The Double Deuce

We have reached the post-season, and again, thanks for following along. We have a lot of very compelling stories around the NKY Girls' Basketball scene as we move into Districts, preparing for Regional Tourneys, and then ultimately, the Sweet 16. We have a fair amount of movement from last week into this final Top 10, due to the red-hot play of Notre Dame, and some late-season struggles for a few others. I will also list where each team was in the pre-season, so you can have a sense for how teams performed versus expectations. Below the Top 10 I'll have the district tournament schedules for 32nd - 37th, with a prediction for each sure to go wrong. Would be great if we could get two NKY teams into the Sweet 16, and beyond that, into the Semifinals!!! I'd love to see three, but the Camels have struggled down the stretch, and even if they hadn't, GRC appears too much in the 10th for anyone to knock off before deep in the Sweet 16. 1. Simon Kenton (26-2 / 1-0 last week / 9-1 in last 10): Pre-season #1. 32nd District / 8th Region. 2. Cooper (19-7 / 1-1 / 6-4): Pre-season #2. 33rd District / 9th Region. 3. Notre Dame (19-7 / 2-0 / 8-2): Pre-season #3. 35th District / 9th Region. 4. Campbell County (20-6 / 1-2 / 7-3): Pre-season #4. 37th District / 10th Region. 5. Holy Cross (25-4 / 2-0 / 8-2): Pre-season #7. 35th District / 9th Region. 6. Ryle (18-9 / 1-1 / 8-2): Pre-season #5. 33rd District / 9th Region. 7. Bishop Brossart (24-6 / 0-2 / 5-5): Pre-season #9. 37th District / 10th Region. 8. Highlands (15-11 / 1-1 / 4-6): Pre-season #10. 36th District / 9th Region. 9. Dixie (11-15 / 2-0 / 7-3): Pre-season #6. 34th District / 9th Region. 10. NewCath (19-10 / 1-1 / 6-4): Pre-season #15. 36th District / 9th Region. ================= 11. St. Henry (16-11 / 2-2 / 5-5): Pre-season #13. 34th District / 9th Region. 12. Walton-Verona (17-12 / 2-1 / 7-3): Pre-season #12. 32nd District / 8th Region. 13. Grant County (14-12 / 1-1 / 6-4): Pre-season #11. 32nd District / 8th Region. 14. Scott (10-17 / 1-1 / 4-6): Pre-season #14. 37th District / 10th Region. 15. Conner (9-18 / 3-0 / 7-3): Pre-season #8. 33rd District / 9th Region. 16. Lloyd (14-14 / 2-1 / 5-5): Pre-season unranked. 34th District / 9th Region. 32nd District Tournament: Simon Kenton vs Williamstown on 2/23 at 6:00 (at Walton-Verona). Grant County at Walton-Verona on 2/23 at 7:30. I expect SK to beat W-V in the district finals, and Grant County to be eliminated tonight in a very close game at W-V. SK and W-V advance to the 8th. 33rd District Tournament: Cooper vs Boone County on 2/24 at 5:45 (at Ryle). Conner at Ryle on 2/24 at 7:30. I think Conner will push Ryle for a while on Tuesday night, before losing by about 12. I think Cooper vs Ryle on Thursday at 7:00 (at Ryle) will be a terrific game that Cooper ultimately wins by 5-7 points. Cooper and Ryle advance to the 9th. 34th District Tournament: Ludlow vs Villa Madonna on 2/23 at 6:00 (at Lloyd). Ludlow (or VMA, but I'm calling for Ludlow) vs St. Henry 2/24 at 6:00 (at Lloyd). Dixie at Lloyd on 2/24 at 7:45. I think Ludlow pushes #1 seed St. Henry, but after a 12 point loss in the regular season, Ludlow comes up 6-8 points short this time. Dixie is playing their best basketball right now, and despite being at Lloyd for this game, I expect Dixie to knock off the Juggernauts by 10-12 points. That sets up a District final on Thursday at 7:00 that Dixie wins by 15 points. Dixie and St. Henry advance to the 9th. 35th District Tournament: Notre Dame vs Holmes on 2/24 at 6:00 (at Beechwood). Holy Cross at Beechwood on 2/24 at 7:30. Notre Dame is finding their stride again, and as great as Holy Cross has been this year (even more impressive considering the unfortunate loss of D'Myah Williams mid-season to another knee injury), I think the Pandas will knock off Holy Cross for the 2nd time this season. Notre Dame and Holy Cross advance to the 9th. 36th District Tournament: Highlands vs Dayton on 2/24 at 6:00 (at Bellevue). NewCath at Bellevue on 2/24 at 7:45. Bellevue will certainly put up a fight at home, but I think the Breds ultimately advance by about 10-12 points, ending Bellevue's season. The 36th District Championship will be a hard-fought, relatively low-scoring game, but I see Highlands ultimately winning by 6-8 over the Breds. Both Highlands and NewCath will advance to the 9th. 37th District Tournament: Bishop Brossart vs Scott on 2/23 at 7:00 (at Campbell County). The winner, and I think it is ultimately Brossart in a very close game (5-7), gets Campbell County on their home floor on 2/25 at 7:00. Brossart vs Scott is one of the better District semis in the area, and Brossart comes in only winning 5 of their last 10 as their scheduled ramped up at the end of the season, but I still think they have enough to knock off the Eagles (but it won't be easy). Campbell County limps into the post-season after a large home loss to Notre Dame and then a tough road loss on Friday night at South Laurel, but I think Davey has them frothing at the mouth and ready to go on Wednesday night and they get Brossart by 13-15 to win the 37th. Both Campbell County and Bishop Brossart advance to the 10 Region Tourney.

