By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The team that dashed Walton-Verona’s hopes of winning the Kentucky All “A” Classic boys basketball state title the last two years will be the Bearcats’ opponent in the semifinals of this year’s tournament at 6 p.m. Saturday at Eastern Kentucky University’s McBrayer Arena in Richmond.
Walton-Verona will be facing Lexington Christian, the team that defeated the Bearcats in last year’s championship game and knocked them off in the 2017 quarterfinal round.
It’s safe to say the Bearcats have a grudge to settle against the Eagles, but it won’t be easy. Lexington Christian (17-6) has played a challenging schedule and the team leader is senior guard Kyle Rode, who is considered a Mr. Kentucky Basketball candidate.
Walton-Verona (17-3) also has a premier player in 6-foot-8 senior center Dieonte Miles. He was one of the team’s four double-figure scorers in a 65-32 win over Knott County Central in the All “A” Classic quarterfinals on Friday.
Kameron Pardee scored a game-high 14 points for the Bearcats, followed by Tyler Schrader (12), Miles (11) and Grant Grubbs (10). Miles also blocked six shots.
Last year, Miles was recovering from shoulder surgery when Lexington Christian beat Walton-Verona, 47-41, in the All “A” Classic championship game. It will be interesting to see what he’ll do in Saturday’s rematch between the two teams.
University Heights defeated Newport, 69-46 in another boys quarterfinal game on Friday. After trailing for the entire first half, the Blazers went on 28-9 run after the break and beat Newport by a double-digit margin for the second time this season.
Newport senior forward Tahj Harding finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds. But the Wildcats ended up shooting 34 percent (19 of 56) from the field compared to University Heights’ 43 percent (26 of 60). The Blazers were led by all-state senior guard KyKy Tandy, who had 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Holy Cross and Walton-Verona won quarterfinal games in the girls state tournament Friday with second-half surges that were sparked by senior guards.
Walton-Verona ran off 11 straight points at the start of the third quarter against Bardstown Bethlehem and stayed in control to claim a 52-40 victory. Senior guard Brooke Perry had seven points, two rebounds and one assist during the Bearcats’ crucial run.
The leading scorers for Walton-Verona were sophomore guard Haylee Neeley with 14 points and junior forward Emma Strunk with 12. Their team ended up shooting 47.1 percent (16 of 34) from the field compared to Metcalfe County’s 21 percent (13 of 62).
Holy Cross used a 17-2 run at the end of the third quarter to open up a big lead and went on to defeat Metcalfe County, 70-47. Senior guard Olivia Crigler scored seven of her game-high 24 points to lead the Indians’ charge.
The other double-figure scorers for Holy Cross were sophomore center Sidney Thomas with 15 points and senior guard Trinity McClendon with 11. Junior forward Jade Simpson snagged a game-high 14 rebounds.
The girls semifinal games on Saturday will be Holy Cross vs. Owensboro Catholic at noon and Walton-Verona vs. West Carter at 1:30 p.m. The winners will meet in the title game at noon on Sunday.
If Holy Cross and Walton-Verona both win semifinal games, it will be the second time that two Northern Kentucky teams played in the girls championship final. In 2012, Walton-Verona edged Newport Central Catholic, 38-36, in overtime to take the title.
All “A” Classic state tournament
GIRLS SCHEDULE
Saturday
HOLY CROSS (18-4) vs. Owensboro Catholic (15-6), noon
WALTON-VERONA (17-5) vs. West Carter (19-3), 1:30 p.m.
Sunday
Championship game, noon
BOYS SCHEDULE
Saturday
WALTON-VERONA (17-3) vs. Lexington Christian (17-6), 6 p.m.
Shelby Valley (20-3) vs. University Heights (19-3), 7:30 p.m.
Sunday
Championship game, 2 p.m.