By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Covington Catholic has one of the state’s lowest defensive averages in boys’ basketball and it was easy to see why Saturday when the Colonels whipped Holy Cross, 63-35, in the 35th District championship game.
CovCath limited the Indians to 11 field goals in 32 minutes by making 17 steals, grabbing 20 defensive rebounds and blocking four shots. It was the 11th time this season that the Colonels held an opponent to less than 40 points. The team’s defensive average is now 48.5.
On offense, CovCath shot 42.6 percent (20 of 47) from the field and had three double-figure scorers. Junior forward C.J. Fredrick netted a team-high 18 points. Since recovering from a broken bone in his foot, he has scored 94 points in five games to raise his team-high season average to 20.9.
CovCath junior forward A.J. Mayer scored 15 points and senior guard Cole VonHandorf had 10 in Saturday’s game. The only double-figure scorer for Holy Cross was forward Ty Houston with 10.
Both teams will play in next week’s 9th Region tournament that start’s Wednesday at BB&T Arena. The tournament bracket will be decided during a draw at 10 a.m. Sunday at Holmes High School.
The other teams that earned berths in the regional tournament are Cooper, Ryle, Lloyd, Dixie Heights, Newport and defending champion Newport Central Catholic.
COVCATH 10 21 20 11 — 62
HOLY CROSS 9 10 7 9 — 35
HOLY CROSS (10-18): Williams 0 2 2, Niehaus 0 2 2, Zimmerman 2 1 6, Barnes 0 2 2, Houston 4 0 10, Volpenhein 2 0 6, Meinze 3 0 7. Totals: 11 7 35.
COVCATH (27-5): Fredrick 5 5 18, Deere 0 2 2, VonHandorf 4 0 10, Fleek 1 0 2, A. Mayer 5 4 14, Ruthsatz 2 4 9, Thelen 1 0 2, Walter 1 1 3, M. Mayer 1 0 2. Totals 20 16 62.
Three-pointers: HC — Houston 2, Volpenhein 2, Zimmerman, Meinze. CC — Fredrick 3, VonHandorf 2, Ruthsatz.
WALTON-VERONA 67, WILLIAMSTOWN 48
Walton-Verona shot 54 percent (25 of 46) from the field and won the battle of the boards by a 39-25 margin in the 32nd District championship game at Williamstown.
Sophomore center Dieonte Miles scored 18 points to lead the Bearcats in scoring while junior guard Zack Clinkenbeard had 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
Walton-Verona will take a 25-6 record into next week’s 8th Region tournament at Henry County High School. The draw for first-round pairings will be held on Sunday.
Terry
Thanks for all that you do for high school sports. It means a great deal for us as principals at local high schools.
Jack Von handorf