[Stardust]

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The coaches who had led their teams to the Ninth Region girls' basketball tournament spent part of their morning Saturday picking little numbered pills out of a little bottle - the state's preferred method for determining team placement in a blind-draw bracket.

They spent the rest of the morning convincing themselves and others that none of it really mattered.

"At this point you have to just play," said Notre Dame coach Cheryl Darpel, whose team won the 35th District. "We were fine with whatever. There are so many teams that can win it, (the bracket) doesn't really matter now."

Coaches agreed that the eight-team field is one of the most even in recent memory.

Highlands, which went 14-0 in the region before losing the 36th District final to Newport Central Catholic, had been the favorite. After the loss, most coaches considered the top teams - Highlands, NewCath, Notre Dame, Boone County and Ryle - to be in a near dead heat.

First-year NewCath coach Ron Dawn, whose team will play Holmes in the first round, quickly deflected any talk that his team is the new front-runner.

"I definitely wouldn't say that," Dawn said. "There are so many good teams. Whoever is going to win this thing is going to have to earn it.

"(The win over Highlands) gives us some confidence. We'd lost to Boone County, Ryle and Highlands during the year. Now we know we can compete with the top teams. It won't be easy, though."

NewCath's upset of Highlands forced the Bluebirds to play a district champion in the first round. They drew Notre Dame, a team they beat 58-50 during the regular season.

Highlands coach Jaime Richey said the tough first-round game didn't surprise or bother her.

"Nothing's going to be easy at this point," she said. "At this point in the season there aren't any gimmes. Every team's playing well now."

The four-day, seven-game tournament will start on Monday at The Bank of Kentucky Center.
Girls

EIGHTH REGION

At South Oldham

Monday

Walton-Verona vs. South

Oldham, 6 p.m.

Anderson County vs. Carroll County, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday

Simon Kenton vs. Spencer County, 6 p.m.

Owen County vs. Oldham County, 7:30 p.m.

Friday

Walton-Verona/South Oldham vs. Anderson Co./Carroll Co., 6 p.m.

Simon Kenton/Spencer Co. vs. Owen Co./Oldham Co., 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 7

Finals, 7 p.m.

NINTH REGION

At NKU

Monday

St. Henry vs. Ryle, 6 p.m.

Newport Central Catholic vs. Holmes, 8 p.m.

Tuesday

Highlands vs. Notre Dame, 6 p.m.

Boone County vs. Ludlow, 8 p.m.

Friday

St. Henry/Ryle vs. Newport Central Catholic/Holmes, 6 p.m.

Highlands/Notre Dame vs. Boone Co./Ludlow, 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 7

Finals, 8 p.m.

10TH REGION

At Harrison County

Monday

Montgomery County vs.

Bracken County, 6:30 p.m.

Campbell County vs. Deming, 8:15 p.m.

Tuesday

Scott vs. St. Patrick, 6:30 p.m.

Harrison County vs. George Rogers Clark, 8:15 p.m.

Thursday

Montgomery Co./Bracken Co. vs. Campbell Co./Deming, 6:30 p.m.

Scott/St. Patrick vs. Harrison Co./George Rogers Clark, 8:15 p.m.

Saturday, March 7

Finals, 7:30 p.m.