When these two met a little over a month ago, the Jaguars hosted and the game went to overtime. Cov Cath ended up leaving Union with their seventh straight win over Cooper with a 78-69 OT victory. Interestingly enough, that was the Colonels first of two overtime wins in the course of one week, and it was the first of three games the Jaguars have seem go into overtime. Most recently Cooper went to overtime just last night when they played Highlands in the 9th Region Quarterfinals and pulled out a 68-62 win, even after senior Shaun Pouncy, who only just became eligible at Cooper for post-season play, came out of the game early with a knee injury after a bad landing on a block attempt.

Cov Cath (27-4) comes into the quarterfinals at NKU with a current streak of 6 wins, and Cooper (17-12) comes into the quarterfinals on a 4 game win streak.

What can we expect to see at Truist Arena on Sunday?

I see a lot of similarities. Hard nosed, scrappy defensive teams. The difference is Ipsaro. CCH has a go to star who can make big shots and big plays at key moments. Cooper needs to go at Ipsaro and try to get him in foul trouble. If I  am Cooper, every time Ipsaro drives and uses his forearm to push off, I would hit the floor. See if the refs call that foul, get Ipsaro in foul trouble and make him think about using that off forearm as a weapon on his drives.

I'd never count out a Tim Sullivan coached team, but without Pouncy, this is a tall order. 

53 minutes ago, LCDAWGS19 said:

I'd never count out a Tim Sullivan coached team, but without Pouncy, this is a tall order. 

Not to diminish how good Pouncy is, because he is terrific, but like Highlands, CovCath doesn't play through their post, so I'm not sure Cooper can't put a better (defensive) line-up on the court without him.  They were much better vs Highlands last night with the revamped line-up post-injury, and I think Cooper's best chance is that same type of line-up against CovCath.  It isn't like they are going to get a stream of paint-touches with Jones, so you don't have to worry about defending a Fedders-type big.  My two cents.  

Like @Voice of Reason, I see a ton of similarities between these two, and as Sullivan said in his "LinkNKY" interview with Evan Dennison, CovCath will have the best player on the floor and everyone knows it.  

Should be a great, hard-nosed, tough-minded game between two great staffs, two great programs, and either one will have their hands full with whomever comes out of the first semi (which I think will be Newport).

If Pouncey is out, I have no doubt CovCath wins. 

1 minute ago, LLS10 said:

If Pouncey is out, I have no doubt CovCath wins. 

It was an awfully close one in January, sans Pouncey.

What's the difference maker in the rematch?

1 minute ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

It was an awfully close one in January, sans Pouncey.

What's the difference maker in the rematch?

I am not saying it would not be close, but I do not see Cooper being able to stop the star power of Ipsaro. He can get a shot off anytime he needs to, and the stars get calls. 

Is Hussey playing?

Just now, LLS10 said:

Is Hussey playing?

He did play against St. Henry, so my assumption is yes.