Notre Dame's Noelle Hubert (22) drives the ball during a game against George Rogers Clark at the White, Greer & Maggard Holiday Classic girls' basketball tournament at Lexington Catholic on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022.

January is approaching, which means we’re a few weeks away from the halfway point of the basketball season.

Cold air, freezing bus rides, and the dreaded weather cancellations hit us last week which made for a light week for some.

Now comes the second week of the holiday fun of tourneys. Many teams will be playing in post-Christmas classics, tournaments or whatever you want to call them.

These are exciting tournaments that usually pair opponents with teams they won’t normally see, like Campbell County and Holy Cross headed down to Lexington to take on the state’s elite or Covington Catholic headed to Florida to take on some of the top ranked teams in the Sunshine State.

Here’s a look at the top 10 teams in the LINK nky coverage area (Boone, Campbell, Kenton counties):

Boys

  1. Covington Catholic (8-0, Previous Week: 1) – A light week for the Colonels last week before they head to the Kingdom of the Sun Tournament in Ocala, Florida this week. They’ll be sure to get some tests, opening up with Suncoast on Tuesday, ranked No. 14 in the 5A Division in Florida (Florida is classed). If they win that, they’ll most likely be looking at Olympia, the No. 6 ranked team overall in Florida and No. 4 in 7A.
  2. Holy Cross (6-2, Previous Week: 3) – They have two losses to two of the top five teams in the state (Great Crossing, Covington Catholic). Other than that, their average margin of victory in the six wins is 28 points per win. Can really make a statement this week at the Lexington Catholic Holiday Tournament as they open up with Lyon County. It’s a game that features two of the premiere scorers in the state, Lyon County’s Travis Perry, on pace to break the KHSAA scoring record and the Indians Jacob Meyer, who currently leads the state in scoring and led the country in scoring last year.
  3. Highlands (10-1, Previous Week: 4) – Struggled early in a loss to Henry Clay at the Mason County Invitational Tournament without leading scorer Will Herald, then bounced back to hit 33 three-pointers in their next two games over Augusta and Fleming County. The 21 three-pointers they made against Fleming County were the fifth most in KHSAA history in a single game and the most ever for a 9th Region team in a game. Herald should be back this week as they head to South Oldham for their Christmas tournament, opening up with McCracken County, a top 15 team in the state.
Highlands’ Nathan Vinson shoots a 3-pointer over Fleming County’s Preston Cropper (1) and Brodie Knarr (31) during Thursday’s Mason County Invitational Tournament game. Also on the court are (left to right) Highlands’ Dom Gregory (33), Fleming County’s Austin James (24) and Highlands’ Owen Yelton. Photo provided

4. Simon Kenton (7-3, Previous Week: 2) – Knocked off previously unbeaten Elder (Ohio) as they held them to 29 points, suffocating Elder in the fourth quarter. Followed it up with a loss to a hot-shooting Christian Academy-Louisville team the next day. While the defense has been top notch, if the opponent scores more than 60 points, the Pioneers are 0-3. Heads to the Ashland Invitational Tournament this week, opening up with the host Tomcats.

5. Conner (5-3, Previous Week: 5) – Finally got to see the Cougars in action during the Scott Winter Classic as they ran away from Shelby County early and often, torching the nets by shooting 57 percent. They have a variety of weapons that can bury it from deep with an average of nine 3-pointers made per game. Efficient is a good word, shooting 48 percent from the field, 42 percent from three and 73 percent from the free throw line. Plays in the Gussler Holiday Invitational at Thomas Worthington this week in Worthington, Ohio.

6. Campbell County (6-3, Previous Week: 6) – The Camels get the pleasure of taking on University of Kentucky signee Reed Sheppard at the Lexington Catholic Holiday Tournament on Tuesday. They’ll head in winners of three straight. Aric Russell is now three wins away from tying the program record for wins as a head coach. Russell sits at 268 wins, L.E. Woolum holds the mark at 271 wins. Russell has 443 wins in his career, just 17 shy of the NKY mark set by Ken Shields.

Campbell County head coach Aric Russell is on the heels of the program’s all-time wins mark. Evan Dennison | LINK nky

7. Newport (8-2, Previous Week: 7) – I really want to rank the Wildcats higher. I really do. Just don’t have a spot for them just yet. Best part about that is they have nowhere near reached their ceiling and the roster has a ton of promise with just one senior on the roster, albeit an important one in Marquez Miller. They’ll have plenty of opportunity to rise up the rankings, starting this week in Corbin as they head to the grace Health Cumberland Falls Invitational, opening up with Bell County. Team has the goods to not only win a 9th Region All “A” title, but will be a team no one wants to face in March if they get to the 9th Region tourney.

8. Cooper (5-5, Previous Week: 8) – Jaguars went 2-1 at the Legacy Nissan Dribble Drive Challenge at South Laurel, losing to the host in the championship game. Yamil Rondon had a nice tourney, leading the team in scoring all three games. They make a long trek to Owensboro this week for two games in the Independence Bank Classic against Butler County and Breckinridge County.

