It’s once again that time of the year when the season ends if you do not make it to the district tournament championship game.
Some districts have heavy favorites. But others will see good games in the semifinals and leave some good teams out of the region tournaments.
Before things begin Monday, here is a look at the six district tournaments featuring teams from Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties.
Girls 32nd District Tournament (at Simon Kenton)
Monday: Walton-Verona (16-13) at Simon Kenton (15-13), 7 p.m.
Thursday: Grant County (17-10) vs Walton-Verona/Simon Kenton winner, 7 p.m.
Grant County beat both Walton-Verona and Simon Kenton during the regular season to earn the top seed. With Williamstown electing not to participate in district play this year, Grant County earned the district’s automatic bye into the Eighth Region Tournament. The Braves are seeking their first district championship since the current format took shape in 2005.
Either Simon Kenton or Walton-Verona has won the district crown every year during that time. Walton-Verona has won this district tournament four years in a row and has not missed the region tournament since 2017. Simon Kenton has won six straight district championships between 2013 and 2018. The Pioneers missed the region tournament two years ago.
Walton-Verona senior wing Grace Brewer has been the most consistent player in the district averaging 18.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Eighth grade guard Elin Logue has put together a nice season averaging just more than 10 per game leading the Bearcats with 72 made three-pointers.
The key for the Bearcats has been the likes of senior point guard McKaila Hatton, senior wing Jenna Rodgers, sophomore guard Cam Christy and even sophomore 6-2 forward Braylin Terrell complementing them with big games. Hatton scored 17 in the 69-62 loss at Grant County on Jan. 20.
Simon Kenton came back to edge Walton-Verona, 60-56 on Dec. 16. The Pioneers led for a good bit of the home district game against Grant County on Jan. 7. But they came up short 45-42 missing a wide-open go-ahead jumper in the game’s final seconds. Eighth grade point guard Brynli Pernell had big games in both district seed games for Simon Kenton.
Pernell leads the Pioneers averaging 11.1 points per game. Senior Emilee Eggleston and freshman Anna Kelch are second at 8.3 and eight points per game. The likes of freshmen Megan Gadzala, Haylie Webb, junior Ava Slusser and even sophomore Rylie Flynn have had some big scoring games this year. Simon Kenton owns big wins over Spencer County, Ryle, Owen County and Montgomery County this year.
Grant County comes into the tournament off a 52-44 win over Owen County. Sophomore shooting guard Jada Cummins and senior power forward Emily Naranjo led the Braves averaging 12 and 11.6 points per game.
Girls 33rd District Tournament (at Cooper)
Tuesday: Boone County (7-21) at Cooper (24-3), 6 p.m., Ryle (21-7) vs. Conner (18-7), 7:45 p.m.
Thursday: Championship, 7 p.m.
Cooper came into the season favored to repeat as both district and region champions and has not disappointed going 9-0 in 9th Region play.
Senior Whitney Lind continues to lead the Jaguars averaging 17.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. The Jaguars put a lot of emphasis on defense and it has shown as the Jaguars are allowing an average of just below 38 points per game.
At any given point, the Jaguars can put five players that can defend and shoot the ball all over the court including the sister pair of senior Kay and junior Liz Freihofer along with the likes of junior Maleah Alexander and Logan Palmer. Eighth grader Haylee Noel and junior forward Bella Deere give the Jaguars depth.
Cooper faces an improved Boone County Rebels team that has increased their win total by five wins this season in Todd Humphrey’s second season as head coach. The Rebels have won two of three entering the tournament. Eighth grade guard Alivia Scott and sophomore guard Mya Bennett lead the Rebels averaging 9.7 and 8.6 points per game.
The Ryle and Conner game could be a dandy in the second game Tuesday. Ryle won the regular season meeting at home, 65-48 on Jan. 20.
Senior guard Abby Holtman leads the dynamic Raiders squad that has only missed the 9th Region Tournament once in 2017 since Katie Haitz took over the program in 2015. Holtman averages 16.3 points per game. Junior forward Quinn Eubank and junior center Sarah Baker average 14.3 and 11.1 points per game. The other two starters in senior guard Austin Johnson and freshman small forward Jaelyn Jones have also had big games for the Raiders. Senior guard Emerson Fong and junior guard Gracie Carrigan have provided some valuable minutes off the bench.
