By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Conner boys basketball team will be riding a 16-game winning streak into the first round of the 9th Region tournament after defeating Cooper, 52-47, in the 33rd District championship game on Friday at Conner.
Cooper was district champion the last three years and battled to keep the title. The final score in Friday’s game was much closer than the two regular season games between the teams that Conner won by double-digit margins.
The Cougars had a 38-26 lead going into the fourth quarter Friday’s and survived a late charge by the Jaguars to win by five points. In that final period, Conner got eight of its 14 points on free throws to finish with a 10-3 scoring advantage at the line.
The game’s leading scorer was Conner senior guard Jalen Scott with 14 points. He was named the tournament’s most valuable player with teammates Spencer Couzins and Jared Hicks joining him on the all-tournament team.
Cooper junior guard Gavin Rabe scored 10 of his team-high 12 points in the second half of the title game. The Jaguars’ all-tournament selections were Kevin Centers and Jacob Deere.
Both of the 33rd District finalists advance to the 9th Region tournament that’s scheduled to start on March 7. A draw to determine first-round pairings is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday.
St. Henry, Covington Catholic, Highlands and Simon Kenton also won boys district titles on Friday. St. Henry needed a 19-8 scoring run in the fourth quarter to come away with a 55-50 win over Dixie Heights in the 34th District championship game.
In the girls 34th District final, Dixie Heights senior guard Celia Pelfrey swished a 3-point shot with eight seconds remaining to give her team a 58-53 win over Ludlow. This is the sixth consecutive year that the Colonels have won the district title.
Here are the eight-team fields for boys and girls regional tournaments that include Northern Kentucky teams. Draws to determine first-rounds pairings in each bracket will be held on Saturday or Sunday.
9TH REGION AT NKU BB&T ARENA
Boys — Conner, St. Henry, Covington Catholic, Highlands, Cooper, Dixie Heights, Beechwood, Newport.
Girls — Ryle, Dixie Heights, Notre Dame, Highlands, Conner, Ludlow, Holy Cross, Newport Central Catholic.
8TH REGION BOYS AT HENRY COUNTY
Simon Kenton, Grant County, Gallatin County, Henry County, Woodford County, Collins, Oldham County, South Oldham.
8TH REGION GIRLS AT COLLINS
Walton-Verona, Simon Kenton, Owen County, Gallatin County, Anderson County, Woodford County, Oldham County, South Oldham.
10TH REGION BOYS AT GEORGE ROGERS CLARK
Campbell County, Brossart, Robertson County, Pendleton County, Mason County, Augusta, George Rogers Clark, Montgomery County.
10TH REGION GIRLS AT CAMPBELL COUNTY
Campbell County, Brossart, Harrison County, Nicholas County, Mason County, St. Patrick, George Rogers Clark, Bourbon County.