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Prep Sports Notebook: High school basketball teams making headlines in first two weeks of season


By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter

There’s already been some notable accomplishments in Northern Kentucky high school basketball during the first two weeks of the season.

Jaime Richey got her 300th win as coach of the Highlands’ girls’ basketball team last Thursday. The Bluebirds have won 20 or more games the last five seasons under Richey and her current team is off to a 3-1 start with one senior, three juniors and a freshman in the starting lineup.

NewCath senior guard Brennan Hall’s reverse layup in Monday’s game against Lloyd put his career scoring total over 1,000 points. (Photo by Ted Jackson)

The Campbell County girls’ team upset Louisville Male, 75-66, on Tuesday to run its record to 3-0. In preseason coaches polls, Male was voted No. 3 in the state and Campbell County’s highest ranking was No. 11.

Last week, the Camels opened the season with a 75-66 win over Cooper and then beat nationally ranked Montini Catholic of Illinois, 44-33, in the Hoops for Harvest girls’ basketball showcase at Dixie Heights High School.

Senior guard Taylor Clos and senior forward McKenzie Schwarber were double-figure scorers in all three games for Campbell County. In the win over Montini Catholic, they both posted a double-double in points and rebounds.

The Camels have a big home game on Friday against 10th Region rival Clark County,
a team that was ranked No. 4 in the state in one preseason poll.

The Newport Central Catholic boys’ team won its first three games behind the scoring of senior guard Brennan Hall. He netted 70 points in those three victories to put his career scoring total over the 1,000 mark.

NewCath senior forward Brenden Luken has also gotten off to a good start. He’s averaging 16.3 points and 9.6 rebounds and shooting 55.8 percent (19 of 34) from the field after the first three games.

The Thoroughbreds, who were ranked No. 4 in the Northern Kentucky preseason coaches poll, will play at top-ranked Covington Catholic on Friday.

Coaches association names top football players in each district

Nelson Perrin

Seven high school football players in Northern Kentucky were named Player of the Year in their district by the Kentucky Football Coaches Association and introduced during halftime of last weekend’s six state championship games.

The local winners were: Daniel Mescher of Beechwood in Class 1A, Mason Smith of Walton-Verona and Jordan Fann of Lloyd in Class 2A, Nelson Perrin of Scott in Class 4A, A.J. Mayer of Covington Catholic in Class 5A, Alex Dowds of Campbell County and Jake Chisholm of Ryle in Class 6A.

Two of those players received the most valuable player award in state championship games last weekend. Mescher was the leading scorer for Beechwood in the Class 1A title game and Mayer was the leading scorer for CovCath in the Class 5A state final.

The selections for Coach of the Year in each district were also announced. The local award-winners were Noel Rash of Beechwood, Jeff Barth of Walton-Verona and Eric Turner of Lloyd, Eddie Eviston of CovCath, Mike Engler of Ryle and Jeff Marksberry of Simon Kenton.

Newport High School begins search for new head football coach

Newport Independent Schools is taking applications for a new head football coach to replace Tim Viox, who will not return after his teams compiled a 4-29 record over the last three seasons.

The Wildcats had mostly underclassmen on the roster last season and finished with a 2-9 record. The quarterback and the leading tackler were both sophomores and the leading rusher was a junior.

Newport will be hiring a new head football coach for the sixth time in the last 13 years. The Wildcats have had just three winning seasons over that 13-year span.


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