Junior point guard Anna Hamilton has been the spark plug for most of the season for the Cougars averaging 16 points per game. Seniors Juliet Strange and Kelsee Simpson at guard and forward average 10.5 and 9.6 points per game.
Some others may need to step forward for Conner to advance to the 9th Region Tournament for the first time since 2020. Sophomore guard Alexis Craddock hit the game-winning jumper in Conner’s 64-62 overtime win at Highlands on Jan. 24.
Ryle has won the district tournament five times in seven years including three straight between 2018 and 2020. Conner last won the district championship in 2017 and Boone County last won it in 2014.
Girls 34th District Tournament (at St. Henry)
Monday: Ludlow (15-15) vs Villa Madonna (4-25), 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Ludlow-Villa Madonna winner vs Dixie Heights (23-7), 5:30 p.m., St. Henry (17-11) vs Lloyd Memorial (13-16), 7:30 p.m.
Thursday: Championship, 6 p.m.
Dixie Heights comes into the tournament favored to win its ninth straight district championship. The Colonels have been to the 9th Region Tournament 11 years in a row.
Senior guards Sammy Berman and Ella Steczynski led the Colonels averaging 14.8 and 13 points per game. The two have seen a number of players step forward to help out such as freshman guards Coralee Pelfrey, Aubrey Elkins, junior forward Abby Thelen and junior guard Jalynn Brooks.
Dixie Heights draws the winner between Villa Madonna and Ludlow in the first semifinal game Tuesday. Ludlow has been district runner-up four years in a row. Sister guards Mylee and freshman Addy Garrett lead the Panthers averaging 16 and 11.8 points per game.
Villa Madonna last made the region tournament in 2011. With just one senior, the Vikings average just above 32 points per game offensively scoring in the 10s three times this year including just eight points in a loss at Dixie Heights on Jan. 21.
The second game will be a battle to make it to the region tournament for the first time in a while. St. Henry last made the region tournament in 2018. Junior guard Kayla Unkraut once again leads the Crusaders averaging 14 points per game.
Lloyd Memorial seeks its first region tournament appearance since 2017. Junior guard Sierra McCoin and freshman guard Maleah Ham lead the Juggernauts averaging 15.6 and 10.5 points per game.
The last time Dixie Heights did not win the district tournament came in 2014 when St. Henry won it. The last time the Colonels did not make it to the region tournament came in 2011.
Girls 35th District Tournament (at Notre Dame)
Tuesday: Holy Cross (24-6) vs Holmes (4-21), 6 p.m., Notre Dame (16-10) vs Beechwood (14-13), 8 p.m.
Thursday: Championship, 7 p.m.
The Indians have put together a solid season winning the All “A” State championship. They earned the district’s top seed with a tense 37-29 win over Notre Dame at home Jan. 19 ending a nine-game losing streak against the Pandas. Holy Cross last won the district championship in 2017.
Junior post Julia Hunt has put up solid numbers averaging 13.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game with senior post Nejai Lewis averaging 10.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. The key for the Indians has been outside shooting. Holy Cross has made 29% of its 3-point shots, which has improved throughout the year. Senior Sarah Bottom has hit a team-high 34 three-pointers with senior guards Aleah Arlinghaus and Elizabeth McCoy making 28 each.
Holmes has had its struggles under first-year head coach Tracy Pope with a roster filled with middle school players, three sophomores and one freshman. Sophomore guard LaTia White leads the Bulldogs averaging 7.9 points per game.
The four-time defending district tournament champion Pandas have put together another nice season. Senior Noelle Hubert leads Notre Dame averaging 17.4 points per game. The 6-foot-4-inch sophomore center Sophia Gibson gives Notre Dame a nice inside presence averaging 8.1 per game.
Beechwood has the most wins since 2014 under second-year head coach Isaac Speicher. Two juniors lead the Tigers in the versatile Riley Boyd and guard Harper Birkmeier at 10.5 and 10 points per game.
