Highlands enters with a lot of potential to not only win a third straight 36th District title, but have their name in the mix for a 9th Region title.
The most interesting race though in the 36th could be who makes it to the region tournament. Last year, Bellevue stunned Newport Central Catholic in the district semifinals, making their first region tournament appearance since 2010.
The three teams mentioned combined to go 63-31 in 2023-24 and with what each have returning, certainly makes the 36th District a tough one to get out of.
Here’s a team by team look at the girls 36th District basketball teams.
This is day five 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
Highlands (22-9 in 2023-24)
The time is now for Highlands to make some noise in the region. They have a region player of the year candidate in Marissa Green. Joining forces with her down in the post is Tyriana Berry, a transfer from Withrow High School in Ohio. The two will alter plenty of shots and grab a lot of rebounds.
“Ty is not afraid to bang on the inside,” Bluebirds coach Jaime Richey said. “It’s a nice pair with Marissa, she’s more finesse and Ty is powerful and both can really rebound. We still have to get the other girls to realize they can’t do all the rebounding.”
The two will provide an imposing presence at 6-foot-4 (Green) and 6-3 (Berry), but what they get from the guard position will be essential. Kaylee Mills returns as a starter at point guard, Katie Bucher at a guard/wing position while they’ll have to replace Saylor Macke and Amaya Barton, two starters from last year’s team. Barton graduated while Macke is unable to play this season due to an injury.
Avery Barber and Maren Orme are expected to step up in their places.
From there, Richey will turn juniors for depth that includes Avery Barber, Madison Barlow, Isa Neufarth and senior Aubrey Barrett back from an injury. She’ll also look for underclassmen Maddy Lickert, Gabby Neufarth and eighth grader Bailey Richey to step up and get some minutes.
“We have a group of girls that are hungry,” Richey said. “We return three starters and two that played off the bench a lot.”
The team got a taste of success last season with 22 victories, a second straight district title and a trip to the region semifinals after a quarterfinal win over Notre Dame. This season they’re looking to take it at least a step further than that.
Bellevue (22-10 in 2023-24)
It was a record-setting season for Bellevue last year as the program earned their most wins in a season in school history and made it to the region tournament for the first time since 2010.
The good news for the Tigers? Everyone returns. Without a senior on the roster last year, the hopes are high for a Bellevue team now with seven seniors on the roster.
“I’ve had this group of girls since the fourth grade,” Tigers coach Tommy Sorrell said. “It’s been a fun run, but the key for us this year is to not get complacent. It was awesome to play at NKU and now we feel we have to get back. That alone drew extra excitement to the girls and the goals are set higher.”
It’s a well-rounded roster paced by Sydni Massey and Jayda Dowell in the scoring department, the two averaging in double figures last season at 13.8 and 10.6 points per game, respectively. Three others averaged at least six points per game, Paulina Long (7.8), Jaylah Dowell (7.4) and Ally MacPherson (6.2) can all keep a defense honest. Both Dowell’s, Long, Courtney McCarty and Massey all pulled down at least 4.2 rebounds per game. Taytem Sorrell adds depth.
“It’s the most well-rounded team I’ve ever had at Bellevue,” Sorrell said, who’s coached the team for 17 years and been with the program 24. “We have five or six that can score double-figures any given night. You have to guard the entire floor.”
With what’s returning, they’ve beefed the schedule up a little bit facing the likes of Bishop Brossart, Walton-Verona, St. Henry and of course NewCath and Highlands in the district. The Tigers are hoping for a return trip to NKU and make some noise in the All “A” and 36th District, with what’s returning they have to like their chances.
Newport Central Catholic (19-12 in 2023-24)
Caroline Eaglin is still in the fold, meaning NewCath is in any game. With her commitment to play in college out of the way as she’s headed down the road to Northern Kentucky University next year, Eaglin can focus on trying to help get the Thoroughbreds back to the top of the 36th District.
Eaglin and the Thoroughbreds will have their third coach in three years as Trevor Steiner replaces Dan Albrinck after one season, slotting over as an assistant from the boys team.
“The coachability of these girls is off the charts,” Steiner said. “They’ve been taking advice and implementing it quickly. It’s a really awesome thing for our staff to see how much we can coach these girls and the details we’re trying to do.”
While Eaglin drives the bus, what surrounds her is the key to NewCath’s success this season, winning 19 games last year, making a second straight All “A” 9th Region final, but coming up short in the district semifinals and missing out on the region tournament for the first time since 2016.
Jaylee and Katelyn Brannen and Madison McFarland are three seniors who will accompany Eaglin in the starting lineup with sophomores Brooklyn Cole and Kendall Thompson also either in the starting lineup or first off the bench.
“We can start any of those six, they’ll take up the majority of the minutes,” Steiner said. “Who else can take the jump and be a true part of our rotation is the question mark for us right now.”
Steiner said things will flow through Eaglin offensively, but feels he has a very underrated supporting cast around her.
The team will have to be road warriors in December with just one home game. The two things they have circled are the All “A” and the district tournament, hoping for better outcomes this year.
Newport (7-24 in 2023-24)
Beau Menefee is back in the saddle for his second stint with Newport after taking last season off. He guided the Wildcats for three years from 2020-23 before resigning. He’s no stranger to the district, also coaching at Highlands and Bellevue.
He returns inheriting a Newport team that graduated just one senior, but it’s a big loss as DeAyjah White was the leading scorer and rebounder.
Amariana Cook put up 12 points per game in her freshman season, Maleaha Thompson and Rayona Lindsey also returning as starters.
Dayton (8-21 in 2023-24)
Laura Hall takes over the program after moving up from the middle school level.
They return five of seven players that played in at least 23 games this past season. The returning leading scorers are Tayah Smith and Axie Jimenez, just shy of double figures at 9.7 and 8.6 points per game, respectively.