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 Cooper girls’ basketball team will make its debut in the 9th Region tournament at 6:30 p.m. Monday when the Jaguars take on Highlands, a program with a long history of success in post-season play, in the opening game at BB&T Arena.
Cooper had an 0-8 record in post-season playoff games until last week when the Jaguars defeated Boone County in the 33rd District semifinals. Conner edged Cooper, 61-57, in the district championship game, but the Jaguars are still in the running for the regional title and a berth in the “Sweet 16” state tournament.
Highlands won the 36th District title and advanced to the 9th Region tournament for the 38th time. The Bluebirds have a 44-30 record in previous regional games and own seven championship trophies.
“What it all comes down to is our girls have to show up and play, no matter who it is,” said Cooper coach Nicole Levandusky. “It’s the post-season. It’s time for everybody to step it up. This is what you work for all year.”
The regional tournament’s other first-round match-ups are Holy Cross vs. Lloyd, Conner vs. Newport Central Catholic and Dixie Heights vs. Holmes. There is no clear-cut favorite in the field. Each team has lost two or more games to other teams in the bracket. Cooper has a 4-4 record against regional tournament teams, including a 74-63 win over Highlands.
“It was a good game, back and forth, and I fully expect that again,” Levandusky said of the first game with the Bluebirds. “But you never know what Highlands will come to the table with. We’ve got to be ready for anything and everything.”
The leading scorers for Highlands are senior guard Jenna Martin and sophomore guard Zoie Barth. Cooper also has a solid backcourt combination in senior Hailey Anderson and juniors Asyah Mitchell and Lexi Held, who was voted Division I Player of the Year by local coaches.
But no one on Cooper’s team has been in a regional tournament or played on the college-sized floor at spacious BB&T Arena.
“We’re getting some court time on big courts so they can kind of feel the difference in their legs running the floor,” Lavendusky said. “As far as getting in the arena with the depth perception and the lights, it’s hard to mimic that. Every arena is different.”
Northern Kentucky girls’ basketball teams will also be competing in the 10th Region tournament at Harrison County High School and the 8th Region Tournament at Oldham County High school next week.
The first-round pairings for the 10th Region playoffs include Scott vs. Clark County at 7:30 p.m. Monday and Campbell County vs. Bourbon County at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The opening game in the 8th Region on Monday will be Simon Kenton vs. Oldham County at 6:30 p.m.
Here are the complete regional tournament schedules:
9TH REGION at BB&T ARENA
Monday — Upper bracket
Cooper vs. Highlands, 6:30 p.m.
Holy Cross vs. Lloyd, 8 p.m.
Tuesday — Lower bracket
Conner vs. Newport Central Catholic, 6:30 p.m.
Dixie Heights vs. Holmes, 8 p.m.
Friday
Upper bracket semifinal, 6:30 p.m.
Lower bracket semifinal, 8 p.m.
Sunday
Championship game, 2 p.m.
8TH REGION at OLDHAM COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Monday — Upper bracket
Simon Kenton vs. Oldham County, 6:30 p.m.
Anderson County vs. Carroll County, 8 p.m.
Tuesday — Lower bracket
Trimble County vs. Grant County, 6:30 p.m.
Owen County vs. Spencer County, 8 p.m.
Friday
Upper bracket semifinal, 6:30 p.m.
Lower bracket semifinal, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
10TH REGION at HARRISON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Monday — Upper bracket
Nicholas County vs. Bracken County, 6 p.m.
Scott vs. Clark County, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday — Lower bracket
Mason County vs. Harrison County, 6 p.m.
Campbell County vs. Bourbon County, 7: 30 p.m.
Friday
Upper bracket semifinal, 6 p.m.
Lower bracket semifinal, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship game, 7 p.m.