Campbell County luck runs out after 13 straight as Noah’s 48 for Harlan County game turns it all around
By Dan Weber
NKyTribune sports reporter
LEXINGTON – Sometimes it happens like this. You’re playing your game. You’re confident, making the passes and the shots. Playing smart. You’re up double digits. Just one last quarter to go. Eight short minutes.
Campbell County Coach Brent Sowder consoles senior Broc Sorgenfrei after his 17-point Friday performance that earned him a spot on the all-tournament...
Prep Sports Report: Holy Cross sophomore finished season with state’s best free throw percentage
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
For the third straight year, Holy Cross had a boys basketball player finish on top in statewide statistics. Sophomore guard Luke Arlinghaus shot 91.9 percent from the free throw line to lead the state in that category.
The state’s top scorer the previous two seasons was Holy Cross guard Jacob Meyer, who averaged 38.2 points as a junior and 36.8 as...
In a Sweet 16 matchup Northern Kentucky couldn’t lose, Campbell County upsets streaking Newport
By Dan Weber
NKyTribune reporter
LEXINGTON – It doesn’t often happen like this. A guaranteed Sweet 16 winner for Northern Kentucky.Guaranteed.
In fact, it’s never happened like this – two teams from the same conference, heck the same county – facing off in a neighborhood rivalry removed to Rupp Arena for a state tournament showdown.
There’s only one problem with the guaranteed winner scenario:...
Kentucky stunned in NCAA opener for second time in three years with shocking loss to Oakland
By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
Tre Mitchell walked out of the locker room with with towel over his head. He was joined by Antonio Reeves as they prepared to face the media following another one-and-done appearance in the postseason.
It was another stunning early exit for Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night. The Wildcats, the No. 3 seed in the South Region, suffered their second opening-round...
Campbell County making first appearance in boys state tournament since 2019 against Newport
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Campbell County boys basketball coach Brent Sowder enjoys reading about the history of professional boxing. When asked about preparing his team for a game against Newport in the first round of the “Sweet 16” state tournament, he recalled the words of a former heavyweight champion
“I think we got a plan together,” Sowder said. “But like Mike Tyson...
Kentucky’s John Calipari, Tre Mitchell, Adou Thiero celebrate homecoming ahead of NCAA opener
By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
A visit to Pittsburgh to open the NCAA Tournament is more than just about basketball for Kentucky coach John Calipari and players Tre Mitchell and Adou Thiero.
Calipari is a native of Moon Township, Mitchell is from Pittsburgh and Adou Thiero played at Quaker Valley High School. For Mitchell, the return to his hometown is surreal.
“It means the world to be back home...
Ninth-10th Region Sweet 16 matchup takes fans back 43 years to one that mattered most for Northern KY
By Dan Weber
NKyTribune sports reporter
Thursday’s Sweet 16 meeting between the Ninth and 10th Region champs will not be the first time it’s happened that Northern Kentucky neighbors matched up in the state tournament.
But as interesting and exciting as the Newport-Campbell County matchup will surely be, there will only be one of these all-time for me. It was the first – and last – time I ever...
Prep Sports Report: 9th Region tournaments set attendance record with big crowds last two nights
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Large crowds at the last three games pushed the attendance total for the 9th Region boys and girls basketball tournaments to a new record, according to statistics released by Northern Kentucky athletic directors in charge of the March Madness event.
The total attendance was 23,399 for seven boys and seven girls games played at Northern Kentucky University’s...
Dan Weber’s Just Sayin’: Time for KHSAA to fix Sweet 16, the Ninth Region has had enough
Excuse us, KHSAA, but could we talk? Yeah, it’s us, the basketball folks in the Ninth Region.
And now, in between the Girls’ and Boys’ Sweet 16’s, it seems the perfect time to bring this up.
Yeah, it’s pretty important. And timely, although there’s obviously nothing you can do about it this year. But we must talk.
Although we’re not sure where to begin with the two issues that impact...
Kentucky earns No. 3 seed in NCAA tournament, will face Oakland in south region Thursday night
By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
An early exit in the Southeastern Conference Tournament didn’t prove too costly to Kentucky’s NCAA seeding when pairings were announced Sunday.
The Wildcats (23-9) received a No. 3 seed in the South Region and will open against No. 14 seed Oakland of the Horizon League on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. (CBS).
Oakland (23-11) won the conference tournament with an 83-76...
Fighting to the end, Cooper loses close game against Sacred Heart in semifinals of girls state tournament
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
LEXINGTON — Their time as teammates didn’t end the way they dreamed it would, but five seniors on the Cooper girls basketball roster will cherish what they accomplished together once the bitter disappointment of a season-ending loss in the state tournament wears away.
In a semifinal showdown between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the final state...
Strong team effort carries Cooper girls to final four showdown with Sacred Heart in state tournament
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Over the last three seasons, Louisville Sacred Heart has won 71 consecutive girls basketball games against in-state opponents and claimed three consecutive Kentucky state championship trophies.
Cooper will try to break both of those streaks when it faces Sacred Heart in the semifinals of this year’s state tournament at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Rupp Arena....
Cooper girls pull out two-point win over small-school team making debut in state basketball tournament
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
A little-known player from one of Kentucky’s smallest high schools nearly ended Cooper’s season in the first round of the “Sweet 16” girls state basketball tournament on Thursday night at Rupp Arena.
The Jaguars made five free throws in the final 41 seconds to pull out a 65-63 win over Danville Christian Academy, a private school...
Prep Sports Report: Cooper defensive standout will face challenge in girls state tournament opener
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Bella Deere became a starting forward on the Cooper girls basketball team this season by improving in two aspects of the game.
“Coach (Justin) Holthaus and I talked at the end of last year and the beginning of this year and he said rebounding and being physical on defense, that’s what’s going to get me a starting spot,” Deere said.
After the Jaguars...
Playing at home has been sweet for Kentucky freshman, fan favorite Reed Sheppard
By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
Time flies when you’re having fun and Reed Sheppard has enjoyed every minute of his freshman season at Kentucky.
“This year has flown by,” said Sheppard, who was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year Monday. “Being able to play in Rupp Arena in front of the best fans in the world for a lot of games this year was awesome.”
Sheppard was one of only...
