By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
When the curtain rises for the Northern Kentucky high school basketball playoffs next week, there will be some dramatic conflicts in the first act.
In four district tournament games, teams that battled each other in close games during the regular season will meet again with much more at stake. This time, the losing team will be done for the year. There’s also a district playoff game where the defending state champions are facing their long-time rivals, who have their minds set on an season-ending upset.
Here’s a look at the storylines for each of those five district playoff rematches:
Beechwood vs. Holy Cross / 35th District boys
Beechwood is happy to be hosting the district tournament after pulling off two major upsets on its home court against Holmes, 49-46, and Holy Cross, 49-47, during the regular season. There should be a packed house for the Holy Cross-Beechwood rematch at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. If the Tigers pull off an upset once again, they’ll clinch a berth in the 9th Region Tournament for the first time since 2009. The last time Holy Cross got there was 2004.
The only seniors on the Beechwood roster are guard Joe Robbins and center J.T. Toebbe, who is averaging 13 points and eight rebounds per game. But the team’s leading scorer in the previous win over Holy Cross was freshman Caleb Jefferson with 18 points. Holy Cross has four seniors in its starting lineup, including leading scorers Tyler Bezold (16 ppg) and Leighton Schrand (15 ppg). Both of them have made more than 40 3-point goals and senior forward Erich Jakobowski has connected on more than 70 treys.
Scott vs. Brossart / 37th District boys
Scott edged Brossart, 61-60, in overtime last week and the rematch at 7:30 p.m. Thursday promises to be another nailbiter. Brossart would have been the top seed in the district playoffs if had not lost to Scott. That gives the Mustangs an added incentive going into the district game with the Eagles, who are 3-3 in overtime games this season.
Scott junior guard Jake Ohmer is the leading scorer in Northern Kentucky for the second consecutive season with a 26-point average. He had 23 points in the previous game against Brossart, but the top scorer was actually Brossart senior forward Jackson Crawford with 29 points. In Brossart’s last two games, Crawford scored 54 points and snagged 19 rebounds.
Notre Dame vs. Holy Cross / 35th District girls
Defending state champion Holy Cross lost three of its last four regular-seasons games, including a 48-37 setback at Notre Dame. The Indians will be on their home court for the rematch with the Pandas at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday so they should shoot the ball better. But rebounding was another major factor in the outcome of the previous game. Notre Dame finished with a 36-19 advantage on the boards and scored 11 second-chance points after getting offensive rebounds.
Notre Dame junior guard Jenna Martin scored a game-high 28 points in the previous win over Holy Cross and finished the regular season with a 14.6 average. She has drilled 67 3-point goals to account for most of her scoring. Holy Cross has a solid backcourt trio in senior Dajah McClendon and juniors Aleah Tucker and Zyah Beal. In their team’s last three games, McClendon scored 21, 19 and 26 points to get primed for the playoffs.
St. Henry vs. Lloyd / 34th District girls
The Lloyd girls’ basketball team’s 18-8 record snapped a long string of losing seasons that began in the 1980s. The Juggernauts’ next goal is earning a berth in the 9th Region Tournament for the first time since 2006. To do that, they need to beat St. Henry at 7:45 p.m. Thursday. In the regular season game between the two teams, St. Henry edged Lloyd 42-41. That was one of four games the Juggernauts lost by nine points or less.
Lloyd has five underclassmen in the starting lineup. The team’s outstanding performer all season has been sophomore forward SheMaya Behanan, who is averaging 19 points and 14 rebounds per game. She and junior guard Devin Cheatum were double-figure scorers in the previous game against St. Henry. After winning that game, St. Henry lost 11 of its next 14 and finished the regular season with a 12-17 record. Junior forward Paige Noble has team-high averages of 15 points and eight rebounds for the Crusaders.
St. Henry vs. Lloyd / 34th District boys
St. Henry won six of the last eight games on its regular season schedule, including a 69-66 victory at Lloyd on Feb. 5. The two teams will mix it up again at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday with the outcome deciding a berth in the 9th Region Tournament. St. Henry played in the regional the last three years and the last time Lloyd made it was 2012.
St. Henry’s senior team leaders are guard Adam Goetz and forward Paul Wallenhorst. They both have double-figure scoring averages with Goetz putting up 18 per game. Lloyd junior forward Sterling Hamilton is averaging 14 points per game and shooting 50 percent from the field. He had 20 points and nine rebounds in the previous game agaist St. Henry.
BOYS BASKETBALL DISTRICT TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES
32nd DISTRICT AT GRANT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Monday
Simon Kenton vs. Williamstown, 8 p.m.
Tuesday
Walton-Verona vs. Grant County, 8 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
33rd DISTRICT AT CONNER HIGH SCHOOL
Monday
Boone County vs. Heritage, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Cooper vs. Boone County-Heritage winner, 6 p.m.
Conner vs. Ryle, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 6:30 p.m.
34th DISTRICT AT DIXIE HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL
Monday
Villa Madonna vs. Ludlow, 7:45 p.m.
Wednesday
Dixie Heights vs. Villa Madonna-Ludlow winner, 6 p.m.
St. Henry vs. Lloyd, 7:45 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 8 p.m.
35th DISTRICT AT BEECHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Tuesday
Covington Catholic vs. Holmes, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Holy Cross vs. Beechwood, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
36th DISTRICT AT BELLEVUE HIGH SCHOOL
Monday
Highlands vs. Dayton, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Newport Central Catholic vs. Highlands-Dayton winner, 6 p.m.
Newport vs. Bellevue, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
37th DISTRICT AT CAMPBELL COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Monday
Calvary Christian vs. Silver Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Campbell County vs. Calvary Christian-Silver Grove winner, 6 p.m.
Scott vs. Brossart, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL DISTRICT TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES
32nd DISTRICT AT GRANT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Monday
Simon Kenton vs. Grant County, 6 p.m.
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
Villa Madonna vs. Ludlow, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Dixie Heights vs. Villa Madonna-Ludlow winner, 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
Beechwood vs. Holmes, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Holy Cross vs. Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7:30 p.m.
36th DISTRICT AT BELLEVUE HIGH SCHOOL
Monday
Bellevue vs. Dayton, 6 p.m.
Wednesday
Highlands vs. Bellevue-Dayton winner, 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 vs. Silver Grove, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Scott vs. Calvary Christian-Silver Grove winner, 6 p.m.
Campbell County vs. Brossart, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.