Many in attendance at this crucial 9th Region early-season girls basketball game expected a good one and did not leave disappointed.
Dixie Heights held a slight 43-41 lead over Holy Cross entering the fourth quarter. Their lead may not have hit a comfortable level, but the Colonels made enough plays in the final quarter to pull off a 61-54 victory. Both teams are now 3-1 in the young season.
“We felt pretty prepared coming into this one,” said Joel Steczynski, Dixie Heights head coach. “We feel like we have the depth and the speed to pressure. Defensively, it’s exactly what we were looking to do. Offensively, we still have a long way to go. We scored 61, but not necessarily with precision. We’ll watch the film and try to fix those problems.”
Dixie Heights wanted to push the pace while Holy Cross hoped to slow it down knowing it had the size advantage in the paint with six-foot-two center Julia Hunt and Nejai Lewis. Lewis and Hunt finished with 18 and 12 points, respectively.
“If they get a few more touches, maybe we get a few easier baskets,” said Ted Arlinghaus, Holy Cross head coach. “But we do hit them down low, they’ve got to learn to finish that. They put pressure on our guards so we couldn’t get the ball to them. So those are things that we can work at and get better as a team. We still have a lot of new pieces and parts we’re trying to put together. It’s a learning process and this was a good game to learn from.”
But the Colonels once again used their athleticism to find open spaces all over the floor. Senior Sammy Berman led way scoring 18 of her team-high 23 points in the first half.
“At practice, we’ve been taking the best shots that we possibly can,” Berman said. “We’ve developed them since the start of the preseason. We’re all out there and working together. I think we’re really growing that bond together that Dixie has really needed. Our plan on defense translated to offense to where it opened up so many more things.”
Steczynski said Dixie Heights is battling its fair share of sickness. Senior guard Reese Smith did not play in the second half for example.
But a number of players stepped forward to help Dixie Heights win. Senior guard Ella Steczynski made two three-pointers and all four free throws on her way to 12 points. Junior forward Abby Thelen scored 10 points in addition to drawing the tough assignment of defending Lewis and Hunt. Freshman guard Coralee Pelfrey scored all nine of her points in the second half.
“I feel like getting those rebounds is really important,” Thelen said. “Although (Hunt and Lewis) may take those shots, you just have to get back out there and help back after they make those shots. I feel like my teammates really helped me with that. They pushed me and kept me encouraged to get there and get those rebounds.”
Pelfrey scored and just more than one minute into the fourth quarter and Thelen converted a three-point play to put Dixie Heights up 48-41 with 6:21 left in the game. Holy Cross cut the lead to five in the final three minutes. But the Colonels made their free throws to win the game.
Dixie Heights made seven three-pointers compared to three for Holy Cross. Both teams took 14 free throws with Holy Cross making 11 for 79 percent and the Colonels hitting 10 for 71 percent. The Colonels hit 22 of 48 shots overall for 46 percent and grabbed 20 rebounds. Thelen led the Colonels with six rebounds.
The Indians had success slowing the ball down in the first quarter and making things happen in the halfcourt when they hit all three triples. Senior guard Aleah Arlinghaus scored seven of her 10 points in that quarter including her lone three with 1:20 left to give Holy Cross a 21-18 lead after that quarter.
Holy Cross travels to Highlands (3-1) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Dixie Heights plays at Boyd County (1-0) on Friday at 9 p.m., in the Boyd County Roundball Classic.
Walton-Verona 62, Campbell County 50
The Bearcats (3-2) hit the road and recorded a nice non-region win over the Camels (2-2).
Senior wing Grace Brewer and sophomore guard Cam Christy did their usual thing scoring above their season-averages of 16.5 and 10.2 points per game with 22 and 13 points, respectively. Eighth grade guard Elin Logue scored nine. But senior wing Jenna Rodgers added seven points making two crucial three-pointers down the stretch.
“We definitely like to push each other and work hard,” Rodgers said. “But we definitely do not ever give up. It’s nice because we have really good chemistry so we’re able to talk to each other on and off the court. We know what’s best for each other when we’re out there. If there’s some inside points, it’s never criticized. It’s always positive.”
Walton-Verona made 19 of 53 shots for 36 percent including 7 of 15 three-point tries for 47 percent and 17 of 26 free throws for 65 percent to go with seven assists, 34 rebounds, 11 steals, 19 turnovers and 12 fouls. Brewer had 11 rebounds for a double-double. Sophomore 6-2 forward Braylin Terrell added seven rebounds to go with five points.
The Camels made 18 of 57 shots for 32 percent including 6 of 25 three-point shots for 24 percent and 8 of 14 free throws for 57 percent. They had 44 rebounds, 19 fouls, three blocked shots and 25 turnovers.
“They’re going to be a very good team. I think they’re going to surprise a lot of people,” said Rianna Gayheart, Walton-Verona head coach. “Davey (Johnson) is a very good coach. He does a great job with them. Our first half was a little shaky at points. Right now, we’re trying to figure out what defense best works for us and just getting the girls to buy in on that end of the floor. We want to play loose offensively. The better you play on defense, the more that transitions into your offense. We made some changes in the second half and I think the girls really bought into it. We mixed up some things. I think that was the catalyst of us winning.”
Both teams play again Saturday. Walton-Verona plays Spencer County (3-1) in the Ronald McDonald House Classic at Oldham County at 4 p.m. and Campbell County plays at Holy Cross in a 7:30 p.m. game.
Other Girls Basketball Scores
Notre Dame 74, Beechwood 26
Madison Southern 52, Simon Kenton 41
Conner 58, Newport Central Catholic 49
Carroll County 65, Bellevue 60
Eminence 34, Villa Madonna 33
Ludlow 51, Boone County 39
Boys Basketball
Covington Catholic 70, St. Henry 61
The Colonels (4-0) rallied past the host Crusaders (2-2) in the fourth by outscoring St. Henry 24-12 as head coach Scott Ruthsatz became the program’s all-time winningest head coach at 314-68 overall. Dan Tieman finished 313-146.
St. Henry plays at Highlands (3-0) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. CovCath travels to Bracken County (3-0) for a Saturday game at the same time in the St. Elizabeth Sports Med. 9/10 Region Challenge.
Boys Basketball Scores
Newport 74, Boone County 57
Conner 68, Dixie Heights 41
Elder (Ohio) 54, Cooper 44
Ludlow 69, Heritage Academy 57
Ryle 69, Holmes 44
Scott 77, Calvary Christian 23
Villa Madonna 59, Dayton 48
Walton-Verona 95, Gallatin County 72
