FastForward

NDA has been the only consistent team thus far & I really don't see that changing anytime soon!! Any team can be beaten on any given day so there's always luck!! I can say with 95% certainty that Cooper & Ryle will make it out of the 33rd District (holding that 5% chance Boone or Conner get extremely lucky!!) Yes, Cooper has been up & down, but from what I've seen they have actually learned from the "down" games & that is what makes them stronger!! They have beaten Ryle almost every meeting & that is partly due to talent & mostly due to the drive. Cooper WANTS to be the Best & are not/have not been afraid to play the best to get there. I admit I am a HUGE Cooper fan & don't have a kid in the sport, but I like how Coach Isaac always gets the best from her players...kinda like Fookes from Boone does during basketball season!!! Of course with that said, I still think NDA will be making another trip to State & is a great team to have representing NKY!!!

Since I've noticed a few names missing from the Top 10 players list, I thought I start one asking for the players or bench players to look out for this upcoming season. Players like Gambrel (Conner), McClendon (Holy Cross), Ford (Boone) & Jones (Ryle) that are strong players & do a lot for the team but don't get the respect/spotlight they deserve!!!

Couldn't agree with you more!!! Both Boone & Ryle have too many returning veterans with talent to not be included as a top team!! I give Boone the preseason edge over Ryle due to Coach Fookes, but everyone knows Ryle could bump them early on if they play to their potential. I am sure there are many other talented players like McClendon missing from list simply because too many not familiar with all the names outside the "headliners"!! It won't take long for players like McClendon to get their names out there!! Maybe someone should start a thread of the Top 10 talented "no names"/hidden talent to watch for?!?

If Ryle can play smart & mature, then they will be one of the Top teams in 9th Region. They have all the tools its just a matter of consistency for them. Any of their starters can pose a real problem for teams simply because you can't focus on just one player. They have plenty of talent that can burn you!! Boone also has more than 1 talented player that can hurt teams. I don't hear anyone talking about Ford, but when she's on fire it is lights out!!! I have to see Holmes in action this year for me to rank them. I wasn't impressed last year & I know everyone talks big but I have to see it to believe it!!! Holy Cross has a talented team & from what I saw last year deserves the praise!!!

With Hendricks out that is a huge blow to Conner!! Gambrel is a very good player but she can't carry this team alone!! Hicks & Dages are good players, but Conner is going to need more scorers. Jordan is a very good player for her age but not sure Varsity ready & I base that off of what I saw this summer at TMC. Hicks & Dages did not play for Conner in the games I saw this summer. Based off of what I saw this summer, I look for Vest, Bolter & Roberts to play substantial minutes for Stamm. All 3 are good shooters, rebounders, defensive & can play both as a forward or guard. Bolter is quick & a very nice ball handler that could give teams a surprise. Roberts & Vest have size to battle underneath which Conner will need. I hate to hear Hendricks is injured & pray a speedy recovery for her. She is a very good & very entertaining young lady to watch on the court!!!

I agree!! Conner will lack size this year having Myers graduating. I've seen teams play with a guard loaded lineup & have some success due to faster paced game, however if comes to rebounding & stopping an opponent's big man there's trouble!! Conner needs to prove themselves not only against 9th Region teams, but also there own District teams!! Outside of Hendricks & Gambrel, who do they have?? Frye is good underneath & they'll need her to fill the void left by Myers. Conner has 2 other players I saw at TMC this summer that can potentially step up as both a forward or guard, Vest & Bolter. Both are juniors with 2 yrs of Varsity experience and are very good shooters. Bolter is quick, good ballhandler & has a very nice jumpshot in the lane or behind the 3. For me Conner & Ryle have similar talent (I think both teams are loaded with juniors on the roster), but Ryle has size to their advantage!! For now I'd rank the 33rd: 1. Boone 2. Ryle 3. Cooper 4. Conner 5. Heritage Boone & Ryle are returning too many seasoned veterans to rank them any lower & for me Cooper could be the sleeper team.

I agree for the most part except I'd have Hunter Hendricks Jr. Conner on the top 10 players list. She can give teams fits with her 3s & not afraid to drive the lane to draw a foul!! She is also very scrappy on defense, plus this will be her 4th yr of Varsity experience as well.

I don't see any real dominant team going into the season. There are a few teams returning almost all their varsity lineup which always helps (Boone, Highlands, Ryle & I'm sure others I can't think of at the moment!) I saw a few games this summer at TMC & thought Conner & Dixie looked good but that's summer league & coaches don't always have their best on the court playing. I think it will take a few games into the season for 1 team to surface as the top team!!

They looked very good the whole tourney!!! Congrats to the Lady Jags!!!

Atwood is a great coach & has a good team, but I say Cooper wins!!! Regardless the big winner here is Breast Cancer awareness!!! I love that teams are making this a must every season!!

NDA is CLEARLY the #1 team in NKY until someone knocks them off. Ryle could have potentially beat them this year with a 100% healthy team but injuries happen & it is what it is. Ryle is still my #2 pick unless Cooper wins 33rd crown & beats them for 3rd time this season!!

My guess is either the "problem" parents graduated or this season's parents remember last year & the effect it had so they refuse to repeat the same mistake!!!

