Starting to feel like we’re getting a little separation as the postseason is now officially a week away.
The top teams are starting to flex their muscles as they gear up for what they hope is a long postseason run deep into March. Some teams are still trying to figure it out, but time is running out to do so.
Here’s the second to last edition of the LINK nky Top 10!
Boys
- Cooper (17-5, Previous Ranking: 1) — The Jaguars put some miles on the ole’ cheese wagon this past week with road games at Fairdale and Lexington Christian Academy, coming back with a pair of lopsided victories. They’ve gone 12-1 in their last 13 and look to close out an undefeated regular season record against regional opponents on Tuesday at home against Dixie Heights.
2. Covington Catholic (19-7, Previous Ranking: 2) — A buzzer-beating loss at a solid Montgomery County team won’t alter much. Their lone loss in region play this year came at Cooper in overtime. They can improve to 10-1 with a win over Conner on Tuesday. They are one of three (Cooper, Lloyd) as the top dogs to win the 9th.
3. Lloyd Memorial (20-6, Previous Ranking: 3) — Winners of nine straight and the Juggernauts added a key piece with the return of Elijah Collins on Feb. 4. Collins adds another guard to the mix and knocked down 52 three-pointers last season. In his first five games this season, Collins is averaging 8.6 points per game and hit 13 three-pointers.
4. Simon Kenton (20-6, Previous Ranking: 4) — Playing as good as anyone in NKY right now. In their current six-game winning streak, they’re averaging a margin of victory by 35.1 points per game.
5. Conner (18-7, Previous Ranking: 7) — Got back on the winning track with three wins last week. A solid final week slate pairs them with Covington Catholic and Lloyd Memorial this week.
6. Ryle (14-11, Previous Ranking: 9) –Put a scare into the No. 1 team in the state on their home floor through three quarters. Crazy that Ryle-Conner is an elimination game next week, but that’s life in the 33rd District.
7. Newport (15-10, Previous Ranking: 5) — The Wildcats close things out with Beechwood this week, then they’ll have a chance to do something only Holmes (1976-78, 2007-09), Highlands (1997-99) and Covington Catholic (2018-20) have done in the last 50 years, three-peat in the 9th Region.
8. Campbell County (18-9, Previous Ranking: 8) — The Camels are two wins shy of a fourth straight 20-win season. The consistency continues in Claryville.
9. Dixie Heights (18-7, Previous Ranking: 10) — The Colonels can hit the 20-win plateau with two wins this week. Pretty solid first year under Scott Code.
10. Walton-Verona(18-10, Previous Ranking: NR) — Getting hot at the right time and they’re going to ride Aaron Gutman as far as they can go. They’ve won six in a row as they welcome No. 2 Great Crossing on Tuesday.
Next up: Holy Cross, Highlands, Beechwood
Girls
- Cooper (19-4, Previous Ranking: 1) — They’ll close out the regular season with Frederick Douglass and Assumption, meaning they’ll end up playing nine of the top 15 teams in the state, according to the latest statewide media poll.
2. Simon Kenton (21-4, Previous Ranking: 2) — As the dust settles after their memorable win over Sacred Heart and snapping their 92-game winning streak over in-state opponents, the question now begs who can compete with Simon Kenton in the 8th Region and stop them from getting to Rupp Arena?
3. Notre Dame (19-5, Previous Ranking: 3) — Another team with a stacked schedule. After the last week of the regular season in which they face Assumption and Sacred Heart, they will have played seven of the top 15 teams in the state.
4. Dixie Heights (16-8, Previous Ranking: 4) — A bit of a letdown in a 22-point loss to Cooper last week, one of the four other teams they’re going to have to beat if they want to win the 9th Region.
5. Holy Cross (23-6, Previous Ranking: 5) — Played three teams ranked in the top 15 in the state last week with Frederick Douglass, Simon Kenton and Sacred Heart, going 1-2 in those contests. After a matchup with Scott to close out the regular season, all eyes in the region turn to the 35th District tournament, where no one will want to draw the runner-up between most likely Notre Dame and Holy Cross.
6. Campbell County (16-8, Previous Ranking: 6) — With a 10th Region tournament berth already secured, they get one more solid test against Simon Kenton to close out the regular season. Then they await the Scott-Bishop Brossart winner in the 37th District championship.
7. Highlands (18-7, Previous Ranking: 7) — Simon Kenton on Tuesday could be their last real challenge until the region tournament begins.
8. Bishop Brossart (21-6, Previous Ranking: 8) — A solid 21-6 season already for Bishop Brossart. With Walton-Verona and Ryle on tap this week followed by Scott next week in the first round of the district tournament, can they get to 24 wins before the region tournament?
9. Walton-Verona (19-8, Previous Ranking: 9) — A good slate this week as the Bearcats face No. 8 Bishop Brossart on Monday and No. 10 NewCath on Friday. Then they’ll get Grant County next week in the first round of the 32nd District tournament in a win or go home game.
10. Newport Central Catholic (15-13, Previous Ranking: 10) — Caroline Eaglin is on the cusp of a third straight 9th Region scoring title. NKU is getting a good one. How much longer can she make her legacy go? They’ll certainly be wary of Bellevue next week in the 32nd District tournament.
Next up: Scott, Ryle