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In a battle of the top two teams in The Cincinnati Enquirer coaches’ poll, senior quarterback Alfred “L.A.” Ramsby carried Colerain from an early 17-0 deficit to a 57-44 win against Lakota West at Cardinal Stadium on a wet and chilly night in Colerain Township.

“It was a grind,” said Ramsby, who played for Lakota West as a sophomore. “They started way faster than us, but then we just got on track and we couldn’t be stopped from there.”

No matter how hard the Lakota West defense tried, it couldn’t stop “L.A.,” short for Little Alfred (shares first name with his father), who put up huge numbers – rushing for a career high 230 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries and completing 8-of-12 passes for 158 yards and another score.

“When he plays within himself, he is pretty darn good,” Colerain head coach Tom Bolden said of Ramsby. “There are a lot of good players in this league, but I would rank him right up there with them.”

With Ramsby starting under center, Colerain is 12-1, which also happens to be the Cardinals’ all-time record against Lakota West.

More importantly, the win gives Colerain sole possession of first place in the Greater Miami Conference and improves its record to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play.

A win next week at home against Oak Hills will mark the 13th straight season that the Cardinals either won or shared the GMC title.

“We are who are. That’s it. We are just tough,” Bolden said. “It is our community, its our school, its our fans.

“I just couldn’t be more proud of these kids.”

Meanwhile, after starting the season with an 8-0 record for the first time in school history, the Firebirds failed to keep up with Ramsby and the Colerain offense.

“Obviously, he was the difference maker in this game,” Lakota West head coach Larry Cox said of Ramsby, who played under Cox two years ago. “He provides an element – run-pass threat – and does a great job with it.

“Hats off to him.”

After its 17-0 start that quieted a near capacity crowd, a series of big plays swung the momentum in favor of the Cardinals.

The play that sparked the surge was senior Dejuan Lang’s 64-yard kickoff return that set up the first of eight touchdowns for the Cardinals when Ramsby raced for 31 yards for a score in the beginning of second quarter.

After that, Lakota West just couldn’t keep up with the Cardinals, who produced 509 yards of total offense.

LW – Grove 2-yard run (Martin kick)
LW – Parker 22-yard pass from Grove (Martin kick)
LW – Martin 25-yard FG
C – Ramsby 31-yard run (Gehner kick)
C – Davis 21-yard run (Gehner kick)
LW – Martin 27-yard FG
C – Smith-Moore 3-yard run (Gehner kick)
LW – Martin 31-yard FG
C – Hudson 40-yard pass from Ramsby (Gehner kick)
LW – Grove 3-yard run (Martin kick)
C – Smith-Moore 17-yard run (Smith-Moore run)
C – Ramsby 8-yard run (Gehner kick)
C – Ramsby 17-yard run (Gehner kick)
LW – Grove 3-yard run (Martin kick)
C – Brown 77-yard interception return
LW – Jones 31-yard pass from Grove (Martin kick)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Alfred Ramsby, Alfred Ramsby Colerain, Colerain, Colerain football, Colerain Highi School, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Larry Cox, Larry Cox Lakota West, Malik Grove, Malik Grove Lakota West, Tom Bolden, Tom Bolden Colerain

Junior quarterback Malik Grove has helped Lakota West get off to 8-0 start this fall, which is its best start in school history. Photo taken during game between La Salle and Lakota West Aug. 25, 2012 by Joseph Fuqua II.

Heading into last year’s matchup Colerain was on its way to winning another Greater Miami Conference title, while the Lakota West football program was hoping to earn its first conference win of the season.

What a difference a year makes.

This Friday night, the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in The Cincinnati Enquirer coaches’ poll will face off at Colerain High School at 7:30 p.m. in what appears to be a matchup that will decide the GMC title.

And if this year’s game is anything like last year’s, Colerain fans have to be concerned.

Led by its then sophomore quarterback Malik Grove, who began last season as the third stringer, Lakota West scored two touchdowns and recovered two onside kicks in the final three minutes. Eventually, the Firebirds came up two yards short, fumbling the ball on third-and-goal in the closing seconds, falling to Colerain by the score of 24-19.

Colerain senior quarterback Alfred Ramsby began his high school football career as a backup running back at Lakota West. In two seasons at Colerain, Ramsby has a 11-1 record as the starting quarterback. Photo taken by Tony Tribble.

“That was sort of the launch pad for our entire offseason.”

