Newport star sophomore a game-time decision as Wildcats face Campbell County in Sweet 16
Campbell County head boys basketball coach Brent Sowder said his players have seen Newport play several times this year as fans but not as opponents.
The two teams didn’t play this season but will matchup Thursday night when they face off in the first round of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena.
Campbell (26-6) is in the tournament for the first time since 2019, and Newport (32-3) is there for the second consecutive year.
“Our guys have gone up to watch Newport play several times just because they’re fun to watch play,” Sowder said. “As hard as they play on the defensive end, what they can do on the offensive end, the experience of watching them play … we know we’re in for a tremendous challenge but it’s a challenge we’re excited to take on. We have nothing but the highest regard for Newport and their program. What they’re doing is tremendous.”
Said Newport head coach Rod Snapp, “We’re getting ready for a solid Campbell County team. It’s like another local game, to be honest. We’ve been them play. The coach does a really good job with them. Right now, we’re preparing for them and what they do.”
Newport star Taylen Kinney's status is a game-time decision
Snapp said it’s uncertain whether Newport’s leading scorer, sophomore guard Taylen Kinney (18 ppg), will be ready to play Thursday night.
Kinney injured a hamstring in the first minute of play in the Ninth Region championship game March 12. Kinney, considered one of the top sophomores in Kentucky hoops and the Northern Kentucky conference player of the year, was on crutches after the game.
Snapp said there is no structural damage or tears, and that Kinney will attempt to run and get shots up when the team practices at Xavier University’s Cintas Center later Monday.
Snapp said the team has been practicing as if he won’t play but will happily adjust if he can.
“He wants to play as bad as anybody,” Snapp said. “The kid lives and breathes basketball. He’s in the gym seven days a week. For him to get put on the shelf is definitely tough on him. For the coaches as well: We love having him on the court. He’ll be a big bonus if he gets cleared.”
Newport has dealt with adversity
Newport has won 24 straight since losing twice in the King of the Bluegrass tourney in Louisville in December. Newport had close losses to top-ranked Great Crossing and fifth-ranked Trinity in the tourney.
Newport also won the All "A" Classic, beating highly ranked Lyon County and Evangel Christian in the tourney. The day after winning the title in Corbin, the Wildcats went to Dayton, Ohio, and beat Middletown of the Greater Miami Conference in the Flyin' to the Hoop Classic.
Newport also played in a tournament in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Dec. 29-30. They played two games each day and won all four, simulating what the Wildcats would have to do Saturday if they play in the state semifinals and final.
"Lot of adversity, some situations with some heavy-hitter teams," Snapp said. "We were up 16 against Trinity in the fourth quarter, and they really stepped it up, caused a lot of havoc, pressing and trapping us. Games like that are huge for us."
There's history between rivals Newport and Campbell County
While Newport and Campbell County didn’t meet this season, the Camels have won the last three matchups since 2019 and 10 of the last 11 overall.
Campbell leads the series 25-5 since the 1997-98 season. One of the Newport wins came during its Ninth Region championship season of 2009-10.
Little of that matters now since Newport has one of its most talented teams of the past 25 years.
Besides Kinney, the Wildcats are led by senior guards Jabari Covington (12.6 ppg.) and DeShaun “D.J.” Jackson (11 ppg.). Post players James Turner and Griffin Starks add height and athleticism. Turner averages 8.6 points and Starks 5.4.
DaShawn Anderson, Amontae Lowe and Noah Silverton average over 3 points per game. They stepped up in the Ninth Region final after Kinney went out and Snapp expects them to play solid roles in the Sweet 16.
Campbell County boys basketball has won 12 straight
Campbell County is on a 12-game winning streak of its own. The Camels have won the 10th Region for the first time since 2019, which was the Camels’ fourth title in six seasons.
