Thanks to St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sports Medicine for sponsoring our girls’ high school basketball coverage this season. See all of our girls’ basketball stories here and watch for state tournament coverage March 9-13 from BB&T Arena on the campus of Northern Kentucky University.
By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
Conner girls’ basketball coach Aaron Stamm tried something new in the fourth quarter of his team’s 33rd District playoff game against Cooper on Tuesday.
The Cougars abandoned their usual man-to-man defense and used a 2-3 zone along with a box-and-one to prevent players from driving to the basket. It worked so well that Conner outscored Cooper, 19-13, in the final period to come away with a 71-64 win.
“It was a huge gamble,” Stamm said. “It’s funny, you go all season and don’t play either one of those defenses and in the district semifinals you throw both of them out there and it helps you win.”
Conner (21-10) will play Ryle (21-6) in the district final at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Both teams will advance to next week’s 9th Region tournament at BB&T Arena on the campus of Northern Kentucky University.
Conner led by 10 points in the first and second quarters of Tuesday’s game. But Cooper kept battling back and finally tied the score, 47-47, on a driving basket by Hailey Anderson with 2:03 left in the third quarter.
Anderson scored 13 of her game-high 25 points in that quarter. That’s what prompted Stamm to use a couple of zone defenses, even though he doesn’t devote much time to them in practice. But his players adjusted to the switch so well that Cooper wasn’t able to score on 11 of its 17 offensive possessions in the fourth quarter.
The Cougars were much more efficient on offense during that final period. They scored on 11 of 15 possessions, making 13 free throws to account for most of their 19 points.
“I knew this was going to be a dog fight,” Stamm said. “I knew this one would come down to the wire and we just made a few more plays than them.”
Conner has two freshmen guards in its starting lineup and both of them were double-figure scorers. Courtney Hurst hit four 3-point goals and finished with a team-high 17 points. Savannah Jordan scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half. Junior center Calee Duncan also had 13 points for the Cougars, even though she got into early foul trouble.
Cooper sophomoire guard Lexy Held scored eight of her 19 points in the fourth quarter to keep the Jaguars in the game after Anderson fouled out. The two teams shot a combined total of 64 free throws. Conner made 28 of 35 and Cooper converted on 24 of 29.
NEWPORT 62, NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC 58 – Newport won the 36th District semifinal game at Bellevue by outscoring its cross-town rival, 22-9, in the fourth quarter.
The last time Newport defeated NewCath was in the 2006 district playoffs. The Wildcats lost the next 14 games between the two teams before pulling off the upset on Tuesday.
In the final Northern Kentucky girls’ basketball coaches poll, NewCath was ranked No. 7 while Newport received only one point in the balloting.
NewCath had a 49-40 lead going into the fourth quarter, but the Thoroughbreds struggled on offense in the final eight minutes. Newport surged into the lead by scoring 10 of its 22 points in the fourth quarter at the free throw line.
The leading scorers were NewCath senior guard Ansley Davenport with 29 points and Newport senior guard Kylie Orr with 20. Davenport made 12 of her team’s 17 field goals.
Newport will play Highlands in the district final at 7 p.m. Thursday with both teams advancing to next week’s 9th Region tournament. The last time Newport made it to the regional was 2013.
HIGHLANDS 78, DAYTON 33 – After taking a 35-6 lead in the first quarter of the 36th semifinal game at Bellevue, Highlands was able to use reserve players and ended up with 14 names in the scorebook.
In the first quarter, freshman guard Zoie Barth scored 13 of her game-high 23 points and senior guard Brianna Adler got 10 of her 15 for the Bluebirds.
Highlands will play Newport in the district final at 7 p.m. Thursday with both teams advancing to next week’s 9th Region tournament.
ST.HENRY 53, LLOYD 47 – St. Henry outscored Lloyd, 20-8, in the third quarter to take the lead and stayed on top by making free throws in the final period of the 34th District semifinal game at Dixie Heights.
