By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The two teams with the best records in 9th Region girls basketball will face each other in the opening game of the regional tournament at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Northern Kentucky University’s BB&T Arena.
Notre Dame (23-6) is a heavy favorite going into the game against Ludlow (25-7) because the Pandas have played a tougher schedule than their small-school opponent.
But Ludlow nearly upset Dixie Heights in the 34th District final on Friday and the Panthers are primed for the opportunity to post the program’s first-ever win in a regional playoff game.
The final girls first-round game at 8 p.m. on Tuesday will have defending regional and state champion Ryle going against Holy Cross, the program that won the 2015 state title.
The other match-ups involve teams ranked in the top 10 in the final regular season Northern Kentucky girls coaches poll. It will be No. 3 Highlands vs. No. 5 Conner at 8 p.m. Monday and No. 8 Dixie Heights vs. No. 10 Newport Central Catholic at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Highlands (21-10) has won 17 of its last 21 games, including a 64-54 victory over Conner. The Bluebirds were No. 3 in the local coaches poll behind Ryle.
The 9th Region boys tournament won’t begin until Saturday, March 7 when four first-round games will be played in afternoon and evening sessions at BB&T Arena.
The top five teams in the final Northern Kentucky boys coaches poll are in the bracket. The first-round matchups include No. 1 Covington Catholic vs. Newport, No. 2 Conner vs. No. 5 Beechwood, No. 3 Highlands vs. Dixie Heights and No. 4 St. Henry vs. Cooper.
CovCath (26-5) has won four of the last six 9th Region championships, including the 2019 and 2018 titles. The last team to win three in a row was Holmes in 2007-2009.
Campbell County and Brossart are the local teams in the 10th Region boys and girls tournaments. The 8th Region girls bracket includes Walton-Verona and Simon Kenton.
The final first-round game on the 8th Region girls schedule will be Simon Kenton (27-4) vs. Anderson County (27-5) at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Collins High School.
In the latest statewide power rankings published by the Lexington Herald Leader, Simon Kenton was No. 1 and Anderson County was No. 7, but that was before the Pioneers lost to Walton-Verona in the 32nd District final. Simon Kenton also finished No. 1 in the local girls coaches poll.
The Simon Kenton boys team will open the 8th Region tournament at Henry County with a game against South Oldham at 6:30 p.m Wednesday. The teams have matching 22-9 records and they did not play each other during the regular season. The Pioneers have not won a regional tournament game since 2014.
Girls basketball regional tournaments
9TH REGION AT BB&T ARENA
Monday – Upper bracket
Notre Dame (23-6) vs. Ludlow (25-7), 6:30 p.m.
Highlands (21-10) vs. Conner (20-11), 8 p.m.
Wednesday – Lower bracket
Dixie Heights (20-12) vs. Newport Central Catholic (20-12), 6:30 p.m.
Ryle (19-11) vs. Holy Cross (17-12), 8 p.m.
Friday
Upper bracket semifinal, 6:30 p.m.
Lower bracket semifinal, 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 8
Championship game, 2 p.m.
10TH REGION AT CAMPBELL COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Monday – Upper bracket
Brossart (23-5) vs. Harrison County (13-19), 6 p.m.
St. Patrick (16-13) vs. George Rogers Clark (19-10), 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Lower bracket
Campbell County (20-11) vs. Nicholas County (20-12), 6 p.m.
Mason County (15-15) vs. Bourbon County (19-13), 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Upper bracket semifinal, 6 p.m.
Lower bracket semifinal, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
8TH REGION AT COLLINS
Monday – Upper bracket
South Oldham (20-8) vs. Woodford County (15-14), 6:30 p.m.
Walton-Verona (23-9) vs. Gallatin County (10-18), 8 p.m.
Tuesday – Lower bracket
Owen County (23-9) vs. Oldham County (19-12), 6:30 p.m.
Simon Kenton (27-4) vs. Anderson County (27-5), 8 p.m.
Friday
Upper bracket semifinal, 6:30 p.m.
Lower bracket semifinal, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
Boys basketball regional tournaments
9TH REGION AT BB&T ARENA
Saturday – Upper bracket
St. Henry (24-4) vs. Cooper (11-16), noon
Covington Catholic (26-5) vs. Newport (15-14), 1:30 p.m.
Saturday – Lower bracket
Conner (22-5) vs. Beechwood (21-11), 6:30 p.m.
Highlands (26-3) vs. Dixie Heights (10-20), 8 p.m.
Monday, March 9
Upper bracket semifinal, 6:30 p.m.
Lower bracket semifinal, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, March 10
Championship game, 7:30 p.m.
10TH REGION AT GEORGE ROGERS CLARK
Wednesday – Upper bracket
Brossart (24-6) vs. Robertson County (24-5), 6 p.m.
Augusta (14-18) vs. George Rogers Clark (25-7), 7:30 p.m.
Thursday – Lower bracket
Mason County (18-11) vs. Montgomery County (20-12), 6 p.m.
Campbell County (17-14) vs. Pendleton County (12-19), 7:30 p.m.
Monday, March 9
Upper bracket semifinal, 6 p.m.
Lower bracket semifinal, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 10
Championship game, 7 p.m.
8TH REGION AT HENRY COUNTY
Wednesday – Upper bracket
Simon Kenton (22-9) vs. South Oldham (22-9), 6:30 p.m.
Collins (24-7) vs. Henry County (18-14), 8 p.m.
Thursday – Lower bracket
Oldham County (28-3) vs. Woodford County (17-15), 6:30 p.m.
Gallatin County (17-14) vs. Grant County (21-10), 8 p.m.
Monday, March 9
Upper bracket semifinal, 6:30 p.m.
Lower bracket semifinal,8 p.m.
Tuesday, March 10
Championship game, 7 p.m.