B-Ball-fan

In the 9th Region Newport Central Catholic at 9-16 has had one of their more struggling seasons in memory, but recently got a signature win over Holy Cross of Covington, and it appears that they are beginning to click. They do have quality players in the Isles brothers, and historically the Thoroughbreds are a competitive breed. They've been through many hard knocks this season but have been inclined to learn from them. If they can manage to avenge their loss to Newport in the first game of the 36th District tourney they will enter the 9th Region tourney as a runner up likely after losing to Highlands, but that in itself is not entirely a foregone conclusion. Depending on the picks it's not at all entirely impossible for them to sneak their way into the semis, and from there who knows. While also not a foregone conclusion, CovCath is strongly favored to win the region, but even with that it's not impossible that NewCath could advance further than anyone expected them to. Time will tell.

Have any of the top teams in the 15th reached a 20 game winning season yet? Any games of especial interest being played in the 15th Region this week? Who might be a few of the top players in the region? Pikeville looks to be the top dog in the 15th, are any other teams in the 15th a threat to them?

I’m not aware of who all is in the 57th District, so is “PHS”, Pikeville, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, or Phelps?

*Teams on this list with any losses are still undefeated against Kentucky competition. As of 2/14/22 there is only 1 undefeated team. Region 10 George Rogers Clark - (26-1)

With seeding you’re forcing the hand that seeds 1-4 have a smoother path to the semi’s. Sure, nothing’s for sure and in seeding still an underdog can squeak through. We know that the unexpected can happen, and not trying to stop a top dog, blind draw ensures that an underdog might have a better chance of stepping forward. If a top team is unstoppable they’ll end up champs anyhow, but I like that underdogs don’t automatically get tossed into a rough ride from the get go. We know that with 16 regions the entire field of the Sweet 16 is not the top 16 teams of the state. Again taking nothing away from highly ranked teams, but there’s something magical in high school ball that if a team can string together 4 good games then just maybe they have a chance to shock the experts. They’re worthy of the chance by merit of making it to the Sweet 16. Honestly, who doesn’t like to see some team rise up just at the right time, and make the goosebumps pop up when seeing extreme dreams come true? Seeding in the NCAA is acceptable and right (though still not an exact science), but high school ball offers that special something, (where the majority of the players will not play at the next level) where it’s hugely exciting to feel that each team in the Sweet 16 no matter their ranking has at least a hair of a chance to make some magic.

He's a great player, but as a junior he simply just doesn't have the maturity yet to be playing top notch D1 basketball. He got most of his 18 points late, but the Colonels played great 'D'on him preventing him from getting any good looks, and if a high school team can shut him down then surely any team in the SEC would have zero trouble shutting him down at this point in his career. Even when he's a freshman playing his first year of college ball he'll likely need a lot of adjustments and a learning curve in playing high profile D1 ball. I watched him the other night and really don't see him developing as a top player for the Wildcats or playing their style. I really don't see him playing on that high level of a D1 team, but no way, and no question, as a junior is he ready for all of that now.

The first thing that stands out with me were the multiple charging calls early in the game, which I generally think they were accurate. When Reed got T'd up that was an awful call. He didn't do anything. I watched that multiple times, and couldn't see anything worthy of a 'T' being served. The Newcath payer collapsed into him, but that was it. That was a turnaround in the game, and still Bracken survived it. I still need to watch the last few minutes of the game to see how it all played out in the end.

***delete

That's incredible!

Man, those Reed brothers play with such grit, quickness, confidence, and awesome ball handling. They play like, "Hey I've got an apppoitment with that basket up there, and none of you are gonna stand in my way". It's a treat to watch them do their thing. And they'll mess you up on the defensive side of things, and pick your pocket like it ain't no thing. Pesky little things.

Lookie what I found. I gotta watch this to see Reed hit 9 3's, and the Reed brothers and the Isles brothers to got to work!

HaHa thanks. I literally woke at 3:30 thinking about it, and haven't been back to sleep since. Hope I don't fall asleep during the Super Bowl. Who Dey!

