9th Region: Week 4

[se7ens]

One month of basketball has been played across the 9th Region. We are putting the holiday tournaments, classics, and showcases behind us and are about to ring in a new calendar year. For the most part, teams have been playing unfamiliar competition, with a few notable exceptions. But now we head into January and the first few days of 2025 offer us some fantastic games between regional opponents. We are going to find out a ton about these teams after this week.

When we get to the rankings, you may notice only one change from last week. Of course, it is the most noticeable place to have a change as CovCath supplants Lloyd as the current number one. We are due for a wave of changes next week as we have multiple top ten matchups including a battle between the top two. 

It is going to be a very fun week of basketball and it sets up a month that includes the All A Classic and a lot of quality games among the best teams in the region.

Rankings

1. Covington Catholic - The Colonels went 2-0 in Florida so far, beating Armwood (FL) and Buford (GA). Athens McGillis had 34 in the win over Buford. He is averaging 22.8 points per game. The Colonels finish up in Florida today against Newsome (FL) and then return home where things really don't get any easier. They host fellow regional contender Lloyd Friday before heading over the river to Cincinnati's St. Xavier on Saturday. 

2. Lloyd - The Juggernauts stumbled out of the gate at the Ashland Invitational, falling to Harlan County. They responded with a blowout win over Walton where EJ Walker had 22 points and 11 rebounds. They ended their stay in Ashland with a six point win over fellow 9th Region member Highlands. There is just one game on the plate this week for Lloyd, but it is a doozy for sure. The Juggernauts travel to Park Hills to play the Colonels of Covington Catholic. This is a much anticipated showdown between two of the region's best teams and two of the region's best players in Walker and McGillis.

3. Cooper - The Jaguars went 1-2 at the White Greer Maggard at Lexington Catholic but faced some really tough competition. They fell to Frederick Douglass and Woodford County but got a get-away-day win over Trinity. Andy Johnson had 21 points or more each game. He is averaging 26.5 points per game for the season. The Jaguars face GRC on the road Saturday in what is sure to be a raucous environment.

4. Highlands - The Bluebirds went 1-2 at the Ashland Invitational Tournament, losing by 1 to Fleming County and by 6 to 9th region contender Lloyd. They managed a win against Russell behind Finn Bouldin's 26 points. Tayden Lorenzen also had 12 points plus 11 rebounds. They host Boone County and Ryle this week.

5. Ryle - The Raiders were off last week. They have two really fun games this week with Beechwood at home and Highlands on the road, both top ten teams. This week should be a good test of how much progress the Raiders have made in a month's time.

6. Newport - The Wildcats are a contender. That needs to be clear. They will are poised to make a run at the regional title again and have the talent and the coach to do it. They showed that this past week at Lexington Catholic with a 1 point loss to Manual, a blowout win over Butler County and a 2 point win over Boyd County. What they haven't done yet is get the wins inside the region. They have only beaten 19th ranked Dayton. They have Highlands, CovCath, and some other regional opponents on their schedule down the road but this week they are off. 

7. Holy Cross - The Indians won the City of Middletown Classic with wins over Atherton, Franklin County and Central Hardin. Brady Gabbard had 21 in the game over Franklin County. Holy Cross hosts Conner this week before heading over the river to Woodward (OH).

8. Conner - The Cougars went 2-1 in the City of Middletown Classic, beating host Eastern and blowing out Franklin County but losing to Central Hardin. They host Bishop Verot (FL) before going to Holy Cross for what is yet another top ten matchup this week. 

9. Beechwood - The Tigers are currently in Cantonment, Florida where they have so far gone 1-1, losing to Oletangy Liberty (OH) and beating Lyndon B. Johnson (TX). They face the host school Tate (FL) today. They come back to Kentucky and travel out to Union for a top ten matchup with Ryle.

10. Dixie Heights - The Colonels went undefeated in Estill County, beating Estill, Knott Central, and Boyle County. They face St. Henry on the road this week.

11. Newport Central Catholic - The Breds aren't reporting any results from this past week though they were supposed to be playing out of state. They have no games scheduled this week.

12. St. Henry - The Cru defeated Ludlow and Villa but fell to Seton Catholic (IN). They face Dixie this week.

13. Ludlow - The Panthers defeated Pendleton County but couldn't pick up anymore wins in their other 3 games last week. They host Calvary Christian and Carroll County this week.

14. Holmes - The Bulldogs got another win, this time over Harrison County. They host Bracken County this week.

15. Boone County - The Rebels got wins over Pendleton County and Bellevue but fell to North Hardin in the opening game of Bellevue's Swauger Tournament.

16. Heritage - The Eagles defeated Calvary Christian by 2, overcoming a 2 for 13 performance from behind the three-point line. They face Frankfort Christian, Bellevue, and Collegiate this week.

17. Villa Madonna - The Vikings fell again to St. Henry. They face Dayton and Augusta this week.

18. Bellevue - Bellevue was unable to get any wins in their holiday tournament. They still have just the one win over Dayton.They play at Heritage this week.

