Ludlow won the NKAC Division III title. Photo provided

Some college notes, another 1,000-point scorer, record-setting games for programs, a buzzer beater and NKAC champs all included in the latest basketball bites.

The season is winding down as the stakes ramp up!

Ipsaro playing key rotational role in Miami (Ohio) turnaround

Ipsaro | Provided by Miami (Ohio) Athletics

Covington Catholic grad and Miami (Ohio) sophomore Evan Ipsaro is a key rotational piece for the RedHawks, currently 10-1 in the Mid-American Conference and 19-5 overall.

Ipsaro is averaging 6.9 points per game in 24 games played while shooting 52% from the field, 45% from the 3-point line and 84% from the free throw line. He’s also averaging 2.5 assists per game, nearly one steal per game and better than a 2/1 assist/turnover ratio.

The RedHawks are having their best season since 1998-99, when they went 24-8 and made the Sweet 16.

McCutchen 1k

Holmes junior Mark McCutchen hit the 1,000-point mark last week. Photo provided

Holmes junior Mark McCutchen recently hit the 1,000-point mark for his career. McCutchen accomplished the feat in the Bulldogs’ 75-52 victory over Bracken County on Feb. 6.

McCutchen scored 23 points in the victory. He leads the team in scoring with 17.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He’s hitting 52% of his shots from the field and 70% from the free throw line.

Peoples 500 rebounds

Campbell County senior Macie Peoples recently hit the 500-rebound mark for her career. She grabbed her 500th rebound in the Feb. 1 contest with Simon Kenton.

Peoples is second on the team in rebounding this season with 4.4 per game.

Ludlow boys, Bellevue girls NKAC DIII champs

Bellevue’s girls won the NKAC Division III title. Photo provided

The Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Division III champs are the Ludlow boys and the Bellevue girls.

Ludlow’s boys took down Heritage Academy in the championship, 74-61. Spencer Brandenburg led the way with 28 points. He was joined by two others in double figures as Logan Day added 24 points and Joseph Scott tossed in 12 points. The win got them to a 16-11 mark on the season.

Bellevue’s girls defeated Ludlow in the championship, 57-18. They improved to 15-11 with the victory. Jayda Dowell paced the Tigers with 13 points, Paulina Long adding 10 with 10 rebounds. Ten different players entered the scoring column in the win.

McClain pulls down 21 rebounds

Ryle eighth grader Jayden McClain continues to post eye-popping numbers.

In a Feb. 4 contest with Mercy, McClain pulled down 21 rebounds in Ryle’s 52-49 defeat to Mercy.

McClain is averaging 10.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season.

Ryle’s Lorms sets single-game scoring record for program 

Ryle senior Landon Lorms set the single-game scoring record for the program in a Feb. 8 victory over St. Henry. 

In the record-setting game, Lorms went for 39 points, hitting 13-of-22 shots from the field and 5-of-10 from the 3-point line. He also hit 8-of-10 free throw attempts and pulled down nine rebounds in the Raiders 89-65 victory. 

The previous record was held by Tyler Bush and Donovan Robinson, both having 37 points in a single game.

William Grant Night Saturday

Holmes boys’ basketball will celebrate William Grant Night on Saturday, Feb. 15 in the Bulldogs contest with Nicholas County.

Anyone that attended William Grant High School are invited to a reception at 5:45 p.m. in the Hartman Room. Light refreshments will be served. The recognition will be between the JV and varsity game. The JV game is at 6 p.m. and the varsity game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Collopy hits buzzer-beater

Newport Central Catholic senior Louie Collopy hit a game-winning, buzzer-beating shot against Holy Cross on Feb. 8.

Collopy drained a corner three while falling out of bounds as the Thoroughbreds prevailed over the Indians, 66-63.

It capped off a nice week for NewCath in which they took down Dixie Heights and Holy Cross, with a loss to Newport mixed in where they led at halftime.

NewCath is 7-5 in their last 12 games after a 4-9 start to the season.

Rylee with a big week for Thomas More

Covington Catholic grad and Thomas More junior Mitchell Rylee posted a career-night in the Saints Feb. 6 victory over Hillsdale College. Rylee put up 28 points with 14 rebounds, both career-highs.

He upped his rebound total in the Saints next game on Feb. 8 in a win over Tiffin, collecting 15 rebounds to go with four points, one assist and three blocked shots. His two-game effort of 32 points, 29 rebounds, three assists and four blocked shots to go with 60% shooting from the field earned him Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week.

The Saints are currently 15-8 on the season and 10-6 in the GMAC, sitting at sixth in the conference standings. The Saints return to action at home on Thursday against Cedarville at 7 p.m.