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The 35th District lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest in the state with a wild scrum for the two automatic Ninth Region tournament berths that go to the champion and runner-up, but the pecking order remained the same.

This season, it looks like another free-for-all between Holmes, Covington Catholic and Holy Cross, and Beechwood can’t be counted out.

“It’s always tough getting out of our district,” Holmes coach Jason Booher said. “Every year, a very good team doesn’t get to the regional.”

Holmes won the district title for the fifth year in a row. Covington Catholic was runner-up a third straight season. The difference between CovCath and district semifinalist Holy Cross was a triple-overtime win for the Colonels that kept the All “A” Classic state champion out of the regional for the eighth straight year.

“Getting the No. 1 district seed is so important, and there’s going to be some nail-biting games,” Holmes coach Jason Booher said. “It’s going to come down to who makes shots and who makes their free throws and makes plays at the end of the game.”

Holmes emerged unscathed from last season’s district battles, beating CovCath twice and going 5-0. The Bulldogs return three senior starters – guards DaQuan Palmer and B.J. Coston and center Chris Englemon, all of whom averaged about 10 points per game.

CovCath has four starters back – guards Nick Ruthsatz and Nick Fredrick, forward Sawyer Pauly and center Zach Tobler. Ruthsatz, a junior, averaged 18.5 points per game and was named all-conference.

Holy Cross, led by all-conference seniors Tony Campbell, the area’s rebounding and blocked shots leader, and guard Christian McClendon, has a deep rotation of quality players.

“We return a solid core from a team that won 28 games,” Holy Cross coach Erik Goetz said. “Tony Campbell was Northern Kentucky defensive player of the year and should again be a force around the basket.”

Campbell is the district’s key player, if not its best. If the 6-foot-9 Ohio University recruit becomes a completely dominating force, the Indians won’t miss the miraculous Jake Burger, who hit the game-winning shot at the final buzzer to bring home the All “A” crown.

Holy Cross handed CovCath one of its three district losses last season before falling by seven in the tournament rematch. It was the sixth time in 12 years that the Indians lost by 10 points or fewer in the district elimination game. They have been ousted by CovCath four of the past five years.

The 35th District can claim the regional champion six times in 14 years and the regional runner-up six times. In the eight years Holy Cross has been absent, Holmes has won four regional championships with a runner-up finish, and CovCath has won one regional crown and finished runner-up twice.

Holmes won the state championship in 2009 and was state runner-up in 2008.

“We found out it’s a very tough district with a lot of good players and well-coached teams,” said CovCath’s Scott Ruthsatz. “You’ve got to be ready every night.”