Thanks to St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sports Medicine for sponsoring our girls’ high school basketball coverage once again this season. See all of our girls’ basketball stories here and watch for state tournament coverage March 8-12 from BB&T Arena on the campus of Northern Kentucky University.
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Holy Cross girls’ basketball team held Holmes to its lowest point total of the season in the 35th District championship game and came away with a 47-39 victory on Friday at Beechwood.
The Indians had a 28-22 lead at the end of the third quarter and six players scored points in the final period to pull off the upset against last year’s 9th Region champion.
The game’s leading scorers were Holy Cross senior guard Aleah Tucker with 14 points and Holmes senior guard Jaynice Stovall with 13. Holmes junior forward Tyrah Englemon, who came into the game averaging 12.6 points, got into foul trouble and finished with six points.
Both teams will play in the 9th Region tournament that starts Monday at BB&T Arena. A draw to determine the first-round pairings will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Holmes High School.
HOLMES 7 6 9 17 — 39
HOLY CROSS 4 8 16 19 — 47
HOLMES (25-5): Johnson 4 0 10, Graham 3 2 10, Englemon 2 2 6, Stovall 4 4 13. Totals: 13 8 39.
HOLY CROSS (22-8): Macke 3 3 11, Crigler 0 1 1, McClendon 2 3 7, Turner 1 0 3, Tucker 6 2 14, Simpson 0 2 2, Thomas 3 3 9. Totals: 15 14 47.
Three-pointers: H — Johnson 2, Graham 2, Stovall, HC — Macke 2, Turner.
DIXIE HEIGHTS 56, LLOYD 46
Dixie Heights took a nine-point lead in the third quarter and protected it by making 12 of 17 free throws in the fourth quarter of the 35th District championship game.
The Colonels’ leading scorers were junior guard Caroline Buddenberg and eighth-grade guard Sydney Lockard with 13 points each. Lloyd senior Devin Cheatum netted a game-high 16 points.
The district winner and runner-up advance to next week’s 9th Region tournament BB&T Arena. The draw will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Holmes High School.
SIMON KENTON 66, GRANT COUNTY 35
Simon Kenton junior guards Ally Niece and Bailee Harney scored a combined total of 40 points to lead their team to victory in the 32nd District championship game.
Niece had 25 points and Harney made five 3-point shots for 15 points. Both teams advance to next week’s 8th Region tournament at Oldham County High School.