9. Lloyd Memorial (5-3, Previous Week: 9) – Lost a tight one to Pulaski County with wins over Wellsprings Guardians (home school team) and Dixie Heights last week. Jeremiah Israel was phenomenal in the three games, scoring 73 points and hitting 31-of-38 shots while grabbing 28 rebounds. Sophomore EJ Walker posted a big week too with 48 points and 31 rebounds in the three games. Jugs are now off until January 3 when they start a stretch of six straight road games at Beechwood.

10. Newport Central Catholic (6-5, Previous Week: 10) – Thoroughbreds are hanging on to the 10th and final spot after losses to Covington Catholic and Newport and a win over Williamstown. Coby Kramer lit up the nets in the win over Williamstown, dropping 39 points and hitting nine 3-pointers. Thoroughbreds head to the mountains this week for the Bill Perkins Holiday Classic at Williamsburg, opening up with Lee County.

Next up: Walton-Verona (8-3), Ludlow (8-2), Beechwood (4-5)

Girls

  1. Cooper (7-2, Previous Week: 1) – Made light work of the field at the Cochran Mechanical/Smith Realtors Holiday HoopFest in Elizabethtown, winning three games by an average of 43 points per game. Whitney Lind scored 57 points in the three games, also pulling down 31 rebounds. They head East to play Rowan County and Russell this week before returning home to face Holy Cross on Friday in what should be three solid contests for them.
  2. Ryle (8-3, Previous Week 3) – Third place in the highly competitive Queen of the Commonwealth is nothing to be ashamed about, losing a tight one to Bowling Green in the semifinals. Wins over previous top 10 ranked teams in Meade County and Bullitt East prove the Raiders are on the up. Make a long trip south past Bowling Green this week to play at Franklin-Simpson’s F-S Wildcat Classic where they’ll play McCracken County, Franklin-Simpson and a rematch with Bowling Green on Dec. 29.
  3. Notre Dame (8-1, Previous Week: 2) – Made it all the way to the championship at the White, Greer and Maggard Holiday Classic at Lexington Catholic before being turned away by champion George Rogers Clark. Noelle Hubert scored 94 points in the four games of the tournament, Sophia Gibson and Maya Lawrie also posting solid tournament numbers. Light week this week with just Holmes on tap for Friday.
  4. Dixie Heights (8-3, Previous Week: 4) – Won both of their contests at the Adams Buick GMC Holiday HoopFest at Madison Central with wins over Perry County Central and Lafayette. Sammy Berman, Ella Steczynski and Bella Crawford were the standouts, combining to score 99 points in the two games. Off this week before two big home games next week against Notre Dame (Jan. 4) and Ryle (Jan. 6).
  5. Holy Cross (9-3, Previous Week: 6) – Proved they belonged in the Queen of the Commonwealth with wins over McCracken County and Meade County, two previously ranked top 10 teams in the state. Played in a tight one with No. 2 ranked DuPont Manual and lost in overtime to Owensboro Catholic, but the Indians are clearly the team to beat in the 9th Region All “A” tournament. Impressive performances from Julia Hunt, Nejai Lewis, Miyah Wimzie and Aleah Arlinghaus helped them in the QOC. Plays Seton (Ohio) on Thursday before a big matchup at Cooper on Friday.
  6. Simon Kenton (7-3, Previous Week: 5) – Had the week off after a busy five-game week the prior week. Head up to Lakota West for two games on Thursday and Friday.
  7. Conner (6-4, Previous Week: 7) – Won both of their contests over Lafayette and Perry County Central in the Adams Buick GMC Holiday HoopFest at Madison Central. Anna Hamilton and Juliet Strange came up big in the victories. They’ll head up to Ohio this week taking on Archbishop Alter and Bellbrook on Thursday and Friday.
Emily McGraw puts up a jumper in a recent game with Cooper. Bob Jackson

8. Highlands (7-4, Previous Week: 8) – Opened with a win over Bryan Station before two losses against Assumption and Ashland Blazer at the Assumption Rockets Christmas Tournament. Marissa Green’s 31 point, 17 rebound pivotal in the win over Station as she scored 72 points and pulled down 30 rebounds in the three contests. Light week with just Roger Bacon (Ohio) on the docket for Tuesday.

9. Walton-Verona (5-5, Previous Week: 10) – Just one game last week, a 54-47 victory over Scott County in which Grace Brewer posted a 21 point, 20 rebound stat line. Will get a tough test on Wednesday when they play at Anderson County in the Bearcats Century Bank Holiday Classic.

10. Newport Central Catholic (5-4, Previous Week: NR) – Made their way back into the rankings after a win over Lloyd Memorial on December 20 as Caroline Eaglin continued her early season tear with 26 points. Joelle Kinnett just missed a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds. Eaglin is now averaging 23.7 points per game. Thoroughbreds play in the Stephanie Wilson Holiday Tournament at Bellevue this week, starting off with Frankfort on Wednesday.

Next Up: Scott (4-4)