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Ken Chevalier is excited about the versatility of his Dixie Heights boys basketball team this year.Chevalier, entering his seventh season as Colonels head coach, will get his 100th win at the school with the season’s first triumph.There could be many more as the Colonels are expected to be one of the top contenders for the Ninth Region title this year. A preseason poll by Northern Kentucky coaches put Dixie in third place in a tightly bunched vote total at the top.“This season, our team should be more versatile with a good balance of interior and perimeter scoring threats,” Chevalier said. “With three top returning players and a talented junior class, we should be very competitive throughout the season.”The Colonels did lose five key seniors from last year, including three seniors, but return several veterans.Freshman guard Brandon Hatton, listed among the top players in the state in the Class of 2014, averaged 13.5 points a game last year as a rare eighth-grader playing on a big-school team. With a lot of range on his jump shot, he scored 34 points in a game last year.Junior forward Zeke Pike, the 6-foot-5 highly touted football player, averaged 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game on the hardcourt and looks to use his size and athleticism to help the Colonels in hoops.Senior guard Matt Trammel missed most of last year with back surgery but averaged nine points a game.Parker Stansberry, a 6-5 junior, could be one of the top newcomers in the region. He can shoot from the perimeter as well as rebound and block shots. Seniors Frank Muntis and Josh Armbruster, and junior Jordan Hassel are among other top newcomers.Chevalier said developing leadership on the team early in the season will be important.Dixie tests its mettle early in the season, playing Conner Dec. 1. Conner is the preseason favorite in the region, according to the coaches poll.Other schools of interest to Kenton County include:BeechwoodBeechwood was 17-11 last year under Rick Shumate. The Tigers graduated four seniors including leading scorer Jonny Pohlgeers, but return four starters overall.Corey Cruse and Tyler Fangman, who both averaged in double digits last year, are among the top returners. Fangman is one of the top shooters in the area, hitting 47 percent from three-point land.Sophomores Chase Maus and Max Nussbaum both averaged four to five points a game last year. Matt Brennan, Cameron Vocke, Mitch McKenzie and Gage Erdman are other top returners. McKenzie is the listed new starter to replace Pohlgeers in the preseason.“We will play an aggressive style of offense and defense and push the ball up the floor,” Shumate said. “Our strengths will be our size and athleticism and our ability to put the ball in the basket.”Beechwood is three-time defending conference champions in Division III. The Tigers start the regular season late to give football players time to reacquaint themselves to the floor. Beechwood starts the year Dec. 7 at Dayton.Calvary ChristianRex Brooking takes over as head coach this year. It will be his second stint with the Cougars. He picked up 99 wins in the 1990s with Calvary and will get win No. 100 with this season’s first triumph.Calvary finished 9-14 last year and Brooking must replace the core of the team that played in the All “A” Classic state tourney two years ago.Senior guard Tucker Glass and senior forward Andrew Moran return to the starting lineup. Both are intense competitors, Brooking said. Seniors Darrin Bray, Chris Looy, David Helton, Mike Kalfas, Shane Reuscher, and Zach Kees all look to step up this year, Brooking said.Calvary opens the year Nov. 30 at Scott in a district seeding game. Calvary’s first home game is Dec. 3 against Augusta.Covington CatholicThe Colonels will look to improve on last year’s 18-13 record and loss in the Ninth Region semifinals.Jake Thelen, a senior center, is the top returning player for the Colonels and veteran head coach Mike Listerman. He was ranked fifth in Northern Kentucky in a preseason coaches poll of top players.Cov Cath opens at home Dec. 1 against Lexington Catholic.Covington LatinThe Trojans do not play a full varsity schedule. They start Dec. 4 at Bellevue.HolmesThe Jason Booher era begins at Holmes. Booher was 181-70 at Shelby Valley, leading that team to the state title last year.It will also be a new era without players who won the 2009 state title, including last year’s graduates Elijah Pittman and the Johnson brothers, Ricardo and Jeremiah.Booher, who ran an uptempo attack at Shelby Valley, said speed and athleticism are the strengths of his new team, while varsity inexperience is a concern.Among top new contributors include senior guard Chris Hayes, a very athletic guard who can break down defenses. Senior Jaleel Gray is also a very athletic guard. Junior Dontel Rice, a 6-foot-5 forward, is a long and athletic presence inside.The new Bulldogs debut at home Dec. 4 against Lloyd. Holmes will also be in the Laurel County tournament Dec. 18-21 and try to defend its championship in the Lloyd tournament Dec. 27-30.Holy CrossErik Goetz returns for his fifth season with a 70-59 record. Although the team suffered through an 8-18 season last year, the Indians return seven veterans this year and add Holmes transfer Christian McClendon at guard.Junior guard Jake Burger returns after averaging 12 points a game last year and earning all-conference honors in Division II.Senior forward Jerry Arlinghaus (6-foot-4) averaged six rebounds a game last year. Senior Noah Knochelman, a 