By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Lloyd boys’ basketball team is one win away from claiming the first regional championship in the history of the program, but the final step won’t be an easy one.
Trey Wurtz scored eight points during NewCath’s decisive run in the fourth quarter of the semifinal game against Newport.
The Juggernauts advanced to the 9th Region All “A” Classic regional final with a 62-43 win over Ludlow in Friday’s semifinals. To take the title, they’ll have to beat Newport Central Catholic, a perennial power in the small-school playoffs, in the championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Ludlow High School.
NewCath defeated Newport, 59-45, in the other semifinal game on Friday to make it back to the regional final. The Thoroughbreds won the title the last four years and claimed small-school state championships in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Lloyd defeated NewCath, 66-63, in a regular-season game on Dec. 6, but none of the Juggernauts have played in a regional championship before. The last time a Lloyd team made it to a regional final was in the 1996 post-season playoffs.
The Juggernauts needed a strong second half to get past Ludlow in the semifinals on Friday. They were behind, 30-28, at halftime and took control of the game with an 18-4 scoring run in the third quarter. Senior guard Derrick Cipollonne scored eight of his 12 points during that run.
Lloyd’s leading scorer was senior forward Sterling Hamilton with 14 points. He also had 15 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. The double-figure scorers for Ludlow were junior Jacob Bridges and senior Chandler Booker with 12 points each.
Lloyd shot 54.5 percent (22 of 44) from the field compared to Ludlow’s 26.9 percent (14 of 52). The Juggernauts also won the battle on the boards by a 41-25 margin.
NewCath won its semifinal game by outscoring Newport, 20-10, in the fourth quarter. Senior forward Trey Wurtz scored eight points and junior guard Brandon Hall had five during that final period.
Newport junior guard MeKell Burries made five 3-point goals and finished with a game-high 23 points. NewCath’s scoring leaders were seniors Patrick Henschen and Luke Moeves with 11 points each.
The winner of Saturday’s regional final will get a berth in the Kentucky All “A” Classic boys’ state tournament that begins Thursday at Frankfort Civic Center.
