By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Walton-Verona junior forward Hailey Ison finished the regular season with the highest free throw percentage in Kentucky girls’ high school basketball and she has not faltered during the playoffs.
Ison made 183 of 203 foul shots during the regular season for 90.1 percent. In her team’s first three playoff games, she converted 30 of 35 attempts, which dropped her percentage just a tad to 89.4.
“She can make some free throws,” said Walton-Verona coach Mark Clinkenbeard. “She was leading the state at the end of the (regular) season at 90 percent so that’s why we like getting her there (at the foul line).”
Last year, Ison finished the season shooting 82.6 percent from the line so she’s shown significant improvement in that phase of the game. But that’s not the only reason she’s averaging a team-high 17 points for the Bearcats this season. She also has the second highest field goal percentage among the starting players.
In the first round of the 8th Region Tournament on Monday, Ison made 11 of 12 free throws to account for most of her team-high 17 points in a win over Gallatin County. She made four foul shots in the final two minutes to help nail down the victory.
During the regular season, Gallatin County defeated Walton-Verona in the championship game of the 8th Region All “A” Classic. Ison and her teammates were excited to win Monday’s rematch.
“When we got beat by them in the All ‘A’ final that really hurt us,” Ison said. “They took something from us and we wanted to pay them back.”
Northern Kentucky girls’ basketball coaches selected Ison as one of the top players in Division III this season. She’ll receive her award during a post-season banquet on Tuesday, March 17, at Receptions in Erlanger.
Here’s a complete listing of the local girls’ basketball players and coaches who were voted to receive awards for their efforts this season.
DIVISION I PLAYERS
Alexis Switzer (Boone County), Taylor Clos (Campbell County), Taylor Gambrel (Conner), Lexi Held (Cooper), Liza Tibbs (Dixie Heights), Hillary Hellmann (Notre Dame), Jenna Martin (Notre Dame), Mallory Schwartz (Ryle), Anna Clephane (Scott), Lexie Stapleton (Scott), Maggi Bosse (Simon Kenton), Ally Niece (Simon Kenton).
DIVISION II PLAYERS
Ally Johnson (Beechwood), Emily Schultz (Brossart), Brianna Adler (Highlands), Lydia Graves (Highlands), Tyrah Engleman (Holmes), Hannah Tubbs (Holmes), Jynea Harris (Holmes), Deja Turner (Holy Cross), Dajah McClendon (Holy Cross), Ally Mayhaus (Holy Cross), ShaMaya Behanan (Lloyd), Michaela Ware (NewCath), Savannah Neace (St. Henry), Hailey Ison (Walton Verona).
DIVISION III PLAYERS
Kira Ross (Bellevue), Courtney Schmits (Bellevue), Reagon Atwood (Bellevue), Dayne Merkley (Calvary Christian), Sadie Boles (Dayton), Mallory Kubala (Dayton), Tori Wofford (Ludlow), Haley Warndorf (Ludlow), Haley Turner (Ludlow), Lexie Aytes (Villa Madonna), Madison Perry (Villa Madonna), Charissa Junker (Villa Madonna)
MISS HUSTLE AWARDS
Division I — MacKenzie Schwarber (Campbell County), Juliet McGregor, Ryle.
Division II – Jaynice Stovall (Holmes), Jordan Miller (St. Henry)
Division III – Dayne Merkley (Calvary Christian)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Division I – Rhonda Klette (Scott)
Division II – George Stoll (NewCath)
Division III – Tommy Sorrell (Bellevue)
At the regional meet, Meyer won the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:30.18 that eclipsed the previous record set in 1987. At the state meet, Meyer won the same event in 4:28.19 and finished nearly four seconds ahead of the second-place swimmer.
Meyer won his second state championship medal as a member of the CovCath 400-yard freestyle medley team that set a new state record with a time of 3:05.72. That event was decided by a fraction of a second with CovCath edging out Louisville St. Xavier.
