When are the best high school basketball games in Greater Cincinnati from Jan. 1-7?
Shortly after the ball drops in Times Square to ring in the new year, basketballs will once again be dropping through nets throughout Greater Cincinnati.
As teams return from out-of-town tournaments in warmer climates, league play will heat up in Ohio while district seeding games will take place in Kentucky.
For the week of Jan. 1-7, here are the best high school basketball games to watch around Greater Cincinnati.
Girls
Mason (7-2) at Lakota East (7-4): Two of the top teams in the Greater Miami Conference are set to battle. The Thunderhawks bring an unblemished league record into the contest, while Mason's lone conference loss is to Princeton in overtime. This has the potential to be an offensive showcase as both schools are scoring more than 60 points per game in league play. Mason's Madison Parrish is second in the conference in scoring at 18.3 points per game while Lakota East's Celina Blount has been a menace at the rim, blocking three shots per contest. When: 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3
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Scott (8-2) at Simon Kenton (9-3): The Eagles and Lady Pioneers are both very young teams. It'll be interesting to see which team prevails. Scott is led by eighth-grader Nekiah Mejia (12.4 points per game), junior Kaia Peterson (10.4 ppg) and eighth-grader Noelle Price (9.2 ppg). Simon Kenton has already played in two tournaments this season, winning the Billy Hicks Classic while going 2-2 at the Queen of the Commonwealth. Five of the Lady Pioneers' top-six scorers are sophomores or younger. When: 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3
Cooper (11-3) at Mount Notre Dame (10-0): The Jaguars are on a roll, having won eight straight after starting the year 3-3. They're facing a second Ohio state championship contender this year after playing Purcell Marian on Dec. 12. Three of Cooper's four senior starters are averaging in double figures, but they have 10 different players that can hurt opposing teams on a given night. Should the Cougars enter this game undefeated, they will have earned it. Drew Faldung's team faces Princeton in 2023's final weekend before facing Cooper. Kailee Bransford leads MND at 13.1 points per game, but seven players are scoring at least three points per contest. When: 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4
Lebanon (8-3) at Winton Woods (8-2): The outcome of this game could tell us a lot about the top half of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference. Should Winton Woods emerge victorious, there will be some separation behind the top three teams in the league. If Lebanon can win, as many as five teams will be in the league race for the time being. Daniah Trammell leads the ECC in rebounding and is second in scoring. For Lebanon, a number of Maddie Mueller's 5.2 assists per game have gone to her sister Jordan, who is scoring 14.6 points per game. Lebanon and Winton Woods split their two matchups last season, each winning a game by four points. When: 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4
Indian Hill (7-3) at Taylor (6-4): The Braves and Yellowjackets are sure to provide a tightly contested game when they take the court for bragging right in the Cincinnati Hills League. Taylor won both contests last season, and three of its four losses this year have come by six points or less. The Braves started slow at 1-3, but have won six straight and are currently playing in a tournament in Fort Myers, FL. Indian Hill's Caroline Langworthy and Taylor's Willow Montag lead their teams with identical scoring averages of 14.3 points per game. There will also be a battle in the post as Jenna Odor and Dakota Spurrier are in the top five in the league in blocks and rebounds. When: 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6
Notre Dame (9-1) vs. Russell (7-1): The Pandas get a test from the Red Devils, who hail from the 16th Region and 63rd District in Kentucky, when the two face off in the Simpson's Tree Service/ H+W Sports Classic. Notre Dame is buoyed by juniors Sophia Gibson, Maya Lawrie, Tori Lenihan and Kate Resing, as well as senior Kendra Collins. Russell has allowed more than 50 points only once this season, in its lone loss. Shaelyn Steele paces the Red Devils at 19.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. When: 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6 at Franklin County
Cincinnati Country Day (7-2) at Summit Country Day (4-3): Which school will take the first "Country Day Contest" of the season? CCD is led by Megan and Elizabeth Zimmerman, who are combining for 32 points and 14 rebounds per game. A suffocating defense is allowing just 33 points per game. The key for Summit will be to score the ball. They average 49 points per game in their wins as opposed to 29 points in their losses. When: 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6
Boys
St. Henry (4-7) at Dixie Heights (6-4): This will be a key 34th District game for two teams figuring out who they are. Griffin Derry leads Dixie at 13 points per game and Hudson Blank 11. St. Henry has had a tough schedule with a lot of bigger schools. Andrew Reis scores 14.6 points per game and Andrew Flanagan 13.9. St. Henry beat Dixie 48-41 in the regular season last year and 57-53 in the district tournament. When: 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3.
