While Braeden Myrick and Covington Catholic came up short to St. Xavier, it marked the fourth time in six trips the Colonels lost to a team in the state title game. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

High school basketball season is over in the Commonwealth.

George Rogers Clark pulled off a feat that hadn’t been done in nearly 100 years as they pulled off the double in winning both boys and girls titles. Ashland Blazer was the last to do that…in 1928.

In case you missed what happened in Lexington, here’s some tidbits to take away from the tournament and localize it to Northern Kentucky.

Holmes Final Four run still stands

The 2009 Holmes boys basketball state championship team. Photo provided

Great Crossing threatened Holmes run of three straight final fours from 2007-09. The Bulldogs are still the last program to accomplish that. The Warhawks reached the semifinals in 2024 and won the title in 2025. They were a win away last week from reaching the final four once again, but lost to Grayson County in the quarterfinals.

9th Region officials at Sweet 16

  • Russia
  • Sandlin

The 9th Region was represented by officials Brian Sandlin and Darrelle Russia for the boys and girls Sweet 16 and both officiated the championship games. Sandlin was one of four selected for the boys championship between George Rogers Clark and St. Xavier while Russia was one of four officials for the girls championship between George Rogers Clark and Assumption.

CovCath track record of opponents that beat them, well…tracks

Since 2014, Covington Catholic reached the Sweet 16 seven times. They won it in two of those trips in 2014 and 2018. The 2020 Sweet 16 was canceled due to COVID and in the four other trips, the team to beat them made at least the championship game. The 2015 team lost to Owensboro, who won it all, the 2019 team lost to Scott County, who made the championship game, the 2022 team lost to Warren Central made the championship game and this year’s team who lost to St. Xavier also made the title game.

Faust honored

Former St. Henry coach Dave Faust (left) was awarded the John Wooden Legacy Award at the Sweet 16. He’s pictured with St. Henry principal Grant Brannen. Photo provided | St. Henry Athletics

Former St. Henry boys basketball coach Dave Faust was honored on Friday of the Sweet 16 and received the John Wooden Legacy Award.

The annual award is presented by the National High School Basketball Coaches Association that recognizes high school basketball coaches in every state who achieved excellence on the court, in the classroom and in the community.

The criteria is education, longevity, character, service and excellence that characterized Wooden, who started his Hall of Fame coaching career at Dayton High School.

Faust coached at St. Henry for 33 years and is the 9th Region all-time wins leader with 482 career victories.