Sure, this can be subjective. With the pace of the game changing over the years, and the addition of the 3 point line, maybe the argument can be made that my Greatest 9th Region Team Ever could beat your Greatest 9th Region Team Ever. Was it the 81 Pioneers? The 78 Bulldogs? Who was it? Who was on the team? What are some of your great memories about them. Have at it!

The 81 Pioneers have to be the best simply because they were the only ones to ever bring a title back to nky.

 

If we're going on talent though, the 78, 80, and 90 Holmes Bulldogs teams come to mind.

The 81 Pioneers have to be the best simply because they were the only ones to ever bring a title back to nky.

 

If we're going on talent though, the 78, 80, and 90 Holmes Bulldogs teams come to mind.

 

 

Yes, I would say the 78 Holmes Team was the best. Had it not been for one of the worse no calls in sweet sixteen history, Holmes probably wins the Championship.

I'll miss somebody I'm sure, but here's a few of the best that come to mind on first thought. This is totally off the top of my head.

 

CovCath had a great run in the 60's not sure which team was the best though. Holmes in 78 has to be on the list. Holmes of 90 also deserves strong consideration. Simon Kenton's great late season run in 81 puts them right at the top of the list. Highlands in 97 or 98 was really good as well.

The 78 Holmes would beat the 81 SK team.

Played against both teams. Holmes with

Beal, Schloemer, Wimzie, can't think of the

big guys name. SK had Mckinley, Meiers,

Dixon, Ponzer and Mullins. Holmes got

robbed against Shelby Co. and Charles

Hurt.

The 78 Holmes would beat the 81 SK team.

Played against both teams. Holmes with

Beal, Schloemer, Wimzie, can't think of the

big guys name. SK had Mckinley, Meiers,

Dixon, Ponzer and Mullins. Holmes got

robbed against Shelby Co. and Charles

Hurt.

 

Didn't Jeff Comer play for Holy Cross in 78. Put him on the 78 Holmes team where he should of probably been then nobody would of beat Holmes. I would have to say the 78 Holmes team takes the crown for best team followed by the 97 Highlands team. Simon Kenton also deserves to be mention with the best teams ever!!!!!

I've heard reports that Simon Kenton was helped greatly because of how bad the Holmes team got jobbed years before. but

 

I'd still take that SK team because they have the rings to boot.

After that I'd say a few of the older Holmes teams that I've heard about.

Top 3

78 Holmes

81 SK

97 Highlands

 

My personal favorite is 79 Highlands

Jim Malone

Dave Malone

Mike Vories

Danny Sullivan

Bob "Tree" Muntis

Jeff Fischer

Beat a star studded Holmes team at Holmes to go to Rupp.

Won 1st round over Louisville Westport, only to go down to

Christian County in quarters. Pretty good Lex. Lafeyette team took the title that year.

As a Covington Catholic fan, I feel obligated to mention the CCH teams of the late 60's. They were absolutely dominant. Even though they're not even the best team to walk the halls of CCH.

 

In all seriousness, how can you compete with a lineup like CCH had in '67 (or so). They were huge.

The 78 Holmes would beat the 81 SK team.

Played against both teams. Holmes with

Beal, Schloemer, Wimzie, can't think of the

big guys name. SK had Mckinley, Meiers,

Dixon, Ponzer and Mullins. Holmes got

robbed against Shelby Co. and Charles

Hurt.

 

Big guy was Tony Malik. Based on where they went out of high school, I think you've gotta go with the 78 Bulldogs - two big time Div 1 players (Schloemer and Beal) and at least a few others (Walton, Davis, Moeves, Wimzie) who played at the next level.

 

I do appreciate that the 81 Pioneers are the only ones with a trophy, though, so they've got an awfully good argument that they were the best. I think it's best resolved by pointing out that the years 78-81 were easily the four best years in the history of northern Kentucky basketball, with a state champ (81), state runner up (78), state semi finalist (80) and two scholarship players to UK (Beal and McKinley). I don't recall what happened with the 79 Highlands (Muntis, Vories, Sullivan) team in the state tournament - did they win one and go out in the quarter finals?

Some less-discussed successful 9th Region teams

 

What about the Covington Holy Cross team in 1965 that was state runners-up to Butch Beard and Breckinridge County?

 

Dayton was state runners-up in 1944

 

Newport was state runners-up in 1954

 

Holmes was state runners-up in 1990

Big guy was Tony Malik. Based on where they went out of high school, I think you've gotta go with the 78 Bulldogs - two big time Div 1 players (Schloemer and Beal) and at least a few others (Walton, Davis, Moeves, Wimzie) who played at the next level.

 

I do appreciate that the 81 Pioneers are the only ones with a trophy, though, so they've got an awfully good argument that they were the best. I think it's best resolved by pointing out that the years 78-81 were easily the four best years in the history of northern Kentucky basketball, with a state champ (81), state runner up (78), state semi finalist (80) and two scholarship players to UK (Beal and McKinley). I don't recall what happened with the 79 Highlands (Muntis, Vories, Sullivan) team in the state tournament - did they win one and go out in the quarter finals?

Also Mark Moeves (sp) and throw in Phil Davis and I think Mo Green.

I remember the KY Post did a story some years ago and took opinions from sports writers and coaches past & present, and listed the Top 10 9th region teams ever based on these opinions. I don't remember the exact order of all of them, but here is what I do remember.

 

1. 78' Holmes Bulldogs

2. 90' Holmes Bulldogs

3. 80' Holmes Bulldogs

4. 68' CovCath

5. 65' Holy Cross

6-10 Was 72' Holy Cross, 97' Highlands, 73' NewCath, 81' Simon Kenton

Top 3

78 Holmes

81 SK

97 Highlands

 

My personal favorite is 79 Highlands

Jim Malone

Dave Malone

Mike Vories

Danny Sullivan

Bob "Tree" Muntis

Jeff Fischer

Beat a star studded Holmes team at Holmes to go to Rupp.

Won 1st round over Louisville Westport, only to go down to

Christian County in quarters. Pretty good Lex. Lafeyette team took the title that year.

 

Your right MC, the 79 Birds are my all time favorite as well. In my opinion they started the run of quality HHS teams through the 80's and into the 90's. Coach Shields did a great job with that team that year.

But, I'd have to put the 81 SK team ahead of the 78 Holmes team just because they brought the trophy back to N. Ky.

As a Covington Catholic fan, I feel obligated to mention the CCH teams of the late 60's. They were absolutely dominant. Even though they're not even the best team to walk the halls of CCH.

 

In all seriousness, how can you compete with a lineup like CCH had in '67 (or so). They were huge.

 

I remember following those teams on radio but don't remember if they ever made it to the final game. Those were the teams with John Von Lehman and Joe Voskul, weren't they?