19. Dayton - Dayton faces Williamstown, Villa and Eminence this week. 

20. Covington Latin - The Trojains play at New Miami (OH) this week.

[The Oracle]

Any idea why Cash Harney didn't play for CCH against Buford, GA on Saturday? Injured?

[Chopper 187]

4 hours ago, The Oracle said:

Any idea why Cash Harney didn't play for CCH against Buford, GA on Saturday? Injured?

 

4 hours ago, The Oracle said:

Any idea why Cash Harney didn't play for CCH against Buford, GA on Saturday? Injured?

Cash was injured in the Ballard game last week, still on the mend .

 

[Runcible Owl]

📝 9th Region Boys Stats Leaders* 

• Points per game ~ 

1. 26.5 Andy Johnson, Cooper 

2. 22.8 Athens McGillis, Cov Cath 

3. 18.8 Ian Mann, New Cath 

4. 18.5 Finn Louden, Conner 

5. 18.0 Spencer Brandenburg, Ludlow 

5. 18.0 Landon Lorms, Ryle 

7. 17.9 E J Walker, Lloyd 

8. 17.4 Griffen Derry, Dixie 

9. 17.2 Anthony Blaackar, Lloyd

10. 16. Jack Sullivan, Beechwood 

• Rebounds per game ~ 

1. 10.9 E J Walker, Lloyd 

2. 8.8 Joseph Scott, Ludlow 

3. 8.7 Arion Stuckey, Bellevue 

4. 8.7 Will McElhenney, Holy Cross 

5. 8.5 Jonathan DeGroff, Ryle 

6. 8.4 Nate Rominger, Holy Cross 

7. 8.0 Elijah Burks, Boone Co. 

8. 7.8 Donovan Bradshaw, Cov Cath 

8. 7.8 Mark McCutchin, Holmes 

10. 7.6 Andy Johnson, Cooper 

• Team Field Goal % (2 pt & 3 pt) 

1. 52.5 Dixie Heights 

2. 52.1 Boone County 

3. 51.8 Beechwood 

4. 50.5 Heritage Academy 

5. 49.9 Conner 

6. 49.4 Cooper 

7. 48.4 Covington Catholic 

8. 47.7 Highlands 

9. 47.1 Lloyd Memorial 

10. 46.2 Newport 

• Team 3 Point % ~ 

1. 41.4 Boone County 

2. 40.4 Beechwood 

3. 39.7 Dixie Heights 

4. 38.6 Conner 

5. 38.2 St. Henry 

6. 37.3 Holy Cross 

7. 35.4 Newport Central Catholic 

8. 34.7 Highlands 

9. 32.8 Lloyd Memorial 

10. 32.0 Covington Catholic 

• Team Free Throw % ~ 

1. 79.4 Newport Central Catholic 

2. 74.5 Lloyd Memorial 

3. 72.9 Covington Catholic 

4. 72.5 Cooper 

5. 71.6 Dixie Heights 

6. 71.5 Holy Cross 

7. 70.5 Highlands 

8. 66.9 Ryle 

9. 66.4 Conner 

10. 65.3 Beechwood 

* Through 12/31/24

• Teams missing game stats reports - Conner (4), Dixie (2), Highlands (2), New Cath (2), Bellevue (1), Boone Co. (1), Dayton (1), Villa Madonna (1).

[Hollywood23]

Johnson for Cooper has shot 48 3s compared to 91 for McGillis at CovCath. He must always have the green light. 

[Hollywood23]

A little surprising that Starks or Turner at Newport aren’t getting 8+ rebounds a game with such a height differential from most teams. 

[Hoopoop]

11 hours ago, Hollywood23 said:

A little surprising that Starks or Turner at Newport aren’t getting 8+ rebounds a game with such a height differential from most teams. 

In fairness, there's likely a pretty big gap in the competition level that some of these stats were racked up against.  

[Runcible Owl]

13 hours ago, Hollywood23 said:

A little surprising that Starks or Turner at Newport aren’t getting 8+ rebounds a game with such a height differential from most teams. 

They're one of two teams listed where their third leading rebounder, Adonaje Lowe, is averaging more than 5 rpg. That's a nice piece to have in one's pocket. Wildcats losing the rebounding battle dovetails with their six losses. Only game they out-rebounded the winner was against Manual.

1 hour ago, Hoopoop said:

In fairness, there's likely a pretty big gap in the competition level that some of these stats were racked up against.  

I think the smaller/lower rated schools have put up comparable numbers vs. their same opponents, so apples to apples maybe.

[Hollywood23]

3 hours ago, Hoopoop said:

In fairness, there's likely a pretty big gap in the competition level that some of these stats were racked up against.  

Such as? The leading rebounder has played at King of Bluegrass 4 games and the Ashland invitational for 3 no slouches at either of those. Pretty crazy to think that Newport ever gets out rebounded.