BluegrassPreps.com 9th Region Week 11 Review and Rankings: Wow what a wild and interesting week it was in Week 11 in the 9th Region! If anyone was questioning, or not satisfied with last week's rankings, this week provided even more twisted fuel to juggle things up, and I'm sure that some might not be completely happy with this week's rankings. This team beat that team, but that team beat that team, but lost to that team, and that team beat that team, and lost to that team, and so on and so on. You literally could come up with multiple rankings, and wouldn't be wrong. So this week let's have some fun after I give my rankings. I'm begging some of you to provide a listing of your Top 10, or even Top 20. I sincerely want to see what you're all thinking. And while you're at it feel free to give analysis backing up your picks. While there was an assorment of various significant things that happened this week, IMO there was none more significant than a Lloyd Juggernauts team who've been hinting all season at what they're capable of, rose up and emphattically showed their worth by dropping in 91 points on the very good defending state champs; The Highlands Bluebirds in a game that took place in Ft. Thomas. While they've had a decent season with some head scratching ups and downs that included a statement win over Holy Cross, they had a major breakthrough in their game againsts the Birds where they were clicking on all cylinders, and giving just one tough as nails performance that could have some including myself begin to wonder just how they might fair against the almightly Covington Catholic Colonels if by chance they were to face each other before the season is over. If the Juggs can avenge their regular season seeding game loss to St. Henry in the 34th District tournement, then the 9th Region fans just might be treated to a really good and talented Lloyd Juggernauts team at the BB&T in the 9th Region Tournament. The 34th this season has 3 very good teams worthy of playing in the regionals, but unfortunately only 2 teams can advance. Covington Catholic showed their greatness this past Friday night in a spotlight Dan Tieman Classic game at the BB&T arena at NKU by taking care of business with the visiting North Laurel Jaguars from the 13th Region featuring the possible future UK Wildcat, and slick junior guard Reed Sheppard. By the end of the first half the Colonels held a 2 point lead, but exploded in the 3rd quarter to essentially put the game out of reach, but the Jags however cut it to 6 points in the 4th period, but the Colonels kept their foot on the pedal to secure the win, 58-50. In their loss, Sheppard netted 18 points scored mostly late in the game, and for the victorious Colonels, game MVP Evan Ipsaro dropped in 23, and big boy Mitchel Rylee connected for 22 of mostly dunks. Reed Sheppard hung around after the game kindly signing autographs for an excited bunch of kids, and mostly some future Colonels. How cool is that? In a tough defensive battle, and highly anticipated game, the Highlands Bluebirds beat the visiting Cooper Jaguars 56-45. The Jags dominately compiled for a 31-18 halftime lead, but this game was a tail of two halves, and the 2nd half was all Birds who jumped into action. Sadly their senior eveready battery guard Leyton Read went down in the 3rd period with a knee injury that at present we don't know just how serious. Wishing him all the best, and sad for him to maybe be ending his high school basketball career that has included being an instumental player on the 2021 State champs team, on that note. While the Birds suffered a blemish in their loss to Lloyd, they've been doing their best to redeem themselves as a top team in the 9th. In a game that at this junture of the season was designed to see just how close some of top teams in the 9th are, The Dixie Colonels faced the Conner Cougars that turned out to be an incredible game with a regional feel where Dixie prevailed 67-64. In truth both teams weren't really fully staffed as the Cougar's top scorer Landen Hamilton was out with an injury, and for Dixie, big guy Billy Wogenstahl had to play with a plastic face guard because of a broken nose that he aqcuired in their game against a feisty bunch of Ludlow Panthers. The ever dedicated Newport Central Catholic Thorougbreds have stuggled most of this season only finding a 'W' here and there. In the All 'A' Classic they came ever so close to beating the eventual tournament champs, the Holy Cross Indians. In a rubber match regular season game this past week, the Breds finally got the statement win of their season by beating the Indians 74-71 in a titanic stuggle that saw Jacob Meyer netting 40 points. It appears that the Breds are gelling at the right time to legitimately compete in postseason play. The St. Henry Crusaders who pretty much had to start from scratch this season as they graduated 10 seniors from last season are starting to really play with a cohesive teamwork ethos, and a good example of this was their pretty dominating win over the Beechwood Tigers, 65-48. Most probably would've predicted a closer affair, but the Crusaders had something else in mind. In the 35th District we still needed to see one more seeding game to determine who would get to avoid CovCath in the first round of the 35th District tournement. The Holmes Bulldogs rose to the occation, and took care of the Beechwood Tigers 70-60. This is big because now the Dawgs will face Holy Cross, and while the Indians won big in their regular season game without the services of Jacob Meyer, where Javier Ward netted a career high 40 points, still this gives Holmes a legitimate chance of playing in the regionals, while if they had faced CovCath that would've been certain death. Presently in the 33rd district where Ryle and Boone County have tied 1-5 in district seeding play, my understanding is that the 3rd and 4th seed will be determined by RPI as the tiebreaker, and presently Boone County's RPI is .49145, and Ryle's is .49037. Boone County has two more regular season games that they'll likely lose, and Ryle has two more games where they could possibly win. As far as I know once they complete those last two games then something can be determined. And last but not least, the Covington Latin Trojans who haven't seen a win in their last 53 games finally got the 'W' as they impressively avenged an early season loss to Depaul Cristo Rey from Cincinnati who beat them 67-20. This time the Trojans got the win 44-43. That's an incredible turnaround! Congratulations to the Covington Latin Trojans, and good luck with the rest of your season. Time for those wild and crazy rankings: 1). Covington Catholic - (20-4) No surprises here as they've been securely locked into the supreme Number 1 postition all season. The Colonels went 2-0 this past week first with a win over Oldham County from the 8th region 83-55, and then a 58-50 win over the visiting North Laurel Jaguars from the 13th Region featuring junior guard Reed Sheppard at the Dan Tieman Classic played at the BB&T arena at NKU. The Colonels finish out their regular season with 3 games this coming week first at Conner on Feb. 15, at home against Newport Central Catholic on Feb. 16, and then finally a 2nd matchup of the season game at Madison Central, ranked Number 11, where the Colonels won their first meeting at home in Park Hills 68-52. 