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
Holy Cross guard Olivia Crigler tries to dribble drive past Dannielle Rennekamp of Notre Dame in district semifinal game. (Photo by Bob Jackson)
Holy Cross did most of its scoring at the free throw line in the fourth quarter and knocked off Notre Dame, 48-34, in a 35th District girls’ basketball semifinal game on Tuesday at Beechwood High School.
The Indians had a slim 29-27 lead going into the fourth quarter and made six straight free throws to start a 13-3 run. They ended up scoring 13 of their 19 fourth-quarter points at the foul line with senior Aleha Tucker and sophomore Trinity McClendon each making four.
The game’s only double-figure scorer was senior forward Allison Gribben with 11 points. Tucker led Holy Cross with nine.
The district final between Holy Cross and Holmes is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Beechwood. Both teams will advance to the next week’s 9th Region tournament at BB&T Arena.
Holmes won last year’s regional tournament and lost to Holy Cross in the 2015 regional final. That was the year that Holy Cross became the first 9th Region team to win a state championship in girls’ basketball.
NOTRE DAME 9 8 10 7 — 34
HOLY CROSS 14 9 6 19 — 48
NOTRE DAME (8-18): McDowell 2 1 5, Hagan 2 2 6, Tierney 2 3 7, Gribben 4 3 11, Rennekamp 1 3 5. Totals: 11 12 34.
HOLY CROSS (17-10): Macke 1 0 3, Crigler 1 2 5, McClendon 1 4 6, Turner 2 0 5, Tucker 2 5 9, Chames 2 2 6, Simpson 2 2 6, Thomas 3 2 8. Totals: 14 17 48.
Three-pointers: HC — Macke, Crigler, Turner.
HOLMES 67, BEECHWOOD 29
Holmes junior forward Tyrah Engelmon scored 16 of her game-high 24 points in the first half when her team took a commanding 38-17 lead. In the second half, Holmes continued to pull away by limiting Beechwood to six field goals in the final 16 minutes.
The other double-figure scorers for Holmes were junior Laila Johnson with 19 points and senior Jaynice Stovall with 13. Beechwood senior Ally Johnson scored 11 points in her final high school game. She finished her senior season as the team’s all-time leading scorer with more than 2,100 points.
Holmes will play Holy Cross in the district final at 7:30 Friday at Beechwood. Both teams will advance to the next week’s 9th Region tournament at BB&T Arena.
DIXIE HEIGHTS 55, ST. HENRY 44
St. Henry had a 15-point lead at halftime, but Dixie Heights dominated the second half and came back to win the 35th District semifinal game.
The Colonels cut the deficit to 35-30 in the third quarter and won the game by outscoring St. Henry, 25-9, in the fourth quarter. The comeback was led by eighth-grader Sydney Lockard and junior Caroline Brandenberg, who both scored nine points in the second half.
Lockard and her sophomore teammate Grace Perry were the game’s leading scorers with 13 points. St. Henry’s only double-figure scorer was Paige Nobel with 11 points. She fouled out and didn’t make a basket in the fourth quarter.
Dixie Heights will play Lloyd in the district championship game at 6 p.m. Friday. They’ll both be in the eight-team bracket for next week’s 9th Region tournament. This is the first time since 2006 that Lloyd has made it to the regional playoffs.
HIGHLANDS 70, NEWPORT 35
Highlands guards Jenna Martin and Zoie Barth made 18 of their team’s 25 field goals and scored a combined total of 46 points in the 36th District semifinal game.
Martin made five 3-point goals and scored 24 points. She also had four assists and six steals. Barth finished with 22 points, three rebounds and three steals.
Highlands will play Newport Central Catholic in the district final at 7 p.m. Thursday with both teams advancing to next week’s 9th Region tournament. Cooper and Ryle are the 33rd District teams that warned regional berths.
Girls’ basketball district playoff schedules
32nd DISTRICT at WILLIAMSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Wednesday
Grant County vs. Williamstown, 7 p.m.
Friday
Championship: Simon Kenton vs. Grant County-Williamstown winner, 7 p.m.
33rd DISTRICT at BOONE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Thursday
Championship: Cooper vs. Conner, 7 p.m.
34th DISTRICT AT LLOYD HIGH SCHOOL
Friday
Championship: Lloyd vs. Dixie Heights, 6 p.m.
35th DISTRICT at BEECHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Friday
Championship: Holmes vs. Holy Cross, 7:30 p.m.
36th DISTRICT at DAYTON HIGH SCHOOL
Thursday
Championship: Highlands vs. Newport Central Catholic, 7 p.m.
37th DISTRICT at CAMPBELL COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Thursday
Championship: Scott vs. Campbell County, 7 p.m.
