Saturday Hoops Roundup

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds girls basketball team will be playing for the Gateway Holiday Classic championship.

They stayed undefeated at 9-0 and earned the shot with a 58-40 semifinal win over the LaRue County Lady Hawks (6-3). NewCath takes on the defending 16th Region champion Ashland Blazer Kittens (6-2) at 7 p.m. today for the title.

The dynamic post tandem of Nikki Kiernan and Alexus Mayes once again led NewCath. Kiernan had 28 points and nine rebounds and Mayes tallied 18 points and nine rebounds.

NewCath pulled away in the second quarter. It used a 16-0 run to go up 34-15 at halftime.

Neither team shot free throws exceptionally well. NewCath made 10-of-16 for 63 percent and LaRue County hit 14-of-24 for 58 percent.

Alexis Brewer led LaRue County with 18 points and Ivy Brown had 15. Brewer also had eight rebounds. Brewer averaged 24 points a game coming into the contest and Brown averaged 21.

Bishop Brossart 51, Highlands 36:

Undefeated Bishop Brossart (10-0) won the State Farm Classic at Conner on Saturday and ended the Highlands (8-2) eight-game winning streak.

Highlands did not have a player reach double-digits for the first time this season. Haley Coffey and Alex Combs scored seven each to lead the Bluebirds.

The Bluebirds continue a rough stretch on Friday at Newport Central Catholic. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Basketball, Boys:

Newport Central Catholic 67, Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park 51:

The Thoroughbreds (7-2) avenged one of their two losses in the quarterfinals of the Republic Bank Classic at Lexington Catholic on Saturday.

NewCath saw four players reach double digits against the Panthers (7-3). Zach Pangallo led the way with 20 points and Tanner Moeves had 15. Posts Jake Schulte and Drew McDonald followed with 14 and 13 respectively.

NewCath takes on Lexington Lafayette (7-4) in the semifinals at 6 p.m. today.

Corbin 63, Highlands 44:

The Bluebirds fell to 0-5 following a loss to the host Redhounds (6-4) to open the Cumberland Falls Invitational on Saturday.

Brandon Hergott led Highlands with nine points. Teammate Parker Harris had eight points and eight rebounds.

Highlands takes on Crescent (South Carolina) at 1 p.m. today. The tournament concludes Monday.