

Holy Cross has a senior transfer from Grant County, Hanna Robinson. Can really shoot the ball and the team looked really good this summer when all together. With the dominant play of Hunt inside and the way they move the ball, should be a fun season for the girls. They should compete with everyone.

Thanks Paul, good info.  Great to have you and @rjalon the board as Holy Cross fans and supporters.  I've heard Hanna can shoot the lights out, she should be a great addition for Coach Arlinghaus and the Indians.

[rjal]

1 hour ago, The Double Deuce said:

Thanks Paul, good info.  Great to have you and @rjalon the board as Holy Cross fans and supporters.  I've heard Hanna can shoot the lights out, she should be a great addition for Coach Arlinghaus and the Indians.

It's nice to be able to have discussion about girls sports. The Indians did look pretty good this summer.  Hanna is a great addition.  In addition to Hanna, Arlinghaus, Hunt and Whimzie you have a few juniors and some nice underclassman that should be battling for varsity time.  I am looking forward to seeing how they do.

[Big Red]

Aren't the Friehoffer girls very good for Cooper to add to their list of top talent.  I know that Notre Dame only graduated a center that split time.  Notre Dame, Ryle, and Cooper should all be loaded again.  It sounds like Conner and HC return a lot as well.  No doubt will be a great season and 9th region tournament again.

Is there any other young, incoming talent that will make an impact this year?

[The Double Deuce]

3 hours ago, Big Red said:

Aren't the Friehoffer girls very good for Cooper to add to their list of top talent.  I know that Notre Dame only graduated a center that split time.  Notre Dame, Ryle, and Cooper should all be loaded again.  It sounds like Conner and HC return a lot as well.  No doubt will be a great season and 9th region tournament again.

Is there any other young, incoming talent that will make an impact this year?

Yes, Kay and Liz (I believe those names are correct) are a sophomore and junior, and both are very solid.  The 5th Cooper starter is soccer phenom, Maleah Alexander, who is a defensive problem for opposing teams.  

[The Double Deuce]

On 9/21/2021 at 4:43 PM, rjal said:

The Indians did look pretty good this summer.  

I spent some time with a 9th Region Varsity Girls BB Coach this weekend and he echoed this sentiment, in fact, his exact quote was "man, Holy Cross looked really good this summer, both varsity as well as the league at Notre Dame with the younger girls."  Looks like you're onto something @rjal.

[The Double Deuce]

Love seeing girls on our above list picking up opportunities to go to college for free and to have a chance to keep hooping.  Love seeing our NKY girls succeed.  

4 days and counting until practice "really" begins.   

[The Double Deuce]

3 weeks from tonight we tip-it off -- should be a great season in NKY, especially considering you have (conservatively) 3 of the top 10 teams in KY with Ryle, Cooper, and Notre Dame.

[Ken Morgan]

Add Rylee Turner from NCC to this group. She scored 50 in a win over Butler. 

[The Double Deuce]

9 hours ago, Ken Morgan said:

Add Rylee Turner from NCC to this group. She scored 50 in a win over Butler. 

For sure!!!