By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Scott senior guard Jake Ohmer was the second leading vote-getter on the all-state boys’ basketball team selected in a statewide coaches poll conducted by The Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper.
Lexington Dunbar senior forward Taveion Hollingsworth, who was named Mr. Kentucky Basketball, topped the all-state voting with 679 total points on 80 ballots returned to the newspaper. Ohmer, who scored 106 points in three games at the state tournament, came in second with 600 points.
Both of those players will continue their basketball careers at Western Kentucky University next season. Ohmer decided not to play baseball for Scott this spring so he can prepare for the transition to NCAA Division I basketball.
The other Northern Kentucky player among the top 10 vote-getters in the all-state balloting was Cooper senior guard Sean McNeil. Covington Catholic senior guard Cole VonHandorf was voted second-team all-state and Cooper junior guard Adam Kunkel was voted third-team all-state.
Tim Sullivan of Cooper was voted Coach of the Year in boys’ basketball in the statewide coaches poll. His team made it to the state championship game in its first state tournament appearance.
Simon Kenton junior guard Ally Niece was the only local player voted to the girls’ basketball all-state team. She placed seventh on the 67 ballots returned to the newspaper to earn first-team all-state honors for the second consecutive year.
Local players in all-star basketball game at Thomas More
Covington Catholic senior guard Cole VonHandorf is the only 9th Region boys’ basketball player on the roster for the Ohio-Kentucky Senior All-Star Game on Saturday at Thomas More College.
VonHandorf is on the Kentucky team that also includes Lexington Dunbar senior Taveion Hollingsworth, who was named Mr. Kentucky Basketball, and Terry Taylor, a forward on the Bowling Green team that won the state championship last month.
Ally Johnson of Beechwood and Zyah Beal of Boone County are on the Kentucky roster for the girls’ all-star team that’s scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The boys’ game will tip off between 7:30 and 8 p.m.
On Friday, the all-star players will participate in a Slam Jam Festival at 7 p.m. at Thomas More. In addition to playing in 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 games, players will take part in 3-point shooting and slam dunk contests.
There will be no admission charged for the Slam Jam Festival. Ticket prices for the all-star games will be posted on the Ohio-Kentucky Senior All-Star Game website.
NewCath hires new head coach for girls’ soccer team
The Newport Central Catholic girls’ soccer team has a new head coach for the first time in 20 years.
Hillary Johnson was named head coach of the Thoroughbreds on Wednesday. She replaces Kevin Turnick, who was in charge of the program for 19 years and led NewCath teams to five All “A” Classic state championships as well as two regional championships in the post-season playoffs.
“I am extremely excited to be taking over the soccer program at NCC,” Johnson said. “Kevin Turnick has done a tremendous job with the program in the past 19 years and has had great success. I look forward to continuing the athletic excellence that NCC has established, especially in the soccer program.”
Johnson has been an assistant coach at Notre Dame Academy for the past eight seasons. The Pandas won two state championships and six regional titles while she was on the coaching staff. She also played soccer at Notre Dame Academy and was on a state championship team her senior year.
“Hiring coach Johnson will make for a smooth transition for our girls’ soccer program,” said NewCath athletic director Jimmy Ryan. “Hillary’s proven success on and off the field and her experience as a coach speaks for itself.”
Last season, NewCath lost to Notre Dame, 4-1, in the 9th Region semifinals and finished with a 17-5-1 record. Two of the seniors on that team were leading scorer Taylor Tolle and goalkeeper Meg Martin.
Key resigns as Lloyd basketball coach to become principal
Mike Key resigned as boys’ head basketball coach at Lloyd because he will become principal of the high school next school year.
“The time requirements are just too great for me to be able to do both the principal position and the boys’ head basketball coach,” Key said in an email.
Lloyd compiled a 127-195 record in 11 seasons under Key. In his final season, the Juggernauts posted a 22-11 record, made it to the 9th Region All “A” Classic final in January and won the 34th District championship in February to earn a berth in the 9th Region post-season playoffs for the first time since 2012.
The top three scorers on the Lloyd team last season were seniors Sterling Hamilton, Derrick Cipollone and Devin McClendon. The top returning players are junior guards Jamal Neal and Isiah Vogt.