02-20-2009, 01:09 PM
02-20-2009, 01:13 PM
Thursday's game at Highlands featured the two best teams in Northern Kentucky, not the two most stylish ones - a point that was hammered home through four quarters of back-and-forth, grind-it-out defensive girls' basketball.
http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...902200401/
In the end, Simon Kenton made one more free throw and two more defensive stops, edging Highlands 46-45.
"That," said Simon Kenton coach Jeff Stowers, "is how you win championships."
With the victory, the Pioneers probably locked up their first championship of the 2008-09 season. They entered the rematch with Highlands - Simon Kenton beat the Bluebirds 46-43 in January - ranked No. 1 in the Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches' poll. Since the Bluebirds were No. 2, Thursday's regular-season finale served as a de facto poll championship game.
Now, if area coaches stick to their voting patterns, Simon Kenton will win its first poll title in girls' basketball. Its current position is a quantum leap from the downtrodden program Stowers took over in 2002. In the two seasons before his arrival, the Pioneers had gone 2-43.
"It's great for our seniors," said Stowers. "We pulled those guys up as eighth-graders. This is what we were looking to. We thought this would be our year. "
One of those five-year varsity contributors, senior Chelsea Tolliver, led the way Thursday night. She scored a game-high 24 points and made one of two free throws with 1:13 to provide the game's final and decisive point.
"Everybody gets nervous in that situation," Tolliver said. "But you just try to go to the line like it's every day in practice."
After getting a defensive stop, Simon Kenton went to the line again. With 18 seconds remaining, Sydni Wainscott missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity, giving Highlands one last chance. With four seconds remaining, Simon Kenton trapped Highlands guard Katie Allen in the corner, forcing the Bluebirds to call a timeout. They then inbounded to Bekah Towles, who shot a contested jump shot at the buzzer that was just short.
"We know where our bread is buttered; we're a defensive team," Stowers said. "Our defense came through when we needed it and won it for us."
Simon Kenton and Highlands have reputations as two of the top defensive teams in the area - a fact that was borne out throughout the game. Simon Kenton came up with 15 steals and forced 18 Highlands turnovers. Highlands had 12 steals and forced 16 turnovers. The two teams combined to shoot just 32 percent from the field.
The game featured 10 ties and 10 lead changes. Neither team led by more than six points. In the second half, neither team enjoyed a lead larger than three points.
Nikki Brown helped lead Simon Kenton with 11 points. Tolliver collected eight rebounds and seven steals. Kayla Smith chipped in with 12 rebounds. Mallory Adler, the only Highlands scorer in double figures, tallied 11 points.
Both teams enter postseason play next week as the favorites in their respective regions. Simon Kenton, which opens 32nd District tournament play against Grant County, is undefeated in the Eighth Region. Highlands, which will play either Dayton or Newport in the first round of the 36th District tournament, is undefeated in the Ninth Region.
"I'm just glad this happened now and not next week," Highlands coach Jaime Richey said. "... We've got to be ready to go. It's one-and-done for us. I think the girls are mature enough now to understand that they have to bring their 'A' game every game."
Simon Kenton (22-4) - Wainscott 1 0 3, Tolliver 8 5 24, Ponzer 1 0 2, C. Figgins 1 0 2, Smith 2 0 4, Brown 3 5 11. Totals: 16 10 46.
Highlands (23-4) - Allen 1 2 4, Adler 5 0 11, Conner 2 4 9, Towles 2 0 4, McMahon 1 0 3, Cutter 3 2 8, Macke 1 0 2, Messmer 2 0 4. Totals: 17 8 45.
Simon Kenton 12 15 9 10 -46
Highlands 14 14 8 9 -45
3-pointers: SK 4 (Wainscott, Tolliver 3); H 3 (Adler, Conner, McMahon).
http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...902200401/
In the end, Simon Kenton made one more free throw and two more defensive stops, edging Highlands 46-45.
"That," said Simon Kenton coach Jeff Stowers, "is how you win championships."
With the victory, the Pioneers probably locked up their first championship of the 2008-09 season. They entered the rematch with Highlands - Simon Kenton beat the Bluebirds 46-43 in January - ranked No. 1 in the Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches' poll. Since the Bluebirds were No. 2, Thursday's regular-season finale served as a de facto poll championship game.
Now, if area coaches stick to their voting patterns, Simon Kenton will win its first poll title in girls' basketball. Its current position is a quantum leap from the downtrodden program Stowers took over in 2002. In the two seasons before his arrival, the Pioneers had gone 2-43.
"It's great for our seniors," said Stowers. "We pulled those guys up as eighth-graders. This is what we were looking to. We thought this would be our year. "
One of those five-year varsity contributors, senior Chelsea Tolliver, led the way Thursday night. She scored a game-high 24 points and made one of two free throws with 1:13 to provide the game's final and decisive point.
"Everybody gets nervous in that situation," Tolliver said. "But you just try to go to the line like it's every day in practice."
After getting a defensive stop, Simon Kenton went to the line again. With 18 seconds remaining, Sydni Wainscott missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity, giving Highlands one last chance. With four seconds remaining, Simon Kenton trapped Highlands guard Katie Allen in the corner, forcing the Bluebirds to call a timeout. They then inbounded to Bekah Towles, who shot a contested jump shot at the buzzer that was just short.
"We know where our bread is buttered; we're a defensive team," Stowers said. "Our defense came through when we needed it and won it for us."
Simon Kenton and Highlands have reputations as two of the top defensive teams in the area - a fact that was borne out throughout the game. Simon Kenton came up with 15 steals and forced 18 Highlands turnovers. Highlands had 12 steals and forced 16 turnovers. The two teams combined to shoot just 32 percent from the field.
The game featured 10 ties and 10 lead changes. Neither team led by more than six points. In the second half, neither team enjoyed a lead larger than three points.
Nikki Brown helped lead Simon Kenton with 11 points. Tolliver collected eight rebounds and seven steals. Kayla Smith chipped in with 12 rebounds. Mallory Adler, the only Highlands scorer in double figures, tallied 11 points.
Both teams enter postseason play next week as the favorites in their respective regions. Simon Kenton, which opens 32nd District tournament play against Grant County, is undefeated in the Eighth Region. Highlands, which will play either Dayton or Newport in the first round of the 36th District tournament, is undefeated in the Ninth Region.
"I'm just glad this happened now and not next week," Highlands coach Jaime Richey said. "... We've got to be ready to go. It's one-and-done for us. I think the girls are mature enough now to understand that they have to bring their 'A' game every game."
Simon Kenton (22-4) - Wainscott 1 0 3, Tolliver 8 5 24, Ponzer 1 0 2, C. Figgins 1 0 2, Smith 2 0 4, Brown 3 5 11. Totals: 16 10 46.
Highlands (23-4) - Allen 1 2 4, Adler 5 0 11, Conner 2 4 9, Towles 2 0 4, McMahon 1 0 3, Cutter 3 2 8, Macke 1 0 2, Messmer 2 0 4. Totals: 17 8 45.
Simon Kenton 12 15 9 10 -46
Highlands 14 14 8 9 -45
3-pointers: SK 4 (Wainscott, Tolliver 3); H 3 (Adler, Conner, McMahon).
02-20-2009, 04:30 PM
Congrats Simon Kenton!