Campbell is led by senior Connor Weinel, a first-team all-region pick who averages 15.7 points and 10 rebounds. senior guard Broc Sorgenfrei (12.7 ppg), and junior point guard Garyn Jackson (11.6 ppg.) also average in double figures. Xavier Fancher, Williams Johnson, Nathan Smith and Zach Franzen average over 4 points per game. Smith was defensive player of the year in the conference.
Jackson made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lead the Camels from behind to a win over George Rogers Clark in the 10th Region championship game. Jackson’s shot was sweet justice for the Camels, who have suffered several buzzer-beating losses in the 10th Region Tournament in recent years in addition to their numerous regional titles.
“Connor is somebody that does a little bit of everything well,” Sowder said. “He’s physical, he can rebound, shoot from the outside. It’s nice to have that type of versatility from your ‘five.’ Broc, we’re super proud of him. I’ve told him that I’m proud of who he is, and he’s about to show the state who he is. He has a knack for the big shot. We have a special point guard in Garyn Jackson. We’re proud of all of them in the way they’ve stepped up.”
Sowder took over for coaching legend at Campbell County
Sowder, who has been an assistant coach in the program since 2014, took over for head coach Aric Russell, who retired after last season as one of the winningest coaches in Northern Kentucky history.
“When the foundation is solid, the house will stand,” Sowder said. “He built a foundation solid. Of course, I’ve put my little tweaks on things, changes here and there. It’s really been a smooth transition, and I can’t thank the Campbell County administration enough for putting that trust in me to carry that on.”
Sowder said being on the bench with Russell has helped him in many ways.
“I just took so many mental notes from 2014 on about little things he would do, putting myself in those situations,” Sowder said. “Just learning from him has really helped me a lot this year. We’re trying to continue to build on that foundation.”
The Newport-Campbell County 2024 matchup makes history of its own
Thursday’s matchup will be a rarity in the history of the Sweet 16, as two teams from the same county will face each other in the tournament.
It’s always a possibility in the Louisville area. The Sixth and Seventh regions are comprised of schools from Jefferson County, which covers the Louisville metropolitan area.
Northern Kentucky is the only other area in the state where it could currently happen. Since the area has a few schools in the Eighth and 10th regions, it’s possible to have three local teams in the field.
The region has had two teams from the same county in the same Sweet 16 several times in recent memory, but they did not play each other in the tournament.
Northern Kentucky had two teams from Campbell County play in the Sweet 16 in consecutive seasons: Newport Central Catholic and Bishop Brossart in 2000, and Campbell County and Highlands in 2001.
Northern Kentucky had two teams in the boys state tournament in five of six seasons between 2014-19.
In 2019, Campbell’s last time in the Sweet 16, the area had three teams. Reid Jolly’s Camels beat Dieonte Miles’ Walton-Verona Bearcats in the quarterfinals before losing in the semis. That was the last matchup of Northern Kentucky teams in the boys Sweet 16.
Campbell and Covington Catholic were in the same Sweet 16 four times in six seasons. The Colonels beat the Camels in the first round in 2015.
In 2018, CovCath won the state championship. Campbell lost by one to Oldham County in the quarterfinals and would have played the Colonels in the semis with a victory.
In 2017, Scott and Cooper, who are in separate counties but 17 miles apart, nearly met in the state championship game. The Jaguars lost in the state finals to Bowling Green, who edged Jake Ohmer’s Scott Eagles in the semifinals by a point, 80-79.
In the girls Sweet 16, two teams from the same local county have been there five times since 2001: Highlands and Brossart in 2001, Campbell and NewCath in 2003, Boone County and Walton-Verona in 2012, Holy Cross and Simon Kenton in 2015; and SK and Holmes in 2017.
In the 2018 Sweet 16 at Northern Kentucky University’s arena, Ryle and Simon Kenton met in the first round, with Ryle winning 61-54. The schools are in different counties, but only nine miles apart across Kentucky 536.
In the 2023 Sweet 16, Cooper and Simon Kenton could have met in the second round, but both teams lost close games in their openers.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Taylen Kinney injury update for Newport vs. Campbell County state game
