By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Zoie Barth has made her mark on the Highlands athletic program. During her six-year varsity basketball career, the senior point guard has scored 2,359 points, the third highest total of any basketball player, male or female, at the school.
The two names ahead of her on the scoring list are Jaime Walz-Richey and Scott Draud, who led their teams to 9th Region titles when they were seniors. That’s what Barth wants to do in her final season with the Bluebirds, but she knows it won’t be easy.
Senior guard Zoie Barth has the third highest scoring total of any Highlands basketball player. (Photo by Allen Ramsey / dwcphopto.com)
In the latest Associated Press statewide coaches poll, three 9th Region teams were among the leading vote-getters. Conner was ranked No. 1 in the state with Ryle at No. 4 and Highlands at No. 6 going into the district playoffs that begin on Monday.
“Our region is very, very talented,” Barth said. “I’m friends with some of the players on Conner and Ryle and I have the utmost respect for both teams. There’s definitely going to be some tough competition.”
The last time Highlands took home a 9th Region championship trophy in girls basketball was 2001. The Bluebirds have won more than 20 games each of the last five years that Barth has been on the varsity roster, but none of those teams even got to the regional final.
Barth and the other seniors on the current roster want to end that title drought in their last season together.
“I’m really grateful for all the successful seasons, but my ultimate goal has always been to win a 9th Region title and make an appearance in the state tournament,” Barth said. “I think we have the potential, the skill and the heart and dedication. We have all the tools, we just have to go out and do it.”
Barth is averaging 20 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.1 steals for the Bluebirds. She was named one of 17 finalists for Miss Kentucky Basketball and local coaches voted her Division II Player of the Year for the second straight season.
In addition to being one of her school’s all-time leading scores, the 5-foot-8 point guard has career totals of 481 assists and 458 steals that rank fourth and third, respectively, in the Highlands girls basketball record book.
“I’m just very proud of her for all the time and effort she’s put into her game all around,” said Richey, the team’s head coach. “She’s not just an offensive player. She gets after it on defense, and she makes her teammates better. She’s always been a leader and she makes every effort to help her teammates on and off the court.”
Coach Jaime Walz-Richey
The coach said Barth is being courted by several college recruiters, but she’s not ready to make a commitment. She’s one of the top students in her senior class and wants to select a college that will provide the best path to her long-range goal of becoming a doctor.
“Basketball is extremely important to me and I want to continue my career because I love the sport,” Barth said. “But my education is also extremely important to me, and always will be. So it’s a matter of finding that balance between a good team that I’ll be comfortable with at a good academic school.”
But the main thing on Barth’s mind right now is the basketball playoffs. If the Bluebirds win a district semifinal game against Bellevue or Newport on Wednesday, they’ll get a berth in the regional tournament no matter what they do in the district final.
Highlands lost in the first round of the regional tournament the last two years and got knocked off in the semifinals three consecutive years before that. Barth wants her sixth and final season to last a lot longer.
“Everyone says the post-season is the true season of basketball,” she said. “It’s nerve-racking. I think no degree of experience can take that feeling away. You’re playing for a championship and nothing else matters up to this point. You’ve put in so much work and that sets the stage for you to show it all off and give it everything you’ve got.”
Highlands will likely have the most experienced point guard in the 9th Region playoffs. Barth has played in 10 district and eight regional tournament games over the last five years.
“She makes this team go,” coach Richey said. “Her teammates look to her so much. They look to her for guidance out there on the court.”
Boys district basketball tournaments
32nd District at Simon Kenton
Monday
Simon Kenton vs. Williamstown, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Walton-Verona vs. Grant County, 6 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
33rd District at Cooper
Monday
Boone County vs. Heritage, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Cooper vs. Boone County-Heritage winner, 6 p.m.
Conner vs. Ryle, 7:45 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
34th District at St. Henry
Monday
Ludlow vs. Villa Madonna, 7:45 p.m.
Wednesday
St. Henry vs. Ludlow-Villa Madonna winner, 6 p.m.
Lloyd vs. Dixie Heights, 7:45 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
35th District at Holmes
Tuesday
Beechwood vs. Holy Cross, 6:30 p.m.
Covington Catholic vs. Holmes, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
36th District at Newport Central Catholic
Monday
Bellevue vs. Dayton, 8 p.m.
Tuesday
Highlands vs. Newport Central Catholic, 6 p.m.
Newport vs. Bellevue-Dayton winner, 8:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
37th District at Campbell County Middle School
Monday
Brossart vs. Silver Grove, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Campbell County vs. Brossart-Silver Grove winner, 6 p.m.
Scott vs. Calvary Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
Girls district basketball tournaments
32nd District at Simon Kenton
Monday
Simon Kenton vs. Williamstown, 8 p.m.
Tuesday
Walton-Verona vs. Grant County, 8 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
33rd District at Cooper
Wednesday
Conner vs. Cooper, 6 p.m.
Ryle vs. Boone County, 7:45 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
34th District at St. Henry
Monday
Lloyd vs. Villa Madonna, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Dixie Heights vs. Lloyd-Villa Madonna winner, 6 p.m.
St. Henry vs. Ludlow, 7:45 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
35th District at Holmes
Wednesday
Notre Dame vs. Beechwood, 6:30 p.m.
Holy Cross vs. Holmes, 8 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
36th District at Newport Central Catholic
Monday
Bellevue vs. Newport, 6 p.m.
Wednesday
Highlands vs. Bellevue-Newport winner, 6 p.m.
Newport Central Catholic vs. Dayton, 8 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
37th District at Campbell County Middle School
Monday
Calvary Christian vs. Silver Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Scott vs. Calvary Christian-Silver Grove winner, 6 p.m.
Campbell County vs. Brossart, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
