It's tough to predict how teams will do next year with how deep this year's senior class was in the 9th region. A lot of the top teams lost deep senior classes. I'm going to go with the following top 10 but by no means will any team on this list be dominant this coming year:

 

1. Conner- The Cougars return the most experience next year and should be tough with Liechty, Flesch, Robinson, and Hodges. Flesch will be one of the best point guards in the region next year, while Hodges and Robinson will form one of the best front courts in the region.

 

2. Dixie- The Colonels lose B Stansberry, Stahl, Raleigh, Smith, and Boone but return some very good underclassmen in Hatton, Trammel, Pike, and P. Stansberry. Throw in Muntis down low with that group and Dixie will have a very good team. The one thing I question though is their depth next year. That could be their undoing as I wasn't too impressed with their JV squad in the 2 or 3 times that I saw them.

 

3. Boone Co- With the Rebels returning Montgomery and Brown down low, they will again be tough. Add McQueary and Downs at the guard positions and this could be another solid year for the Rebels. They have had one of the top JV and freshman teams over the past few years so the talent is obviously there out in Florence.

 

4. Holmes- Even with them graduating 6 seniors, I still think Holmes will return enough next year to be a top 5 team. They return Rice down low to anchor the post and will be loaded at the guard position with Gray, Hayes, McClendon, and Mayfield. Holmes has some serious size in their sophomore class with 6'8 Stephens, 6'5 Hoskins, and 6'4 D. Rice, so they will still be big next year. Add in a very talented freshman class of Coston, Palmer, Englemon, and Peterson and Holmes should have a pretty deep team. I'd expect all 4 sophomores (to be) to see the floor next year.

 

5. Highlands- Like many other teams, the Birds will say good bye to a deep senior class. They will return enough though to be competitive with any team in the region and possibly make their way in to the top 5. Jack Stewart will be very good next year and will anchor the post for the Birds. Dean, Egan, and Crowley all three showed down the stretch that they are able to play and contribute at the varsity level. Add Towles, True, and New from the sophomore class and Highlands might be better than even I'm giving them credit for.

 

6. Covcath- The Colonels will have a very solid team next year. Thelen alone will be able to keep them in games with anyone in the region. I really like Connelly's athleticism on the wing and he should take a lot of pressure off Thelen down low. They'll have questions at the guard position but Baker, Riedinger, Schult, and Hudepohl should be enough to make this a very competitive team. Don't be surprised if they make their way in to the top 5 next year.

 

7. Ryle- Hard to put them any lower than this with them returning Vollet, Stauffer, Perkins, and Stinson. Stauffer will be one of the best forwards in NKY next year but will need the other three named players to step up if Ryle is going to be better than 7th or 8th in nky next year. I don't see them being very deep.

 

8. Newcath- I think I may be underestimating the Breds some by putting them this low, especially with them returning Geisler, but for some reason I just think they're going to struggle some next year. Grant Pangallo made this team go, along with with Shawn Meyer and I think those two will be missed too much next year for this team to be one of the elites in the 9th. Hightchew and Geisler are the only two who have real varsity experience.

 

9. Holy Cross- The Indians return one of the best sophomores in the area in Jake Burger and also only lose 1 senior from this past year's team. They will battle Beechwood for the #3 spot in the 35th district.

 

10. Beechwood- I really like the Tigers as a top 10 team next year. They started two freshmen this past year but were still very competitive. I'd expect the Tigers to have their ups and downs but wouldn't be surprised to see them knock off a team or two listed ahead of them in my top ten.

 

My overall prediction??

 

The 9th region will be wide open next year. More so than any other year I can remember. There won't be any dominant teams and everyone will play eachother close. I'm going to say whoever wins the 9th next year has no less than 2 or 3 losses inside the region, heading to Rupp.

 

Walter mark this name down: Tommy Arnzen! Didn't play the entire year due to injury, but he will be a force. Also look for young Nick Fredrick if he grows over the summer! The kid can shoot!

I would agree with most of those rankings, but I would put Ryle higher. Perhaps up to 4th or 5th.

Its hard for me to rank a couple teams that I never saw play this season so I will give you my list but some of it is based on what I have read on here and the local papers. Also, with Newport winning the Region and being ranked in the top 5 most of the latter part of the season, I am with most on here in thinking that they wont be ranked at all next year.

 

1. Boone Co- Return Brown/McQueary/Montgomery and crafty point guard Downs. Overall size will be very good and they have had great JV/Frosh teams over past 3 yrs.

2. Conner- (havent seen them but with 4 top returning players I'd say they might get the votes)

3. Dixie- 3 names- Hatton/Pike/Trammell

4. Holmes- Henley will put something together and my guess is it wont be built around Kevon Rice. IMO they need to go back to the fullcourt pressing team they used to be.

5. Ryle- Stauffer is a stud and will be a top 3 player in the Region.

6.Cov Cath-Thelen and a nice JV group moving up, not to mention the ARnzen kid and some solid soph's to be.