It can be easy to put too much focus on the opponent when it is Colerain, which is currently ranked No. 9 nationally in the USA Today Super 25 rankings and has won or shared the GMC title in each of the past 12 seasons.

“Our expectations at Colerain are always the same … we want to win every game,” Colerain head coach Tom Bolden said. “15-0 is our expectation. That is a very lofty goal, but that is what we do.”

Unlike last season, where Colerain entered the game with a 5-1 record and Lakota West with a 1-5 record, both teams are 8-0 overall and 5-0 within the GMC this fall.

Grove, who came off the bench to help lead the comeback by completing 14-of-23 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns, has been the Firebirds starter ever since – compiling a 10-1 record as the main signal caller.

“He (Grove) is a young man who wants to put the team in the best spot to win,” Cox said. “Malik is not about numbers, other than the win-loss column. That is all he cares about.”

Meanwhile, Colerain’s starting quarterback, senior Alfred Ramsby, who actually was a backup running back at Lakota West as a sophomore, has a similar record at 11-1 as a starter.

“Playing here at Colerain is a whole different environment,” Ramsby said. “The whole town is with you. It is like a love/hate relationship. If you doing good – they love you. If you are doing bad – they still love you, but they are ticked at you a little bit.”

That passion for high school football in Colerain Township stems from a program that consistently wins, especially against Lakota West whom they have defeated 11 times in 12 games and haven’t lost to since 1999.

“I always say, ‘you do have go through Colerain to get to a title,’” Cox said.

“If you are truly a competitor and you truly want to get to that level and aspire to be the best, than these are the games you can’t wait for. These are the games that you think about.”

Impact players

Colerain Cardinals

• Sr. QB Alfred Ramsby – 46-of-90 passes for 1,107 yards, 12 TDs and 2 INTs, 583 rushing yards and 8 TDs on 94 carries
• Sr. FB Jackson Sorn – 543 rushing yards and 4 TDs on 77 carries
• Sr. RB Detuan Smith – 497 rushing yards and 6 TDs on 60 carries
• Sr. RB/WR Chris Davis – 368 receiving yards and 3 TDs on 16 catches, 279 rushing yards and 5 TDs on 57 carries
• Sr. OL Dylan Wiesman – verbally committed to UC
• Jr. DB Ryan Williamson – 5 INTs for 40 yards

Lakota West Firebirds

• Jr. QB Malik Grove – 56-of-120 passes for 747 yards, 8 TDs and 4 INTs, 376 rushing yards and 7 TDs on 74 carries
• Jr. RB Mikel Horton – 898 rushing yards and 12 TDs on 174 carries
• Soph. RB Kole Gentry – 423 rushing yards and 6 TDs on 68 carries
• Sr. OL Kyle Meadows – offers from top Division I programs including Florida State
• Sr. DL Luke Scott – 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT, leads team with 40 tackles
• Sr. DB Tyler Cross – 6 INTs (school record) for 48 yards, 2 fumble recoveries

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Alfred Ramsby, Alfred Ramsby Colerain, Colerain, Colerain football, Colerain Highi School, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Larry Cox, Larry Cox Lakota West, Malik Grove, Malik Grove Lakota West, Tom Bolden, Tom Bolden Colerain

Lakota West quarterback Malik Grove, seen here earlier this season, threw two touchdown passes in a 32-8 win against Fairfield Friday. The Enquirer/Joseph Fuqua II.

Lakota West is ranked in the top five in this week’s Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll.

The Firebirds (5-0) are ranked No. 4 in the poll, released Monday afternoon.  Colerain (5-0) took the top spot, followed by St. Xavier (3-2) and Moeller (4-1).  Sycamore (4-1) rounds out the top five.

Lakota West improved to 5-0 following its win over Fairfield Friday.  The win improves the Firebirds’ record to 2-0 in the Greater Miami Conference. The last time Lakota West won its first five games of the season was in 2004.

The Firebirds will next host Princeton (0-5) at 7:30 Friday.

DIVISION I

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Colerain, enquirer coaches poll, Fairfield, Firebirds, football, GMC, Lakota West, Princeton

It is officially postseason time for the Lakota West girls’ basketball program. The Firebirds wrapped up its regular season with a 42-37 overtime loss to Colerain Feb. 12. Their final regular season record is 10-10 overall and 6-8 in the Greater Miami Conference.

