With less than three weeks remaining in the regular season, let's take a look at the contenders in the 9th Region. Can anyone say toss-up?

 

1. Dixie Heights (19-3). The recent loss to Holmes notwithstanding, Dixie has to be one of the favorites. Led by freshman sharpshooter Brandon Hatton and forward Zeke Pike, Dixie has five guys capable of putting up double figures on any given night. The last three home games of the season - Ryle, CovCath and Boone - should be a great barometer.

 

2. Holmes (15-7). Lots of raw talent but inconsistent. Three straight Ls (Campbell County, Princeton and Ryle) followed up by three Ws (Cooper, a blowout of Scott, and Dixie) have papa trying to figure the Bulldogs out. They love to run; are they vulnerable to the prototypical NKY grind-it-out team?

 

3. Newport Central Catholic (15-5). NewCath may just have the NKY POY in Jake Geisler, averaging something like 18/14 on the season. Team shoots just a tick under 50 percent, and have held 6 opponents under 40 points. Next up - the All-A in Richmond, then a trip to Holmes.

 

4. Boone County (15-6). No telling what the Rebels' record would be if Louisville and the 10th Region could be avoided. Nice wins in early January against Ryle and NewCath, but no signature wins since. Tough schedule remains that will tell us if the Rebels are pretenders or contenders.

 

Dark horses: Covington Catholic - which team will show up - the one that trounced Campbell County by 34, or the one that lost by 21 to Dixie on a neutral floor? Ryle - recent win over Holmes showes they can compete.

Too close to call. Give it another week or two and I'll make a pick.

Still too close to call. It will be matchup games. Holmes doesn't play NewCath well and have lost the last two of three to Ryle. CovCath struggles with Holmes and Dixie. Dixie struggles with Holmes. NewCath struggles with Dixie. It really is who gets the matchups they like. The other scenario is really who gets hot at the end of February. When I say say struggle, I mean plays the other team well.

The field is so close I will go with the default pick. If we were picking football I would go with Highlands. Since it is basketball my crystal ball says Holmes.

To help out:

1. Dixie beat NCC, CovCath and lost to Holmes.

2. Holmes beat CovCath, Dixie and Lost to NCC

3. NCC beat CovCath, Holmes and lost to Boone and Dixie

4. Boone beat NCC, yet to play Holmes, NCC and CovCath

5. CovCath lost to Dixie, NCC, Holmes.

 

Won't know until Boone plays Holmes, NCC and CovCath. My guess, 5 teams could win it.

For CovCath to win it-their guards are going to have to play much better and score too. I'd say mcpapa has the top 4 candidates correct.

After Ryle's win tonight, I think they have to be thrown into the mix. This region is wide open and the team that gets hot late and makes the most of some breaks will win it.

This season has been so crazy...nothing would suprise me. Heck what if Conner got it together and shows everyone why they were preseason #1?

 

What if we have a late season injury to a contender? What if NCC wins the ALL A STATE and then goes on a run like they did in 2000 and St Henry did in 2003 after winning ALL A State?

 

I've seen everyone one of these teams and Id have to say the best 3 are Holmes, Dixie, and NCC. If the winner doesn't come from those 3 then I'd be really surprised.

I'll wait to see the draw but I'm until then I'm going with the red Colonels.

Pending the draw, I think it comes down to Holmes, NCC, and Dixie.

 

Holmes had some struggles for a few games after losing starting PG, Mayfield, but they seem to really be playing with more confidence lately. A win over Boone and Newcath in the next week would help me justify them as the overall favorite and give me a little more comfort in picking them to head to Rupp. They are the most athletic team in the region and play a style like Louisville teams, but they have to be able to win games if a team tries to play the typical nky grind it out game. As a Holmes fan, I'm hoping they win the district and Ryle wins theirs so they avoid them in the first round.

 

NCC is going to be there in the end for the simple fact that they have the best player in the region in Jake Geisler and have quality 1-6. It'll be interesting to see how they handle a team like Holmes on a college floor where the speed and athelticism will play a bigger factor. Newcath just better hope Geisler doesn't get in foul trouble. Without him, they become a middle of the pack team.

 

Dixie has the best starting 5 (debatable depending on who you ask) but I think their overall depth could become a factor. As shown in the loss against Holmes, if Pike or any starter gets in foul trouble, they struggle. If teams attack the basket and are aggressive like Holmes was, Dxie is very vulnerable. At the end of the day though, they have one of the best guard tandems in the area in Trammel and Hatton and guard play is what wins big games in high school ball.

 

If Newcath and Dixie are on one side, with Holmes on the other or vice versa with any of those three, I like the team that's by themselves to come out and win the region.