GIRLS HOOPS ROUNDUP: Highlands survives Conner; NC drops tough one

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Alex Combs (42) makes a move against Conner's Vanessa Gripshover (4) and Bethany Vest (15) in Saturday's 9th Region game. Highlands won 39-38 in overtime.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team went to overtime on the road in 9th Region play for a second straight Saturday.

NewCath opens with win over Cooper

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds girls basketball team started the season on the right track Wednesday.

NCC wins another All "A" Girls crown; Highlands teams win

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

They had to overcome a slow start.

But the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 49-39 win over the Beechwood Lady Tigers to claim their eighth straight All “A” 9th Region championship. NewCath (17-2) will take on 15th Region champion Paintsville (10-6) at 5 p.m. at the Frankfort Convention Center on Jan. 29 to open the tournament.

Ware's lay-up lifts NewCath

G. Michael Graham Photo. Newport Central Catholic junior Loren Zimmerman (right) guards Holy Cross' Aleah Tucker in Friday's All "A" 9th Region semifinal contest. The Thoroughbreds won 39-37 in the final seconds to advance to the title game.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

ERLANGER – Some may call it the Newport Central Catholic Invitational.

It is understandable because the Thoroughbreds have won the previous seven All “A” 9th Region girls basketball crowns. But one region opponent has not been intimidated by that in recent years in the Covington Holy Cross Lady Indians (11-4).

Holy Cross gave NewCath its closest game in last year’s tournament losing just 51-43 in the first round. It took the Thoroughbreds (16-2) the final seconds of this year’s semifinal contest Friday to beat the Lady Indians, 39-37 at St. Henry.

NewCath girls dominate Villa Madonna

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds girls basketball team had no problems in the opener of the All “A” 9th Region tournament Monday on The Hill.

NewCath (14-2) pounded the overmatched Villa Madonna Blue Lightning (7-6) by a 51-29 count. The Thoroughbreds have won the last seven All “A” region crowns.

NC girls down Dixie Heights, 57-43

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds girls basketball team moved to 4-0 overall another 9th Region win, 57-43 at the Dixie Heights Lady Colonels on Wednesday.

NewCath moved to 3-0 on the road with the win. Dixie Heights fell to 1-3 with the loss.

Posts Nikki Kiernan and Alexus Mayes once again led NewCath with 14 and 13 points respectively and Loren Zimmerman followed with nine. Mayes nabbed six rebounds with Michaela Ware recording six steals to go with six points.

Highlands boys downs Beechwood; NCC girls win at buzzer

G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands' Bailey Witte (12) guards Beechwood's Kyle Fieger (with ball) in Friday's game. The Bluebirds pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 49-38 9th Region victory.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The host Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team wanted to carry some momentum into the postseason.

They continued their late-season surge with a 49-38 9th Region win over the Beechwood Tigers on Friday. Highlands won its final three regular-season contests to enter tournament play 12-15 overall after winning just 10 games all of last season. The Bluebirds moved to 5-10 in region play.

The Bluebirds had to come from behind once again outscoring the Tigers (8-20), 22-6 in the fourth quarter. Highlands hit 8-of-13 free throws for 62 percent in that quarter and 11-of-18 for 61 percent for the game.