By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Lauren Schwartz received two game balls on Senior Night for breaking the Ryle girls basketball team’s career scoring and rebounding records this season. She’ll have another award to add to her collection after being voted Division I Player of the Year by Northern Kentucky coaches.
The Rice University recruit is averaging 19.9 points and 8.0 rebounds for the Raiders going into the post-season playoffs. Her varsity career totals now stand at 1,961 points and 952 rebounds.
Lauren Schwartz received games balls from Ryle coach Katie Haitz for becoming the team’s all-time leader in scoring and rebounding. (Photo by Bob Jackson)
Ryle won last year’s 9th Region championship, but the Raiders were ranked No. 2 behind Conner in the last Northern Kentucky coaches poll. The teams split their home-and-home series during the regular season and are expected to meet again in the 33rd District final on Friday.
Highlands senior guard Zoie Barth was voted Division II Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. She’s averaging 20 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.1 steals for the Bluebirds.
Barth scored 32 points in her final home game on Friday to raise her career scoring total to 2,359.
The Division III Player of the Year is Ludlow junior guard Abby Mahan. She has a team-high 16.5 scoring average for the 21-9 Panthers, who have posted their best record in 10 years and won the Division III conference title.
The Coach of the Year selections are Aaron Stamm of Conner in Division I, Jaime Walz Richey of Highlands in Division II and Micah Montecalvo of Ludlow in Division III. Conner finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press statewide coaches poll.
The coaches association also named its All 9th Region Teams. The top five players are Schwartz, Barth, Courtney Hurst and Savannah Jordan of Conner and Maddie Scherr of Ryle.
The top players and coaches selected in each division will be honored during an awards banquet on March 18 at the St. Elizabeth Training & Education Center in Erlanger. Winners of the Miss Hustle and Academic Award in each division will also be recognized. Here are the complete lists:
DIVISION I
Boone County — Layla Anderson. Campbell County — Mallory Holbrook. Conner — Courtney Hurst, Savannah Jordan, Maddie Burcham. Dixie Heights — Sydney Lockard, Grace Perry. Notre Dame — Danielle Rennekamp. Ryle — Lauren Schwartz, Maddie Scherr, Brie Crittendon. Scott — Mya Meredith, Summer Secrist. Simon Kenton — Morgan Stamper, Maggie Jones.
Player of the Year — Lauren Schwartz (Ryle)
Coach of the Year — Aaron Stamm (Conner)
Miss Hustle — Joy Strange (Conner)
Academic Award — Juliet McGregor (Ryle)
DIVISION II
Brossart — Marie Kiefer. Highlands — Zoie Barth, Chloe Jansen, Rory O’Hara. Holmes — Kamari Graham. Holy Cross — Olivia Crigler, Trinity McClendon, Sid Thomas, Jade Simpson. Lloyd — Jayla LaBordeaux. NewCath — Kara Zimmerman. St. Henry — Chisom Iloegbunam. Walton-Verona — Brooke Perry, Emma Strunk.
Player of the Year — Zoie Barth (Highlands)
Coach of the Year — Jaime Richey (Highlands)
Miss Hustle — India McRae (Lloyd)
Academic Award — Zoie Barth (Highlands)
DIVISION III
Bellevue — Bryana Bridewell, Morgan Mardis, Kierstyn Ratterman. Calvary Christian — Jordyn Goodgames. Dayton — Grace Workman, Johnessah Barbiea. Ludlow — Abby Mahan, Karina Castrellon, Morgan Lantry. Silver Grove — Cara Stewart.Villa Madonna — Brooke Meier, Kayla Unkraut. .
Player of the Year — Abby Mahan (Ludlow)
Coach of the Year — Micah Montecalvo (Ludlow)
Miss Hustle — Lexi Wyrick (Ludlow)
Academic Award — Savannah Schwartz (Calvary Christian)
ALL 9th REGION TEAMS
First Team — Lauren Schwartz (Ryle), Maddie Scherr (Ryle), Zoie Barth (Highlands), Courtney Hurst (Conner), Savannah Jordan (Conner).
Second Team — Olivia Crigler (Holy Cross), Maddie Burcham (Conner), Brie Crittendon (Ryle), Chloe Jansen (Highlands), Chisom Iloegnunam (St. Henry).
Third Team — Grace Perry (Dixie Heights), Whitney Lind (Cooper), Abby Mahan (Ludlow), Celia Pelfrey (Dixie Heights), Jayla LaBordeaux (Lloyd).
