LouisvilleCatholicSports.com

Area's top boys, girls players recognized

It was another immensely successful season for Louisville area Catholic schools on the basketball court.

Assumption High School (7th Region) and Mercy Academy (6th Region) reached its respective regional championship games on the girls side, while Holy Cross (26-6) and 6th Region Coach of the Year Fred Copass put together one of its best years ever. 

Presentation Academy and Sacred Heart Academy also put together winning seasons as all five Louisville Catholic high school girls' basketball teams each reached the regional round.

On the boys' side, Trinity High School capped its grandest season in program history by capturing its first-ever state championship after a 71-53 win over Scott County in the Sweet 16 finals at Rupp Arena. The Rocks (35-3) went 32-1 against in-state competition and became the first Kentucky high school to ever win a basketball and football state title in the same season.

Trinity played rival St. Xavier in the just the 2nd all-Catholic regional final final in state history to reach Rupp Arena. The Tigers, led by 7th Region Coach of the Year Kevin Klein, also had a breakout season as St. X won its first district championship since 2001 and reached the regional tournament for the first time since 2006.

DeSales won the 6th Region All "A" Classic and advanced to the Frankfort Convention Center to play in the All "A" state tourney before falling to Danville 46-41 in the first round. The Colts also won the Beth Haven Holiday Classic in December going 3-0 over the course of three days.

The players below performed at the highest level on the court this past year and were named to the 2nd Annual LouisvilleCatholicSports.com All-Cathoilc Team. The decision was based on nominations and voting from a panel of LCS writers/reporters who covered these teams and players during the 2011-12 season.

BOYS
First Team
G: Charles Foster, Trinity
G: Darryl Hicks, Trinity
F: Nathan Smith, St. Xavier
F: Nathan Dieudonne, Trinity
C: Evan Bingham, DeSales

Second Team
G: Cameron Duncan, DeSales
G: Robert Shaw, St. Xavier
G: James Quick, Trinity
F: Dylan Bickel, Holy Cross
C: Brock Kiesler, St. Xavier

Third Team
G: Troy Saxton, Trinity
G: Nathan Roush, DeSales
G: Jake Kaelin, Holy Cross
F: Alex Jones, St. Xavier
F: Dominique Mack, Holy Cross

GIRLS
First Team
G: Whitney Hartlage, Mercy
G: Raven Merriweather, Sacred Heart
F: Christine Roush, Mercy
F: Courtney Roush, Mercy
F: Maya Hardin, Holy Cross

Second Team
G: Bailey Reeder, Presentation
G: Kim Mingus, Holy Cross
G: Sydney Morabito, Holy Cross
F: DaiJia Ruffin, Sacred Heart
C: Nora Kiesler, Assumption

Third Team
G: Jade Tubb, Sacred Heart
G: Shelby Adams, Presentation
F: Katie Friedrich, Assumption
F: Morgan Foley, Assumption
C: Julie Skaggs, Holy Cross