Rodney Snapp felt like the basketball gods played a cruel joke on him when he became the Newport basketball coach in 2010. Snapp was an assistant coach at Dixie Heights in 2009-10 and watched as Newport made its first trip to the Sweet 16 in nearly five decades. After taking over the Newport program the next year, Dixie Heights then won the 9th Region title in 2011, keeping Snapp away from Rupp Arena.
That changed last week when the Wildcats won the school’s third region championship in 67 years. They will face Lyon County Thursday afternoon at 1:30 in the first round of the UK Healthcare/KHSAA Sweet 16 in Lexington.
After back-to-back losing seasons, Newport responded with a 28-6 mark that included a 44-42 win over Cooper in the region championship game. Two preseason favorites to win the region — Covington Catholic and Covington Holy Cross — were bounced earlier than expected from the postseason helping pave the way for Newport’s run to Rupp.
Newport carries a 12-game winning streak into Thursday’s opener, predicated mainly by its defense. The Wildcats have allowed 60 or more points just once during the win streak and limited their three region tourney foes to no more than 46 points.
An eye-popping stat for Newport their ability to stick the in-close shot. The Wildcats are shooting 58 percent inside the arc and 51 percent from the field overall.
6-5 forward Marquez Miller leads Newport at 16 points a game along with six rebounds. The only senior on the team, he shoots 59 percent from the field.
Newport has two other players scoring in double figures — 5-10 freshman point guard Taylen Kinney (14 ppg.) and 6-0 junior guard Jabari Covington (12.2 ppg.). Kinney leads the team with 61 three-pointers made.
Snapp knows his team is young but likes what they’ve been able to get accomplished this season.
While he is very aware of Lyon County’s top three players — Travis Perry, Brady Shoulders, and Jack Reddick — Snapp likes his top three players in an on-court matchup.
While Lyon County traveled the state in the first six weeks of the season against one of the toughest schedules in the state, Newport played mostly northern Kentucky teams. The result was a strength of schedule for the Wildcats of 156th in the state according to the KHSAA RPI compared to 19th for Lyon County.
Snapp said his scouting of the Lyons has come from film.
The number to watch in this game? 70. Newport has allowed 70 points just twice — both losses. Lyon County has failed to score 70 points just four times — going 1-3.
Snapp said his guys are looking forward to the challenge of defending a Lyon County team averaging 83 points a game.
Newport made 12 trips to the Sweet 16 from 1920-1962 but just two since. The school’s last trip to Rupp was in 2010 when Christian County beat the Wildcats 70-51 behind 22 points from Donovan Kates and 20 from Anthony Hickey.
In a region dominated by Covington Catholic, Highlands, and Holmes — all of whom have won state titles in the past 15 years — Snapp is hoping Newport can continue the legacy of 9th Region teams at Rupp.
Snapp has a 217-176 record in 13 seasons as Newport’s head coach.
