For the past five seasons, Covington Catholic has been the top dog in the district, carrying a 25-game winning streak into the 2024-25 season against 35th District foes.
The winning streak and five straight district titles from the Colonels will certainly be put to the test this season. Beechwood and Holy Cross return the majority of their roster from a season ago while Holmes has a new perspective and fresh outlook from the sidelines.
The 35th District will be one of the toughest to get out of in the 9th Region, here’s an outlook on each team.
This is day four of six of our district-by-district basketball previews for the 32nd-37th District for the upcoming season, slated to begin on Dec. 2
Boys basketball previews
Girls basketball previews
Covington Catholic (26-6 in 2023-24)
It’s a new era for the Colonels as Jake Thelen enters, taking over for Scott Ruthsatz who resigned after 13 seasons at the helm that came with two state titles, six region titles and 11 district championships.
Thelen is well aware of the expectations in Park Hills, a former player in the program from 2008-11.
“Huge credit to coach Ruthsatz, he did an unbelievble job taking this program to where it was and is now,” Thelen said. “These kids are used to winning, expect to win and we’re going to continue to work at that everyday.”
After coaching in college for nearly the last decade, Thelen will take over at his alma mater with a promising roster. The Colonels return five of their top nine that played in at least 24 games last season including a stout junior class that involves Cash Harney, Athens McGillis and Donovan Bradshaw.
Nolan Ruthsatz, Jake Stewart and Tate Kruer provide the senior leadership.
Thelen said the goal is to play extremely fast with the strengh being in the guard play.
“We’ll be versatile 1-4 and play some small ball at the five. Lot of ball and player movement,” Thelen said. “We have a lot of guys that can shoot it and make plays.”
Others expected to step up and fill in the rotation include Quentin Knasel, Teegan Stava and Dylan Gaiser.
The question mark entering the season is what can be provided in the paint. Caden Miller was a wall down low and not only provided a high-level rebounding, but altered plenty of shots on a nightly basis. Bradshaw will be a big piece in filling that void, but rebounding by committee will have to take place on a possession-by-possession basis.
Controlling the pace and tempo of the game will be key for the Colonels, especially on the defensive end.
“We’ll be aggressive. I’m not going to say we’ll press all game, every game, but we’re going to be aggressive guarding in the half court and make it hard in the paint,” Thelen said.
The schedule is a tough one once again. In the first month alone they’ll face Lexington Catholic, Woodford County, St. Vincent-St. Mary out of Akron and play down in Sarasota, Florida in a competitive Sarasota Ram Jam.
They know their work is cut out not only to reclaim a 9th Region title, but try and claim another district title.
“Our guys do a good job of respecting everyone. Holy Cross and Beechwood have really good players. We can get beat on any given night if we don’t come ready,” Thelen said. “We know this district won’t be easy.”
Beechwood (16-16 in 2023-24)
Continuity certainly won’t be lacking for coach Ross Hart and the Tigers in year two under Hart.
They bring back four starters and three leading scorers to a Beechwood team that finished 16-16 last season and made the region tournament for the second straight season.
“This is the 93rd year of Beechwood basketball and our goal is to make history this year by making the region tournament for a third straight year,” Hart said. “We’ve never done that here before.”
A late season surge helped get the Tigers there, finishing 8-4 down the stretch after an 8-12 start. They defeated Holy Cross twice out of those eight victories, a team they know they’ll have to get by again this year if they do want to make history.
“Our three games against them last year could have went either way in all three games,” Hart said. “They’re in a similar situation as us with a lot back and a lot of motivation.”
The four starters back for Beechwood include Jack Sullivan, Carson Blackburn, Kingston Brockett and Owen McCormack.
“We feel like our starting five can play with anyone in the region,” Hart said.
Sullivan is the catalyst, providing a matchup problem on a nightly basis with his ability play inside or out. Blackburn is another guard who can stretch the floor while Brockett provides a big body in the paint and should be one of the team leaders in rebounding. Hart likes the progression he’s seen in McCormack and thinks he’s their most improved player from the offseason.
