By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Newport edged Ludlow, 48-47, in the only first-round game of the girls’ 9th Region All “A” Classic that went down to the wire on Monday at Beechwood High School.
In the other two games, Beechwood buried Bellevue, 63-32, and Newport Central Catholic whipped Villa Madonna, 57-21, to advance to the quarterfinal round in the regional playoffs for small-school teams.
Newport senior Kylie Orr made two free throws with 18 seconds left to clinch her team’s win over Ludlow. Orr finished with 15 points for the Wildcats, who have won five of their last six games.
Beechwood took a 16-0 lead in the first quarter against Bellevue and went on score more than 60 points for the fifth time this season. The Tigers were led by junior guard Ally Johnson with 25 points. Olivia Stokes and Kimi Stokes scored 13 each.
NewCath senior guard Ansley Davenport netted a team-high 14 points in the Thoroughbreds’ victory over Villa Madonna. NewCath won eight consecutive regional years before Holy Cross snapped that string last year.
Holy Cross, the defending All “A” Classic and Kentucky state champion, will play St. Henry in a regional quarterfinal game at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Beechwood. In a regular season game on Dec. 2, Holy Cross defeated St. Henry, 63-45, behind a 20-point effort by senior guard Dajah McClendon.
The other girls’ 9th Region quarterfinal game on Tuesday is Lloyd vs. Beechwood at 6 p.m. The quarterfinal round of the boys’ 8th Region All “A” Classic will be played Tuesday with Walton-Verona taking on Trimble County at 7 p.m. at Carroll County High School.
ALL “A” CLASSIC GIRLS REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS
10th REGION AT BRACKEN COUNTY
Monday
Bracken County 71, Paris 35
Wednesday
Augusta vs. Bracken County, 6 p.m.
Thursday
Nicholas County vs. Brossart, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
9th REGION AT BEECHWOOD
Monday
Beechwood 63, Bellevue 32
Newport 48, Ludlow 47
Newport Central Catholic 57, Villa Madonna 21
Tuesday
Lloyd vs. Beechwood, 6 p.m.
Holy Cross vs. St. Henry, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Heritage vs. Newport, 6 p.m.
Dayton vs. Newport Central Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Semifinal games, 6 and 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
8th REGION AT OWEN COUNTY
Monday
Carroll County 47, Eminence 10
Gallatin County 52, Williamstown 38
Trimble County 51, Owen County 33
Wednesday
Walton-Verona vs. Carroll County, 6 p.m.
Gallatin County vs. Trimble County, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
ALL “A” CLASSIC BOYS REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS
10th REGION AT BRACKEN COUNTY
Monday
Paris 69, Bracken County 55
Wednesday
Augusta vs. Paris, 7:45 p.m.
Thursday
Nicholas County vs. Brossart, 7:45 p.m.
Saturday
Championship game, 8 p.m.
8th REGION AT CARROLL COUNTY
Tuesday
Williamstown vs. Eminence, 5:30 p.m.
Trimble County vs. Walton-Verona, 7 p.m.
Gallatin County vs. Carroll County, 8:30 p.m.
Thursday
Owen County vs. Gallatin County-Carroll County winner, 6 p.m.
Williamstown-Eminence winner vs. Trimble County-Walton-Verona winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
9th REGION AT LLOYD
Jan. 18
St. Henry vs. Heritage, 4:30 p.m.
Ludlow vs. Holy Cross, 6:15 p.m.
Dayton vs. Bellevue, 8 p.m.
Jan. 19
Beechwood vs. St. Henry-Heritage winner, 6 p.m.
Lloyd vs. Newport Central Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 20
Newport vs. Ludlow-Holy Cross winner, 6 p.m.
Villa Madonna vs. Dayton-Bellevue winner, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 22
Semifinal games, 6 and 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 23
Championship game, 7 p.m.