The Ryle Raiders and Dixie Heights Colonels came into the season with different, but familiar head coaches.
The respective administrations at Ryle and Dixie Heights promoted Nick Dorning and Chad Fields to those spots after they served as assistants last year. Both knew they took over rosters with limited varsity experience with the graduation of huge senior classes. The Raiders (4-7) took some steps forward with a 50-35 9th Region road win over the Colonels (3-7).
“We preach every single day, ‘Share the basketball. Play with the mentality that it could be anybody’s night,” Dorning said. “I think our guys do a good job of moving the ball around and trying to find the mismatches. I was really proud of them.”
Ryle moved the ball better, especially in the first half scoring the first 11 points of the second quarter to build a 27-7 lead. The Colonels did not score in that quarter until senior Jacob Bock scored with 2:28 left in the half. The Raiders led 31-11 at halftime.
The Raiders had six different players score, but when they needed a big bucket, junior forward/guard Evan Smith consistently came through scoring 18 points.
“Whenever it’s not someone’s night, we move the ball to each other,” Smith said. “We just make sure one of us is going to make shots. It’s next person up.”
Junior forward/guard Logan Verax added 11 for the Raiders and sophomore guard/forward Landon Lorms scored nine.
“A lot of us played junior varsity last year with Coach Dorning so we know what he expects,” Verax said. “The coaches have been a big help this year.”
Dixie Heights did not quit despite the huge halftime deficit. Junior Hudson Blank led the way with 11 points and sophomore Griffin Derry scored 10. The Raiders consistently doubled Blank and junior Brach Rice in the post.
“The defensive intensity in the second half is more to what we expect,” Fields said. “Anything that happened in the first is literally the opposite of how we do things.”
Senior Colin Kazmaier came into the game averaging 10.6 points per game for the Colonels. Ryle limited him to two points.
Dixie Heights made a run to start the third quarter. Derry made two three-pointers cutting the Ryle lead to 35-23 with 3:55 left in that quarter. But the Colonels came no closer after that.
Ryle plays at Ludlow (10-4) on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Dixie Heights plays at North Oldham (12-5) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Conner 79, Campbell County 60
The Cougars (9-4) led 43-37 before pulling away in the second half from the visiting Camels (9-6).
“I thought we moved the ball better in the second half,” said Matthew Otte, Conner head coach. “(Campbell County) has two main scorers and a lot of guys that can do different things.”
Senior Landen Hamilton led the Cougars with 32 points making six three-pointers, including four in the third quarter. He came into the game averaging a team-high 16.6 per game.
The Cougars have four senior guards averaging in double figures and they continued that consistency scoring every Conner point. Daniel Campbell Scored 21 with Ayden Lohr and Dalton Kramer adding 15 and 11 respectively.
Senior Aydan Hamilton scored 23 to lead Campbell County with junior Connor Weinel scoring nine. Senior Jake Gross and junior Broc Sorgenfrei scored eight each.
“It puts a lot of pressure on (opponents),” Hamilton said. “We always preach making the extra pass. That is great, especially when you have four or five guys hitting threes. You have to decide whether to help. If they help, you can kick it out to the next guy and he can shoot it.”
Both teams return to action Tuesday. Conner faces Covington Catholic (12-1) on the road at 7:30 p.m. Campbell County plays host to Mason County (12-2) at the same time.
Scott 78, Pendleton County 36
The Eagles (4-11) snapped a six-game losing streak with a blowout victory over Pendleton County on Friday.
Nearly everyone got in on the action as 11 different players scored led by Brayden Howell with 17. Connor Griffin added 13, Kaymon Coleman tossing in 10 as Scott shot 59 percent from the field.
The Eagles will look to make it two in a row when they host Holmes on Wednesday.
Simon Kenton 76, Bryan Station 46
The Pioneers (11-4) breezed past Bryan Station on Friday night.
Travis Krohman paced Simon Kenton with 22 points, four assists and four steals. Gabe Dynes added 20 points, six rebounds and seven blocked shots. Isaac Gabbard added 19 points as they’ve won four of five.
The Pioneers play at Highlands on Tuesday.
Other Boys Basketball Scores
Bellevue 56, Calvary Christian 16
Villa Madonna 79, Dayton 71
Lloyd Memorial 79, Holmes 53
Mars Hill Academy (Ohio) 44, Covington Latin 36
