Thoroughbreds repeat as All "A" State Champions

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

FRANKFORT – They did it last year and hoped to laugh in the face of the challenge again.

That was not a problem. For the second straight year, the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds boys basketball team (21-3) won five games in six days to win the All “A” State championship. They took down the Cordia Lions (17-6), 72-61 on Sunday at the Frankfort Convention Center. NewCath has won 13 in a row.

It marked the third title overall and second straight for NewCath in its second win of the year over Cordia. Head Coach Ron Dawn led the Thoroughbreds to the 2000 title.

“Our guys are in good condition,” Dawn said. “We need to be. We’re not as deep as I’d like us to be. Our big guys were even running to the floor. It’s my first (title) with these guys. It’s great.”

It marked the first time a team repeated as champion since 2010 when Shelby Valley accomplished the feat. NewCath moves into second in tournament history with the third crown. Only University Heights out of Hopkinsville has more with eight.

The Thoroughbreds began the six-day journey with a 56-28 domination of 36th District rival Highlands on Tuesday. NewCath beat all five opponents by an average of 25 points a game.

All five starters reached double-digits for the Thoroughbreds. Tournament Most Valuable Player Zach Pangallo led the way with 15 points. Posts Jake Schulte and Drew McDonald scored 14 each to find a spot on the all-tournament team. McDonald grabbed 11 rebounds for a double-double and Schulte added three blocks.

Tanner Moves also made the all-tournament team scoring 10 points. Post Ben Weyer added 11 and Grant Moeves scored eight. Tanner Moeves played through pain after hurting his left elbow Saturday against Lexington Christian.

“I’m going to get X-rays on it (Monday),” Tanner Moeves said. “I could barely move it (Saturday). I got three cortisone shots before the game. That helped me out a lot. It still hurts really bad right now. But I played through it.”

NewCath faced full-court pressure the whole game and only gave up a few open-court shots. The Thoroughbreds turned the ball over 13 times to seven for the Lions. The Lions had six steals to two for the Thoroughbreds.

“Cordia is a quick team so they want to speed you up and run you out of your offense,” Tanner Moeves said. “I feel like since we had a bigger floor here than the last time we played them, it gave us a lot more space to beat their press. We were calm and collective. It ultimately led to a big win for us.”

Cordia had just one player reach double-digits in Lexington Henry Clay transfer Christen Cunningham with 32 points. He scored most of his points making 11-of-17 attempts.

“Christen Cunningham made the all-tournament team,” Schulte said. “We had to stay in the lane and make it as tough for him as possible because he’s a scorer.”

Both teams tried to attack the paint. Cordia outscored NewCath, 38-26 in the paint. But NewCath won the rebounding battle, 37-27 and recorded six blocks to three for Cordia.

“We wanted to get (the ball) inside and take advantage of (our size),” Dawn said. “When Jake and Drew are feeling it, they’re tough in there. We also did a good job on the defensive boards.”

Cunningham scored the game’s first two points. But NewCath went on a 5-0 run on a Pangallo triple and McDonald lay-up and never looked back the entire game.

The Thoroughbreds led 14-9 after the first quarter, 34-21 at halftime and 44-32 entering the final stanza. They made their free throws down the stretch to find off the Lions hitting 32-of-42 for 76 percent.

NewCath made 19-of-37 shots for 51 percent including 2-of-8 from three-point land for 25 percent. Cordia made 22-of-57 shots for 39 percent, including 2-of-12 three-pointers for 17 percent and 15-of-23 free throws for 65 percent.

Cordia cut the lead below double-digits three times in the third quarter. The closest was 36-28 with 4:56 left in the stanza following a Richard Chapman score. NewCath’s largest lead was 18 points at 62-44 in the fourth quarterl

Cordia, led by third-year Head Coach and former University of Kentucky player Rodrick Rhodes, made its first appearance in tournament history. But it was not without controversy.

Lion players Josh Ortiz moved in from Harlem (New York) and Chapman moved in from Newark (New Jersey) over the summer and the Kentucky High School Athletic Association declared them ineligible. But a Franklin County Circuit judge reversed the decision Friday. Chapman fouled out after scoring nine points and Ortiz scored just two points.

“When we missed, (NewCath) leaked out on the break,” Rhodes said. “We knew they were a good transition team. They play hard. They’re big and physical. They have good guard play, and they’re very disciplined with the basketball.”  

The same thing happened last year as at least six players have transferred to the school in Knott County in the last two seasons. Canadian transfers Emmanuel Owootoah and Marlon King received the injunction after initially being declared ineligible. Owootoah now plays at Fresno State.

NewCath had used its bench most of the week. Many of the reserves did not get in today, but they learned some valuable lessons.

“Having those players (like Michael Bueter) on our team made us a better team this year,” said Josh Verkamp, NewCath senior forward. “Giving them rest when we’re up helps them get ready for the next game. Everybody gets a little more playing time.”

The Thoroughbreds also moved to 23-9 in the tournament all-time with 12 appearances. Only University Heights has more wins with an overall record of 47-11 in 19 appearances.

“We just went out there and played NCC basketball,” Schulte said. “It doesn’t matter who we play. If we play NCC basketball, we can come away with a victory.”

NewCath is also tied for third with Bishop Brossart and Hazard with its 12 all-time appearances. Only Somerset with 15 and University Heights have more appearances in tournament history.

The Thoroughbreds do not play again until Friday. They face in-county rival Bishop Brossart (19-2) back on The Hill. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Girls All “A” Notes:

Newport Central Catholic saw two players make the all-tournament team. They were seniors Nikki Kiernan and Stephanie Lewis. Glasgow beat Danville, 53-43 in the title game for its first All “A” championship in school history.