By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Newport Central Catholic is looking for a new girls head basketball coach to replace George Stoll, who resigned from the position after six seasons.
With Stoll in charge of the varsity program, NewCath won one 9th Region championship, three 9th Region All “A” Classic titles and compiled a 112-74 record in six seasons. He was named Greater Cincinnati Coach of the Year after the 2013-14 season when the Thoroughbreds won both 9th Region championships and posted a 29-5 record.
George Stoll
“We are losing a great basketball coach,” NewCath principal Ron Dawn said in a press release. “We thank coach Stoll for his commitment to NCC and dedication to our students. George has built a solid girls basketball program and has been a great mentor for so many of our young ladies. He is a great teacher and motivator and we are glad he will continue at NCC in his teaching role.”
Stoll was an assistant coach for four years before taking the head coaching job. The Thoroughbreds won 9th Region All “A” Classic championships in his first four seasons as head coach and made it to the finals of the small-school state tournament in 2013 and 2015.
NewCath earned a berth in the 9th Region post-season tournament four of the last five years. His last two teams lost in the first round and finished with 11-18 and 12-17 records.
“It is with mixed emotions that I’ve decided to step down as the girls basketball coach at Newport Central Catholic,” Stoll said in the press release. “NewCath has been, and always will be, home for me. I want to thank the administration for all of their constant support, especially (principal) Ron Dawn. I’ve been fortunate enough to coach in a situation where I’ve been comfortable and appreciated, and I thank him for that.”
Niece receives Ultimate Teammate Award in final season
Simon Kenton senior guard Ally Niece received the Patti Jo Hedges Ultimate Teammate Award from the Kentucky Basketball Coaches Association.
Ally Niece
Selected by the media, the award is given to a participant in the state tournament who exemplifies the style of play where individual scoring isn’t the most important aspect of the game.
Niece, who spent most of the season recovering from knee surgery, returned to the Simon Kenton lineup in February and gradually resumed her role as the team’s floor leader. Wearing a brace on her left knee, she helped the Pioneers win the 8th Region championship once again and return to the state tournament.
Simon Kenton lost to Ryle in the first round of the state tournament last week. Niece had 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the final game of her high school career.
In four seasons as a varsity starter for the Pioneers, Niece had 1,975 points and 650 rebounds. She played two years of varsity basketball at Scott before coming to Simon Kenton, so her career totals surpassed 2,500 points and 800 rebounds.
Niece will continue her basketball career at Northern Kentucky University.
Fredrick voted 9th Region Player of the Year by coaches
Covington Catholic senior forward C.J. Fredrick was named 9th Region Player of the Year at the Northern Kentucky Boys Basketball Coaches Association banquet on Sunday.
C.J. Fredrick
Fredrick, who was named Gatorade Player of the Year in Kentucky last week, is averaging 22.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals for the Colonels, who have a 31-4 record going into next week’s state tournament. He already set a school single-season scoring record with 789 points in 35 games.
Fredrick and Cooper senior guard Adam Kunkel tied in the coaches voting for Division I Player of the Year. The other Player of the Year awards went to MeKell Burries of Newport in Division II and Mason Rusch of Calvary Christian in Division III.
Scott Ruthsatz of CovCath was voted 9th Region Coach of the Year by the association. The coaching awards in the three divisions went to Steve Fromeyer of Scott in Division I, Rod Snapp of Newport and Erik Goetz of Beechwood in Division II and Jim Hicks of Bellevue in Division III.
Brett Maehren of Bellevue received the Mike Swauger Scholarship that goes to the player who overcomes challenges to achieve success in athletics and academics. This year’s inductees into the NKBBCA Court of Distinction were Dan Frank of Dayton and Jeff Trame, former coach at Scott and Holy Cross.
Basketball games raise $14,000 for four local charities
Four local charities will get shares of $14,000 that was raised by the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Bluegrass-Buckeye Charity Classic high school basketball games played in January.
The check presentation took place during the 9th Region boys’ basketball tournament game at BB&T Arena. The money raised from this year’s classic will go to the Ruth Lyons Children’s Fund, Neediest Kids of All, St. Elizabeth Foundation and Chicks & Chucks, a breast cancer support group.
Since its inception in 2001, the Bluegrass-Buckeye Charity Classic has donated more than $247,000 to local charities. The teams that played games in this year’s classic were Holmes, Newport Central Catholic, Dixie Heights, Scott, Covington Catholic, Cooper, Highlands, Ryle, Lebanon, Milford, Elder and Oak Hills.
The mission of the classic is to instill in young student-athletes the importance of giving back to their community whenever and wherever they can. The teamwork and unselfish play exhibited on the court will carry over to a life-long habit of helping those in need.
.
