The defending state champs battle Newport in the night cap at BB&T arena on Friday. The Colonels had their way with the Wildcats in a 57-40 January 2nd victory.

 

What can we expect in this one?

Just like the Cooper/Beechwood game, this also will be a much closer affair than when these two teams first met early in the season. Newport seems to have sorted out some of their issues with finishing games, and are presently playing their best basketball with a full healthy lineup. With that said CovCath is so highly efficient with their ball movement, and are even showing a better outside game along with their already dominant inside game that I'm seeing a Colonel victory here somewhere around a 7 point edge.

Mayer vs. Harding is intriguing to me.

The key word in the above post is efficiency. In these tournaments, I believe efficiency and defense win the day. Whoever can be that on Friday night will win this game.

I will be shocked if this isnt a double-digit win for CovCath.

CovCath pulls away in the final minutes to win by 7.

I will be shocked if this isnt a double-digit win for CovCath.

 

Put a predicted score in it.... high or low scoring?

Put a predicted score in it.... high or low scoring?

 

60ish to 45ish.

Cov cath by 10

Newport by 5.

Newport by 5.

If Newport gets the scoring they got vs Conner the Wildcats will make this game real interesting.

Newport has a very real shot here. Most games you know what you’re getting from McGuire, Miller and Harding. When White steps in and starts scoring (their 4th leading scorer at just under 10 ppg) is when things get dangerous. Davis will be their defensive workhorse and do all the little things as he’s done all year. Harding grabbed his 900th rebound for his career in the Conner game and will certainly add more in this one. McGuire didn’t play in their regular season meeting and I really think that was a big factor in the 17 point win for CovCath. These kids are out to prove they belong at the top and I think we finally see that break through tonight. Give me Newport 64-59.

Clearly, looking at the current poll results (33-29), everyone is expecting an absolute barn-burner on Friday night. Newport has had some very near misses in recent Regionals, and while I don't expect them to get his one, it is evident that many others absolutely do.

 

Friday night should be a great night of hoops at The Bank.

Covington Catholic has released a hype video to help get their team and fans pumped up for the remaining games in the 9th Region Tournament. Pretty cool.

 

[video=youtube;NfXY-dkYFP8]