[Stardust]

t's been a whirlwind three days for the Conner girls' basketball team which has posted back-to-back signature wins for second-year head coach Aaron Stamm, while going 3-0 in pool play at the Conner State Farm Holiday Classic.

The Cougars, ranked ninth in the Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches' poll, upset fifth-ranked Highlands, 63-56 in Thursday's Group A finale one day after surprising a Paducah Tilghman squad that has won nine games.


"The last two days have been great," said Stamm, a former coach at Ludlow. "We started this thing last year and we got 11 wins. To beat Paducah Tilghman and Highlands in a two-day span is as satisfying a time since I've been here."

The Cougars (10-2), the lone squad among the eight participants to complete pool play unbeaten, have a chance to deliver coach Stamm his biggest victory yet at Conner when they play fourth-ranked Newport Central Catholic in Friday's 4 p.m. championship. Highlands (7-5) plays Ashland Blazer in the fifth-place contest at noon.

NewCath, the defending Ninth Region champion, won Group B with a 2-1 record and advanced to the final by virtue of head-to-head tiebreakers. If the Cougars beat the Thoroughbreds, they will equal their win total of last season.

"Tonight is a big win and playing NCC is going to be great," Conner's Emily Pluto said. "We're really coming together now. Our coach has really changed everything and we play a lot better."

http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...312290133/

[Stardust]

http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...312290133/

Highlands 16 - 10 - 15 - 15 -- 56
Conner 14 - 17 - 17 - 15 -- 63

Highlands (7-5) - Daley 7 5 19, Schaefer 6 2 15, Fisse 3 2 9, Watson 2 1 5, Adler 0 3 3, Parton 1 0 3, Bridewell 1 0 2. Totals 20 13 56

Conner (10-2) - Pluto 5 0 15, Scott 5 2 15, Castleberry 5 2 12, Ray 5 1 11, Peacock 2 0 5, Hendricks 2 1 5. Totals 24 6 63.

Halftime: Conner, 31-26. 3-pointers. H 3 (Parton, Fisse, Schaefer). C 9 (Pluto 5, Scott 3, Peacock).

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[BigZig75]

Another great win by Coach Stamm and his Lady Cougars. It seems like each night a different girl is stepping up for the Lady Cougars. The Cougars play NewCath today at 4pm in the championship and I like their chances. Should be another good game.