CovCath and Cooper lead NKY teams in latest statewide media poll

CovCath and Cooper lead NKY teams in latest statewide media poll
CovCath and Cooper lead NKY teams in latest statewide media poll

The second media poll of the 2026 Kentucky high school basketball season shows little change at the top of the boys poll after Louisville St. Xavier won its third consecutive Louisville Invitational Tournament.

Northern Kentucky teams account for 38 percent of the women’s poll this week, now that the Bishop Brossart Lady ‘Stangs are ranked for the first time this season.

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Each week, 16 media members from across the state will vote for the best teams in the state while also listing the top five boys and girls teams in their assigned region. The Enquirer represents the eighth and ninth regions. The ballots are compiled by Jason Frakes of the Louisville Courier-Journal.

The full surveys are below. First place votes are in parentheses and home teams are in bold.

Who are the 16 best Kentucky men’s basketball teams?

CovCath junior Braeden Myrick (10) is among the state leaders in made 3-pointers. He’s shooting 52.3 percent from long range.

rank, school

Record

Needles

Last week

1. San Javier (15)

14-4

255

1

2.Madison Central

18-1

225

3

3. Man (1)

13-5

223

2

4. Covington Catholic

17-1

219

4

5. Davies County

16-3

192

5

6. Central Warren

14-1

169

6

7. George Rogers Clark

13-3

156

7

8. Frederick Douglass

10-4

132

8

9. Northern Laurel

14-4

93

9

10.Jeffersontown

11-3

78

T12

11. Boyd County

15-4

76

T12

12. McCracken County

14-3

72

11

13. Ballard

10-5

66

14

14. North Oldham

11-5

59

10

15. oriental

15-4

23

NR

16. Lexington Catholic

10-5

22

15

Also receiving votes: Highlands 15, Bryan Station 13, Butler 13, Cavern 12, Bell County 10, Seneca 9, Pikeville 8, Covington Santa Cruz 7, Marshall County 5, Ashland Blazer 4, Christian Academy 4, Ohio County 4, Pleasure Ridge Park 4, Campbell County 3, Adair County 2, Grayson County 2, Manual 2, Ryle 1

Who are the 5 best men’s basketball teams in each region?

First Region (Steve Springer, Murray Ledger & Times): 1. McCracken County; 2. Marshall County; 3.Murray; 4. Carlisle County; 5. Mayfield

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Second Region (Edward Marlowe, WKDZ-FM): 1. Lyon County; 2. Henderson County; 3. Hopkinsville; 4. Hopkins County Center; 5. Union County

Third Region (Mark Mathis, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer): 1. Daviess County; 2. Grayson County; 3. Ohio County; 4. Apollo; 5. Owensboro Catholic

Fourth Region (Micheal Compton, Bowling Green Daily News): 1. Warren Central; 2. Clinton County; 3. South Warren; 4.Glasgow; 5. Green wood

Fifth Region (Josh Claywell, Bardstown Kentucky Standard/LaRue County Herald News): 1. Adair County; 2. LaRue County; 3. cavern; 4. Nelson County; 5. Taylor County

Sixth Region (Demetrius Stanton, DeadStock Visuals): 1.Jeffersontown; 2. Butler; 3. DuBois; 4. Pleasure Ridge Park; 5. Christian Gospel

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Seventh Region (Jason Frakes, The Courier Journal): 1. Saint Xavier; 2. Man; 3. Ballard; 4. manuals; 5. Christian Academy

Eighth Region (James Weber, Cincinnati Enquirer): 1. North Oldham; 2. South Oldham; 3. Woodford County; 4. Simon Kenton; 5. Anderson County

Ninth Region (Brendan Connelly, Cincinnati Enquirer): 1. Covington Catholic; 2. Highlands; 3. Lloyd Monument; 4. Ryle; 5. Holy Cross of Covington

Tenth Region (Evan Dennison, LinkNKY.com): 1. George Rogers Clark; 2. Montgomery County; 3. Campbell County; 4. Nicholas County; 5. Bishop Brossart

11th Region (Jared Peck, leader of the Lexington Herald): 1.Madison Central; 2. Frederick Douglass; 3. Bryan Station; 4. Lexington Catholic; 5. Grand Crossing

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12th Region (Mike Marsee, Danville Freelancer): 1. Danville Christian; 2. Wayne County; 3. Somersault; 4. Pulaski County; 5. Somerset Christian

13th Region (Les Dixon, 13th RegionMediaNetwork.com): 1. Northern Laurel; 2. Bell County; 3. Clay County; 4. Corbin; 5. Southern Laurel

14th Region (Brendon Miller, Bluegrass Sports Nation): 1. Letcher County Central; 2. Breathitt County; 3. Powell County; 4. Danger; 5. Knott County Center

