“Can’t hold him!” the female Beechwood fan screamed with 1.5 seconds left in the Tigers’ Dec. 23 game against Walton-Verona. The Bearcats didn’t – Ryan Smith’s layup at the buzzer secured a 64-63 win – and neither did nine other Beechwood opponents. Harlan County, however, handed the Tigers their first loss, 62-61, in Sunday’s finals […]
Author Archives: Ray Schaefer
Posted inBasketball
Ipsaro injures knee, is gone for the season
The good news was Miami-Ohio improving to 13-0 after Monday’s 135-81 win over Milligan University, but there was a sadder story. Junior point guard Evan Ipsaro is gone for the season after tearing an anterior cruciate knee ligament during Saturday’s Mid-American Conference opener, an 86-77 win at Ball State. Ipsaro’s injury was the first subject […]
Posted inBasketball
From farm to FocalFlip: Kannady helping to remove stigma of mental illness
The YouTube podcast conversation between Michael Kannady and Aaron Stamm started with topics you might hear in a sports bar in Walton, Richwood, Fort Wright or Covington or any gym from Walton-Verona to Ludlow to Campbell County. Kannady, host and owner of FocalFlip, and Stamm, Bishop Brossart’s girls basketball coach, reminisce about all things basketball […]
Posted inBasketball
Rebel-rousing: Boone County celebrates ’96 boys Ninth Region title
They might still be swapping stories and sharing hugs. For members of Boone County’s 1995-96 boys basketball team, Tuesday’s game between the Rebels and Augusta at Nell Fookes Court was a chance to relive the joy of winning the Ninth Region title 30 seasons ago. The ‘96 title was Boone County’s third of four regional […]
Posted inBaseball
A tree-rific idea: NKBCA coaches bring holiday happiness to Vanceburg man
Dixie Heights baseball coach Chris Maxwell had a holiday idea. Maxwell’s plan: decorate a Christmas tree with a cap from every Northern Kentucky high school team, drive a little more than 90 minutes to Vanceburg and deliver it to a Lewis County man battling cancer. On Thursday, David Iery looked out his front door and […]
Posted inSports
City of Florence, Landrum part ways on managing World of Golf
Ralph Landrum is proud of what he’s done for golf in Northern Kentucky since 1974. On Tuesday, he found out the City of Florence is not renewing his contract to manage World of Golf on Woodspoint Drive. The current deal expires on Dec. 31, ending a 32-year relationship. (The city owns the World of Golf […]
Posted inSports
Blaackar’s 28 points leads Lloyd over Simon Kenton
Anthony Blaackar had barely left Lloyd Memorial’s locker room Friday when a group of boys begged him for autographs. Blaackar obliged – he handed out shoes and undershirts, each with “AB #2” written with a green marker. “I gave you everything in my locker,” Blaackar told the kids. “I made sure everybody got something.” Blaackar gave […]
Posted inBasketball
Highlands spoils Sullivan’s St. Henry debut
Tim Sullivan’s first win as St. Henry’s boys basketball coach will have to wait at least until Friday. Highlands emphatically spoiled Sullivan’s debut Tuesday at Dave Faust Court in Erlanger, 71-40, behind Nathan Rickard’s 13 points and Finn Bouldin’s 10. “Hats off to Highlands,” Sullivan said. “Highlands is really, really good.” Sullivan is always nervous […]
Posted inSports
Boys 36th District: Newport copes with lost players, Highlands seeks first title since 2022
Highlands seeks its first boys 36th District title in nearly four years, while defending champion Newport copes with losing two more top players. Bellevue hired a coach from within, and Newport Central Catholic and Dayton deal with major graduation losses. District games to watch include: Highlands at NewCath, Jan. 24; Highlands at Newport, Feb. 6; and two Bellevue-Dayton meetings – Jan. 5 at Dayton and Feb. 3 at Bellevue’s Ben Flora […]
Posted inSports
Girls 36th District: Highlands seeks 12th title
Two words go a long way to describing the girls 36th District – change and creativity. There are significant changes at Newport Central Catholic and Bellevue. The Thoroughbreds will not have 2025 alumna and Northern Kentucky University freshman Caroline Eaglin, and Trevor Gould replaces now-boys coach Tommy Sorrell. Newport will need lots of inventiveness because the Wildcats […]