2). Dixie Heights - (17-5) The Red Colonels went 2-1 this past week first with a district seeding win over the Ludlow Panthers 74-31 where Billy Wogestahl suffered a broken nose, and is now playing with a plastice face guard. They got the win in a close one against Conner where they Cougars were missing their high scorer Landen Hamilton due to an injury. Finally they unimpressively lost to Walton Verona 76-64. Dixie will finish out their regular season first a home against Cooper on Feb. 15, then finally a game at Boone County on Feb. 18. 3). Lloyd Memorial - (19-5) Sitting in the highest postition they've been in all season, the Juggrenauts have earned this praise by merit of their solid win over a very good Highlands Bluebirds team 91-78. Two broadcasts are available of this game in archive, first by Highlands on Youtube, and then Mark Wehry's excellent call on 859SportsRadio if anyone would want to be treated by the Juggs emphatic breakthough game where they without doubt have silenced the doubters. The Juggs will finish out their regular season at Conner on Feb. 18 before their 34th Distric matchup with the St. Henry Crusaders who beat them in the regular season 60-47. While the Cru is now gelling pretty well, I've a hunch that their next meeting will be a much closer affair, but what do I know? 4). Highlands - (19-7) The Birds had a busy week going 3-1. We can't escape first mentioning their loss to a very good Lloyd Juggernauts team. This was significant. They redeemed theirselves by convincingly beating both Conner 81-67, and then Cooper 56-45. Sadly in the 3rd period against the Jags, senior guard Leyton Read went down with a knee injury possibly ending his high school basketball career which consisted of being a very instrumental 6th man with a steady hand on the Birds 2021 State Champs team. Good luck to this young man, and hopefully your injury isn't too serious, and that you have a successful rehab. The Birds finish out their regular season with a home game against Oldham County on Feb. 15 from the 8th Region, then finally at Beechwood on Feb. 18. 5). Cooper - (19-5) The Jags started the week with an unconvincing win over a young and stuggling Newport Wildcats 44-39. They looked like world killers in the first half against Highlands taking a 31-18 lead into halftime, but in the 2nd half due to a beefed up defensive plan by the Birds, the Jags just simply collapsed, and couldn't find the basket for their life, ultimately losing 56-45. The Jags finish out their regular season, first with a tough game at Dixie on Feb. 15, then finally a home game against Scott on Feb. 18. 6). Conner - (17-8) The Cougars went 1-2 this past week without the services of their high scorer, Landen Hamilton due to an injury. They first got a win over the Holmes Bulldogs 76-63, then losing a tough one to Dixie 67-64, then again losing to an angry Highlands Bluebirds team 81-67 who had just lost to Lloyd. The Cougars will finish out their regular season first with a tough home game on Feb. 15 against the almighty Covington Catholic Colonels, and then another tough home game against the upstarts Lloyd Juggernauts on Feb. 18. 7). Holy Cross - (18-8) The Indians lost to Newport Central Catholic 74-71, and will finish out their regular season at home against an uprising St. Henry Crusaders on Feb. 18th. Presently Jacob Meyer is averaging 38.6 ppg, the best scoring average in the state. 8). St. Henry - (13-8) The Crusaders started the season trying to find themselves, and gain experience due to losing 10 seniors to graduation. Goal reached as they're starting to come on just at the right time as they prepare for the postseason. We can always depend on Coach Faust to groom his team to be ready and competitive come tourny time. The Cru went 2-1 this past season, first with an impressive win over the Beechwood Tigers 65-48, a close loss to Great Crossing from the 11th Region 74-72, then a good win over Ryle 63-51. St. Henry will finish out their regular season first with a home game against a young Newport Wildcats on Feb. 15, and finally a big game at Holy Cross on Feb. 18 before having to face the Lloyd Juggernauts in the first round of the 34th District tournament which will determine if they get to see the BB&T floor in the 9th Region Tournament. 9). Holmes - (10-15) The Dawgs lost to Conner 76-63, but really got the job done helping to save the life of their season by beating 35th district foe Beechwood 70-60 allowing them to avoid CovCath in the first round of the 35th District tournament which is literally the difference between life and death. Holmes will finish out their season, first at Walton Verona on Feb. 15, then a home game with Pendleton County on Feb. 18. Quantez Calloway currently has an average of 29.3 ppg, the 4th best in the state. Holmes will face Holy Cross in the first round of the 35th District tournament. 10). Newport Central Catholic - (8-16) It's no secret that the Breds have stuggled this season, but you gotta hand it to them, they never seem to fold or cower to any of their opponents, and look at every game as an opportunity to learn and inprove. This has always been the NCC ethos. With their win over Holy Cross 74-71 it would appear that all of their hard work is beginning to pay off, and at the right time as postseason is just around the corner. The Breds then lost a close one to a very good Bracken County team 87-84. With an opportunity to get even better the Breds finish out their last week of regular season games with three games, first at home against Ryle on Feb. 14, a super tough one at CovCath on Feb. 16, then finally at home against crosstown, cross region rivals, Bishop Brossart on Feb. 18. 11). Beechwood - (7-16) 12). Boone County - (14-12) 13). Ryle - (12-17) 14). Newport - (8-16) 15). Dayton - (13-12) 16). Villa Madonna - (6-15) 17). Ludlow - (11-13) 18). Heritage Academy - (7-11) 19). Bellevue - (4-19) 20). Covington Latin - (1-17)

