By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
After winning its first district championship in 33 years on Friday, the Newport boys’ basketball team got a favorable draw for the 9th Region tournament that begins Wednesday at BB&T Arena.
Newport (24-6) has the best record and highest state power rating among the four teams in the upper bracket. And the Wildcats’ first opponent is Holy Cross, a team they’ve beaten twice this season by double-digit margins.
Newport and Holy Cross will play in the tournament’s opening game at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The second game will be Dixie Heights vs. Ryle at 8:30 p.m.
Dixie Heights defeated Ryle, 59-37, in early January. If the Colonels win the rematch, they’ll advance to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2015.
The region’s top two teams, Covington Catholic and defending champion Cooper, are in the lower bracket with first-round games on Thursday. The match-ups will be Cooper vs. Newport Central Catholic at 7 p.m. and CovCath vs. St. Henry at 8:30 p.m.
CovCath (28-4) is fourth and Cooper (24-5) is sixth in the Litkenhous state power ratings. They split the two games they played against each other during the regular season. CovCath is currently riding a 16-game winning streak that includes a 47-32 win over Cooper in January.
Advance tickets for 9th Region tournament games will be sold at the participating schools for $6. All tickets at the door will be $8.
Here are the pairings for the 8th Region boys’ tournament that includes Simon Kenton and Walton-Verona and the 10th Region boys’ tournament that includes Campbell County and Scott:
8th REGION TOURNAMENT AT HENRY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Wednesday
Anderson County (11-15) vs. Henry County (14-17), 6:30 p.m.
Walton-Verona (26-5) vs. South Oldham (17-11), 8 p.m.
Thursday
Gallatin County (25-7) vs. Simon Kenton (19-9), 6:30 p.m.
Oldham County (26-5) vs. Collins (22-9), 8 p.m.
Monday, March 5
Semifinal games, 6:30 and 8 p.m.
Tuesday, March 6
Championship game, 7 p.m.
10th REGION TOURNAMENT AT MASON COUNTY FIELDHOUSE
Wednesday
Clark County (28-4) vs. Bracken County (5-24), 6 p.m.
Campbell County (25-5) vs. Harrison County (11-20), 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Pendleton County (24-7) vs. Paris (22-7), 6 p.m.
Scott (21-9) vs. Mason County (17-3), 7:30 p.m.
Monday, March 5
Semifinal games, 6 and 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 6
Championship game, 7 p.m.