The postseason will begin with a game against Ursuline (14-6 overall, 7-3 in Girls Greater Cincinnati League) this Thursday, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m. at Lakota East.

Colerain juniors Shelly Harper and Sheaira Jones each scored 14 points.

Lakota West junior Rachel Huxhold scored 10 points and pulled down five rebounds. Senior Ronni Grandison added nine points and five rebounds.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Colerain, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Rachel Huxhold, Ronni Grandison, Sheaira Jones, Shelly Harper

For the second time this season, Lakota West snapped a multiple-game losing streak with a win against Colerain. Last night, Feb. 8, the Firebirds bounced back from a four-game skid by defeating Colerain by the score of 59-54. Lakota West also snapped a three-game losing streak with a 49-36 win against the Cardinals in December.

In last night’s win, senior Phillip Cook scored the go-ahead basket to make the score 56-54 with 1:05 left in the game. Cook, who has missed six of the past 10 games due to injury, scored 14 points, pulled down six rebounds and dished out four assists in the win.

Cook’s teammates, sophomore Ali Barnes (13 points, four steals), freshman Tyler Williams (12 points) and sophomore Monty Boykins (11 points, five rebounds) also scored in double figures in the win.

Sophomores Bryan Porter (13 points, six rebounds) and Deiontay Walters (14 points) led Colerain.

The game featured two ties and seven lead changes.

With the win, Lakota West improves to 8-10 overall and 5-7 in the Greater Miami Conference. With the loss, Colerain falls to 5-12 overall and 2-10 in the GMC.

Lakota West has two games left in the regular season, against Middletown this Friday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and at Fairfield next Friday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m. The sectional playoff draw is scheduled to take place this Sunday, Feb. 13, at Princeton at 2 p.m.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Barnes, Bryan Porter, Colerain, Deiontay Walters, Lakota West, Monty Boykins, Phil Cook, Phillip Cook, Tyler Williams

The Lakota East boys’ basketball program remained undefeated this season after defeating Colerain last night, Jan. 4, by the score of 64-26 at Colerain High School. The win improves the Thunderhawks’ overall record to 7-0 this season. It also improves Lakota East’s record within the Greater Miami Conference to 3-0.

Lakota East junior forward Allante Foster led all scorers and rebounders with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Both totals were also career highs for Foster, who has scored in double figures in each of the Thunderhawks last four games.

Lakota East’s leading scorer senior guard Michael Boyd, who is averaging 11.9 points per game this season, added 10 points in the win.

The Thunderhawks will have a big conference game this Friday, Jan. 7, at 7:30 p.m. against Middletown (7-2 overall, 3-1 in GMC). The game will played at Lakota East High School.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Allante Foster, basketball, boys' basketball, Colerain, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Michael Boyd, Middletown

Lakota West snapped a three-game losing streak by knocking off Colerain by the final score of 49-36 tonight, Dec. 21, at Lakota West High School. The win revenged a loss to Colerain in the 2009-2010 postseason and also gave the Firebirds their first win this season within the Greater Miami Conference.

“We have had a tough stretch of teams lately,” Lakota West head coach Sean Van Winkle said. “It has been good because we have improved, but you want to win those games. It was nice to play a similar team who is experiencing the same things our team is and win.”

Aided by a 15-0 run in the third quarter, Lakota West was able to pull away after a close first half. During that run, Lakota West sophomore Monty Boykins scored seven points. Boykins finished the game with 18 points, which was a career high.

>>>PHOTOS FROM COLERAIN AT LAKOTA WEST GAME<<<

Van Winkle also received another strong performance from his consistent senior forward Phillip Cook. Cook, who went into the game averaging 13.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, added 15 points, seven rebounds and six blocks in the win.

“He (Cook) is the heart and soul of our team in a lot of ways,” Van Winkle said. “He is starting to play both ends of court and his passing has really improved. He is one of the better players in this conference. I would put him up against any one.”

Colerain head coach Kevin Higgins was without his second-leading scorer Elisha Campbell, who rolled his ankle in the Cardinals’ last game Dec. 17 against Oak Hills. Campbell is averaging 10.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Higgins’ leading scorer, sophomore Bryan Porter (11 points and 4.4 rebounds per game) was limited to six points and four rebounds in the loss. Colerain did receive good offensive performances from seniors Khari Pleasant (seven points) and Gerrod Chess (seven points).