Princeton (3-3) at Middletown (7-1): This will be a crucial early game in the title race in the Greater Miami Conference. Middletown is tied with Sycamore and Lakota East for first place at 4-1, while Princeton is tied with Hamilton at 3-2. Middletown hasn’t won the league in 10 seasons, and Princeton in six. Princeton is led by Brendan Braddix averaging 15.2 points per game, and Rognny Santiago Lugo at 12. Middletown is led by Jeremiah Landers with 12 points and four rebounds per game. The teams split their decisions last year, with Princeton winning by seven on its floor (71-64) and the Middies winning by one on theirs (57-56). When: 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5.
Lakota East (6-2) at Lakota West (4-3): Staying in the GMC, the school district archrivals will battle to improve their standings in the title race. East is tied for first, while West is 2-2, one loss behind the leaders. The Thunderhawks are led by one of the city’s top players in guard Trey Perry, who is averaging 24.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Ty Smyers averages 13 points and 9.5 rebounds. The Firebirds’ leading scorer is Isaiah Meade-Moss at 11.2 ppg. Both teams were under. 500 last year. West, which was 8-16, beat East (11-13) by 13 at home and West prevailed by one, 37-36 on its floor. When: 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5.
Turpin (5-2) at Anderson (4-2): Not only are they school-district archrivals, the Spartans and Raptors were two of last year’s three co-champions in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference. It was Anderson’s first league title since 1982, while Turpin has earned at least a share of the ECC crown in three of the past four seasons. Anderson’s top scorer is Andrew Patterson, who averages 15.5 points along with 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Cassius Black and A.J. Austin-Robinson averaged 10 points a contest. Turpin’s Shea O’Toole, a junior guard, is one of the city’s top scorers with 23.3 points per game with 4.5 rebounds. Joseph Lafkas averages 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. Turpin won both meetings last year, 61-47 and 63-52. Both teams have ECC games on Jan. 2. When: 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5.
Goshen (8-1) at Batavia (7-2): Both teams enter 2024 tied atop the American Division of the Southern Buckeye Athletic & Academic Conference at 2-0. Batavia last won the title in 2021 and Goshen in 2017. Batavia’s top scorers are Jess Roller and Conner McElfresh at over 13 points per game. Goshen has the league’s top scorer, Caden Zeinner, who averages 20 points and 3.7 assists. Goshen won both meetings last season, 61-40 and 60-49. When: 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5
Indian Hill (7-0) at Wyoming (6-0): Both teams are off to 4-0 starts in the Cincinnati Hills League. Wyoming is defending champion and has won at least a share of seven of the last 10 titles. Indian Hill last won it in 2021. Indian Hill will look to build on the success of the football team, which snapped Wyoming’s long reign in the CHL after beating the Braves this season. Some of IH’s top football stars also play key roles in hoops. Zach Jones, who didn’t play football, is the leading scorer at 16 points per game. Wyoming has three double-figure scorers, led by Kellen Wiley at 14.4 points with 4.6 assists per game. Wyoming won both meetings last year, 56-45 and 41-37. When: 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5.
Highlands (7-5) at Newport (8-3): Two of the last three Ninth Region champions face off in a key 36th District showdown. Newport, the reigning regional champ, has lost to three of Kentucky’s top teams: Covington Catholic, Great Crossing and Trinity. Taylen Kinney averages 20 points per game. Jabari Covington and DeShaun Jackson combine for 23 points a contest. Highlands averages 66 points per game. Brayden Moeves and Nathan Vinson average 18 points per game. Newport won both meetings last season, 57-50 in the regular season and 72-61 in the district tournament final. When: 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: High school basketball: Greater Cincinnati games to watch, Jan. 1-7
