9^th Region: Week 5

We welcomed the new year with some surprising results that continue to shake up the 9^th Region rankings. (Tier 1) Cov Cath keeps on rolling and I still don’t expect them to lose a game within the 9^th Region. (Tier 2) Highlands and Holy Cross both suffered their first losses of the season, though I’m keeping them in their own Tier for now as I think they will consistently be the next two best teams in the region. Tier 3 teams could be ranked using a random number generator at this point; (#5) Ryle beat (#3) Highlands, (#4) Lloyd beat (#5) Ryle, then lost to (#7) Conner, who lost Walton Verona, (#4) Beechwood fell to Woodward (OH), who lost to Scott last week (Beechwood beat Scott by 30 earlier in the season), (#9) Newport almost beat Evangel Christian, who just beat (#2) Holy Cross, (#8) Dixie continues to play well, beating a good Clay County team and barely losing to a very good Larue County. Cooper and St. Henry remain in their own Tier rounding out the top 11, but wouldn’t be surprised if one or both join Tier 3 at some point during the season.

 

Tier 1: The Favorite

1.       Covington Catholic (11-1) [last week 1; preseason 1]

Cov Cath dominated every game in their tournament in Florida, with an average margin of victory greater than 35 points, before the expected blowout of undermanned Newport Catholic. Athens McGillis and Braeden Myrick continue to fill it up, averaging 23.2 ppg and 18.5 ppg, respectively, with Donovan Bradshaw chipping in 11.5 ppg. Just one game this week, a big district battle at home against Beechwood.

       Fri, 1/9 Beechwood at CCH

 

Tier 2: The Contenders

2.       Holy Cross (12-1) [last week 2; preseason 2]

Holy Cross finally suffered their first loss of the season to a good Evangel Christian team, before getting two easy wins over Ohio opponents. I’m not worried about Holy Cross as I think their loss was due more to cold shooting (3-16 from 3-pt range), which happened to a couple of teams this week. Luke Arlinghaus (18.9 ppg). Nate Rominder (13.3 ppg), and Brady Gabbard (16.0 ppg) continue to put up big numbers for Holy Cross. The Indians have three home games this week, including a big matchup against Lloyd, a district game against Holmes, and Campbell County on Saturday.

Tues, 1/6 Lloyd at Holy Cross; Fri, 1/9 Holmes at Holy Cross; Sat, 1/10 Campbell County at Holy Cross

3.       Highlands (10-1) [last week 3; preseason 3]

Highlands had two blowout wins in Florida this week before finally losing their first game of the year at Ryle. I don’t know if it was the travel, but Highlands looked out of sync against Ryle and gave up a half-dozen or more easy transition or fast break layups. The Bluebirds have 5 double-digit scorers - Finn Bouldin (15.9 ppg) Nathan Rickard (11.2 ppg), Owen Ebert (10.2 ppg), Vincent Listerman (10.3 ppg), and Tayden Lorenzen (12.7 ppg). Highlands will look to back in the win column with three out-of-region games this week, including an interesting matchup at Lexington Christian on Saturday.

Tues, 1/6 at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (OH); Thurs, 1/8 Brossart at Highlands; Sat, 1/10 at Lexington Christian Academy

 

Tier 3

4.       Lloyd (7-3) [last week 5; preseason 7]

I have Lloyd in the #4 spot due to their win over Ryle last week, despite falling by 15 to Conner this week. They also beat a young Oldham County team by 20. 9^th Region Player of the Year candidate Blaackar is averaging 21.5 ppg, while sophomore Jason Kabeya and senior Isiah Golsby are also in double figures. Lloyd has a big game Tuesday at Holy Cross and stays on the road to face Scott on Friday.

Tues, 1/6 at Holy Cross; Fri, 1/9 at Scott

 

5.       Ryle (5-6) [last week 6; preseason 4]

Ryle continues to confound me. They lost to a good Russell team before beating (#3) Highlands at home. I think they are a top 5 team in the region but need to be more consistent. Ryle has two double-digit scorers (through 10 games), AJ Davis (12.9 ppg) and Holden Smith (17.6 ppg), with Anthony Coppola and Grace Nsuti chipping in 7 ppg. The Raiders have three games this week, including a big road matchup against #6 Beechwood on Tuesday and a district battle against Boone County on Friday.

Tues, 1/6 at Beechwood; Fri, 1/9 Boone County at Ryle; Sat, 1/10 at NewCath

 

6.       Beechwood (10-2) [last week 4; preseason 8]

I’ve moved the Tigers down a few spots as they struggled (3-20 from 3-pt range) at home against Woodward (OH) in their only game of the week. Beechwood sophomore Dylan Topmiller leads the Tigers with 20.3 ppg, while Owen McCormack (12.8 ppg) is also in double figures. A tough week for Beechwood to get back in the win column as they stay home to face #5 Ryle then go on the road to face Cov Cath in a big district matchup.

Tues, 1/6 Ryle at Beechwood, Fri, 1/9 at Cov Cath

 

7.       Conner (7-6) [last week 8; preseason 5]

Conner had been rolling with five straight wins (including a Monday win against #4 Lloyd) before falling on the road to Walton Verona. Louden is averaging 24.3 ppg (through 12 games) while Tyler Warner (12.6 ppg) is also scoring in double figures. Just one game this week as they go on the road to face #10 Cooper in a district battle.

