The Newport Wildcats (15-4) downed the host Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (9-10) for the second time this year and fifth time in a row with a 76-58 victory in a key 36th District seed game.
Newport had four players score in double figures making 63 percent of its shots as senior forward Marquez Miller led the Wildcats with 22 points and freshman point guard Taylen Kinney scored 21. Freshman power forward James Turner added 11 and junior guard Jabari Covington scored 10.
NewCath put three players in double figures, sophomore Ian Mann led the Thoroughbreds with 15 points and junior JJ Luhn scored 14 with senior Nick Rouse adding 10.
Both teams play again Saturday. Newport plays host to Cincinnati (Ohio) Aiken at 2:30 p.m. and NewCath travels to Highlands (14-6) for a 7:30 p.m. game.
Heritage Academy 72, Villa Madonna 58
The Eagles (11-7) got their 11th win of the season in a 14-point victory over Villa Madonna (5-13) on Thursday night.
Heritage was led by Trent Stone with 20 points, Landon Warner posting a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds, Cameron Baker the third Eagles player in double figures with 10 points.
The Eagles won the rebounding battle 39-26 and hit 18-of-21 free throws in the victory.
Villa was led by Henry Thole with 26 points and eight rebounds, Aiden Day adding 11 points.
Heritage Academy returns to action on Tuesday at Bellevue at 7:30 p.m., Villa Madonna plays at Ripley (Ohio) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Ludlow 77, Bellevue 60
Jaxson Rice continued his sensational senior season for the Panthers (13-6) with 36 points and made 14-of-25 shots from the field in the 17-point victory.
Spencer Brandenburg added 17 points, Elijah Perrin with 13 as the team hit 10 three-pointers and outrebounded the Tigers 36-25.
Noah Frommeyer led Bellevue (5-10) with 31 points on 12-of-20 shooting, Zach Mertens adding 14.
Ludlow plays at Beechwood on Saturday at 4:30 p.m., Bellevue back in action on Tuesday when they host Heritage Academy at 7:30 p.m.
St. Henry 48, Dixie Heights 41
Dave Faust is now one win away from tying Ken Shields NKY record of 460 coaching wins as the Crusaders defeated Dixie Heights on Thursday night.
Faust can tie the record on January 26 when they play at Boone County and if the Crusaders win that, they’d then host Bluegrass United on January 27 for a chance to break the record. St. Henry improved to 8-9 with the victory.
Dixie Heights dropped to 3-11 with the loss. They host Mason County Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
Other Boys Basketball Scores
Dayton 77, Calvary Christian 53
Girls Basketball Scores
St. Henry 61, Holmes 22
St. Henry (10-7) put up its second highest point total of the season in a 61-22 victory over Holmes on Thursday night.
The Crusaders had 11 players enter the scoring column led by Chilota Iloegbunam’s 13 points, Kayla Unkraut with 11.
Holmes (3-16) got half their points from LaTia White with 11. The Bulldogs host Holy Cross on Friday at 6 p.m.
St. Henry plays at Highlands on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
Other Girls Basketball Scores
Mount Notre Dame (Ohio) 43, Dixie Heights 33