Holmes last won the district championship in 2018. Beechwood has not been to the region tournament since 1999.
Girls 36th District Tournament (at Highlands)
Monday: Dayton (8-22) vs Bellevue (17-13), 6 p.m.
Tuesday: Highlands (21-8) vs Bellevue-Dayton winner, 6 p.m., Newport (11-14) vs Newport Central Catholic (16-9), 7:45 p.m.
Thursday: Championship, 7 p.m.
Highlands is favored to take back the 36th District Tournament crown after NewCath won it last year ending a run of seven straight Highlands championships. The Bluebirds have won 20 or more games this year after seeing a run of nine straight seasons end last year. They still own the 9th Region’s longest current streak of 9th Region Tournament appearances with 12 in a row.
The Bluebirds have had the production in the middle with 6-foot-2-inch sophomore center Marissa Green averaging 17.1 points and nine rebounds per game. The key has been developing balance around her and the Bluebirds have delivered shooting 31 percent from three-point range.
Experience has helped Highlands this season. Senior point guard Alyssa Harris has provided the leadership and a number of others have stepped forward such as freshman guards Saylor Macke, Kaylee Mills, sophomore guard Adrienne Harris and freshman forward Avery Barber.
NewCath can not be counted out with sophomore guard Caroline Eaglin having a big year averaging 25.5 points per game. Junior guard Delaney Green and sophomore forward Jaylee Brannen have had some nice games averaging 7.2 and 6.3 points per game.
The Thoroughbreds will face the Newport Wildcats in the semifinals on Tuesday. Senior Elexis Litton and junior Kaylen Perry lead the Wildcats averaging 13.9 and 11.8 points per game. Junior DeAyjah White has averaged 13.9 points per game in 11 games for Newport.
The winner of the Dayton and Bellevue game Monday draws Highlands in Tuesday’s semifinals. Sophomores Jayda and Jaylah Dowell lead Bellevue averaging 11 and 10 points per game with sophomore Sydni Massey averaging 12.6 points in 21 games. Dayton has struggled this year going 3-10 in region play and 1-4 against district opponents.
Either Highlands or NewCath has won the district championship every year since 2006 when Newport last won it. Bellevue last made the region tournament in 2010 and Dayton last made it in 2008.
Girls 37th District Tournament (at Campbell County Middle School)
Monday: Campbell County (10-19) vs Bishop Brossart (19-11), 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Scott (14-14) vs. Campbell County-Bishop Brossart winner, 7 p.m.
It took a blind draw to determine which team earned the top seed and the district’s automatic bye into the 10th Region Tournament with Calvary Christian again unable to field a team. The home team won each of the three district seed games during the regular season forcing the draw.
Scott will go back to the region tournament for the first time in two years winning that top seed. The Eagles have not had a dominant scorer with 10 seniors. But they’ve looked great when they finish plays, especially near the basket with lay-ups. Senior Kayla Overman leads Scott with 9.5 points with senior guards Autumn Ponder and Presley Grant leading the Eagles making 37 and 35 three-pointers respectively.
Bishop Brossart has been the district’s most consistent team, but has lost five of six entering the tournament playing solid competition. The Mustangs have five players that have scored 207 or more points on the season with junior forward Molly Kramer, sophomore guard Zoee Meyers and senior guard Jill Planeaux averaging 11.3, 10.8 and 10 points respectively. Kramer also averages a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game.
Campbell County has seen its struggles this season with first-year head coach Davey Johnson implementing his philosophies. The Camels do have big wins over 19-win Bishop Brossart and Pendleton County teams this year.
Freshman forward/guard Isabella Jayasuriya has made a huge emergence this year leading the Camels in scoring at nine points per game. She hit the game-winning three in December against Bishop Brossart. Senior forward Keauna Cullum has a team-high 9.2 points per game and sophomore 6-2 center Macie Peoples has given Campbell County a nice inside presence averaging eight points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds per game.
Bishop Brossart has won the last two district tournament championships. Campbell County last won it in 2020 and Scott won its last district crown in 2019.
