By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Covington Catholic was voted No. 1 in the Northern Kentucky boys basketball coaches poll going into the 2019-20 season that begins in four weeks.
Beechwood junior Scotty Draud was voted the area’s top boys basketball player after averaging 22.7 points per game last season.
Senior guard Grant Disken and senior center Neil Green are the only starters CovCath has returning from last season’s 9th Region championship team. But the Colonels added several new players during the off-season that local coaches believe will raise their level of play.
CovCath received 21 of the 22 first-place votes cast by local coaches. Beechwood, last year’s 9th Region runner-up, was ranked second with one first-place vote and 11 second-place votes.
Beechwood junior guard Scotty Draud was voted the top player in Northern Kentucky. He was the top scorer in the 9th Region last season with a 22.7 average that ranked 20th in the state.
The top 10 player list does not include CovCath senior forward Michael Mayer, a Notre Dame football recruit. He has not decided if he will play basketball this season.
Campbell County, the defending 10th Region champion, was ranked ninth in the preseason coaches poll. The Camels graduated six of the top seven players on last year’s team that made it to the final four in the state tournament.
Walton-Verona, the defending 8th Region champion, did not receive any votes in the coaches poll. The Bearcats had five seniors in the starting lineup last season.
Here are the top 10 teams and top 10 players selected in the Northern Kentucky preseason coaches poll with voting points included:
TOP 10 TEAMS – Covington Catholic (222), Beechwood (160), Newport Central Catholic (153), St. Henry (136), Conner (131), Cooper (107), Highlands (66), Simon Kenton (66), Campbell County (49), Lloyd (39).
TOP 10 PLAYERS – Scotty Draud, Beechwood (194); Wyatt Vieth, St. Henry (146); Kelly Niece, Simon Kenton (136); Grant Disken, CovCath (133); Evan Mullikan, NewCath (106); Sam Vinson, Highlands (85); Treshawn Cody, Lloyd (77); Jalen Scott, Conner (69); Neil Green, CovCath (40); DeShawn White, Newport (31).
CovCath football player receives jersey for All-American Bowl
Covington Catholic football player Michael Mayer received the jersey he’ll wear in the 2020 Army All-American Bowl during a ceremony at school on Monday.
Michael Mayer
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end and linebacker was voted the No. 1 high school football player in Kentucky in the class of 2020. He was recruited by several major college teams before making a commitment with the University of Notre Dame.
Mayer is the first CovCath player to be invited to the Army All-American Bowl that will be played Saturday, Jan. 4 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The game will be televised live on NBC at 1 p.m.
Going into the state high school playoffs, Mayer leads the undefeated CovCath team in receiving yards (676 ), scoring (78 points), solo tackles (54) and total tackles (66).
He’s among the leading candidates for this year’s Mr. Kentucky Football, an award that’s never gone to a CovCath player. The last local player to win it was Highlands quarterback Patrick Towles in 2011.
Volleyball teams prepare for state tournament that starts Friday
Notre Dame and Campbell County will play first-round matches in the state volleyball tournament on Friday at Valley High School in Louisville.
Notre Dame won the 9th Region championship for the first time since 2017 to earn a berth in the 16-team bracket. On Friday, the Pandas (28-11) will play 1st Region champion McCracken County (32-8) at 3:30 p.m.
Campbell County is going to the state tournament for the second straight year as the 10th Region champion. The Camels take a 20-15 record into their first-round match against 3rd Region champion Owensboro Catholic (26-10) at 5 p.m. Friday.
State tournament quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be played on Saturday with the championship final set for 2 p.m. Sunday. Local teams have an 0-10 record in state volleyball championship matches since Notre Dame won the area’s last state title in 1994.
