The Walton-Verona girls basketball team used this week to fine-tune some things with two district seed games on the horizon next week.
The host Bearcats won their sixth in a row, downing Scott, 53-47. They overcame 22 turnovers by shooting 44% from the field and holding Scott to 26%. Walton-Verona also hit 13-of-17 free throws.
“I think it’s just important that they recognize where our mismatches are at. The more success we have inside, the easier that those outside shots are going to come,” Walton-Verona head coach Rianna Gayheart said. “You’re naturally going to shoot better when the passes are coming from inside the paint, so I think we’re doing a much better job of getting the ball into the paint whether that’s to our bigs or just driving and our guards getting a cheapie. We got quite a bit in transition (Thursday) so I think our guards are figuring out how to have that success.”
Junior center Braylin Terrell recorded a double-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks. Cam Christy and Elin Logue scored 18 and 14 points, respectively, for Walton-Verona.
“It’s definitely helped us,” Terrell said of controlling the paint. “I feel the more I can lock down on defense, the more I can create for my teammates. I would get the block, grab the ball and throw it up the court and we got easy transition buckets like that (Thursday).”
Scott was led by Madeline Spencer, Jayla Sanders, Kaia Peterson and Nakiah Mejia scoring eight each.
Walton-Verona (11-7) travels to Williamstown on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Scott (11-6) dropped its third game in three days all by six or fewer points. The Eagles are off until Thursday when they travel to Bourbon County for a 7:30 p.m. game.
Girls Basketball
Campbell County 78, Fleming County 61
The Camels once again used their depth to prevail in this one.
Campbell County’s leading scorer in Izzy Jayasuriya put up 28 points, making six 3-pointers and grabbed 11 rebounds for a double-double.
The Camels had eighth grade guard Kendall Augsback break out to score 15 points as nine different players scored. Campbell County head coach Davey Johnson said Augsback scored seven points in the second half attacking the rim after making two three-pointers in the first half.
“She’s been making shots in the JV games,” Johnson said of Augsback. “The confidence is there. It’s just getting going and starting to get in a rhythm. She is not a one-dimensional player. She can get to the rim as well.”
Augsback scored eight in the win at Harrison County on Saturday.
“I always want to contribute to my team and just believe in myself,” Augsback said. “The confidence helps. I always want to go up strong.”
Campbell County (12-4) hosts Lloyd Memorial on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Other Girls Basketball Score
Villa Madonna 59, St. Patrick 38
Boys Basketball
Highlands 64, Dixie Heights 56
Highlands bounced back from three straight losses for a road 9th Region win.
“We got some contributions from guys off our bench that were huge,” Highlands head coach Kevin Listerman said. “That’s probably the biggest takeaway. Those are the types of contributions that we’ve been looking for.”
Listerman said senior forward Nathan Kirst hit a three before the buzzer to push the lead to 12 at halftime then had a big game defensively with a block and rebound late in the game. Dominic Gregory hit four key free throws down the stretch.
Brayden Moeves scored 24 points to lead Highlands to go with four steals. Hank Shick scored 16 points and Nathan Vinson had 11 points and five assists.
“We know we have a pretty tough schedule this year,” Shick said. “We knew that we were going to lose some games, but we know what we’re capable of. Come district and region, I think we’ll be prepared for what gets thrown at us.”
Hudson Blank scored 27 points to lead Dixie Heights and Griffin Derry scored 11.
Highlands (9-8) takes on Moeller (Ohio) on Sunday at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Dixie Heights (8-7) travels to Beechwood on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Covington Catholic 80, Holmes 30
The Colonels dominated the 35th District seed game, shooting a blistering 60% from the field.
Caden Miller controlled the paint scoring 18 points and grabbing six rebounds. Cash Harney and Athens McGillis scored 12 and 11, respectively.
Dominic Scott led the Bulldogs with eight points.
CovCath (12-4) has won five in a row and takes on Lakota East (Ohio) at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Holmes (1-9) travels to Holy Cross on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Calvary Christian 81, St. Patrick 25
The Cougars hit the road and won their second in a row.
Calvary hit 43% from the field and grabbed 49 rebounds in the win. Race Zachary led the Cougars scoring 22 points with Peyton Morris and Collin Duty scoring 20 each. Luke Getsy grabbed 10 rebounds and Maddox Rich nine.
Calvary (5-12) travels to Ludlow on Monday for a 7:30 p.m. game.
Other Boys Basketball Score
Williamstown 86, Heritage Academy 61