6-6 center, returns, as do senior guards Joe Allen and Rob Broering. Goetz is excited about the Indians’ potential to play an uptempo game. The development of Knochelman and Arlinghaus inside will be a key to this year’s success. Holy Cross starts the year at home Dec. 6 against Boone County.LloydMike Key enters his fifth year at Lloyd head coach after a 6-22 season a year ago.He has a veteran team returning to improve the record as the Juggernauts did not lose anyone to graduation. They are led by 6-foot-5 senior forward Donnie Cheatum, who averaged 16.6 points and eight rebounds a game. He is ranked eighth in the preseason coaches poll of top players in Northern Kentucky.Senior forwards Jibril McCaster and Jon Danks, junior point guard Niko Hall and sophomore shooting guard Niko Carter are the returning starters.Juniors K.T. Williams, Dalton McGue and Brady Asher add shooting depth, and junior Tyler Bray adds depth inside.Key said the team should be very athletic and run an uptempo game. Cheatum provides a strong post presence but Lloyd does not have much size besides him.Lloyd hosts Ludlow Nov. 30 to start the season with a key district seeding game.LudlowFormer Silver Grove head coach Steve Hart takes over at Ludlow. He had a 141-118 record at Silver Grove.He takes over a team that went 3-24 last year. Returning starters are Eric Faulkner, Chris Yates and Jake Gier. Top newcomers include Burt Pouncy, Anthony Camarena and Mitchell Cody.Hart sees positives in his young team.“There is some depth and athleticism,” he said. “Our biggest problem is our kids do not know how to win. I think we will play extremely hard, though. We will have some younger players that will have to really develop for us to be successful.”Ludlow starts the season at Lloyd Nov. 30 in a key 34th District seeding game.ScottBrad Carr returns for his seventh season as head coach with a 98-82 record. The Eagles were 18-10 last year and won their third straight 37th District title.The Eagles’ leader is senior point guard Kellen Smith, who averaged 13.7 points, 7.8 assists and 2.3 steals a game. He led Northern Kentucky in assists and was first-team, all-region. Carr considers him a coach on the floor with his basketball IQ. Smith had a strong offseason according to Carr and has signed to play for Division II Saginaw Valley State.Senior guard Cameron Haynes returns for his second year as a starter. He averaged 10 points a game and can score in a variety of ways. An intense competitor, Haynes will need to rebound more, according to Carr, because of the team’s lack of size.Scott will be a perimeter-oriented attack, and quick and athletic, Carr said. Carr will look to develop depth this year as well, as it is a concern in the preseason.Scott opens the season at home Nov. 30 against Calvary.Simon KentonThe Pioneers return a lot of experience from last year.Junior guard Cody Chambers averaged 10 points a game last season. Senior guard Nick Gray posted 10 points a contest. Senior center D.J. Rabe, 6-foot-5, had five rebounds a game. Senior center J.R. Doss, 6-foot-6, had three rebounds a game. Senior guard Matt Reilly also returns.Sophomores Andrew Sampson and Nick Ayers, and junior Ryan Mullen add depth to the backcourt. SK should be strong in quickness and defense.“Experience should be a big strength for the Pioneers this year,” said head coach Trent Steiner. “Last year the Pioneers were very guard-oriented, and while we hope to have much improved post play, perimeter shooting will make us capable of stretching the floor to make it harder to defend us.”St. HenryThe Crusaders have one returning starter from last year’s team, which won the 34th District Tournament and had a 14-11 record.Senior guard Zach Barnett averaged 10.8 points per game last year but he is one of only two players with varsity experience on the roster this season for head coach Dave Faust. Faust enters his 18th season with a 286-215 record, giving him a shot at reaching 300 wins this year.Faust will look to develop the team and be ready for the All “A” Classic in January and then the postseason.Other seniors are Alec Beeghly, Jon Fox, Jake Goetz, and Justin Rauh.St. Henry opens the year Nov. 30 at home against Bishop Brossart.Villa MadonnaThe Blue Lightning will be young as they look to build on an 11-14 record last year under Rob Starkey, who enters his sixth season as head coach.Standout point guard Blake Bryan graduated after leading the team in scoring for the past three years. The most experienced players coming in this year are junior post player Derek Phelps, a versatile player who averaged 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks a game last year; and senior point guard Andrew McLean. McLean, a great leader, averaged 4.3 points and 2.7 assists a game.Starkey said the team has a lot of young and talented guards with speed.Senior guard Alec Luensman is a very fast guard who works hard and is a strong defender. Senior guard Michael Haynes is a strong team player. Senior forward Ben Conniff is a tough rebounder.Junior guard Karl Weickgenannt is a great shooter and defender. Four sophomores could be key players. Forward Thomas Steinkoenig is a tough player, and guards Andrew Smith, Andy Piccirillo and Deuce Gibson have a lot of potential.“We have a lot of guys competing for spots on the floor,” Starkey said. “I think we may come out and surprise a lot of people this year.”VMA opens Dec. 1 at Newport. Its first district game is Dec. 3 at home against Dixie Heights and first conference game is Dec. 7 at home against Calvary.