I’ll keep things rather short and simple this week.
Sometimes change is good, sometimes it’s not.
It’s the latter this week as there wasn’t much movement in the latest LINK nky weekly rankings. This will be the second to last poll, next week being the last one for the season as postseason play begins and rankings are thrown out the window.
Here’s the latest LINK nky weekly rankings (for Boone, Campbell and Kenton County):
Boys
- Conner (17-6, Previous Week: 1) – Conner’s first half at Highlands Friday: 12 three-pointers made, 24-of-32 from the field, 35-point lead. Highlands is considered one of the top five teams in the region, too. That was one impressive display by the Cougars after shaking off a subpar performance at Holmes earlier in the week. Conner closes out the regular season this week with Newport Central Catholic on Monday and at Lloyd Memorial on Friday. The Cougars open up postseason play next week against the Ryle-Heritage Academy winner in the 33rd District semifinals at Cooper.
2. Covington Catholic (22-4, Previous Week: 2) – North Laurel got some payback on Friday in a home win over the Colonels, surely not an easy place to go get a W. CovCath could still be considered the favorite in the Ninth despite the loss to Conner, because in order to be the champ, you have to beat the champ. They close out with Ryle on Thursday and Madison Central on Friday before the 35th District Tournament next week when they’ll take on Holmes.
3. Holy Cross (20-6, Previous Week: 3) – Now that Jacob Meyer’s Ninth Region scoring record has been accomplished, the Indians can focus on closing out the season strong having won 13 of their last 14. They’ll try to make it 15 of 16 with Scott and St. Henry this week before opening up postseason play with Beechwood in the 35th District Tournament next week.
4. Newport (20-6, Previous Week: 4) – Have won four in a row since a double-overtime loss at Conner and a puzzling loss to Beechwood, including a grinder over Cooper on Thursday. Dayton, St. Henry and Ludlow are on the docket for the Wildcats this week as they look to keep the momentum going headed into the 36th District Tournament, awaiting the Dayton-Bellevue winner in the semifinals.
5. Highlands (21-8, Previous Week: 5) – Started last week out with a quality win at Lloyd Memorial but followed it up with losses to Conner and at Breathitt County. Bluebirds get Beechwood at home on Friday before they start the postseason with Newport Central Catholic next week in the 36th District Tournament.
6. Lloyd Memorial (14-9, Previous Week: 6) – Came into the week winners in seven of eight before losing to Highlands and George Rogers Clark this past week. The Jugs close out with a pair of home games against Bishop Brossart and Conner before the 34th District Tournament, awaiting the winner of Villa Madonna and Ludlow in the semifinals.
7. Simon Kenton (18-9, Previous Week: 8) – The Pioneers handed Mason County their first home loss of the season on Saturday, but they look for more consistency going 4-4 over their last eight. Can add a pair of wins this week before postseason play with Boone County and Owen County. They’ll open up with Williamstown in the first round of the 32nd District Tournament next week.
8. Campbell County (17-11, Previous Week: 7) – A loss to Simon Kenton before wins over Boone County and Ryle has the Camels on track to win 20 games this season with their last two regular season games against Pendleton County and Beechwood this week before taking on Calvary Christian in the first round of the 37th District Tournament.
9. St. Henry (12-11, Previous Week: 9) – Put a scare into top 10 ranked Great Crossing at home on Friday, suffering a two-point loss. Close out with Newport and Holy Cross before taking on Dixie Heights in the first round of the 34th District Tournament.
10. Walton-Verona (18-10, Previous Week: 10) – Since a 5-0 start to the season, the Bearcats haven’t won more than two games in a row or lost more than two in a row. Got a big win over Grant County to earn the No. 2 seed in the 32nd District Tournament, the two meeting again next week in the first round in a win or go home setting.
Next up: Cooper (13-11)
Girls
- Cooper (23-3, Previous Week: 1) – Defeated St. Henry and top 20 opponent Frederick Douglass before finishing off regular season in-region play undefeated in a win over NewCath as they’re the clear team to beat in the region. Have Owen County to close out regular season play before taking on Boone County in the first round of the 33rd District Tournament next week.
2. Holy Cross (23-5, Previous Week: 2) – Now 10 straight wins after a win over Bishop Brossart last week. The winning streak is on the line Monday night in a top 10 matchup in the state with Mercy at home. Then they close out with Simon Kenton before taking on Holmes in the first round of the 35th District Tournament next week.
3. Ryle (20-7, Previous Week: 3) – Made a trip southeast to Laurel County and came away with wins over South Laurel and North Laurel over the weekend. They play their first game at home in nearly a month on Thursday when they host Notre Dame before their 33rd District semifinal matchup with Conner next week.
4. Conner (16-7, Previous Week: 5) – Picked up a big road win at Dixie Heights before a home loss to a tough CAL team on Friday. The 37th District tours Hebron this week as the Cougars welcome Scott and Bishop Brossart this week before their highly anticipated matchup with Ryle in the 33rd District semifinals next week.
5. Dixie Heights (21-7, Previous Week: 4) – Conner snapped their seven game winning streak, but got back in the win column with a win over Whitefield Academy over the weekend. Now they get Holmes and Franklin County before the 34th District Tournament, where they’ll await the Ludlow-Villa Madonna winner in the semifinals.
6. Highlands (19-8, Previous Week: 6) – A win over either Simon Kenton or Beechwood would get a Highlands team with just one senior on the roster to 20 wins before the postseason. The future is bright in Fort Thomas as they’ll enter the 36th District Tournament as the No. 1 seed, taking on the Bellevue-Dayton winner in the semifinals next week.
7. Simon Kenton (15-11, Previous Week: 7) – Two good tests this week before postseason begins with Highlands and Holy Cross. Then again, their season has been filled with good tests and the Pioneers have played better down the stretch, winners in five of their last seven. Next week they get Walton-Verona in the first round of the 32nd District tournament, the winner facing Grant County in the championship.
8. Notre Dame (16-8, Previous Week: 8) – Three wins last week over Lafayette, Bracken County and St. Henry before two tough tests this week with George Rogers Clark and Ryle. The Pandas are locked into the No. 2 seed in the 35th and will face Beechwood in the first round of the 35th District Tournament.
9. Bishop Brossart (19-10, Previous Week: 9) – While they defeated Scott last week to earn a three-way tie for the No. 1 seed with the Eagles and Campbell County, the Mustangs missed out on the blind draw for the No. 1 seed for the 37th District Tournament. Now they’ll have a contest at Conner before preparing for Campbell County in the district semifinals and looking to avenge a tight loss earlier this season.
10. Newport Central Catholic (15-9, Previous Week: NR) – Caroline Eaglin continues to impress, putting up 32 against Cooper in a 72-53 loss. They finish out with Great Crossing on Friday before taking on Newport in the first round of the 36th District Tournament next week.
Next up: St. Henry (15-11)