Don't be too hard on yourself, you were right last season, and that's nothing to sneeze at. You did have a little help from a sensatoinal winner of a player named Sam Vinson.

Dan Weber of the River City News: https://www.rcnky.com/articles/2022/02/12/dan-weber-cov-cath-wins-slugfest-over-north-laurel-reed-sheppard

*Teams on this list with any losses are still undefeated against Kentucky competition. As of 2/12/22 there is only 1 undefeated team. Region 10 George Rogers Clark - (25-1)

You ain't lying. I'll probably toss and turn all night trying to figure out where everyone belongs. LOL!

*Teams on this list with any losses are still undefeated against Kentucky competition. As of 2/9/22 there is only 1 undefeated team. Region 10 George Rogers Clark - (24-1)

Ain't no denying that the Indians can only go as far as Meyer and Ward can take them, and if they're both healthy, which it looks like they are, then it's still game on for them. I like the growing experience of their supporting cast, so that's an added plus to make them a bit more well rounded as they approach the postseason.

Coach Snapp has obviously schooled his guys into this stall ball style because that's how they've played it all season, and I suppose it's the only thing that gives them any chance of winning, or keeping games close, but it's beyond me that his guys don't find it to be a completely boring way to play. He has a young team that looks like they might have a promising future, but as for now zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

It's worth the thought. I gave credit to the Breds by saying this win suggested that they were hitting their stride. I didn't difinitively say that Holy Cross had peaked, but wondered if possibly they have. It's an interesting part of the season, and while some teams have already had a lot of success thus far, some are coming into their own. I sincerely hope that Holy Cross still has more to give, and they make a deep run into the 9th Region tournament. With all of the various games this evening going one way or another I can't but help to ponder which direction each team in the 9th is going.

74-71 NCC

This Breds win might suggest that they are hitting their stride, and the other question is has Holy Cross already peaked? Funny time of the season when some teams are beginning to gel at the right time, while others might already have had their season's heyday.

They both play a slowed up style, but still a little surprised that the Jags didn't win this one by a lot more.

Congratulations to Coach Walker and his Lloyd Juggernauts! This was one serious signature win for a team having a great season, and wanting to throw their hat in the ring, and be a respected part of the discussion. With this win, they now certainly are. This win proves that they are for real!