By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Three teams ranked among the top 10 in the final Northern Kentucky boys basketball coaches poll survived close calls in district tournament games on Tuesday and advanced to the next round of the playoffs.
Top-ranked Campbell County made seven of eight free throws in the final 43 seconds to pull out a 63-59 win over Brossart in a 37th District semifinal game between the neighboring rivals.
Highlands sophomore guard Sam Vinson drives to the basket between two NewCath players. (Photo by Dale Dawn)
In other games that came down to the wire, No. 8 Highlands got past Newport Central Catholic, 57-53, in the 36th District and No. 6 Walton-Verona edged Grant County, 54-49, in the 32nd District.
Campbell County senior forward Reid Jolly scored 37 points, including a pair of free throws that put his team ahead, 62-57, with 11.3 seconds left. After a field goal by Brossart made it a one-possession game, junior guard Jordan Gross sank a free throw to secure the Camels’ four-point victory.
Highlands trailed, 31-21, at halftime of its district semifinal game and rallied to get the win. In the third quarter, sophomore guard Sam Vinson got 10 of his 18 points along with two assists to spark the Bluebirds. The team’s other double-figure scorers were seniors Ryan Leigh (13) and Ben Sisson (12).
Walton-Verona played good defense to come out on top against Grant County. The Bearcats had 12 blocked shots, six steals and held Grant County to 40 percent shooting (21 of 52). At the opposite end of the court, Walton-Verona shot 51 percent (22 of 43) and had three double-figure scorers led by senior guard Grant Grubbs with 15 points.
The other boys basketball teams that won district semifinal games on Tuesday were Cooper, Conner, Beechwood, Covington Catholic, Newport and Scott. All of them clinched berths in regional tournaments next week.
Ludlow earned a berth in the 9th Region girls tournament with a 55-51 win over St. Henry in a 34th District semifinal game. The last time the Panthers made it past the district round of the playoffs was 2009.
Dixie Heights and Walton-Verona were the other girls teams that won district semifinal games on Tuesday and advance to regional competition.
Boys district basketball tournaments
32nd District at Simon Kenton
Thursday
Championship: Simon Kenton vs. Walton-Verona, 7 p.m.
33rd District at Cooper
Thursday
Championship: Cooper vs. Conner, 7 p.m.
34th District at St. Henry
Wednesday
St. Henry vs. Villa Madonna, 6 p.m.
Lloyd vs. Dixie Heights, 7:45 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
35th District at Holmes
Thursday
Championship: Beechwood vs. Covington Catholic, 7 p.m.
36th District at Newport Central Catholic
Thursday
Championship: Highlands vs. Newport, 7 p.m.
37th District at Campbell County Middle School
Thursday
Championship: Campbell County vs. Scott, 7 p.m.
Girls district basketball tournaments
32nd District at Simon Kenton
Friday
Championship: Simon Kenton vs. Walton-Verona, 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
Thursday
Championship: Ludlow vs. Dixie Heights, 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
Wednesday
Highlands vs. Bellevue, 6 p.m.
Newport Central Catholic vs. Dayton, 8 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
37th District at Campbell County Middle School
Wednesday
Scott vs. Calvary Christian, 6 p.m.
Campbell County vs. Brossart, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