Ayden Way is expected to be the other starter.
Early on, depth will be tested as they wait to get their football guys in the swing of things and most likely won’t have the services of key reserve Austin Navin, who will be sidelined with a knee injury.
Good news for the Tigers is they’ll have some time to develop some depth from the youth on the roster with a schedule that eases them into the season until they see Conner on Dec. 19.
Hart feels the key to the season is rebounding and taking care of the basketball.
“We want to play fast and it’s much easier to do that when you’re not taking the ball out of the net,” Hart said. “That’s what’s nice about this team though, we can grind it out or score high. There’s enough experience now to play both ways if we have to.”
Holy Cross (16-13 in 2023-24)
The Indians enter their second year under Ricardo Johnson and have a lot of optimism with nine of their top 10 returning from last season that played in at least 15 games, including the trio of Nate Rominger, William McElheney and Luke Arlinghaus, who all put up double-digit scoring last year.
There’s certainly some excitement and buzz about the Indians.
“We’ve got great senior leadership, lot of juniors back, we feel like we’ll be right in the hunt,” Johnson said. “Our number one goal was to get bigger, stronger and faster and I feel like we’ve accomplished that.
On top of the aforementioned trio, Gavin Goetz, Jonah Crail, Aiden Urlage, Brady Gabbard, Essex Adams and Max Hunt all bring back valuable experience for a team that went 16-13 in 2023-24.
Rominger returns as the leading scorer and rebounder with 16.1 points and 8.2 rebounds in his sophomore campaign. McElheney put up 10.2 points and 7.4 rebounds while Arlinghaus brings the perimeter threat, scoring 12.2 points and knocked down a team-high 46 three-pointers last season.
While the Indians finished 16-13 last season, they started 11-4 including a win over Beechwood. From that point with the victory over the Tigers, they sputtered a bit, finishing 5-9 in their last 14 games. They know not only will they have to compete with Covington Catholic, they’ll have to get through Beechwood if they want to get to the region tournament.
Games with Ryle, Campbell County, Simon Kenton, Cooper, Conner and Lloyd Memorial will have them battle tested before they begin district play with Holmes on Jan. 9.
Another thing with the Indians as they return nearly everyone is they’re still somewhat young with only three seniors on the roster. The future is bright on Church St.
Holmes (2-22 in 2023-24)
A new face, well not exactly new…is hoping to inject some life into the Bulldogs program as Holmes alum and former assistant Sam Elsbernd takes over this season.
Elsbernd’s passion for Holmes goes way back to his middle and high school days and is trying to instill that passion into his team. Seven months into the job, Elsbernd feels they’re off to a good start.
“One thing these kids know is I’m invested in this and made them more invested,” Elsbernd said. “We’re instilling pride in the community towards our basketball program and kids are realizing that. As far as culture, things have been good and kids are playing hard.”
Despite just five wins over the last two seasons, Elsbernd isn’t holding back on expectations.
“Go .500 or better in the regular season, find a way to get into the regional tournament,” Elsbernd said. “Our first goal is to make the regional tournament. The kids believe in that and believe they can be successful. They should believe that. They’re good kids, they’re athletic and we have some talent. One thing that won’t be questioned is how hard we play.”
With just one senior on the roster last year and others coming out this year to play, the Bulldogs bring some experience back and their top two scorers in Mark McCutchin and Dominic Scott. McCutchin put up 16.8 points, Scott flirting with double figures at 9.3 points a contest.
Others expected to either start or be in the rotation include Tony Kutcher, Jamari Lockett, Ryshawn Clifford, Joseph Meyer, Michael Chames, Rashad Whitfield and MarShon Rhodes.
Elsbernd is encouraged with the numbers in the program, roughly 25 kids from ninth through 12th grade.
“That’s part of the goal and the culture change,” Elsbernd said.
Covington Latin (2-6 in 2023-24)
The Trojans haven’t played in the district tournament since 2015 and that looks to be the case once again this season as they currently have just eight games on the schedule, the same amount as last year.
Latin has 12 players on the roster, Miranda Atha listed as the new head coach.