Freshman center Chisom Iloegbunam scored 17 points and grabbed 20 rebounds for the Crusaders. The team’s other double-figure scorers were sophomores Abby Benson with 12 points and Sydney Millay with 11.
Lloyd sophomore forward ShaMaya Behannan took game-high scoring honors with 21 and junior teammate Devin Cheatum had 17.
St. Henry will play Dixie Heights in the district final at 6 p.m. Friday and both will compete in the 9th Region tournament next week.
DIXIE HEIGHTS 65, LUDLOW 36 – Dixie Heights opened the game with a 9-0 run and led 30-13 at halftime of the 34th District semifinal game on its home court.
Junior forward Brooke Davis scored 11 of her 13 points in the first half for the Colonels. She shared game-high honors with Ludlow junior Haley Warndorf, who also finished with 13 points.
Dixie Heights will meet St. Henry in the district final at 6 p.m. Friday. Both teams will advance to the next week’s 9th Region tournament.
SCOTT 65, CALVARY 17 – Scott took a commanding lead in the first half and coasted to an easy victory in the 37th District semifinals at Campbell County Middle School.
The leading scorers for the Eagles were sophomore guards Anna Clephane and Alexis Stapleton with 15 points each.
This the fifth win in a row for Scott and it clinches a berth in the 10th Region tournament for the third consecutive season. The Eagles will play Campbell County in the district final at 7 p.m. Friday.
CAMPBELL COUNTY 59, BROSSART 41 – Sophomore guard Taylor Close scored 19 points to lead Campbell County to the victory in the 37th District semifinal game at Campbell County Middle School.
The Camels went on a 12-5 run early in the second half to open up a 35-20 lead and stayed in control the rest of the way.
Campbell County will play Scott in the district final at 7 p.m. Friday with both teams advancing to next week’s 10th Region tournament.
RYLE 76, BOONE COUNTY 60 – Ryle outscored Boone County, 22-6, in the second quarter and ended up winning the 33rd District semifinal game by the same 16-point margin at Conner High School.
The Raiders had four double-figure scorers with Lauren Schwartz getting 17 points to lead the way. Boone County senior guard Kaela Saner scored a game-high 21 points.
Ryle will play Conner in the district final at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to help determine their berths in next week’s 9th Region tournament bracket.
WALTON-VERONA 60, WILLIAMSTOWN 51 – Walton-Verona senior forward Hailey Ison scored 31 points to lead her team to victory in the 32nd District semifinal game at Grant County.
The Bearcats will play Simon Kenton in the district final at 7 p.m. Thursday and both teams will advance to next week’s 8th Region tournament.
GIRLS BASKETBALL DISTRICT TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES
32nd DISTRICT AT GRANT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Monday
Simon Kenton 71, Grant County 37
Tuesday
Walton-Verona 60, Williamstown 51
Thursday
Championship: Simon Kenton vs. Walton-Verona, 7 p.m.
33rd DISTRICT AT CONNER HIGH SCHOOL
Tuesday
Ryle 76, Boone County 60
Conner 71, Cooper 64
Thursday
Championship: Ryle vs. Conner, 6:30 p.m.
34th DISTRICT AT DIXIE HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL
Monday
Ludlow 70, Villa Madonna 62 OT
Tuesday
Dixie Heights 56, Ludlow 36
St. Henry 53, Lloyd 47
Friday
Championship: Dixie Heights vs. St. Henry, 6 p.m.
35th DISTRICT AT HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL
Monday
Holmes 66, Beechwood 51
Wednesday
Holy Cross vs. Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7:30 p.m.
36th DISTRICT AT BELLEVUE HIGH SCHOOL
Monday
Dayton 53, Bellevue 46
Wednesday
Highlands 78, Dayton 33
Newport 62, Newport Central Catholic 58
Thursday
Championship: Highlands vs. Newport, 7 p.m.
37th DISTRICT AT CAMPBELL COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Monday
Calvary Christian 61, Silver Grove 23
Tuesday
Scott 65, Calvary Christian 17
Campbell County 59, Brossart 41
Thursday
Championship: Scott vs. Campbell County, 7 p.m.