NKY Girls Basketball Top 10 (2/19/24)

[The Double Deuce]

Welcome to the last week of the regular season, so this will be our Final Top 10 of the year, and next week we'll roll into District / Region previews for Girls' Hoops.  So before I do anything else, I want to thank @Runcible Owl, @JBake, @Baseball Nut 24, @rjal, @1992Rebel, @Hoops Junkie and everyone else that has been a regular contributor in our Girls' Hoops threads this year.  The more, the merrier, and we've had a lot of posters dip in and out, but I appreciate those of you that have leaned in all year, shared your thoughts, and kept this interesting.  Thanks!

Last week didn't see a lot of major surprises, but did see Ryle beat Notre Dame and leap-frog the Pandas, saw SK battle two of the state's top 4 teams to respectable losses, Conner continue their year-end rally and resurgence, and the usual ups and downs of many of the teams that have bounced in and out of the bottom of our rankings this year.  For reference, below, in addition to their record, their record last week (in parentheses), and who they play this week, you'll also see where they were ranked after week 1 this year as a frame of reference.  Grant County is the biggest mover up, Dixie is the biggest mover down, but the majority of them have hovered around the same place all year.  Special notes to two teams:  Cooper was #1, is #1, and will be the top-ranked NKY team heading into the post-season (#2 in the state by most metrics) -- congrats to Coach Holthaus.  Being the hunted is never easy, but you all have carried the pressure very well.  Secondly, Holy Cross has ascended to #2 in NKY and #4 in the state of Kentucky, as well as defending their All A State Championship, and that State Ranking was on NO ONE's radar back in November, so huge congrats to Coach Arlinghaus and his student athletes.  You repped NKY very well this year, across the river, and down-state, and everyone in NKY took notice.

Okay, for this week's Top 10, here goes, and again, my season accolades and post-season previews will replace this ranking next week:

1.  Cooper 22-4 (1-0 last week) [#1 in week one ranking]:  vs Manual and at Notre Dame (one to keep an eye on)

2.  Holy Cross 23-5 (2-0) [#4]:  vs Lexington Catholic and at Conner (this could be a very interesting game to watch)

3.  Ryle 18-9 (1-1) [#2]:  vs Owensboro Catholic (I don't know where this is happening, but it is a GREAT game)

4.  Notre Dame 19-6 (0-1) [#3]:  at Manual and vs Cooper (monster chance to build momentum into 35th and 9th Region Tourneys)

5.  Simon Kenton 17-9 (1-2) [#6]:  vs Highlands, at Campbell Co. (careful, weird things happen there), and vs NewCath

6.  Highlands 18-7 (1-0) [#8]:  at Simon Kenton (the battle for 5th!), and at Beechwood

7.  Grant County 18-7 (1-1) [Others]:  at Madison Central

8.  Conner 13-14 (2-0) [#7]:  vs Holy Cross (great chance to stay hot and get themselves ready for the 33rd and Ryle in an elimination game)

9.  Campbell County 17-10 (1-2) [Others]:  vs Beechwood and vs Simon Kenton (can they make it 3 big upsets at home this year?)

10. NewCath 18-10 (1-2) [#9]:  vs Bracken County and at Simon Kenton

======================================

8th:  Walton Verona 16-9

9th:  Dixie [#5] 15-11, Bellevue 19-7, St. Henry 13-13, Ludlow 17-12

10th:  Bishop Brossart [#10] 16-8, Scott 16-11

 

I appreciate the hard work by all of our female hoopers this year, whether you're Quinn, Julia, Anna, or you're the 13th girl on the 13th team, you put in work, you showed up, you balanced basketball, school work, and family life, and you repped your school!  Thank you.  To the coaches, staffs, volunteer workers, Admins, and Officials, THANK YOU for supporting these young ladies and making these games possible.  And to the families and fans in the stands, thank you, most of you, for supporting your girls and showing our young people how to behave as a responsible adult (and to some others, pay attention to those around you ).

Hope for great health the rest of the way, a fun last week of the season, and great post-season tournaments for our local teams.  

Been a great ride this year!

[Your Daddy]

I believe the Ryle vs Owensboro Catholic game is being played at Mercy Academy in Louisville. 

[The Double Deuce]

1 minute ago, Your Daddy said:

I believe the Ryle vs Owensboro Catholic game is being played at Mercy Academy in Louisville. 

Thank you, that wasn't listed on the KHSAA site when I did my prep-work, but I appreciate that.  Should be a GREAT basketball game, especially on a neutral floor.

[JBake]

On 2/18/2024 at 10:54 AM, The Double Deuce said:

3.  Ryle 18-9 (1-1) [#2]:  vs Owensboro Catholic (I don't know where this is happening, but it is a GREAT game)

They will play at Mercy Academy. 

[Baseball Nut 24]

DD - you did a great job all year long covering the 9th region girls rankings and provided a lot of good insight along the way. Thank you!

[The Double Deuce]

8 minutes ago, Baseball Nut 24 said:

DD - you did a great job all year long covering the 9th region girls rankings and provided a lot of good insight along the way. Thank you!

Appreciate that, Nut, I just try to be consistent and fair and give ALL of the girls in the NKY area the coverage and recognition they deserve.

I will have our All NKY Girls' teams on Monday, with Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, which will certainly cause many to be mad at me.  That should be fun.  😊

[FrankNicodemus]

DD once again another strong year! 
 

Wish my Birds were more consistent this year but the youngsters if they stick with it give me hope that better things are to come!

Go Birds!

Lookong forward to see how these Districts and Regionals shake out.

[Baseball Nut 24]

Best of luck to all the teams next week. For the seniors, it can be a tough and emotional week. Only one team can go down state. We need to celebrate and recognize all the talent that is in the 9th region year in and year out!