9th Region: Week 5

[se7ens]

It was a light week last week due to the holiday though the games we got this past weekend gave us some real dandies. We are now clearly back to a heavy dose of intraregion matchups after many teams left the area during the holiday.

Looking ahead, this week may also turn out light due to weather with games Monday almost certainly cancelled or postponed and Tuesday’s contests also in question. The good news is Friday is the night of the week featuring the most inticing matchups. 
 

Rankings

1. Covington Catholic - What a week for the Colonels. They close out their trip to Florida with a two point win behind Athens McGillis’ 23 points. They then return home after the holiday where they defeat fellow regional contender Lloyd with McGillis scoring 23 again and Cash Harney getting 14. Finally they closed out the week with a road win over the river at Cincinnati St. Xavier. They are scheduled to play Conner Tuesday at home. They then travel to Beechwood and Montgomery County this weekend.

2. Lloyd - The Juggernauts had just one game, the aforementioned loss to CovCath. EJ Walker had 30 in the losing effort. Though they certainly wanted the win, I think it speaks to how fun a postseason matchup between Lloyd and CovCath would be that Lloyd played a less than perfect game on the road and still competed with the Colonels. Lloyd has Holy Cross and Villa during the week and then faces Scott and Summit Country Day (OH) this weekend.

3. Cooper - The Jaguars went on the road and fell short against GRC. Though their scheduled road game to Ballard on Tuesday is certainly in jeopardy, they have an interesting road district game at Conner on Friday. They will have the best player on the court for that game in Andy Johnson but that game will be far from a cake walk.

4. Highlands - Only one game in the state was played on New Years Eve, a Highlands win over Boone County by 22. The Birds‘ other game last week was much closer, a one point victory over Ryle behind Nathan Rickard’s 23 points. They travel to Brossart on Wednesday but the game of the week may very well be their game Friday at home against Newport. That one will have huge postseason implications for the 36th District. 

5. Ryle - The Raiders fell short to Highlands but were able to beat Beechwood the night before behind Landon Lorms’ 27 points. They have road games against Dixie and Boone County this week.

6. Newport - The Wildcats were off last week but this week has three games currently scheduled for Newport. Tuesday’s game at Woodward (OH) is in question but this weekend features the district matchup against Highlands followed by a Sunday contest against Walton at Thomas More.

7. Conner - The Cougars defeated visiting Bishop Verot (FL) before going on the road and defeating Holy Cross  behind Landon Warner’s 22 points. They are supposed to play CovCath Tuesday before squaring off with another contender in Cooper Friday. 
8. Holy Cross - Though they lost to Conner, the Indians defeated Woodward (OH) on the road. Nate Rominger was fourth in scoring for the team with 10 but dominated the glass, grabbing 17 rebounds. They have Lloyd and Holmes scheduled this week.

9. Beechwood - The loss to Ryle was the only game the Tigers had last week. They have games against NCC and Seven Hills (OH) that are in danger of being cancelled before they face mighty CovCath Friday. 
10. Dixie Heights - The Colonels got a road win over St. Henry in their sole contest last week. They are scheduled to play Ryle and Simon Kenton at home this week.

11. Newport Central Catholic - Beechwood, Bellevue and St. Henry are currently on the schedule for the Breds this week after they played no games last week.

12. St. Henry - The Cru lost to Dixie last week and face NCC on the road Friday in what is sure to be a tight contest.

13. Holmes - I know we are only in the first few days of 2025, but Sam Elsbernd is going to have to be in some Coach of the Year conversations even with what Holmes has done already. After having some historically bad seasons, the Bulldogs are over .500 after defeating Bracken County last week. They are scheduled to play Scott and Holy Cross this week.

14. Boone County - The Rebels lost to Franklin County but defeated Ludlow. They are scheduled to play Carroll County and Ryle this week.

15. Heritage - Three wins last week push Heritage’s record out to 10-1. They face Calvary, Bourbon County and Ludlow this week.

16. Ludlow - The Panthers fell to Boone County after dispatching Calvary earlier in the week. They face Dayton and Heritage this week. 
17. Villa Madonna - The Vikings defeated Dayton and lost to Augusta. They face Bellevue, Lloyd and Trinity Christian this week.

18. Bellevue - The Tigers still have only beaten just Dayton this year but the good news is they get to face them again this week as well as Villa and NCC.

19. Dayton - Pendleton, Ludlow and Bellevue are on the schedule this week for the reeling Green Devils.

20. Covington Latin - The Trojans are scheduled to travel to the Kentucky School for the Deaf this week.

[theguru]

Bump.

[allsport71]

That 33rd district is a tuff district once again, three top teams in Conner, Cooper and Ryle, seeding will be very important. 

[Hollywood23]

Solid rankings. Love to see the 9th region so competitive.