15 minutes ago, Mojocat said:

Saw Ashland for the first time in the King of the Bluegrass back in December.  Really impressed with them.  Don’t remember who they were playing - maybe Male - but I recall them being undersized, with their bigs being maybe 6’2.  Now, being small isn’t necessarily an impediment on the offensive end, especially in high school.  If you shoot well and/or are well coached - being short isn’t a big problem.  But on defense, most undersized teams are pretty helpless when facing size.  It was on that end that Ashland made an impression.  Just smart, tough, did the little things a well coached team does. Villers looked to be dragging that leg, I do remember that.  So I wouldn’t bet against them. (But, like someone said above, I wonder if the loser of a game between two good, pretty evenly matched teams might have an advantage in a rematch.)

Ashland's lack of size is what I think Cov Cath needs to exploit. I would get Mitchell Rylee a touch in the paint on every offensive possession and force Ashland to double down on him. When they start that, Rylee needs to kick it right back out to the shooters. Rylee is shooting 71% from the floor on the season. If I am Cov Cath, my game plan is focused on Rylee scoring 25 or more just like he did in the regional title game. Rylee needs to realize they can't stop him, play under control and not force things. They will try to draw charges because that is their only hope of stopping him. I would try to keep the pace slow, make it a half court game. Hunker down and play half court defense. Try to keep Ashland from getting easy baskets in transition. 

10 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Ashland's lack of size is what I think Cov Cath needs to exploit. I would get Mitchell Rylee a touch in the paint on every offensive possession and force Ashland to double down on him. When they start that, Rylee needs to kick it right back out to the shooters. Rylee is shooting 71% from the floor on the season. If I am Cov Cath, my game plan is focused on Rylee scoring 25 or more just like he did in the regional title game. Rylee needs to realize they can't stop him, play under control and not force things. They will try to draw charges because that is their only hope of stopping him. I would try to keep the pace slow, make it a half court game. Hunker down and play half court defense. Try to keep Ashland from getting easy baskets in transition. 

He is a good player but saying they can't stop him may be a little bit of a strong statement.  They have played teams of all speeds / sizes this season and have played any team that wanted to walk in the gym.  The Tomcats on ball pressure and ability to run the floor with make it tough for Cov Cath to control anything.  It will be a good game to watch.  

It should be a very good game to watch.  The winner will be the team which does the better job of executing their game plan.

12 minutes ago, Reno said:

He is a good player but saying they can't stop him may be a little bit of a strong statement.  They have played teams of all speeds / sizes this season and have played any team that wanted to walk in the gym.  The Tomcats on ball pressure and ability to run the floor with make it tough for Cov Cath to control anything.  It will be a good game to watch.  

In the first game Rylee had 23 on 8 of 11 from the floor, and half those baskets came from his own hustle and rebounding.

I agree on the Tomcats running the floor and forcing up tempo. Tempo will be a big key in the game. If they can make it up tempo and higher scoring, they will be tough for CCH to beat.

I'm picking all these games today and this is the first thread I came to in order to pick.  I can't decide, so I'll be back. LOL

I'm going to go with Ashland by a score of 74-71.

1 hour ago, Randy Parker said:

 

You don't know anything.

 

27 minutes ago, Randy Parker said:

I'm going to go with Ashland by a score of 74-71.

 

50 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

 

 

Cov Cath 79

Ashland 74

On 3/11/2022 at 12:14 PM, Randy Parker said:

I'm going to go with Ashland by a score of 74-71.

Series Record:

Cov Cath 5 wins, Ashland 7 wins

1956 - Cov Cath 77 Ashland 55
1957 - Ashland 84 Cov Cath 63
1958 - Cov Cath 73 Ashland 48
1959 - Ashland 98 Cov Cath 60
1975 - Ashland 76 Cov Cath 68
1992 - Ashland 72 Cov Cath 54
2002 - Ashland 61 Cov Cath 58
2006 - Cov Cath 91 Ashland 40
2007 - Cov Cath 65 Ashland 51
2010 - Ashland 63 Cov Cath 53
2021 - Cov Cath 71 Ashland 62
2022 - Ashland 71 Cov Cath 60

17 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Series Record:

Cov Cath 4 wins, Ashland 8 wins

1956 - Cov Cath 77 Ashland 55
1957 - Ashland 84 Cov Cath 63
1958 - Cov Cath 73 Ashland 48
1959 - Ashland 98 Cov Cath 60
1975 - Ashland 76 Cov Cath 68
1992 - Ashland 72 Cov Cath 54
2002 - Ashland 61 Cov Cath 58
2006 - Cov Cath 91 Ashland 40
2007 - Cov Cath 65 Ashland 51
2010 - Ashland 63 Cov Cath 53
2021 - Ashland 71 Cov Cath 62
2022 - Ashland 71 Cov Cath 60

In 2021 CovCath beat Ashland 71-62

19 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Series Record:

Cov Cath 4 wins, Ashland 8 wins

1956 - Cov Cath 77 Ashland 55
1957 - Ashland 84 Cov Cath 63
1958 - Cov Cath 73 Ashland 48
1959 - Ashland 98 Cov Cath 60
1975 - Ashland 76 Cov Cath 68
1992 - Ashland 72 Cov Cath 54
2002 - Ashland 61 Cov Cath 58
2006 - Cov Cath 91 Ashland 40
2007 - Cov Cath 65 Ashland 51
2010 - Ashland 63 Cov Cath 53
2021 - Ashland 71 Cov Cath 62
2022 - Ashland 71 Cov Cath 60

But thanks for this list! Interesting to see these two team's history with each other. 

1 minute ago, B-Ball-fan said:

In 2021 CovCath beat Ashland 71-62

Correct. Beat the Tomcats 9 at Covington Catholic. 

29 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Series Record:

Cov Cath 4 wins, Ashland 8 wins

1956 - Cov Cath 77 Ashland 55
1957 - Ashland 84 Cov Cath 63
1958 - Cov Cath 73 Ashland 48
1959 - Ashland 98 Cov Cath 60
1975 - Ashland 76 Cov Cath 68
1992 - Ashland 72 Cov Cath 54
2002 - Ashland 61 Cov Cath 58
2006 - Cov Cath 91 Ashland 40
2007 - Cov Cath 65 Ashland 51
2010 - Ashland 63 Cov Cath 53
2021 - Ashland 71 Cov Cath 62
2022 - Ashland 71 Cov Cath 60

Was chatting with another member a few days ago. Ashland's AIT, back in the day, was "the" statewide tournament before the KOB was born. Cov Cath used to get invited during the Mote Hils era, but the two teams never met. Love to see Ashland reestablish it as a premier event. 

Dad took me along while he covered a game ~68/69? Great atmosphere, great fans.