7. NCC- Geisler and Hightchew will both avg double figures. Geisler will be a double/double guy nightly.

8.Highlands- Stewart avg 9 pts a game as a starter. He has nice game and I think he gives the Birds a lot to build around. Key will be what underclassmen step up next year.

9. Holy Cross- Burger will be averaging close to 20 a game next year and they have a lot of returning players who got some nice varsity experience.

10. Beechwood-Fangman/Nussbaum/Maus/Cruse are all returning and will give them the edge in Class A.

 

I am like Walter in thinking that there is no clear cut favorite. I just looked at my list and noticed I didnt rank St. Henry which I find to be very odd. Dont be surprised if Dave Faust has his team in the top 10 by mid season, you just never know with those guys.

I would venture to say that next year every team in the 9th will have a minimum of 3 losses within the region as it will be very balanced IMO.

 

Dixie will be deeper than than many realize. They will probably be 9 deep.

There are some good ball players on that team that had to take a backseat this past year due to having 5 seniors.

1a.Dixie

1b. Conner

2. Boone

3. Covcath

4. New Cath

5. Highlands

6. Ryle

7. Holmes

8. Holy Cross

9. Beechwood

 

I think the 9th region top 3 teams can be a mixture of Conner, Dixie, and Boone depending on which teams can go deeper and i think Dixie has the edge IMO but Conner and Dixie match up well, i'll be anxious to watch this game.

I agree with the top three, Conner, Dixie and Boone, but Holmes( yes they will have some talent, but inexperienced) , and Highlands( 10 seniors gone is huge) should be ranked a little lower.

Here is what I think.

 

1. Conner

2. Dixie

3. Boone

4. Holy Cross

5. Covcath

6. Newcath

7. Holmes

8. Ryle

9. Highlands

10. Beechwood

 

No way Holy Cross will be the 4th best team in the region next year. They will be lucky to be the third best team in the 35th district behind Holmes & CovCath.

If CCH gets good guard play, especially good PG play, they will contend for the region title.

 

If they do not get guard play they'll be a top 5 to 7 team.

If CCH gets good guard play, especially good PG play, they will contend for the region title.

 

If they do not get guard play they'll be a top 5 to 7 team.

 

Who would you forcast fill that PG role at this early stage?

Holy Cross beat Dixie this year by 8 at Dixie. They lost to Conner by 6. I believe most of their other loses were 10-17 points. They lose 1 senior and bring back 8 players with a full year of varsity experinece. I do agree that Holmes has talent but teams will not fear them as they did the last 3 years.

As for Covcath, they bring back a 2 good players in Thelen, and Conley. Their biggest issue is Lack of experinece. The only junior to play beside those two was Riedinger. That is why I had them rated below Holy Cross.

Who would you forcast fill that PG role at this early stage?

 

I'm sure that Coach L is considering Riedinger. However, I'd love to see Brett at the 2 because of his ability to consistently hit the 3 which is where they lacked offensively this year. So, who then? If Maschinot returns he would be a candidate. I'd also take a long hard look at Clint Massie. He seems to have a PG mentality from the JV games I saw this year.

 

If the Fredrick kid can grow a bit he would be in the mix as well.

"If Maschinot returns he would be a candidate"

 

 

 

Where would Maschinot go?

I'm sure that Coach L is considering Riedinger. However, I'd love to see Brett at the 2 because of his ability to consistently hit the 3 which is where they lacked offensively this year. So, who then? If Maschinot returns he would be a candidate. I'd also take a long hard look at Clint Massie. He seems to have a PG mentality from the JV games I saw this year.

 

If the Fredrick kid can grow a bit he would be in the mix as well.

 

Where would Maschinot go?

I'm sure that Coach L is considering Riedinger. However, I'd love to see Brett at the 2 because of his ability to consistently hit the 3 which is where they lacked offensively this year. So, who then? If Maschinot returns he would be a candidate. I'd also take a long hard look at Clint Massie. He seems to have a PG mentality from the JV games I saw this year.

 

Clyde:

 

I am in agreement with you. People should not overlook Mr. Maschinot. He and Coach L need to somehow gain confidence in his abilities. His time on the court last year should have been a positive experience, but it was not built up that way and sitting so much this year, I fear, may compound the issue. Bottomline is that he can and should be a contributor for that team. I also agree with your assessment of Massie. He should have seen the court at the varsity level this year.

Clyde:

 

I am in agreement with you. People should not overlook Mr. Maschinot. He and Coach L need to somehow gain confidence in his abilities. His time on the court last year should have been a positive experience, but it was not built up that way and sitting so much this year, I fear, may compound the issue. Bottomline is that he can and should be a contributor for that team. I also agree with your assessment of Massie. He should have seen the court at the varsity level this year.

 

This should have been the year to work on developing the younger point guards IMO.

 

Frederick has a nice handle but I think he is 2 yrs away.

Jordan Hassel will get a lot of playing time this next season. He is a great ball player. Also Paul Wigger will see some PT.

 

Cohorn????