To be the winning team, fan votes play a heavy role, along with consideration from our sports team here at LINK.
Nominations are reader-submitted or recommended by our sports team. Our Team of the Week program honors all local sports at all levels, whether it’s youth or adult-oriented recreation, high school or college, professional or amateur.
The new school year has added to the awards program. OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine and LINK nky are excited to expand in addition to the weekly winners, the program will be including three winners for Team of the Season and one overall winner for Team of the Year for the 2024-25 sports seasons.
New this year for the program is the addition of the Team of the Season (TOTS) and Team of the Year (TOTY) awards. Sports seasons are considered fall, winter and spring for the purpose of this awards program. At the conclusion of each sports season, an overall TOTS winner will be chosen from all previous TOTW winners for that season. Their school will also receive a $500 scholarship to be presented to the athlete of their choice at the end of the school year.
Finally, the program culminates by selecting one TOTY from the three TOTS award winners. Online and print articles will again be published, a large commemorative plaque will be presented and the school will receive an additional $500 scholarship to be presented to the athlete of their choice at the end of the school year.
The call for nominations, voting and winning announcement for each will follow the same format as the TOTW.
This week’s nominated teams are listed below with some information provided by the submitter or LINK nky staff. The poll where you can vote follows at the end of the article.
Voting is open until Friday at 11:59 a.m.
SIMON KENTON BOYS BASKETBALL
The Pioneers capped off a 5-0 week with the Central Bank Jim Rose Classic Championship at Lexington Christian Academy on Sunday.
Simon Kenton was 2-4 entering the week and now suddenly sits at 7-4 with a five-game winning streak. They defeated Northridge (Ohio) and Holy Cross Louisville to close out the Scott Winter Classic and then headed to Lexington with victories over Christian County, Henry Clay and Seven Hills (Ohio) to claim the title.
Bode Stone and Jordan Bach were named to the All-Tournament team. Stone recorded a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds in the championship game while Bach hit three 3-pointers and scored a shade over 12 points per game in the tournament.
It was a complete team effort for the Pioneers in the three-day stretch in Lexington, at least eight players scored in every game.
The tournament championship sends them off on a good note headed into 2025.
HOLY CROSS BOYS BASKETBALL
The Indians went to Louisville and came back with some hardware as they took home the City of Middletown Holiday Classic at Eastern High School.
Holy Cross defeated Atherton, Franklin County and Central Hardin on their way to the title.
In the title game, Brady Gabbard and Luke Arlinghaus scored 16 points each, Nate Rominger adding 14. Those three and William McElheney were named to the All-Tournament team.
The Indians are 8-2 headed into 2025.
DIXIE HEIGHTS BOYS BASKETBALL
The Colonels engineered a flawless three games at the Estill County Tournament over the weekend.
They won three games by a combined 62 points to take home the title. Dixie Heights defeated Estill County in the opening round, Knott County Central in the semifinals and then Boyle County in the championship.
In the opening round against Estill, Owen Niehues led the way with 21 points, Hunter Seng with 16 and Max Rubemeyer 11. Rubemeyer and Griffin Derry paced them in the second round against Knott County Central, Rubemeyer with 16, Derry adding 15. Stats were not available for the championship.
Dixie Heights now sits at 7-3 on the season.
HOLY CROSS GIRLS BASKETBALL
Holy Cross is on fire headed into 2025. Winners of nine in a row, the Indians capped off 2024 with a championship at Giovanni’s Berea Holiday Classic.
They won four games over the weekend with victories over Hazard, Madison Southern, Bishop Brossart and Russell County.
Aumani Nelson and Aniyah Carter were named to the All-Tournament team. Carter was named Player of the Game in both the semifinals against Bishop Brossart and the title game against Russell County.
The win over Brossart was coach Ted Arlinghaus’ 100th with the program.
Holy Cross is off to a 12-1 start to the season.
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