The Holy Cross High School girls basketball team is back in the hunt for another championship at the 9th Region All “A” Classic Tournament, held Jan. 2-6 at Newport Central Catholic.
The two-time defending champion Indians (8-4) begin play Jan. 3 in a 7:45 pm quarterfinal contest against the Jan. 2 Bellevue-St. Henry winner.
Leading the Indians’ pursuit of a third consecutive title is senior post player Julia Hunt, playing in her sixth All “A” Classic.
“We’re doing pretty good, especially on the defense side,” said Hunt, who leads the Indians with 13.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. “We’re trying to get quick turnovers. If we can get the ball back in 5 seconds, we don’t have to play defense as long.”
All “A” Classic quarterfinal action at NewCath is Jan. 3-4. Beechwood plays Dayton in the other Jan. 3 quarterfinal at 6 p.m. On Jan. 4, Ludlow plays Newport at 6 p.m., and NewCath plays Villa Madonna at 7:45 p.m.
The semifinals are Jan. 5. The Beechwood-Dayton winner plays the Bellevue/St. Henry-Holy Cross winner at 6 p.m. The Ludlow-Newport winner plays the NewCath-Villa Madonna winner at 7:45 pm.
The final is Jan. 6 at 7 p.m.
“Our goal is to be there and win,” Hunt said. “The All “A” has always been a big opportunity for Holy Cross.”
The 34th edition of the 9th Region All “A” Classic Tournament is bittersweet for the Indians’ two-sport standout, who is heading to the University of Washington to play volleyball. This is Hunt’s last season playing organized basketball as she will focus on volleyball and academics at Washington, which is joining the Big 10 Conference in 2024.
“Being a senior and this being my last time playing in it, we might as well go out and win the All “A” state tournament, too,” Hunt said.
Hunt, named this year’s Ms. Kentucky Volleyball by the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association, was a big part of last season’s Holy Cross basketball team that won its second All “A” Classic state championship. Hunt was named the state tournament MVP after posting 21 points, 19 rebounds and eight blocked shots in the final. The Indians’ other All “A” Classic state crown came in 2015.
The Indians have won the 9th Region All “A” Classic 14 times, second-most in tournament history. If the Indians win the 2024 event, it will give them their fourth three-peat after taking the title three years in a row in 1997-99, 2004-06 and 2017-19. Another Indians 9th Region All “A” Classic crown this year will tie them with NewCath for the most 9th Region tournament titles with 15.
The Indians have advanced to the 9th Region All “A” Classic final three years in a row and eight of the last nine years. Hunt was the tournament’s scorer leader in 2022 with 42 points. She was co-leader last season with 46.
Hunt this season is part of a more balanced Holy Cross offense, which features five players with scoring averages ranging from 6.5 to 9.8 points per game. Aaliyah Hayes (9.8 ppg), Aumani Nelson (9.2 ppg), Aniyah Carter (8.9 ppg), Miyah Wimzie (8.5 ppg) and Alyssa Arlinghaus (6.5 ppg) are all scoring at a greater clip than last season.
“Coach (Ted Arlinghaus) is preaching more ball movement and more player movement so we can create more open space for shots,” Hunt said. “We’re trying to get that extra pass in for better shots.”
Hunt, an all-Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Division II all-star last season, isn’t the only standout in this season’s 9th Region All “A” Classic. Fellow NKAC Division II all-star Caroline Eaglin leads hosting NewCath with 22.9 points per game. Beechwood’s Division II all-star Riley Boyd averages 13.8 points. St. Henry’s Division II all-star Kayla Unkraut has played two games and averaged 11.5 points after returning from a seven-game absence.
DeAyjah White (14.6 ppg) leads Newport. Tayah Smith (11.2 ppg) paces Dayton.
NKAC Division III all-stars expected to play in the tournament include Bellevue’s Sydni Massey, Jayda Dowell and Jaylah Dowell, Ludlow’s Addy Garrett and Ava Hoffmeister and Villa Madonna’s Kate Gibbs, Annie Chadwick and Maddie Mitchell.
Walton-Verona hosts the girls 8th Region All “A” Classic. The Bearcats open play against Trimble County Jan. 3 at 7:30 pm. Braylin Terrell (11 ppg, 10.3 rpg) is averaging a double-double for Walton-Verona. Elin Logue (12.8 ppg) leads the Bearcats in scoring. Owen County is defending tournament champion. Walton-Verona won the All “A” Classic state championship in 2012.
The top local team in the girls 10th Region All “A” Classic is defending tournament champ Bishop Brossart. The Mustangs face host Nicholas County in a Jan. 5 opening-round contest at 6 pm. Rachel Shewmaker leads the Mustangs with 15.2 points per game. Zoee Meyers averages 11.9 points. Bishop Brossart won the All “A” Classic state crown in 1999.
Regional winners qualify for the 2024 All “A” Classic Girls State Tournament Jan. 24-28 at The Corbin Arena. Corbin was chosen as this season’s site after regular host Eastern Kentucky University announced renovation plans for Alumni Coliseum, a project that won’t be completed until Fall 2024.