I've said all year Assumption will win the 7th, the opinion is looking more and more popular as the season unfolds.

Yes, candidates for Miss Basketball. Haylee Noel will get her award(s) next year.

No doubt, it is always fun to see new teams make a run. Notre Dame is playing their best ball, that is without question.

Would be fine with me if we get round 2 of this match-up in the Sweet 16 semis.

Great call on Jae for the 9th, I was worried they'd go a different direction. Jae has been so good in Ryle's biggest games! Well deserved.

North has been playing well, including a 12 point win over Freddy D.

South Laurel stays perfect at home, and evens their record vs NKY teams to 2-2.

Sacred Heart tweeted out this, corrected, score. Switched. Another error in a posted score. Huge win for Notre Dame, with Addie Lawrie back, they appear to be hitting their groove at a great time.

Sounds like the scoreboard may have this backwards.

Final from Park Hills.

GRC and Simon Kenton could meet in the Sweet 16's semifinals....sign me up for that!!!

The biggest game in the state tonight, much less the area, is Assumption at Cooper. Will be AWESOME! If you haven't seen Ashlinn James from Assumption yet, she, alone, is worth the price of admission. Will be interesting to see how Cooper defends her. Assumption also has a terrific, and very strong, point guard, and I assume Brissey will get that assignment.

I'm excited for Monday morning, our final Top 10 of the year, and our District Previews, because we are sure to have a bunch of movement. Towards that end, I'm very interested to see how Campbell County responds to the double-digit home loss to Notre Dame, when they travel to South Laurel tonight! The Lady Cardinals have won 13 of their last 14 games and haven't lost a home game all year! They have lost to Cooper twice, and have a 1 point win over Highlands on a neutral site (ironically, at Campbell County).

Final from up on the Hill. I keep saying it, but Dixie is really hitting their stride, and I expect them (as the 2 seed) to win the 34th. If this match-up was to happen again at NKU, Dixie could make another appearance in the 9th Region semis. Joel is so good, and he is getting the most out of his talent. Love to see it.

Final -- a clean sweep for the 35th District head to head with the best of the 37th We will certainly have a shake-up in our final Top 10 on Monday. Not shocked Notre Dame won, am shocked that it was so one-sided.

Final from Alexandria. HC led after each of the first three quarters, but Lady 'Stangs battled back to tie it late, and the Indians ultimately get the win. HC looked light on reserves, maybe illnesses or school activity, and they she a TON of foul trouble. At least HC players fouled out. Gutsy road win by Holy Cross.

Two terrific games tonight in NKY, and they'll be occurring at the same time about 3 miles from each other (that is a guess, don't skewer me if I'm off a little). #4 Holy Cross travels to #7 Bishop Brossart at 7:30. #6 Notre Dame travels a little further south on Hwy 27 to face #2 Campbell County at the same time. Should be two great games as the best of the 35th visit the best of the 37th!

Final from Erlanger last night.

Final from Hebron last night.

Final from Walton.

Ryle is red-hot, with the only loss the double digit home loss to Holy Cross, in the last 10.

I believe she left the program a couple of weeks ago.

Final from Louisville.

Final from Taylor Mill. In spite of being the #2 seed, don't be shocked to see Dixie win the 34th. They are playing the best ball when it matters.