Lady Breds hope to continue winning ways despite youth

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It is a case of a youth movement.

But that does not go for just the players, but also the head coach of the Newport Central Catholic Lady Breds basketball team. George Stoll, a 2006 NewCath graduate, enters his first season as head coach taking over for the retired Ron Dawn. Stoll has been on staff since 2009 when Dawn took over as head coach.

“It’s actually gone in my opinion very smooth so far,” Stoll said. “The girls come to work every day. They know what’s expected of them. They’ve followed through with that. They’re still coming out and getting after it. Since I was here last year, they know how I am as a coach already and I know how we are as a team so we’re already somewhat on the same page heading into this year.”

NewCath finished 19-11 last year winning its fourth consecutive 36th District title. The Lady Breds fell 44-25 to Boone County in the 9th Region quarterfinals. They also finished runner-up to Walton-Verona, 38-36 in the state All “A” Classic at the Frankfort Convention Center. NewCath has made six straight appearances in that tournament winning the tournament in 2010.

NewCath graduated four seniors from that team in Aubrey Muench, Olivia Huber, Alex Schalk and Jamie Kohls. Three are playing collegiately in other sports. Muench and Huber are playing soccer at the University of Louisville and Thomas More College respectively. Kohls is playing volleyball at Northern Kentucky University.

The Lady Breds do return one senior in Jilliam Hoover. But she will probably not play this season because she tore her right Anterior Cruciated Ligament in the offseason.

That leaves NewCath with four juniors, six sophomores and a freshman to fill in those big shoes. They have limited varsity experience as a whole. But so far, Stoll said he likes their work ethic.

“They have a standard they have to live up to in a way,” Stoll said. “The thing is we’re young. But we play hard. We play with a lot of effort. I don’t have to get on them about that. We come in every day and get better.”

The Lady Breds do return their leading scorer from last year in junior forward Nikki Kiernan. Kiernan averaged 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds a game last year. Kiernan will lead the way creating things in the paint and defending the paint. Kiernan will face solid posts in the 9th Region likes Highlands senior Jesse Daley and Notre Dame senior Olivia Voskuhl.

“We can’t go for the ball fakes because (opponents) like to use them a lot,” Kiernan said. “It’s a matter of being prepared for them. You have to stay down.”

NewCath hopes to develop some outside shooting to take the pressure off Kiernan. Opponents may double and even triple Kiernan if that does not happen.

Sophomore Michaela Ware returns to handle the point guard duties. Junior Imani Lankheit and sophomores MiKayla Seibert and Loren Zimmerman could see action at the guard spots.

“I just have to be a leader and step up. I have a really important role this year,” Ware said. “(The other guards) are stepping up, but the ball is more than likely going to be in my hands most of the time.”

Two other forwards could help Kiernan in the post. They are junior Stephanie Lewis and sophomore Alexus Mayes. Rounding out the roster are junior Chelsea Schack, sophomores Jamie Lohr, Sarah Neace and freshman Ansley Davenport.

Many of the yearly 9th Region title contenders graduated some talented seniors from last year except Notre Dame and Highlands. But Stoll said you never know what could happen on a yearly basis. The Lady Breds last won the 9th Region in 2011. Boone County has won it three of the past four years but graduated Lydia Nash and Sydney Moss from last year’s team.

“I would say as a whole, it’s more physical (than finesse),” Stoll said. “There are a lot of teams that get after it defensively. Even though the 9th Region graduated a lot of seniors and a lot of talent, there’s still some talent left. Almost any team could win it this year. Notre Dame is the favorite. But there are a lot of teams in the mix to win it. It’s going to be tough and our girls know that.”

The Lady Breds open the season Dec. 1 at home against in-town rival Newport. Game time is 7:30 p.m.