NewCath eeks out "tooth and nail" semifinal victory

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It turned out to be the “tooth and nail” game that first-year NewCath Head Coach Dan Wagner said it would be.

But when the dust settled, the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds won their 12th straight semifinal contest, 49-48 in double overtime over the visiting Somerset Briar Jumpers on Friday at Newport Stadium. NewCath lost 8-7 to Somerset in its first state semifinal appearance in 1983 and has not lost in any since then.

“(Victory) is what you strive for,” Wagner said. “I can’t take many of these. My heart won’t handle it, but it feels great.”

NewCath prepares for another test vs. Somerset

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

In many ways, it seems automatic, especially since 2000.

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds football team wins a region crown and finds itself playing for a state championship two weeks later. That has happened eight times since 2000 and 11 times following their 12 overall regional championships.

The defending Class 2A champion Thoroughbreds (9-4 overall) would love to make it 12 straight times in 13 state semifinal appearances and extend their eight-game winning streak. But they need to prove themselves to the most common state semifinal opponent in the 8-4 Somerset Briar Jumpers on Friday at 7 p.m at Newport Stadium.

Highlands, NCC boys post wins Thursday

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The host Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team won for just the second time in eight games Thursday, 64-54 over the Cincinnati Seven Hills Stingers.

Drew Houliston shot lights out for the Bluebirds (8-12) making 14 free throws and three three-pointers on his way to 29 points. Teammates Bailey Witte and Nick True followed with 12 and 11 respectively.

Highlands won the final quarter, 26-14 to pull away. The Bluebirds trailed 34-29 at halftime and 40-36 entering the fourth quarter.

Brian Goertemoeller led the Stingers (5-10) with 15 points on four three-pointers and T.J. Robinson scored 19. Seven Hills made 11 three-pointers.

The Bluebirds take on Conner (8-9) on Saturday in Fort Thomas. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

All “A” State First Round:

NCC boys 47, Somerset 33:

The Thoroughbreds (18-2) pulled away in second half to beat the 12th Region champion Briar Jumpers (14-6) to open the All “A” State Tournament at the Franklin Convention Center.

Both teams saw three players reach double-digits. Drew McDonald led NewCath with 19 points and eight rebounds. Teammate Jake Schulte turned in a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds to go with a dunk and Michael Bueter turned in another solid game making 7-of-7 free throws for 11 points.

The Thoroughbreds made 17-of-46 shots for 37 percent and held the Briar Jumpers to 11-of-43 shooting for 27 percent. NewCath trailed 20-19 at halftime before pulling away with a 13-5 third quarter to go up 32-25.

NewCath doubled up Somerset in the steals department, 10-5. The Thoroughbreds outscored the Briar Jumpers, 17-6 in points off turnovers. Bueter led NewCath with four steals.

Ryan Dishman led Somerset with 11 points. Teammates Tyson Williams and Matt Gordon followed with 10 each.

NewCath made 13-of-17 free throws for 76 percent. Somerset shot around the same percentage but made four fewer trips to the line making 10-of-13 for 77 percent.

NewCath faces 6th Region champion Louisville Holy Cross (6-15) in the All “A” State quarterfinals tonight. Game time is 8 p.m. back in Frankfort.

NewCath bests Somerset in state semifinals again

Photo by Steve Cornelius. Newport Central Catholic senior Brady Thacker (54) celebrates his fourth-quarter 3-yard touchdown with teammates Elliot Rust (73) and Colin Hoover (60) at Somerset on Friday. The Thoughbreds beat the Briar Jumpers, 27-18 to advance to their eighth state championship game since 2000.

By MICHAEL CHILDERS
For Fort Thomas Matters

SOMERSET – Thanks to the arm of quarterback Josh Cain and the legs of running back Dylan Hayes, the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (10-4) punched their tickets to Bowling Green for the Class 2A State Championship game.

With a 27-18 victory over the Somerset Briar Jumpers (11-3) on Friday at Clark Field, the Thoroughbreds are headed to their second state championship game in three seasons, where they will square off against the Caldwell County Tigers (11-3) next Saturday at Noon at Western Kentucky University’s Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. Caldwell County advanced to the championship with a 43-31 win over Louisville DeSales on Friday.

“We were there in 2010,” Cain said. “It was disappointing last year because we didn’t make it. I can’t wait for next week.”

NewCath heads south for 2A semifinals

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

This looks to be their biggest challenge of the Class 2A football playoffs.

But the fourth-ranked Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (9-4) do not mind. They travel near Lake Cumberland with history on their side.

NewCath began its current run of 13 consecutive trips to the regional title game in 2000 and when the Thoroughbreds advanced past that round, they’ve ended up playing two extra games. NewCath (9-4) sports a perfect 7-0 record in state semifinal contests during that time.

That includes wins in 2005 and 2006 against Friday’s opponent in the host and second-ranked Somerset Briar Jumpers (11-2) back when there were four classes. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Clark Field.

NewCath beat Somerset, 35-10 in Newport in 2005 and 40-24 in Somerset the next year in the Class A semifinals. The Thoroughbreds went on to beat Mayfield, 42-7 for the 2005 state championship and Danville, 37-34 for the 2006 title.