With the win, Lakota West improves to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the GMC. Colerain falls to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the GMC.

Next up for the Firebirds will be a road contest at Middletown Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Colerain will visit Mount Healthy Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: basketball, boys' basketball, Bryan Porter, Colerain, Gerrod Chess, Khari Pleasant, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Monty Boykins, Phillip Cook

The Lakota West boys’ basketball team (2-3 overall, 0-2 in the Greater Miami Conference) began the season by winning its first two games, but has lost three straight including two games within the GMC. Tonight, Dec. 21, the Firebirds will try to snap the losing streak when they host Colerain (2-3 overall, 1-1 in GMC) at 7:30 p.m.

The last three games, however, have been against some of the area’s top basketball teams. Each team, La Salle (No. 1), Princeton (No. 5) and Mason (No. 7) is ranked in the top ten in the Cincinnati Enquirer coaches’ poll. As a group, the three opponents have a combined record of 12-1.

Meanwhile, Colerain is coming off a 50-32 win against Oak Hills (0-5 overall, 0-2 in GMC) Dec. 17 and is currently ranked No. 15 in the coaches’ poll.

Lakota West is tied at No. 16 in the same poll.

Statistically, sophomore Bryan Porter (11 points and 4.4 rebounds per game) and junior Elisha Campbell (10.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game) lead Colerain.

Lakota West has received good scoring efforts from senior Phillip Cook (13.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game) and sophomore Monty Boykins (10.2 points and 4 rebounds per game). Cook’s 13.8 scoring average is second best in the GMC.

WestChesterBuzz.com will have photos and a recap from tonight’s game.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: basketball, boys' basketball, Bryan Porter, Colerain, Elisha Campbell, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Monty Boykins, Phil Cook, Phillip Cook

After losing to Colerain on Saturday, Dec. 18, the Lakota East girls’ basketball program took out its frustration on Hamilton in a 72-28 win Monday, Dec. 20. Meanwhile, the Lakota East boys’ program won the Hilton Head Holiday Classic by defeating Nations Ford, S.C., by the score of 70-53.

The girls’ team made 56.6 percent of its field goals and led 37-8 at halftime against Hamilton. Junior Tazzie Shaw led Lakota East with 17 points. Shaw also pulled down three rebounds and dished out three assists.

Juniors Alyssa Grevenkamp and Whitney Wyckoff each added 12 points for the Thunderhawks in the win.

With the win, Lakota East improves to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the Greater Miami Conference. Hamilton falls to 1-4 overall and 0-4 in the GMC.

The girls will be back in action this Wednesday, Dec. 22, when they will host Middletown (0-7 overall, 0-4 in GMC) at 7:30 p.m.

The boys’ program defeated a different high school from South Carolina in three straight days. With the championship win, Lakota East is now 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the GMC.

Next up for the boys will be a road game at Wayne Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Alyssa Grevenkamp, basketball, boys' basketball, Colerain, girls' basketball, Hamilton, Hilton Head Holiday Classic, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Tazzie Shaw, Wayne, Whitney Wyckoff

The Lakota East girls’ basketball team lost this weekend, 54-49, to Colerain, while the boys’ program won its first two games of the Hilton Head Holiday Classic. Today, Dec. 20 the Thunderhawks will play in the tournament’s title game at 4:30 p.m.

Senior Alexis Fitzpatrick led Colerain with 18 points in its win against the Lakota East girls’ program. Junior Tazzie Shaw led Lakota East with 13 points.

With the win, Colerain improves to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Greater Miami Conference. Lakota East falls to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the GMC.

Meanwhile, in the Hilton Head Holiday Classic, Lakota East defeated two high schools from South Carolina. On Saturday, Dec. 18 the Thunderhawks outscored Summerville 67-42 and then on Sunday, Dec. 19 they beat Wren by the score of 73-47.

After the two wins, the boys’ program is now 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Greater Miami Conference.

After the holiday tournament, the boys’ team will play only once before the New Year. The game will be at Wayne at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28.

Like the boys, the girls’ team will play today, Dec. 20. The Thunderhawks will host Hamilton (1-3, 0-3 in GMC) at 7:30 p.m. Then they will host Middletown (0-7, 0-4 in GMC) Wednesday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Alexis Fitzpatrick, basketball, boys' basketball, Colerain, girls' basketball, Hilton Head Holiday Classic, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Tazzie Shaw