By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Both of the high school basketball teams that won All “A” Classic small-school state championships on Feb. 1 are leading contenders in the 9th Region post-season playoffs that begin this week with district competition.
After taking the All “A” Classic boys’ state title for the third consecutive year, Newport Central Catholic won its next six games, including a 58-52 victory over Holmes, last year’s regional runner-up.
The Holy Cross girls’ team has also been playing well since winning its first All “A” Classic championship. The Indians won their last four games and finished the regular-season with a 13-0 record against 9th Region opponents. The coaches of both those successful teams are undoubtedly reminding their players to stay focused because anything can happen in the playoffs.
That’s a lesson the seniors on the NewCath roster learned the last two seasons. The Thoroughbreds lost in the first round of the 2013 regional tournament and were knocked off in the semifinals last year.
“It kind of stinks coming up short these last two years when you know you had the team that could do it,” NewCath senior guard Zack Pangallo said in January. “There’s no excuses this year. We have to get it done.”
NewCath’s only loss to a 9th Region boys’ basketball opponent this season was to defending state champion Covington Catholic on Jan. 16. A few weeks later, however, CovCath lost to Dixie Heights. Holmes was able to beat Dixie Heights, but the Bulldogs lost to CovCath, NewCath and Boone County during the final weeks of the regular season.
As a result of all that, NewCath was voted No. 1 in the final Northern Kentucky coaches poll, but there will be some stiff competition to decide the 9th Region representative in the state tournament at Rupp Arena.
As the top seed in the 36th District playoff bracket, NewCath got a bye into the semifinal round and needs to win only one game to earn a berth in the regional tournament. That game will be against Dayton or Highlands at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Newport High School.
The Holy Cross girls’ team is in a similar situation. The top-seeded Indians will play Beechwood in a 35th District semifinal game at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Holmes with the winner advancing to the regional tournament. The other district semifinal matchup is Notre Dame vs. Holmes.
Holy Cross has won several games in dramatic fashion this season. The Indians mounted a late rally to beat Holmes and pulled out a win against Highlands in double overtime. In the All “A” Classic state championship game, they hit a shot in the finals seconds to win it.
“We had to teach our team how to win, change the culture and mindset, and it took a little while to do that,” Holy Cross coach Kes Murphy said after the All “A” Classic final. “But these kids kept fighting and kept believing and kept doing what I asked them do, and their hard work has paid off.”
Northern Kentucky teams will also be competing in the 8th Region and 10th Region boys’ and girls’ basketball playoffs that begin this week with district games.
Campbell County is the defending 10th Region boys’ champion, but the Camels will face a tough test against long-time rival Bishop Brossart in the 37th District semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Campbell County Middle School. The Simon Kenton girls’ team enters the 8th Region playoffs with a 22-4 record that includes a double-digit victory against each of its 37th District opponents. The Pioneers are hoping to win their first regional title since 2009 after losing in the regional final in 2010, 2013 and 2014.
Campbell County (19-10) and Scott (18-8) have the best records in 10th Region girls’ basketball. Both teams will advance to the regional tournament if they win district semifinal games on Tuesday at Campbell County Middle School. But Campbell County will have to get past Bishop Brossart in the 7:30 p.m. game to move on. Brossart edged Campbell County, 45-44, during the regular season.
Terry Boehmker, NKyTribune sports writer, is former sportswriter and editor for The Kentucky Post. He is an award-winning writer with extensive background in both print and digital. Reach him at terryboe@yahoo.com.