By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Two players who could be in the running for Mr. Kentucky Basketball this season will face each other at 5 p.m. Saturday when Covington Catholic plays Lexington Dunbar in the Dan Tieman Classic at Thomas More College.
Senior guards Cole VonHandorf of CovCath and Taveion Hollingsworth of Dunbar are expected to be on the Mr. Kentucky Basketball ballot that will be sent to coaches and media around the state on Feb. 17. The winner will be announced during the state tournament in March.
VonHandorf is the leading scorer on the CovCath team that’s No. 1 in the state in the Litkenhous Ratings, a computerized system based on strength of schedule and margin of victory against in-state opponents. He’s averaging 18.3 points and shooting 55.2 percent (175 of 317) from the field for the 22-4 Colonels.
Hollingsworth was named most valuable player in last year’s state tournament after leading Dunbar to the title. This season, he’s averaging 27.2 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 52.8 percent (247 of 468) from the field for the 19-6 Bulldogs, who are No. 8 in the Litkenhous state rankings.
CovCath and Dunbar have played four common opponents this season — Lexington Catholic, Cooper, Bowling Green and South Laurel. CovCath has a 3-1 record against those teams with the loss coming to South Laurel. Dunbar has a 3-2 record that includes a loss to Bowling Green and splitting two games against Lexington Catholic.
A portion of the proceeds from Saturday’s game will go to a scholarship fund that CovCath established in memory of Dan Tieman, a former head basketball coach who posted a 313-146 record in 15 seasons.
Most top seeds are set for district basketball tournaments
The top-seeded teams are set for the six boys’ basketball district playoffs in Northern Kentucky, but a couple of the girls’ districts still need to be decided.
If Cooper wins a home game against Ryle on Thursday, the Jaguars will be tied with Conner for the top seed in the girls’ 33rd District. Cooper and Conner split the two games the teams played against each other so a coin toss could decide the top seed.
In the 34th District, Dixie Heights will create a three-way tie for the top seed if it beats Ludlow on Friday. If Ludlow wins that game, St. Henry and Lloyd will both be 3-1 against district opponents, but St. Henry will get the top seed because it beat Lloyd last Tuesday.
District basketball playoffs begin Feb. 20. The local girls’ teams that have already clinched top seeds are: Simon Kenton (32nd), Holmes (35th), Highlands (36th) and Scott (37th).
The top-seeded boys’ team are: Walton-Verona (32nd), Cooper (33rd), Dixie Heights (34th), Covington Catholic (35th), Newport Central Catholic (36th) and Campbell County (37th).
Triplets among local qualifiers for state bowling tournament
A set of triplets is among the local bowlers who qualified to compete in the state tournament on Thursday and Friday at Collins Eastland Lanes in Lexington.
Jeff Huston is a member of the Covington Catholic boys’ team that won the Region 6 title to earn a berth in the state tournament. He was born on the same day as his sisters, Angela and Erica, who are on the Notre Dame girls’ team that was Region 6 runner-up.
In the state tournament’s team competition on Friday, qualifying rounds will determine seeds for a 16-team single-elimination bracket in both boys and girls. Teams will then compete in one-on-one matches leading up to the championship finals.
Brossart football player to continue career at Morehead State
Matthew Blank, an offensive and defensive lineman for the Brossart football team, has committed to play at Morehead State University.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound senior will join the Morehead program that competes on the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Pioneer League.
Blank is the first Brossart football player recruited to play for a Division I FCS team, according to head coach Paul Wiggins.