By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Simon Kenton boys’ basketball team that’s off to a 6-0 start this season will host a holiday tournament that begins Thursday with four other local teams in the field.
Freshman guard Kelly Niece played a key role in Simon Kenton’s fast start. He was a double-figure scorer in the first five games, compiling a team-high 19.2 average while shooting 49.3 percent from the field. The other consistent scorers for the Pioneers have been senior forward Chaz Kitchens and senior center Zach Kelch, a U.S. Naval Academy recruit.
Simon Kenton will play Cincinnati Aiken in the final first-round game on Thursday night. The game before that will be Holy Cross vs. Scott, the defending 10th Region champion.
With three starters back from last year’s team that made it to the state semifinals, Scott has a 4-2 record and both losses came in close games on the road. The Eagles have been getting balanced scoring from seniors Nelson Perrin and Jaycob Pouncy and juniors Chad Ohmer and Michael Meister, who all had double-figure averages after the first five games.
Holy Cross is coming off back-to-back wins that raised the team’s record to 4-2. The Indians have made 41 3-point goals in six games for a 6.3 average. Senior guard Parker Zimmerman has made 20 treys and he’s averaging a team-high 17.8 points. Senior guards Nolan Schrand and Jordan Niehaus are both averaging 13 points per game.
Bellevue is the other local boys’ basketball team hosting a tournament this week. The Swauger Holiday Classic begins Thursday with an eight-team field that includes Newport, which was ranked No. 3 in the Northern Kentucky preseason coaches poll.
Newport senior guard McKell Burries is one of the state’s leading scorers with a 23.9 average. The Wildcats’ other standout performer has been junior forward Tahj Harding, who’s averaging 16.9 points and 12.9 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field.
The Wildcats will face a major challenge in their first-round game against Lexington Catholic on Thursday. The downstate team has a 5-2 record with the losses coming in close games with Covington Catholic and Scott County, two teams ranked among the top five in the state.
There are no girls’ basketball tournaments in Northern Kentucky his week, but Walton-Verona is hosting a four-team shootout. The games on Thursday will be Dayton vs. Williamstown at 6 p.m. and Walton-Verona vs. Holy Cross at 8 p.m. On Friday, the matchups will be Holy Cross vs. Williamstown at 6 p.m. and Walton-Verona vs. Dayton at 8 p.m.
Walton-Verona is off to an 8-1 start with a young lineup. The Bearcats’ top three scorers are junior Brooke Perry, sophomore Emma Strunk and freshman Haylee Neely.
SIMON KENTON INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Thursday
Conner vs. Russell, 2 p.m.
Dixie Heights vs. Collins, 3:45 p.m.
Scott vs. Holy Cross, 5:30 p.m.
Simon Kenton vs. Aiken (Ohio), 7:15 p.m.
Friday
Consolation bracket games, 2 and 3:45 p.m.
Semifinal games, 5:30 and 7:15 p.m.
Saturday
Consolation bracket games, 2, 3:45 and 5:30 p.m.
Championship game, 7:15 p.m.
SWAUGER HOLIDAY CLASSIC AT BELLEVUE
Thursday
Ludlow vs. Lewis County, 1 p.m.
Bellevue vs. Henry County, 3 p.m.
Brossart vs Ryle, 5 p.m.
Lexington Catholic vs Newport, 7 p.m.
Friday
Consolation bracket games, 1 and 3 p.m.
Semifinal games, 5 and 7 p.m.
Saturday
Consolation bracket games, 12, 2 and 4 p.m.
Championship game, 6 p.m.