By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Holy Cross is returning to the 9th Region All “A” Classic girls championship game after defeating Newport Central Catholic, 65-54, in the semifinal round of the small-school tournament on Friday at Ludlow.
Last year, NewCath edged Holy Cross, 52-50, in the region final, but the rematch between the two teams on Friday was less dramatic. The Indians took a 21-14 lead in the first quarter and stayed on top the rest of the way.
Holy Cross junior guard Aleah Arlinghaus drives to the basket against NewCath freshman forward Jaylee Brannen. (Photo by Dale Dawn)
Holy Cross (9-6) will play Ludlow (12-3) in the championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday. Ludlow won its semifinal matchup with Beechwood by forfeit due to COVID-19 implications. The Panthers have a perfect record this season except for the three games they forfeited in late December for the same reason.
Holy Cross opened up a 26-14 lead early in the second quarter of Friday’s semifinal game. After NewCath cut it to 32-25, the Indians scored the next four points to make it 36-25 at halftime.
The Thoroughbreds came on strong in the third quarter and used an 11-3 run to pull within 39-36. Holy Cross settled down in time to pull ahead, 46-39, going into the fourth quarter.
Holy Cross outscored NewCath, 19-15, in the final period to secure the win. The Indians made six of 13 free throws while the Thoroughbreds went 1-for-4 at the line during the final eight minutes.
The Indians had four double-figure scorers in the victory. Junior guard Aleah Arlinghaus led the way with 15 points, followed by senior Hanna Robinson (14), sophomore Julia Hunt (13) and junior Elizabeth McCoy (12).
Holy Cross sophomore forward Julia Hunt gets off a shot despite a block attempt by Emily Heck of NewCath. (Photo by Dale Dawn)
NewCath freshman guard Caroline Eaglin made six of her team’s 10 3-point goals and finished with a game-high 25 points. Senior guard Rylee Turner, who entered the game as the state’s leading scorer with a 28.1 average, had 18 points.
Those two players accounted for 15 of the Thoroughbreds’ 19 field goals.
The winner of the 9th Region championship game will play in the Kentucky All “A” Classic state tournament that’s scheduled to start Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Eastern Kentucky University.
Holy Cross has won 11 region titles and one state championship in the small-school playoffs. Ludlow made it to the region final in 2009 and lost to NewCath.
The Walton-Verona girls team advanced to the championship game of the 8th Region All “A” Classic with a forfeit win over Gallatin County due to COVID-19.
The winner of the Owen County-Carroll County semifinal game on Saturday will be Walton-Verona’s opponent in the region final at 6 p.m. Sunday at Eminence High School. Walton-Verona won the region title the last four years and made it to the championship game of the small school state tournament the last three years.
The Walton-Verona boys team will play Gallatin County in the other 8th Region All “A” Classic championship game at 3 p.m. Sunday at Eminence. The championship games were moved back to Sunday after the snowfall that cancelled games on Thursday and Friday.
All “A” Classic girls region tournaments
9th REGION AT LUDLOW H.S.
Saturday
Championship: Ludlow (12-3) vs. Holy Cross (9-6), 7 p.m.
8th REGION AT EMINENCE H.S.
Saturday
Owen County vs. Carroll County, 6 p.m.
Sunday
Championship: Walton-Verona vs. Owen County-Carroll County winner, 6 p.m.
10th REGION AT BRACKEN COUNTY H.S.
Saturday
Paris vs. St. Patrick, 12:30 p.m.
Robertson County at Calvary Christian, 2 p.m.
Brossart vs. Nicholas County, 3:30 p.m.
Bracken County vs. Augusta, 6:30 p.m.
Monday
Robertson County-Calvary Christian winner vs. Paris-St. Patrick winner, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Brossart-Nicholas County winner vs. Bracken County-Augusta winner, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7:30 p.m.
All “A” Classic boys region tournaments
8th REGION AT EMINENCE H.S.
Sunday
Championship: Walton-Verona (8-6) vs. Gallatin County (8-4), 3 p.m.
10th REGION AT BRACKEN COUNTY H.S.
Saturday
Brossart vs. Nicholas County, 2 p.m.
Robertson County at Calvary Christian, 3:30 p.m.
Augusta vs. Bracken County, 5 p.m.
Monday
Robertson County-Calvary Christian winner vs. St. Patrick, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Brossart-Nicholas County winner vs. Bracken County-Augusta winner, 6 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
9th REGION AT VILLA MADONNA ACADEMY
Monday
Dayton vs. Villa Madonna, 6 p.m.
Holy Cross vs. Bellevue, 7:45 p.m.
Tuesday
Heritage vs. Dayton-Villa Madonna winner, 6 p.m.
Newport Central Catholic vs. Ludlow, 7:45 p.m.
Wednesday
Beechwood vs. Holy Cross-Bellevue winner, 6 p.m.
Newport vs. St. Henry, 7:45 p.m.
Friday
Semifinal games, 6 and 7:45 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 15
Championship game, 7 p.m.
