By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Simon Kenton boys’ bowling team lost in the championship final of the state tournament on Friday in Louisville after knocking off two higher seeded teams in the bracket.
Louisville Butler defeated Simon Kenton, 200-194, 139-133, 146-105, in the best-of-five state final at Executive Strike and Spare.
The Pioneers were seeded fifth in the 16-team bracket after the qualifying round. They knocked off No. 4 seed Boyle County in the quarterfinals and No. 1 seed West Jessamine in the semifinals to make it to the title match.
The other local teams in the boys’ state tournament – Covington Catholic, Campbell County and Lloyd – lost in the first round.
Pleasure Ridge Park won the girls’ state championship. Cooper defeated Boone County in the first round and then lost in the quarterfinals. Campbell County also went 1-1 in the bracket and Highland lost in the first round.
Most top-seeds set for district basketball tournaments
The top seeds have been decided in all but one of the district basketball tournaments that include Northern Kentucky teams and the brackets will be finalized next week.
The final seeding game is Holmes at Notre Dame in the girls’ 35th District at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. If Holmes wins, it will clinch the top seed. If Notre Dame wins, there will be a three-way tie and a blind draw will decide it.
The top-seeds in the other girls’ districts are Simon Kenton (32nd), Ryle (33rd), Dixie Heights (34th), Highlands (36th) and Campbell County (37th).
The top-seeds in the boys’ districts are Walton-Verona (32nd), Cooper (33rd), Dixie Heights (34th), Covington Catholic (35th), Newport (36th) and Campbell County (37th).
District playoff games will begin Monday, Feb. 19. The winner and runner-up teams in each district advance to regional tournaments.
Butler recruits football players from two local high schools
Highlands offensive lineman Michael Dunn and Covington Catholic wide receiver Malachi Pike will continue their football careers at Butler University in Indianapolis.
Pike was the leading receiver on CovCath’s Class 5A state championship team. He had 41 receptions for 695 yards and nine touchdowns.
Dunn was a two-year starter on the Highlands offensive line. With him up front, the Bluebirds averaged 339 yards per game last season.
Butler’s football team competes on the FCS level in NCAA Division I. The Bulldogs finished last season with a 6-5 record and went 4-4 in Pioneer Football League games.