:thumb: I agree!! NDA is clearly the team to beat if a team has any chance of making it to State!! Not much has been said about NDA because they let their actions speak on the court...no team drama, no coach drama, no egos, just good old fashioned hard work & no excuses!!! While many have been talking about all the other NKY teams, I think most would agree the discussions are regarding who ranks #2 since NDA has proven they are #1!! Do I think NDA is unbeatable in 9th Region? Anything is possible & can happen, however that would be the biggest upset & biggest surprise in a season that was FULL of surprises this year!!! NDA has a team of talent all around. When you have team that can sub bench players for an injury or other reasons & the level of the game stays the same, that is the definition of a "Winning" team whose coach has developed players & hasn't depended on star player or players to get the job done!! Good luck to all the teams that play NDA on their road to State...you're gonna need it!!!

From the beginning to the end, this season has been all over the board with the exception of NDA!! I think that based off this season, no one can label a game as an "upset" unless someone knocks NDA out before state, especially 9th region!! Teams have proven that anyone can be beaten on any given night & by a lower ranked team. There may be surprises & even flukes, but no true upsets. The 33rd District seems to be a good one to watch. Cooper & Ryle are clearly the favorites to come out of the 33rd, but they shouldn't look past Boone & Conner, especially Boone. Boone has proven they can play with & beat the big dogs. If Boone comes out strong, Cooper isn't gonna have an easy path to Regions. Conner also can't be overlooked but it all depends on which Conner team takes the court. I've seen Conner battle strong against Ryle & then I've seen the Conner that gets pummeled by Beechwood. Conner's libero is very good at being in the right place at the right time. She is very quick, an excellent passer & has a strong serve. Conner's setter is also very good & also a strong serve.Conner's problem is lack of strong hitting. It doesn't matter how good the libero, DS or setter is when the ending isn't a kill. No matter what your record says & what school you play for, no team is automatic pick to move forward therefore should play every game as though it was your last!!!

I love the fact outside of NDA, no NKY team is untouchable!! Any team can be beaten on any given night & that makes for a very exciting 9th Region tournament!! I think 33rd District may be a good one to watch. Most will pick Cooper & Ryle to move forward to Region but Boone could shake things up on a good night. Boone beat Cooper earlier in the season so that could be a battle to watch!! Conner has talent but outside the libero & setter, they lack strong hitting & serving so I don't look for them to make it past 2nd game of Districts. Of course, anything is possible. Everyone loves an upset & Cinderella story so we'll see what happens!!

Agreed!! I've been waiting for this showdown all season!! I'd love to see the Lady Jags to turn some heads!!

I thought someone said A.Bush & Barber from Ryle were both cleared to play, so why didn't Ryle use them? If it was a small local tourney I'd understand but to not play them in a tourney with the BIG Three (Mercy, Assumption & Sacred Heart) just doesn't make sense to me.

Great job to the Lady Eagles!! A very talented team & great to watch!!

Exactly!! Can't execute the showstopping kill without serve receive or dig first!!! In order for the setter to give a hitter a perfect set, there needs to be a good pass!! While many can play backrow defense, the libero is the team's best serve receive/pass specialist & crucial for any team!! It is the 1 position in volleyball that requires an extreme amount of hustle, quickness & precision. An important role for any team to be successful!! So important that I've seen coaches play their libero 5 1/2 rotations!!

Amen!!!:clap:

Nice win for the Lady Camels!!! Congrats!!

I have been blasted on other threads when I talk about how well a team or player did without mentioning the headliners injured on the bench & not playing!! I don't care who you are, a good team has talent both on the court & on the bench, so if a no name replacement player goes in & does an amazing job, that player needs the recognition NOT the player she is in for!!! I'll mention again how amazing Stinson from Ryle has played as well as Conner's Bolter who was pulled from libero/defense to setter/offense for the injured Atwood. Those players willing to step up & playing with that pressure to win or its their fault should be recognized!!!

I agree that there are excellent players on other teams that deserve some recognition. They may not play for a "powerhouse" team or a serious POY candidate but still deserve to be mentioned!! A few that stick out in my head are Borders from Boone, Bolter from Conner, Franxman from Scott, Ginter from Highlands & Gray from Campbell County. Each player is a crucial part of their team's success, but you don't seem to hear how great of players they are simply because they don't play for a Top team or Top hitter!! Setters & Liberos are very important positions but when was the last time there was a Libero voted POY?? Just saying!!

I'm in agreement with you!! That is a huge liability that I'm not sure as a coach I would want on my hands!! I know for a fact she has suffered at least 4 concussions in the last 18 months!!! I'd like the name of the Dr. that released her so I can be sure to steer family & friends away from that practice!!!

I have to add that while Bolter did a great job setting, I wouldn't say she is better than Atwood. She is definitely better than just a "backup" setter especially since she probably hasn't practiced setting this season & Atwood was injured on Saturday, Bolter had 1 practice if that to get ready. That fact along with the fact she would be facing a very hungry Cooper team, showed a great deal of poise, confidence & willingness to step up for her team. I remember her setting last year & I think she was pulled from setting to the backrow because of her excellent serve receive & passing skills. That shows she is clearly a Coach's dream player being ready & willing to do whatever is asked of her. I think Conner found out the hard way tonight that they can't afford to play without Bolter on that backrow full-time!!!