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?

 

They beat Louisville WEstport in the 1st round and lost to Christian Co in 2nd.

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.

 

Covington Catholic won five consecutive regional championships from 1967-1971. Of course they lost the state title in 1967, but the next three years saw them eliminated in the first round each time (Glasgow, 1968; Clark County, 1969; Breathitt County, 1970). In 1971 they routed M.C. Napier on opening day, then fell to Owensboro in the quarterfinals.

Based upon being the only team from the 9th region to ever win the state tournament I say you have to call them the greatest team but the CovCaths teams of the late 60s were awesome and should have had at least one state championship during that time..They were huge and had some great great players..Noll, Rippe, VonLehman, Voskull, Overmans, Derkson, Schloemer, Fritz, Kreimborgs, Topmiller, Berger..who am I missing OldGuy..Great teams under the direction of Coach Mote Hils.

Simon Kenton that is in 81...Sorry I left out the schools name in my original post.

Based upon being the only team from the 9th region to ever win the state tournament I say you have to call them the greatest team but the CovCaths teams of the late 60s were awesome and should have had at least one state championship during that time..They were huge and had some great great players..Noll, Rippe, VonLehman, Voskull, Overmans, Derkson, Schloemer, Fritz, Kreimborgs, Topmiller, Berger..who am I missing OldGuy..Great teams under the direction of Coach Mote Hils.

 

Was Derkson on the 67 team? And was it his brother (David Derkson) that was the starting point guard, ahead of Dicky Beal, for most of the year for the 78 Bulldogs? The 67 CovCath Schloemer/78 Holmes Schloemer connection is pretty well documented, but I haven't heard the Derkson/Derkson connection discussed.

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?

 

They lost on a last second shot in the state championship to Earlington.

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.[/quote]

 

And remember we weren't allowed to dunk back in those day's, nor did we have the three point shot either!

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?

 

Nope! John was just a frosh in 67 and never saw the floor as a varsity player. Joe played JV, and maybe saw some limited mop up minutes as a sophomore! Both played on the 68 team that lost to eventual state champion Glasgow, in what the Glasgow players will tell you was there toughest game on their way to the state title.

 

1967 lost in the finals to Earlington on a last second shot. Still makes me sick to think about it, even today...

Based upon being the only team from the 9th region to ever win the state tournament I say you have to call them the greatest team but the CovCaths teams of the late 60s were awesome and should have had at least one state championship during that time..They were huge and had some great great players..Noll, Rippe, VonLehman, Voskull, Overmans, Derkson, Schloemer, Fritz, Kreimborgs, Topmiller, Berger..who am I missing OldGuy..Great teams under the direction of Coach Mote Hils.

 

The 67 and 68 teams had Jimmy Cooper who IMHO is/was the greatest point guard that I have ever seen play on the high floor, even to this day. The things that kid could do with a basketball and the vision and the daring that he had was impressive, and he was as close to a sure thing on the Free Throw line as you could have. Really was the glue that drove both the 67 and 68 teams.

 

Ron Droege was also on the 67 but was the seventh or eight man off the bench. Ron could guard anyone, and in 68 usually drew the top "O" player from the other team.

 

A lot of people don't realize how hard of a schedule that CovCath played back in those days. For example, between the 67 and 68 season CovCath spent something like 26 nights in Hotels, traveling across the Commonwealth playing the best teams at their gyms. I remember in 68 we played Harrison County on a Friday night at Harrison County and then drove over to Louisville to play Shawnee. During those years we played in the AIT, LIT, played at Louisville Male, Louisville Central, Harrison County, Louisville Shawnee, and Hazard just to name a few.

 

Also you must remember after losing in the finals in 67 to Earlington, we only return two starters Randy Noll, and Jimmy Cooper. To me at least I think our 68 team was the best ever at CovCath.

Based upon being the only team from the 9th region to ever win the state tournament I say you have to call them the greatest team but the CovCaths teams of the late 60s were awesome and should have had at least one state championship during that time..They were huge and had some great great players..Noll, Rippe, VonLehman, Voskull, Overmans, Derkson, Schloemer, Fritz, Kreimborgs, Topmiller, Berger..who am I missing OldGuy..Great teams under the direction of Coach Mote Hils.

 

Was Dale Overman on those teams? He is one heckuva nice guy.

The 67 and 68 teams had Jimmy Cooper who IMHO is/was the greatest point guard that I have ever seen play on the high floor, even to this day. The things that kid could do with a basketball and the vision and the daring that he had was impressive, and he was as close to a sure thing on the Free Throw line as you could have. Really was the glue that drove both the 67 and 68 teams.

 

Ron Droege was also on the 67 but was the seventh or eight man off the bench. Ron could guard anyone, and in 68 usually drew the top "O" player from the other team.

 

A lot of people don't realize how hard of a schedule that CovCath played back in those days. For example, between the 67 and 68 season CovCath spent something like 26 nights in Hotels, traveling across the Commonwealth playing the best teams at their gyms. I remember in 68 we played Harrison County on a Friday night at Harrison County and then drove over to Louisville to play Shawnee. During those years we played in the AIT, LIT, played at Louisville Male, Louisville Central, Harrison County, Louisville Shawnee, and Hazard just to name a few.

 

Also you must remember after losing in the finals in 67 to Earlington, we only return two starters Randy Noll, and Jimmy Cooper. To me at least I think our 68 team was the best ever at CovCath.

 

:thumb:How did I ever forget Jimmy Cooper. He was an outstanding player.

Was Derkson on the 67 team? And was it his brother (David Derkson) that was the starting point guard, ahead of Dicky Beal, for most of the year for the 78 Bulldogs? The 67 CovCath Schloemer/78 Holmes Schloemer connection is pretty well documented, but I haven't heard the Derkson/Derkson connection discussed.

 

Derkson was I think a freshman in 67 maybe still a eight grader in 67, but he also didn't play on the 68 team either, unless it was just mop up duty.

Was Derkson on the 67 team? And was it his brother (David Derkson) that was the starting point guard, ahead of Dicky Beal, for most of the year for the 78 Bulldogs? The 67 CovCath Schloemer/78 Holmes Schloemer connection is pretty well documented, but I haven't heard the Derkson/Derkson connection discussed.

 

I know that Derkson wasn't on the 67 team, and I don't remember him being on the 68 team either. I think he might have been a freshmen in 68.

Was Dale Overman on those teams? He is one heckuva nice guy.

 

Dale was and is a nice guy. Dale was the sixth man and sometimes started as a guard small forward on that 67 team. Dale could really jump and was a really good baseball player too. His little brother Doug played on the 68, and 69 teams.

Just wanted to mention that while CovCath never brought home the title, no one else in the Ninth Region has ever done what those Mote Hils teams did from 67 trough 71 and that is to win five straight Ninth Region Championships. BTW to show you just how good the 68 CovCath team was, we played Campbell County in the brand new Holmes gym and beat them by a 31 points. No, that not a typo we won the Ninth Region Championship game by 31 points over Campbell County, think any team has pulled off that big of a win off since? BTW you also have to realize that Mote never would leave in the starters to run up a score, they were just that good.

 

One other thing, in 64/65 our CovCath Coaches were Mr. Mote Hils, Mr. Hep Cronin (father of current "UC Coach" Mick Cronin) and Mr. Ken Shields. Talk about some men who could teach you some Bball....