A look at how Northern Kentucky basketball teams finished 2021

James Weber, Cincinnati Enquirer
·4 min read

Many Northern Kentucky basketball teams enjoyed holiday tournaments for the first time in two years and now look ahead to the rest of the season. Here's an update.

COVCATH KEEPS ROLLING: Covington Catholic went 3-1 at a holiday tournament in the Villages complex in Florida. One of the wins was a COVID forfeit, and the loss was by three points, 61-58, to Orlando Christian Prep, starring a 6-foot-8-inch senior who committed to Notre Dame, a senior guard who committed to Ohio University and at least two other Division I prospects.

Covington Catholic takes a 12-2 record into its first game of 2022, a 35th District game against Beechwood Friday night at CovCath. The Colonels are expected to be top three, and perhaps No. 1, in the first Associated Press statewide poll that will be released Tuesday afternoon.

Lloyd Memorial junior Jeremiah Israel drives against Brossart junior Logan Woosley as Lloyd defeated Bishop Brossart 58-43 during the Mike Swauger Holiday Classic boys basketball tournament at Ben Flora Gymnasium, Bellevue, Ky.
Lloyd Memorial junior Jeremiah Israel drives against Brossart junior Logan Woosley as Lloyd defeated Bishop Brossart 58-43 during the Mike Swauger Holiday Classic boys basketball tournament at Ben Flora Gymnasium, Bellevue, Ky.

LLOYD IS A JUGGERNAUT: The Lloyd Memorial boys basketball team heads into 2022 with a 10-1 record. The Juggernauts took their first loss Dec. 30, losing 48-28 to reigning First Region champion McCracken County.

Junior guard Jeremiah Israel averages 14 points and Garrett Vogelpohl 12 a game, and 6-foot-6-inch freshman E.J. Walker 9.4. Senior guard Ryan Davis averages 12 points per game but is currently out with injury.

Lloyd hosts Beechwood Tuesday and has some big-school tests next week, playing at Cooper Jan. 11 and hosting Campbell County Jan. 12.

BLUEBIRDS ARE BUILDING: Highlands boys basketball hosted a mini-tournament Dec. 28-29 called the Carespring Holiday Classic.

Highlands and Cooper both defeated Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. In the same week, the Cincinnati Bearcats lost to Alabama in the national football semifinals, both Highlands and Cooper lost close games to Vestavia Hills, a school in the Birmingham area and an hour’s drive from the University of Alabama.

Highlands is 8-4 and will host Holy Cross Monday in a game that figures to have lots of points. Then, the Bluebirds will play their first 36th District game at Newport Thursday.

Cooper takes a 10-3 record to Newport Central Catholic on Wednesday. The Jaguars have four scorers averaging 8.5 points or more.

CONNER COUGARS ROARING: The Conner boys team went 3-0 last week to win a tournament at Louisville Eastern, and finished 2021 with a 10-3 record, making them the fourth Northern Kentucky boys hoops team with 10 or more wins. Conner beat the host team, coached by former Holmes head coach David Henley, as well as Seneca and Eighth Region power Oldham County. Conner’s first game of 2022 is at home against Jacob Meyer and Holy Cross Tuesday, then the Cougars have road games at 33rd District foes Boone County (Jan. 7) and Ryle (Jan. 11).

CAMELS WIN TOURNEY: Campbell County boys won a tournament at Nicholas County Dec. 28-29. The Camels are 6-6 heading into a game at Bracken County on Tuesday.

Bellevue senior Deja Joseph tries to shoot over Lloyd Memorial senior Jalyn Ballman as Lloyd Memorial defeated Bellevue 54-34 during the Stephanie Wilson Memorial basketball tournament Dec. 28, 2021.
Bellevue senior Deja Joseph tries to shoot over Lloyd Memorial senior Jalyn Ballman as Lloyd Memorial defeated Bellevue 54-34 during the Stephanie Wilson Memorial basketball tournament Dec. 28, 2021.

LLOYD GIRLS WIN AT BELLEVUE: The Lloyd Memorial girls basketball team won the Stephanie Wilson Memorial Tournament last week, going 3-0 and beating Beechwood 65-33 in the final. Morgan Jenkins was the MVP of the tourney.

DIXIE HEIGHTS AND RYLE SET FOR SHOWDOWN: Dixie Heights girls basketball is 11-2 entering its first game of 2022 at Holmes. The Colonels play at Ryle Friday night in a showdown of two of the top contenders in the Ninth Region. Dixie then plays at East Central, one of Indiana’s top teams, Jan. 12.

Dixie lost one game in December, a double-overtime defeat to 10th Region favorite George Rogers Clark. Ryle is 10-4 after going 2-2 last week in Tennessee. Three of those games were against Tennessee teams.

Dixie Heights' Samantha Berman tries to block a shot as Dixie Heights defeated Madison Central 67-49 in KHSAA girls basketball Dec. 4, 2021 at Dixie Heights.
Dixie Heights' Samantha Berman tries to block a shot as Dixie Heights defeated Madison Central 67-49 in KHSAA girls basketball Dec. 4, 2021 at Dixie Heights.

NEWCATH WINS TOURNEY: Newport Central Catholic beat South Warren, Taylor County and Rockcastle County in a girls tournament at South Warren and is 10-4 heading into the All “A” Classic this week.

ALL "A" TIME: The All “A” Classic regionals begin this week. The girls Ninth Region tournament is this week at Ludlow, with the championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday. The girls Eighth and 10th Region tournaments begin later this week.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here's a look at how Northern Kentucky basketball teams finished 2021

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