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Boys’ basketball district playoffs: CovCath turns tight game into runaway victory against Holmes


By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter

CovCath guard C.J. Fredrick takes the ball to the basket in the 35th District semifinal game against Holmes. (Photo by Bob Jackson)

Covington Catholic went on a 17-6 run in the third and fourth quarters to break open a tight game and defeated Holmes, 76-52, in the semifinals of the 35th District tournament on Wednesday at Holy Cross.

Four of CovCath’s starting players had double-figure scoring totals. The leaders were junior guard C.J. Fredrick with 20 points and senior guard Cole VonHandorf with 18. Junior forward A.J. Mayer posted a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds.

CovCath shot 51 percent (24 of 47) from the field and finished with a 43-21 rebounding advantage. Holmes shot 43 percent (22 of 51) and had two double-figure scorers — junior guard Rico Hollis with 22 points and senior forward Aiden Greene with 14.

CovCath clinched a berth in next week’s 9th Region tournament with the win. The Colonels will play the winner of the Beechwood-Holy Cross game in the district final at 7 p.m. Saturday.

A draw to determine first-round pairings for the regional tournament will be held on Sunday. CovCath made it to the regional final each of the last four years and won the state championship in 2015.

HOLMES     10  16  11  15 — 52
COVCATH   15  16  23  22 — 76

HOLMES (12-17): Miller 1 1 3, Commodore 1 0 2, Sterling 1 0 3, Englemon 2 0 4, Saxon 1 0 2, Greene 5 4 14, Layne 1 0 2, Hollis 10 2 22. Totals: 22 7 52.

COVCATH (26-5): Fredrick 7 4 20, Deere 0 1 1, VonHandorf 7 3 18, Lenihan 1 0 3, Mayer 3 9 15, Ruthsatz 4 5 14, Walter 2 1 5. Totals: 24 23 76.

Three-pointers: CC — Fredrick 2, VonHandorf, Lenihan, Ruthsatz. H — Sterling.

RYLE 60, CONNER 58

The Ryle boys basketball team that lost seven of its last 10 regular season games won the 33rd District semifinal showdown on a last-second shot by senior forward Austin McDaniel. It was the Raiders’ third win over the Cougars this season and all three games were decided by two points

Two players did most of the scoring for Conner. Junior guard Tanner Craddock took game-high honors with 23 points and senior forward Spencer Hemmerich had 20. Ryle senior Jared Webster’ scored 14 points and three of his teammates — Braden Cheesman, Aaron O’Hara and Vince Rankin — had 11 points each.

The Raiders clinched a berth in the 9th Region tournament for the first time since 2014 with the victory. They will play Cooper in the district final at 7 p.m. Friday at Boone County High School.

COOPER 69, BOONE COUNTY 42

Junior guards Adam Kunkel and Brayden Runion were Cooper’s leading scorers in the 33rd District semifinal game. Kunkel got 13 of his 16 points in the first half when the Jaguars opened up a 41-24 lead and Runion scored 11 of his 18 points during a 22-8 run in the third quarter that put the game away.

Cooper made nine 3-point shots with Kunkel and Runion getting three each. Boone County’s leading scorer was Raymond Rogers, who also made three treys and finished with 14 points.

Cooper will play Ryle in the district final at 7 p.m. Friday at Boone County High School with both teams advancing to next week’s 9th Region tournament at BB&T Arena.

LLOYD 53, ST. HENRY 50

Lloyd had a nine-point lead going into the fourth quarter and held off a late charge by St. Henry to win the 34th district semifinal game.

St. Henry scored 23 points in the fourth quarter with senior guard Stephen Maley getting 14 of his game-high 21 points during that period. But Lloyd came out on top because senior forward Sterling Hamilton got nine of his 19 points in the fourth quarter.

Lloyd will play Dixie Heights in the district final at 8 p.m. Friday at Lloyd . Both teams will move on to the 9th Region playoffs next week.

DIXIE HEIGHTS 56, LUDLOW 26

After finishing the regular season with one of the best defensive averages in the state, Dixie Heights took a 29-8 lead in the first half of the 34th District semifinal game and sent in reserve players during the final two quarters.

The leading scorer for the Colonels was sophomore guard Jamin Shumate, who made five 3-point goals for 15 points. Senior guard Hunter Meyer scored nine of his 11 points in the first half before taking a seat on the bench.

It will be Dixie Heights vs. Lloyd in the district final at 8 p.m. Friday at Lloyd and both teams will play in next week’s 9th Region tournament. This is the 13th consecutive year that the Colonels have made it to the regional tournament under Ken Chevalier, who is retiring as head coach at the end of the season.

NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC 72, DAYTON 38

NewCath took control of the 35th District semifinal game with a 27-4 run in the second half and the easy win gives the 9th Region champions a chance to defend their title in next week’s tournament at BB&T Arena.

The Thoroughbreds had four double-figure scorers with senior guard Luke Moeves getting 12 points to lead the way. Reserve players scored a total of 35 points with Austin Neff and Spencer Pangallo getting 10 points each. Dayton’s leading scorer was Draven Garcia with 11 points.

NewCath advances to the district final for the ninth consecutive year and plays Newport at 7 p.m. Friday at Dayton High School. Both teams clinched berths in the 9th Region tournament bracket.

CAMPBELL COUNTY 87, CALVARY CHRISTIAN 35

Every player on Campbell County’s team scored with junior forward Tanner Clos getting a game-high 16 points in the 37th District semifinal game.

The Camels took a 49-17 lead in the first when senior guard Cole Hegyi scored 11 points and Clos got nine. After the starters extended the margin to 62-24 in the third quarter, coach Aric Russell used reserve players in the fourth quarter and they netted 25 points.

Campbell County will play Scott in the district final at 7 p.m. Friday at Campbell County Middle School. The Camels have won the last five games between the two teams, including a 57-55 victory earlier this season. This is the third consecutive year the two teams have met in the district final. Both will advance to next week’s 10th Region tournament at Mason County.

Boys’ basketball district playoff schedules

32nd DISTRICT at WILLIAMSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Thursday
Grant County vs. Williamstown, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Championship: Walton-Verona vs. Grant County-Williamstown winner, 7 p.m.

33rd DISTRICT at BOONE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Friday
Championship: Cooper vs. Ryle, 7 p.m.

34th DISTRICT AT LLOYD HIGH SCHOOL
Friday
Championship: Dixie Heights vs. Lloyd, 8 p.m.

35th DISTRICT at HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL
Thursday
Holy Cross vs. Beechwood, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Championship: Covington Catholic vs. Holy Cross-Beechwood winner, 7 p.m.

36th DISTRICT at DAYTON HIGH SCHOOL
Friday
Championship: Newport Central Catholic vs. Newport, 7 p.m.

37th DISTRICT at CAMPBELL COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Friday
Championship: Campbell County vs. Scott, 7 p.m.


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