       Fri, 1/9 at Cooper

 

8.       Dixie Heights (10-3) [last week 7; preseason 6]

Dixie went 1-1 on the week, losing to LaRue County by 2 at the Railroad Classic and beating St. Henry by 15. Dixie is one of the few teams I haven’t seen play yet this year, but I think they could be ranked as high as #5 in the region based on their performance so far this year. Dixie (through 12 games) has been led by Max Rubemeyer (15.3 ppg), Tyson Metzger (12.9 ppg), and Hunter Seng (9.5 ppg). The Red Colonels have three out-of-region games this week, going on the road to face Scott and Simon Kenton before coming home to face East Central (IN).

Wed, 1/7 at Scott; Fri, 1/9 at Simon Kenton; Sat, 1/10 East Central (IN) at Dixie

 

9.       Newport (7-4) [last week 9; preseason 9]

Newport went 2-1 on the week, beating Boone County and Scott and losing to Louisville (OH). Junior Amontae Lowe continues to put up big numbers, averaging 22 ppg, while Keegan Farrell is also in double figures at 10 ppg. Newport only has one game this week, Woodward (OH) at home.

Wed, 1/7 Woodward (OH) at Newport

 

Tier 4

10.   Cooper (2-9) [last week 11; preseason 11]

Cooper only had one game last week, an 11-point loss to Hopkinsville in Ashland. The Jaguars are led by Julian Knuckles 11 ppg and Cole Stanton 10 ppg.  Cooper has two games this week – on the road at Simon Kenton and a big district matchup against Conner at home.

Tues, 1/6 at Simon Kenton; Fri, 1/9 Conner at Cooper 

 

11.   St. Henry (2-8) [last week 11; preseason 10]

The Crusaders went 0-2 on the week, getting blown out by a tough South Oldham team and falling to Dixie by 15. St. Henry is led by sophomore Tyler Detzel (8.8 ppg) and junior Blake Stevens (8.2 ppg). St. Henry gets a home matchup with Villa before going on the road to face Calvary Christian.

Tues, 1/6 Villa at St. Henry; Thur, 1/8 at Calvary Christian

 

The Rest

12.   Newport Catholic (2-9)

NewCath went 1-3 on the week, beating Madisonville-North Hopkins and losing Russell County and East Jessamine at a holiday tournament, before losing by 40 to Cov Cath. This week the Breds get Holmes and Ryle at home and Bellevue on the road.

13.   Holmes (4-7)

Bulldogs went 0-2 on the week, falling to Roger Bacon and Walton Verona. This week the Bulldogs go on the road to face NewCath and Holy Cross.

14.   Boone Co (4-9)

Tough week for the Rebels as they went 0-4. Just one game this week, a district battle at Ryle.

15.   Ludlow (5-6)

Ludlow lost their only game of the week against Rowan County. The Panthers get Bellevue at home this week.

16.   Bellevue (5-5)

The Tigers went 1-2 on the week, falling to Calvary Christian and Augusta and beating Heritage. Three games this week, including a matchup against rival Dayton on the road.

17.   Dayton (7-2)

The Greendevils were 2-0 this week, beating Frankfort Christian and St. Patrick. This week the Greendevils will have three games, including a Monday matchup with rival Bellevue at home.

18.   Heritage (1-10)

Heritage went 0-3 on the week. The Eagles will look to get back in the win column this week with three games on the road.

19.   Villa Madonna (3-7)

Villa went 1-1 on the week. The Vikings have three games this week, including a road matchup against St. Patrick.

 

6 hours ago, Knight Owl said:

5.       Ryle (5-6) [last week 6; preseason 4]

 

Ryle continues to confound me. They lost to a good Russell team before beating (#3) Highlands at home. I think they are a top 5 team in the region but need to be more consistent. Ryle has two double-digit scorers (through 10 games), AJ Davis (12.9 ppg) and Holden Smith (17.6 ppg), with Anthony Coppola and Grace Nsuti chipping in 7 ppg. The Raiders have three games this week, including a big road matchup against #6 Beechwood on Tuesday and a district battle against Boone County on Friday.

 

Tues, 1/6 at Beechwood; Fri, 1/9 Boone County at Ryle; Sat, 1/10 at NewCath

 

 

 

6.       Beechwood (10-2) [last week 4; preseason 8]

 

I’ve moved the Tigers down a few spots as they struggled (3-20 from 3-pt range) at home against Woodward (OH) in their only game of the week. Beechwood sophomore Dylan Topmiller leads the Tigers with 20.3 ppg, while Owen McCormack (12.8 ppg) is also in double figures. A tough week for Beechwood to get back in the win column as they stay home to face #5 Ryle then go on the road to face Cov Cath in a big district matchup.

 

Tues, 1/6 Ryle at Beechwood, Fri, 1/9 at Cov Cath

I don't know who needs this win more between Beechwood and Ryle on Tuesday.

Beechwood should feel good at 10-2 but this game should tell alot about where they are truely at.

Ryle at 5-6 definitely cannot feel comfortable with the thought of falling 2 games under .500. They have played some good ball but the quote " you are who your record says you are " comes to mind here.

I see Ryle beat Becchwood 71-59. Anyone with any input from this one?

Beechwood was in control early, maybe up 5 at the half and probably should have been more. Ryle totally dominated the 2nd half, played lockdown defense, and made their free throws to close it out. Beechwood gave Ryle several wide open looks and Ryle made them pay. Overall Ryle shot the ball really well (maybe 9-17 from 3). I think Coppolla had about 25 points and made about 5 3-pointers. I think a lot of it had to do with the Ryle defense, but Beechwood looked completely out of sync on offense in the 2nd half. Topmiller missed several open looks and had a really poor shooting night.

If Ryle shoots the ball as well as they did tonight they will be tough to beat. I think Beechwood will be just fine, though they will have to play better on the defensive end to beat good teams. 

Ryle with big back to back wins.

Bump.