Bank of Ky. Center wants more marquee preps hoops games
After the success of this past high school basketball season's impromptu boys' doubleheader at The Bank of Kentucky Center, the arena's marketing and booking manager, Matt Merchant, said he is hopeful to land some regular-season games in the 2014-15 season.
Merchant said he is still looking to complete deals for a possible Friday night doubleheader in January and another in February.
"We are confident we can make something work, but nothing has been confirmed yet," said Merchant.
This past season, Newport Central Catholic played Holmes and Covington Catholic faced Dixie Heights in a doubleheader on Feb. 14. Those games came about when NewCath sought to move its game with Holmes from its own gym because it wouldn't be big enough to accommodate the expected huge crowd, and when it began discussions with BOKC officials about moving the game there the idea was floated to add that night's schedule Dixie at CovCath game to the docket.
A huge crowd attended that night.
"After the success of last year, we definitely want to try and establish an annual marquee high school basketball doubleheader again," said Merchant. "We understand that games like this often sell out or come close to selling out at the high school, so we enjoy giving everyone that wants to come out and see these great teams an opportunity to do so, while giving the teams participating in the games a chance to earn more money for their schools than they would if they hosted that game at their gym. It is also an opportunity of a lifetime for some of the players to play in a Division I facility like The Bank of Kentucky Center. At the end of the day we want to make The Bank of Kentucky Center, 'Northern Kentucky's Arena.'"
KY BOE APPROVES MIDDLE SCHOOL RULE: The Kentucky Board of Education approved a new statewide rule recommended by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association that beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, middle school students who repeat a grade for any reason won't be able to play on a school athletic team in the year they are repeating.
"If you are repeating a grade, ... your focus probably should not be on sports," KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett told the Lexington Herald-Leader. "Your focus should be on remediation of your academic work or whatever was the reason; it shouldn't be simply so you can be a scholarship athlete by the time you are a senior. What it does is make sure that athletics isn't the reason why kids are held back."
The state board also adopted an age rule that restricts participation by middle school students who are significantly older than their classmates: a student who is 14 before Aug. 1 of a school year can't play against students in seventh grade or below and a student who is 15 by that date is ineligible to compete against students who are in eighth grade or below, but could be eligible to play with older students in higher grades (such as high school).
COACHING UPDATES:
After taking a year off from coaching former St. Henry girls' basketball coach Brian Coburn has been hired as girls' basketball coach at Silver Grove, where he replaces Terry Bray, who stepped down after one season.
Coburn coached St. Henry from 2008-13 and in his five seasons compiled a 98-42 record and led the Crusaders to the Ninth Region Tournament each season, including the semifinal round in each of his first four seasons.
Silver Grove went 0-25 this past season and has just two wins since the start of the 2011-12 season.
"We are very excited and fortunate to have a like Coach Coburn leading and building our program," said Silver Grove athletic director Bobby Aldridge. "He brings a wealth of experience and a winning attitude to our program."
Pendleton County on Thursday announced it has hired Keaton Belcher as boys' basketball coach replacing Ed Cravens, who stepped down after two seasons.
Belcher is a 2005 Pendleton County graduate who was a key member of the school's 2005 10th Region championship team. He went on to play at Belmont University and was a member of the three NCAA Tournament teams there. He has been an assistant at Pendleton Count the last two seasons.
"We are very excited for one of our own to take over leadership of our basketball program," said Pendleton County athletic director Keith Smith. "The PC community is pumped to have Keaton on the sideline as varsity coach and leading our program from recreation through middle school to the varsity level. We expect Keaton to have a long and successful career at PCHS and have a positive effect on many young men's life through the game of basketball."
Three other area girls' basketball jobs remain open: Beechwood, Campbell County and Villa Madonna.
WOMEN'S SPORTS AWARDS: Thomas More College women's basketball standout Sydney Moss and Notre Dame Academy soccer player Maddie Tierney and rower Erin Nurre will be honored Monday at The Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Women's Sports Association awards banquet.
The event, which is held at the Cintas Center, recognizes area high school and college players of the year in various sports.
The overall Sportswoman of the Year for both the high school and college level will be announced at the event.
COMMITMENTS/SIGNINGS
- Boone County softball standout Dallis Knotts will hold a signing ceremony this Monday at 3 p.m. in the school library. She is heading to Thomas More.
- Bishop Brossart senior forward Alex Trentman committed to NCAA Division II Christian Brothers. The 6-foot-6 Trentman averaged 19.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this past season.
- Bishop Brossart senior center Sarah Futscher committed to NCAA Division II Ohio Dominican earlier in the week. She was a four-year starter and averaged 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks per game this past season.
- Conner senior basketball forward Samuel Hemmerich has been accepted to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy where he will also play basketball, according to Conner coach Jim Hicks. Hemmrich averaged team-high 17.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and shot 37.1 percent on three-point attempts.
- Covington Catholic senior center Mark Schult has committed to NCAA Division III Wittenberg. The 6-foot-4 Schult averaged 9.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and helped CovCath win the state championship. He was selected to the state tournament all-tournament team.
- Ryle held a signing ceremony recently for basketball player Will Stuhr, who is going to NCAA Division II Saginaw Valley State, basketball player Tanner White, who is going to Thomas More and volleyball player Peyton Wohlwender, who is going to NCAA Division III Centre.
- St. Henry baseball player Rex Rogers committed to Transylvania on Thursday.
- Newport Central Catholic senior basketball player Stephanie Lewis signed with Midway College on Thursday.
- The following Notre Dame soccer players have made college commitments, according to former coach Sara McSorley, who stepped down as coach last week: seniors Emma Schneider and Zoe Stovik to NAIA Georgetown College and junior Carissa Dyer to NCAA Division II Southern Indiana.
- Newport Central Catholic volleyball player Alyssa Maier held a signing ceremony on Wednesday and will play at Mount St. Joseph.
- Cooper track and cross country runner Karina Egger has committed to Georgetown College.
OFFICIALS HONORED: The following area officials, umpires and referees were named finalists in their sports for KHSAA Outstanding Official of the Year: Jimmy Guerra (Ft. Thomas, baseball); Michael Pangallo (Alexandria, basketball) and Tim King (Falmouth, track and cross country). The winner will be announced at the 21st Annual Officials Recognition Banquet on May 4 at the KHSAA office in Lexington.