Week 12 of high school basketball saw several high-profile matchups across Cincinnati. These were the can't miss storylines from the week.
Conference races are heating up, undefeated teams are falling, and more records are being shattered as we get closer to March.
Cincinnati's basketball scene continues to be the pride of the state as local schools remain atop the rankings for both boys and girls. The first week of February saw several top teams clash in some of the best games of the season.
Here's what you missed in Cincinnati high school hoops from Feb. 2-8.
Lakota West and St. Xavier pick up huge wins
Two of the top four teams in the state met on Feb. 6 as Lakota West and Princeton clashed in a Greater Miami Conference contest. The game was so highly anticipated that it was moved to the Cintas Center to hold the over 7,000 attendees. The on-court action lived up to the hype as Lakota West fended off Princeton, 58-53. The Enquirer's James Weber was on site for the game of the year and he broke down the electric atmosphere for the Firebirds' biggest win of the year.
Wyoming was one of just three undefeated teams remaining in Cincinnati heading into a Feb. 7 matchup with St. Xavier. The top 25 showdown ultimately went to the Bombers, who came out on top in a 46-44 overtime classic. St. X trailed by five entering the final quarter, but stormed back behind Liam McGeady's 18 points. Kellen Wiley lead the Cowboys with 21 points and nine rebounds, but Wyoming's hopes of a perfect season ended as it fell to 18-1.
Milford sets up winner-takes-all ECC showdown
The Eagles are as hot as any team in the state right now, and they found a way to outlast Winton Woods in overtime on Feb. 2. With a 55-52 win, the Eagles kept the longest win streak in school history alive, later stretching it to 17 games in a row with wins over Little Miami and Loveland.
By defeating Winton Woods, who at the time was tied atop the Eastern Cincinnati Conference Standings, Milford sets up a must-see matchup to end the regular season. On Feb. 16, Milford and West Clermont will battle it out to determine who wins the conference crown. It would be the Eagles' first ever ECC title.
Anthony Blaackar, Antonio White set school records
Lloyd Memorial's Anthony Blaackar has been one of the most dangerous guards in Kentucky all season, but the senior took it to another level on Feb. 7 in a win over Mason County. On a 20-for-26 shooting night, Blaackar set a new Juggernauts record with 51 points. The class of 2026 star has not yet made his college decision, but has been averaging nearly 25 points per game for one of the top teams in Northern Kentucky.
Deer Park senior Antonio White wrote his name in the history books on Feb. 7 as well. With his performance in a 82-73 overtime win against Oyler, White surpassed Mark Wise atop Deer Park's all-time scoring leaderboard with 1,345 points. It was yet another tour de force for one of the city's top scorers, as he's averaging over 30 points per game while shooting above 50% from the field.
Career scoring milestones from across the city
It was a busy week for Cincinnati athletes as they built on incredible careers. At least four local players reached their 1,000th career point: Samaya Wilkins, Peyton Jones, Anthony Coppola, and Grant Waters.
Wilkins, a junior at Purcell Marian, is following in the footsteps of past Lady Cavalier greats. She became the sixth Purcell Marian player in the past eight seasons to surpass 1,000 career points, doing so in a Feb. 7 win over Campbell County. Wilkins ended with 26 points and a career-high 23 rebounds in the 62-43 win.
Williamsburg senior Peyton Jones reached not only her 1,000th point in a Feb. 5 win at East Clinton, but also her 300th assist and 200th steal. Those historic milestones culminated in a 69-29 road win, with Jones finishing with 16 points, six assists, and five steals.
Coppola, a senior at Ryle, reached 1,000 career points on Feb. 7 as the Raiders secured a 56-48 home win against Holy Cross. He scored 13 points against the Indians, adding five rebounds to the effort. Ryle has now won 11 of its last 12 games, with its only loss coming to top-ranked Covington Catholic.
Waters reached 1,000 points for McNicholas on Feb. 6 against Alter. Though Alter got the better of the Rockets that night, Waters led all scorers with 23 points and seven 3-pointers. It was the junior's second best game of the season, only surpassed by a 36-point explosion against Chaminade Julienne in January.
Though not a 1,000 point announcement, also worth noting was Walton-Verona junior Elin Logue's long-range milestone. She surpassed 300 career 3-pointers in a Feb. 6 win over Ludlow, scoring 25 points with five 3-pointers. The junior hit six more triples the following night, bringing her career total to 310. That ranks 15th all-time in Kentucky girls basketball history.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati high school basketball news, records, takeaways Week 12
Category: General Sports
