By Ed Letsinger

Timing is everything when tournament time rolls around and for top-ranked Covington Catholic they couldn’t have picked a better time of the year to be playing their best basketball.

The Colonels defeated Newport Central Catholic 61-50 to win the boys’ Ninth Region championship on Saturday night at Ryle High School.

It is the second regional title in the last three years for CovCath, who advanced to the state Final Four in 2004.  The Colonels will meet the winner of Apollo/Ohio County on Thursday, March 16 at 1:30 p.m. at Rupp Arena.

CovCath (24-6) has won 12 of their last 13 games including their last eight since dropping two straight to Holmes and Lexington Catholic in late January.

“Everybody has stepped up and made plays and we’re not done yet,” said senior guard Tim Tierney, amidst a crowd of CovCath fans who flooded the court after the game.  “We’ve been playing really well lately and we’re just on a roll.”

CovCath was coming off an emotional semifinal win over No. 2-ranked Highlands on Friday night but the Colonels still had enough in the tank for a NewCath team (18-14) that came into the game a decided underdog.

“It was in the back of our minds but I thought our guys handled it well,” said CovCath head coach Mike Listerman of a possible letdown by his team.  “We stayed focused because we knew we weren’t finished.”

CovCath never trailed in the game and were never really threatened after bolting to a quick 11-2 lead to start the game.  The Colonels, who allowed no more than 52 points in their district and regional tournament games, disrupted NewCath with pressure defense and grew their lead to as much as 30-13 with 3:20 left in the first half before a late NewCath run cut the score to 36-22 by halftime.

The Colonels shot 57.6 percent in the first half with junior guard Todd Jacobs and senior forward Danny Noll scoring nine points each.  Scott Gesenhues (8) and Zach Kiernan (6) helped keep the Thoroughbreds in shouting distance.

CovCath enjoyed leads as large as 20 points in the third quarter before NewCath made one last gasp effort to get back in the game.  Trailing 50-35 entering the fourth quarter, NewCath went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to eight at 50-42 but a Noll jumper stopped the run and NewCath never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Noll, who earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors and was coming off a career-best 30 point effort against Highlands, had a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds.  Tierney turned in a solid all-around effort with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists.  Senior forward Michael Young contributed 12 points and five rebounds.

Gesenhues scored a game-high 22 points including nine in the fourth quarter.  Kiernan ended the night with 11 points and six rebounds.

CovCath shot 58.1 percent for the game and won the rebound battle 27-22.  NewCath shot 43.5 percent.