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.
Ludlow junior center Haley Warndorf scored 10 points in overtime to help her team secure a 70-62 win over Villa Madonna in the opening game of the 34th District girls’ basketball playoffs on Monday at Dixie Heights High School.
The Panthers trailed by 12 points in the third quarter, but they fought their way back to knock off Villa Madonna, which won three games between the teams during the regular season.
A 3-point goal by Ludlow freshman guard Morgan Lantry with two seconds left in the fourth quarter sent the game into overtime. Warnford then scored 10 of her team’s 15 points in the extra period. She finished with team-high totals of 23 points and 14 rebounds.
The other double scorers for Ludlow were Haley Turner with 20 points, Lantry with 11 and Hailey Lillard with 10. The game’s leading scorer was Villa Madonna senior guard Lexie Aytes with 32 points. She scored all seven of her team’s points in overtime.
Ludlow (12-18) will play Dixie Heights (13-15) in a district semifinal game at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Dixie had a 4-0 record against district opponents during the regular seson, including a 59-28 win over Ludlow on Feb. 2.
SIMON KENTON 71, GRANT COUNTY 37 — Junior guard Ally Niece scored 12 of her game-high 21 points in the first half when Simon Kenton opened up a 30-13 lead in the 32nd District semifinal game at Grant County.
The Pioneers put the game away in the third quarter with a 24-11 run. Sophomore forward Shelby Harmeyer scored nine points and Niece had seven during that period.
Simon Kenton junior center Madi Meier posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. She also had four blocked shots for the Pioneers, who extended their win streak to nine games.
Simon Kenton (21-5) clinched a berth in next week’s 8th Region tournament with the victory. The Pioneers will play the winner of the Walton-Verona-Williamstown game in the district final at 7 p.m. Thursday.
DAYTON 53, BELLEVUE 46 — Dayton led by 21 points in the second half and held off a late charge by Bellevue to win the first-round game in the 36th District playoffs at Bellevue.
Bellevue, the Division III conference champion, outscored Dayton, 19-9, in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers’ rally came up short.
Leading scorers for Dayton were Megan Downard with 13 points and Reba Sanders with 11. The three players who did all of Bellevue’s scoring were Courtney Schmits with 18 points, Reagan Atwood with 16 and Kira Ross with 12.
Dayton (16-9) will take an eight-game winning streak into its district semifinal game against Highlands (19-10) at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The winner will clinch a berth in next week’s 9th Region tournament.
HOLMES 66, BEECHWOOD 51 — Holmes, the top-ranked team in the final Northern Kentucky girls’ basketball coaches poll, clinched a berth in next week’s 9th Region tournament by winning the 35th district semifinal game at Holy Cross.
The Bulldogs (24-4) will play the winner of the Notre Dame-Holy Cross game in the district final at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
CALVARY CHRISTIAN 61, SILVER GROVE 23 — The Cougars snapped a three-game losing streak with one of their highest scoring outputs of the season in the 37th District first-round game at Campbell County Middle School.
Calvary Christian (10-17) will play Scott (17-11) in a district semifinal games at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
GIRLS BASKETBALL DISTRICT TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES
32nd DISTRICT AT GRANT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Monday
Simon Kenton 71, Grant County 37
Tuesday
Walton-Verona vs. Williamstown, 6 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
33rd DISTRICT AT CONNER HIGH SCHOOL
Tuesday
Ryle vs. Boone County, 6 p.m.
Conner vs. Ryle, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 6:30 p.m.
34th DISTRICT AT DIXIE HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL
Monday
Ludlow 70, Villa Madonna 62 OT
Tuesday
Dixie Heights vs. Ludlow, 6 p.m.
St. Henry vs. Lloyd, 7:45 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 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 vs. Dayton, 6 p.m.
Newport vs. Newport Central Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
37th DISTRICT AT CAMPBELL COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Monday
Calvary Christian 61, Silver Grove 23
Tuesday
Scott vs. Calvary Christian, 6 p.m.
Campbell County vs. Brossart, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.