For most of the last 12 years, the path to the district championship ended at 2855 Longbranch Road in Union – the home of the two-time defending champion Cooper Jaguars.
Cooper coach Tim Sullivan takes nothing for granted.
“Obviously, to get out of the Ninth Region – and you could take it even further, to get out of our own 33rd District – is something that is not easy,” Sullivan said. “And it’s not made for everyone.”
Since Cooper opened in 2008, the Jaguars have won eight district titles – 2012-13, 2015, 2017-19 and 2023-24. Conner has claimed six (2005-06, 2016 and 2020-22), Ryle has four (2002, 2010-11 and 2014), and Boone County has two (2004 and 2009).
This is day two of six of our district-by-district basketball previews for the 32nd-37th District for the upcoming season, slated to begin on Dec. 2.
Boys basketball previews
Girls basketball previews
Cooper (24-9 in 2023-24)
Sullivan doesn’t mind waiting until the football season ends to have his whole team together.
“It’s great to see, especially in 2024, in today’s world, where everyone’s specializing in certain sports,” Sullivan said. “It’s great to see that we still have kids that are doing two, three sports. I’m all for it – I love it.”
It’s no different this year. Eight Jaguars – Xavier Barbour, Isaac Brown, Ryker Campbell, Jaidan Combs, Roman Combs, Isaiah Johnson, Drew Hartman and Cooper Czirr – are part of the state No. 1 Jaguars’ reaching the Class 5A semifinals.
You could hardly blame the Jaguars if they have a chip on their shoulders the size of Black Mountain, at 4,145 feet Kentucky’s tallest peak, because Newport knocked off the Jaguars for the last two Ninth Region titles.
There’s one major challenge: not having Shaun Pouncy, who graduated, or Yamil Rondon, who transferred to Newport. Together, their 751 combined points accounted for just under 39% of Cooper’s 1,927 points.
“We’re going to change the way we’re playing, kind of change the things we’re doing,” Sullivan said. “To make up 40% of that offense that we lost, it just has to come from a little bit from everybody.”
Some good news: 6-6 senior Andy Johnson is expected to return – he averaged 15.3 points and 6.1 rebounds a game as a lot of his 2023-24 campaign was derailed due to a wrist injury, but was able to return for the final stretch of the season.
Look for Cooper to go to the trendy “positionless basketball,” where guards post defenders in the low block or forwards shoot 3s. Jaidan Combs averaged 9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds a game last season, and Isaiah Johnson averaged 6.8 points.
“I think on any given night we can have three, four, maybe even five guys in double figures just because of the balance of scorers that we have in our program,” Sullivan said.
Ryle (19-12 in 2023-24)
The Raiders went from 10-18 in 2023 to last year’s 19-12. Third-year coach Nick Dorning’s not exactly sure about how to duplicate it.
“That’s a great question,” Dorning said. “I think it started with our offseason work … and then our coaching staff helping establish the culture – hard work, work ethic, getting in the gym with our kids constantly.”
This year’s Raiders aren’t as big as last year’s. The good news is, Ryle’s top three scorers return: senior guard/forward Landon Lorms at 16.1 points a game, junior guard Anthony Coppola at 9.9 and senior Jonathan DeGroff at 9.5.
“I think offensively, (Lorms) was definitely our go-to,” Dorning said. “But I would say things revolve around our point guard, Anthony Coppola.”
Junior forward AJ Davis (6-5) averaged 5.3 rebounds last year. Dorning hasn’t figured out who the fifth starter will be, but he said sophomore guard Holden Smith had a strong summer.
Junior guard Cameron Haygood, junior Sawyer Haley and sophomore Grace (pronounced Grahss) Nsuti are the top three reserves.
Boone County (18-10)
Todd Humphrey didn’t have to leave the building for his next job – he was the Rebels’ girls coach for three seasons.
“Ultimately, I knew I wanted to be back on the boys side, and that’s why I chose to head back over,” Humphrey said. “I got the great opportunity to coach my sister (Notre Dame transfer Joslyn LaBordeaux-Humphrey), so that was nice.”
The Rebels pulled off one of Northern Kentucky’s biggest surprises last season – a 13-win improvement from 5-20 record two seasons ago. Problem is, eight seniors graduated.
Because Boone County is guard-heavy, look for the Rebels to run 4-out sets, with guards and a post player, or an all-guard 5-out.
“We’re point guard by committee until we narrow it down,” Humphrey said.
Three seniors – Nolan Searp, Elijah Burks and Daniel Camargo – could form the committee. Others expected to play significant minutes include: senior Tahliq Clemmons, a transfer from Fern Creek, freshman Joel Montanya Brown, and sophomore Kameron Johnson.
Humphrey said senior Ethan Rossi would be the post player.
Conner (11-17 in 2023-24)
Nate Browning was Boone County’s boys coach from 2019-2024. He compiled a 51-81 record, including last year’s 18-10.
So why forgo Florence for Hebron? It was logistics and convenience.
“I live in Hebron,” Browning said. “My wife teaches at Thornwilde Elementary, which is right out in Hebron. My kids go there, my kids are going to go to Conner, and I teach at Conner Middle (School) already.”
Conner suffered an eight-game fall-off, from 19-9 two seasons ago to last year’s 11-17. Browning said his coaching style won’t change – work hard with determination and build relationships.
“We expect our guys just to buy into what we’re trying to do,” Browning said. “Positivity all the time.”
Look for the Cougars to run, run and run whenever possible. Four starters return – 5-11 junior point guard Finn Louden (15.1 points per game last season), 6-4 senior forward Landon Warner (12.5 ppg), 6-1 junior guard Brady Bushman (8.6 ppg and 44.4% from 3), and 6-2 sophomore Tyler Warner (7.9 ppg and 38% from distance).
“(Louden) does a little bit of everything,” Browning said. “He handles the ball gets us set up in our offense, he can see the floor really well.”
Senior Chase Huff (7.3 ppg) should round out the starting five. Junior forward Logan Back, senior forward Riley Abousaleh and senior guard Landon Rankin should round out the rotation.
Heritage Academy (12-15)
The Eagles seek their first district crown and first district win.
It’s been a while since seventh-year coach Jerry Miles has had such an experienced lineup – six seniors and the top six scorers return.
“It means we’re a little more disciplined in the beginning than normal,” Miles said. “We have a better understanding of what’s expected, and the players are more mature; they’re bigger.”
Miles doesn’t have one go-to offensive set.
“Our whole goal is to shoot quality shots,” Miles said. “If you can get it in transition, we’ll take it.”
Look for Heritage to run a three-guard offense. Three double-figure scorers return. Senior point guard Cade Holtman led the Eagles in scoring last season at 14.3 points a game.
Junior shooting guard Trent Stone was next at 13.7 points, and senior Elisha Schulz was third at 11.2.
Alexander Palmer added 9.2 points per contest, junior Landon Reinhart had 6.8, and Scott McGlynn had 6.5. Palmer grabbed 5.6 rebounds, and Schulz snared 5.4.
Senior Cameron Baker may be the most grateful Eagle – unnamed sickness limited him to 13 games last year.
Heritage’s goals are lofty – win the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Division III title and score the program’s first district win.
“We’d love to have a 20-win season,” Miles said. “We’re about one-tenth or one-twentieth the size of those big schools, which makes it tough. We’re working hard to build a program and be attractive to kids.”