The Holy Cross Indians have a talented one-two “Batman and Robin” punch in junior guards Jacob Meyer and Javier Ward as Head Coach Casey Sorrell described them.
But the Dixie Heights Colonels (22-6 overall) have had nice balance all season and it showed again in the 65-57 victory over the Indians (21-10) on Sunday at BB&T Arena in the 9th Region Boys Basketball Semifinal game. The win puts Dixie Heights in the 9th Region championship game for the first time since 2018 against Covington Catholic (27-4) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Dixie Heights and Holy Cross did not meet during the regular season.
“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. My guys are going to go out there and lay it on the line,” said Roddy Stainforth, Dixie Heights Head Coach. “They worked the offseason for a chance to play in this game. They’re going to bust their tails and play to win.”
Dixie Heights knew it would be tough to contain Meyer. The dynamic Meyer is a complete player who can score many different ways. But Dixie Heights made him earn all 40 points making 17 of 32 shots for 54 percent including 5 of 13 from three-point range for 38 percent and just 1 of 2 free throws for 50 percent.
“He’s an exceptional talent,” Stainforth said of Meyer. “He made some unbelievable shots. We wanted to make it tough.”
Meyer also had three rebounds, five assists and one steal. The likes of seniors Pierce Rohlman and Logan Landers guarded Meyer for Dixie Heights.
“You have to chase him. It was tough,” Rohlman said of guarding Meyer. “A win is a win. That is the most important thing. If you make him pull up inside the three-point line and outside the paint, it’s a win. Then we didn’t want the ball back in his hands.”
But the Colonels did hold Ward to just five points after he scored 27 making seven three-pointers in the 80-74 win over Conner in the region quarterfinals on Saturday. Ward averages nearly 18 points per game. No one else scored more than four for Holy Cross.
“That was big,” Stainforth said. “If (Meyer) is going to get his 40, you can’t let someone else go off. (Dixie Heights senior) Jay Flynn did a good job of chasing him most of the night and being in his space. I thought Javy looked a little frustrated there late and was tired of that. That’s what you have to do. It’s that time of the year.”
Dixie Heights had 30 defensive stops to 24 for Holy Cross. The Colonels had 1.23 points per possession and 1.25 points per shot to 1.08 and 1.04.
The biggest thing Dixie Heights did is control the paint winning the rebounding battle, 33-21. Senior Keirnan Geraci led the way recording a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds to go with four assists, one blocked shot and one steal.
“We have a close group of guys here looking out for each other,” Geraci said. “We’re always making that extra pass passing up good looks for great looks. We’re just playing well as a whole.”
The Colonels placed three players in double figures and nearly a fourth. Flynn scored 15 making three three-pointers and all four free throws with sophomore Hudson Blank scoring 10.
“My guys found me when I was open,” Flynn said. “I stepped up and made the big shots. I was set up, ready to go in rhythm. I did my job.”
Senior 6-foot-6-inch forward Billy Wogenstahl finished with nine points. But he picked up two fouls in the first quarter and sat the rest of it in addition to the entire second quarter. But the Colonels took the lead in the second quarter without him.
“We’re doing a good job,” Stainforth said. “We keep it simple. We do what we do. We know how to make the reads. I’m really, really proud of the crew that was out there the second quarter. We lost the lead. We bounced back because I have eight seniors that are tough as nails. There is no self-serving out there. They enjoy each other and they have each others’ backs.”
Dixie Heights made 23 of 45 shots for 51 percent including 7 of 16 from three-point range for 44 percent and 12 of 15 free throws for 80 percent. The Colonels also had eight fouls, 11 assists, 11 turnovers, one blocked shot and four steals.
“That’s what makes it difficult is because all five guys out there are a threat,” Sorrell said. “It’s hard to guard because you try to pick and choose different matchups in places where you can pick them apart. They’re pretty even across the board.”
Holy Cross made 23 of 53 shots for 43 percent including 8 of 26 from three-point range for 31 percent and just 3 of 4 free throws for 75 percent. The Indians finished with 12 fouls, 10 assists, seven turnovers, two blocked shots and seven steals.
The game saw Dixie Heights score the game’s first eight points. But after a timeout, Holy Cross scored nine straight taking a 9-8 lead after Ward’s lone triple of the game. Ward made one field goal the rest of the game.
Holy Cross added five more on a Sam Gibson dunk before Geraci made a three to end the Dixie Heights scoring drought. The Indians led 13-11 after the first quarter.
The Indians led 17-12 with 6:40 left in the half when Meyer scored. But the Colonels responded with an 11-2 run. Flynn made two triples to put Dixie Heights up 18-17 with 5:30 left in the half. After Meyer made a jumper to give Holy Cross the lead back, Geraci scored five points on two field goals including an offensive rebound and making 1 of 2 free throws to put Dixie Heights up 23-19 with 2:10 left in the half.
Dixie Heights senior guard Brennan Staton made a three to give Dixie Heights a 26-19 advantage starting an exchange of baskets between the two teams. Meyer scored with 17.3 seconds left to trim the margin to 31-25 Dixie Heights at halftime.
The second half saw Dixie Heights score first when Landers found Blank for the score. But Meyer hit consecutive threes and capped off the 12-0 run with an assist to Ward and two jumpers to put Holy Cross up 37-33.
“(Dixie Heights) made it tough. They tried to take (Ward) away,” Sorrell said. “They made catches difficult for him. He didn’t get as many touches. He never really got into a rhythm. But give Dixie credit. (The Colonels) had a great game plan. They have a great coach and they have a great team.”
But the Colonels tied it up at 37 when Geraci found Wogenstahl for the score and Landers stole the ball from Meyer and scored the transition lay-up with 4:26 left in the third quarter. After senior forward Dylan Arlinghaus hit a three, Dixie Heights scored eight straight to go up 45-40 entering the fourth quarter. Geraci had five points during that run including a three-point play.
Dixie Heights kept the lead at seven or eight points most of the fourth quarter. But Meyer had a three-point play and jumper to pull Holy Cross within three at 57-54 with 1:41 left in the game. But after a Geraci score, Wogenstahl rebounded a Meyer miss and Flynn made two free throws to put Dixie Heights up 61-54.
Meyer made another triple with 29.1 seconds left to trim the Colonel lead to 61-57. But Geraci and Flynn made two free throws after that to make the final score.
Holy Cross still made it to the region semifinals for the first time since 2018. The Indians graduate Dylan Arlinghaus, senior guards Zach Arlinghaus, Maddux Hoffman, forwards Cade Lehmkuhl, Ryan Pulsfort and Brayden Saalfeld.
“We have an incredible group of seniors,” Sorrell said. “They’re as blue collar as it gets. They’re committed. They work hard. The roles that they had weren’t glamorous. But they did it for the betterment of the team. I’m so proud of who they are as kids. They’ll be successful in whatever they do in life.”
Dixie Heights is seeking its first region championship since 2011. That team knocked off Newport Central Catholic, 79-76 in four overtimes. But Lexington Catholic downed Dixie Heights, 69-60 in the first round of the state tournament.
9th Region Boys Basketball Tournament at BB&T Arena at NKU:
Saturday, March 5 Quarterfinals:
Lloyd Memorial 75, Highlands 64
Covington Catholic 49, Cooper 37
Dixie Heights 51, Newport 37
Holy Cross 80, Conner 74
Sunday, March 6 Semifinals:
Covington Catholic 71, Lloyd Memorial 52
Dixie Heights 65, Holy Cross 57
Tuesday, March 8 Title Game:
Covington Catholic (27-4) vs. Dixie Heights (22-6), 7 p.m.