15th Region (Randy White, Appalachian News-Express): 1. Martin County; 2. Pikeville; 3. Johnson Central; 4. Paintsville; 5. Central Floyd

16th Region (James Collier, WLGC-FM): 1. Boyd County; 2. Ashland Jacket; 3. Russell; 4. Lewis County; 5. Racing Land

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Who are the 16 best Kentucky women’s basketball teams?

rank, school

Record

Needles

Last week

1. Sacred Heart (11)

12-3

246

3

2. Assumption (1)

11-5

228

1

3. George Rogers Clark (1)

13-2

221

2

4. Calloway County (3)

21-0

199

T4

5. Simon Kenton

19-1

189

T4

6. Cooper

13-3

182

6

7. Frederick Douglass

13-3

168

7

8. Taylor County

16-3

112

9

9. Ashland Jacket

13-1

103

10

10. Campbell County

12-2

95

12

11. Notre Dame

11-5

88

8

12. Northern Laurel

12-5

75

11

13. Southern Laurel

14-5

70

13

14. Henderson County

11-7

54

14

15. Holy Cross of Covington

14-2

44

T15

16. Bishop Brossart

18-1

39

NR

The Holy Cross Indians have held six of their last seven opponents to fewer than 40 points.

The Holy Cross Indians have held six of their last seven opponents to fewer than 40 points.

Also receiving votes: Boyd County 14, Butler 9, Ryle 8, Barren County 7, Daviess County 7, Mercy 5, Franklin County 3, Manual 3, Marshall County 3, McCracken County 3, Saint Henry 1

Who are the five best women’s basketball teams in each region?

First Region (Steve Springer, Murray Ledger & Times): 1. Calloway County; 2. Marshall County; 3. McCracken County; 4. Carlisle County; 5. Ballard Monument

Second Region (Edward Marlowe, WKDZ-FM): 1. Henderson County; 2. Lyon County; 3. Crittenden County; 4. Hopkins County Center; 5. Christian County

Third Region (Mark Mathis, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer): 1. Daviess County; 2. Owensboro Catholic; 3. Breckinridge County; 4. Meade County; 5. Edmondson County

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Fourth Region (Micheal Compton, Bowling Green Daily News): 1. Barren County; 2. Allen County-Scottsville; 3. Cumberland County; 4. Monroe County; 5. Franklin-Simpson

Fifth Region (Josh Claywell, Bardstown Kentucky Standard/LaRue County Herald News): 1. Taylor County; 2. Bethlehem; 3. John Hardin; 4. Campbellsville; 5. Green County

Sixth Region (Alyx White, Rise Up Sports Media): 1. Butler; 2. Bullitt East; 3. Mercy; 4. Bullitt of the North; 5. Bullitt Central

Seventh Region (Jason Frakes, The Courier Journal): 1. Sacred Heart; 2. Assumption; 3. Central; 4. manuals; 5. Christian Academy

Eighth Region (James Weber, Cincinnati Enquirer): 1. Simon Kenton; 2. Anderson County; 3. Woodford County; 4. Spencer County; 5. Owen County

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Ninth Region (Brendan Connelly, Cincinnati Enquirer): 1. cooper; 2. Holy Cross of Covington; 3. Notre Dame; 4. Ryle; 5. Highlands

Tenth Region (Evan Dennison, LinkNKY.com): 1. George Rogers Clark; 2. Campbell County; 3. Bishop Brossart; 4. Montgomery County; 5. Nicholas County

11th Region (Jared Peck, leader of the Lexington Herald): 1. Frederick Douglass; 2.Lafayette; 3. Paul Dunbar; 4. Franklin County; 5. Madison South

12th Region (Mike Marsee, Danville Freelancer): 1. Rockcastle County; 2. Western Jessamine; 3. Boyle County; 4. Southwest; 5. Pulaski County

13th Region (Les Dixon, 13th RegionMediaNetwork.com): 1. Southern Laurel; 2. Northern Laurel; 3. Knox Central; 4. Bell County; 5. Corbin

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14th Region (Brendon Miller, Bluegrass Sports Nation): 1. Danger; 2. Letcher County Central; 3. Knott County Center; 4. Breathitt County; 5. Leslie County

15th Region (Randy White, Appalachian News-Express): 1. Johnson Central; 2. Pikeville; 3. Paintsville; 4. Martin County; 5. Central Floyd

16th Region (James Collier, WLGC-FM): 1. Ashland Jacket; 2. Boyd County; 3. Russell; 4. Rowan County; 5. This Carter

This article originally appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer: CovCath and Cooper lead NKY teams in latest statewide media poll

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