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
Rachel Lehkamp of Walton-Verona tries to put up a shot against a Simon Kenton defender. (Photo by Carla Martin)
The Simon Kenton girls’ basketball that ended the regular season ranked No. 1 in the 8th Region opened the playoffs with a tense 51-41 win over Walton-Verona on Monday at Williamstown High School.
It was one of the lowest point totals of the season for the Pioneers, who had a slim 43-36 lead going into the fourth quarter. They managed to hold Walton-Verona to five points in that final period to come away with the victory.
Simon Kenton junior guard Ally Niece scored 12 of her 18 points in the first half that ended with her team holding a 37-22 lead. Walton-Verona mounted a comeback in the third quarter by making four 3-point shots during a 14-6 scoring run.
The Bearcats made eight 3-pointers in the game. Junior guard Ally Poore made four of them to account for all of her 12 points. The team’s leading scorer was sophomore guard Brooke Perry, who made three treys and finished with 18 points.
Simon Kenton earned a berth in next week’s 8th Region tournament with the victory. The Pioneers will play the winner of the Grant County-Williamstown game in the district final at 7 p.m. Friday.
SIMON KENTON 11 26 6 8 — 51
WALTON-VERONA 9 13 14 5 — 41
SIMON KENTON (23-6): Niece 6 6 18, Harmeyer 4 3 13, Meier 4 0 8, Buckner 1 0 2, Stamper 1 0 2, Harney 1 0 3, Jones 1 0 3, Gilliam 1 0 2. Totals: 19 9 51.
WALTON-VERONA (18-13): Perry 6 3 18, Poore 4 0 12, Lehkamp 1 2 4, Anderson 1 0 3, Hardin 0 2 2, Groneck 1 0 2. Totals: 13 7 41.
Three-pointers: SK — Harmeyer 2, Harney, Jones. WV — Poore 4, Perry 3, Anderson.
LUDLOW 56, VILLA MADONNA 30
Ludlow turned a close game into a runaway victory by outscoring Villa Madonna, 25-7, in the third quarter of the 34th District opener at Lloyd.
During that offensive surge, senior guard Haley Turner scored 10 points and freshman guard Abby Mahan got nine of her game-high 18 points for the Panthers, who will play Lloyd in a district semifinal game at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The game’s other double-figure scorers were Ludlow freshman center Karina Castrellon with 15 points and Villa Madonna sophomore forward Lexi Lund with 12 points.
LUDLOW 14 8 25 9 — 56
VILLA MADONNA 8 6 7 9 — 30
LUDLOW (17-13): Mahan 7 1 18, Lovell 1 0 2, Lantry 1 0 2, Crawford 2 0 5, Turner 4 2 10, Collins 2 0 4. Castellon 6 3 15. Totals: 23 6 56.
VILLA MADONNA (9-18): Perry 1 1 3, Wagner 2 0 4, Blincoe 3 0 6, Willmott 1 0 3, Doumont 1 0 2, Lund 4 4 121. Totals: 12 5 30.
Three-pointers: L — Mahan 3, Crawford. VM — Willmott.
CALVARY CHRISTIAN 49, SILVER GROVE 9
Calvary Christian junior forward Rebekah Fryman scored 18 points and snagged eight rebounds in the win that moves her team into the 37th District semifinals to play top-seeded Scott at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Campbell County Middle School.
Fryman was 8-of-16 from the field and teammate Kaelin Clemons went 5-for-9 against Silver Grove, which finished the season with an 0-21 record.
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
Tuesday
Cooper vs. Boone County, 6 p.m.
Ryle vs. Conner, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
34th DISTRICT AT LLOYD HIGH SCHOOL
Tuesday
Lloyd vs. Ludlow, 6 p.m.
St. Henry vs. Dixie Heights, 7:45 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
35th DISTRICT at BEECHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Tuesday
Holmes vs. Beechwood, 6 p.m.
Holy Cross vs. Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7:30 p.m.
36th DISTRICT at DAYTON HIGH SCHOOL
Tuesday
Highlands vs. Newport, 6 p.m.
Newport Central Catholic vs. Dayton, 7:30 p.m..
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
37th DISTRICT at CAMPBELL COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Tuesday
Scott vs. Calvary Christian, 6 p.m.
Campbell County vs. Brossart, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