The other local winners in the boys’ state meet were Beechwood senior Austin Haney in the 200 freestyle (1:40.14) and CovCath senior Louie Hunt in 1-meter diving with a state record score of 569.70.
St. Xavier took the boys’ team title for the 27th consecutive season. CovCath placed second in the team standings and the Outstanding Swimming Coach Award went to Richard Dickmann of CovCath.
The only local winner in the girls’ state meet was Notre Dame freshman Sophie Skinner, who placed first in both the 200 freestyle (1:49.42) and 100 freestyle (49.79). She was also a member of the Notre Dame 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams that placed second.
Louisville Sacred Heart won the girls’ team title and Notre Dame placed second.
Bolden, a University West Virginia recruit, averaged 20 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Bulldogs during the regular season. He’s ranked among the nation’s top 50 point guards on the 247Sports website and considered a contender for Mr. Kentucky Basketball.
Two sophomore guards were the top vote-getters for Division I Player of the Year. Cole Von Handorf of Covington Catholic and Sean McNeil of Cooper both received 76 points in the coaches association balloting. Both of those players are averaging 17 points going into the 9th Region Tournament.
Bellevue senior forward Zack Barrett was voted Division III Player of the Year. He completed his high school career averaging 15.5 points and 10.4 rebounds this season.
Ron Dawn of Newport Central Catholic was voted Division II Coach of the Year. His team won the Kentucky All “A” Classic small-school state championship for the third consecutive year, finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the local coaches poll and enters the 9th Region playoffs with a 28-3 record.
The other Coach of the Year award-winner are Ken Chevalier of Dixie Heights in Division I and Randy Wofford of Ludlow in Division III.
Here are top players in each division listing according to the points each of them received from local coaches. They will receive their awards during the Northern Kentucky Boys Basketball Coaches Association post-season banquet.
DIVISION I PLAYERS
Sean McNeil (Cooper), Cole Von Handorf (CovCath), Junior Stockwell (Boone County), Jake Ohmer (Scott), Austin Schreck (Dixie Heights), Bo Schuh (CovCath), Brendan Stanley (Boone County), Deondre Jackson (Campbell County), Matt Wilson (Campbell County), Matt Mullins (Simon Kenton), Colin Hathorn (Cooper), Liam Rabe (Dixie Heights).
DIVISION II PLAYERS
James Bolden (Holmes), Drew McDonald (NewCath), Zach Pangallo (NewCath),
Ben Weyer (NewCath), Ethan Snapp (Newport), Markel McClendon (Holmes), Adam Goetz (St. Henry), Conner Kunstek (St. Henry), Jacob Huff (Beechwood), Tyler Bezold (Holy Cross), Rod Avery (Holmes), Parker Harris (Highlands).
DIVISION III PLAYERS
Zach Barrett (Bellevue), Kalib Mitchell (Ludlow), Christian Pollitt (Silver Grove), Thomas Schutzman (Villa Madonna), Matt Grimme (Dayton), Austin Woodyard (Bellevue), Randy Kuntz (Silver Grove), Billy Miller (Silver Grove), Matt Gibson (Ludlow), Cameron Hart (Ludlow).
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Division I — Kyle Padgett (Conner), Junior Stockwell (Boone County).
Division II – Paul Price (Newport).
Division III – Matt Grimme (Dayton), Cameron Hart (Ludlow).
MR. HUSTLE AWARDS
Division I — Austin Schreck (Dixie Heights)
Division II – Zack Pangallo (NewCath)
Division III – T.C. Eads (Ludlow).
ACADEMIC AWARDS
Division I – Jake Franzen (Campbell County)
Division II – Hayden Molitor (Lloyd)
Division III – Alex Kenkel (Villa Madonna)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Division I – Ken Chevalier (Dixie Heights).
Division II – Ron Dawn (NewCath)
Division III – Randy Wofford (Ludlow).
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.