The Colonels head down to Georgetown tonight to take on the highly ranked Warhawks tonight at Great Crossing. It's the season opener for Great Crossing, who returns all five of their top scorers from last season. Junior guard Vince Dawson led the team with 15.9 ppg, junior center Malachi Moreno averaged 14.8 ppg, junior point guard Junius Burrell averaged 11.6 ppg, junior guard Gage Richardson had 9.1 ppg, and senior forward Jeremiah Godfrey had 8.3 ppg.

Covington Catholic is two games into their season, with a 57-38 win over Simon Kenton in their season opener and a 87-40 win over Western Heights College out of Victoria, Australia in their second contest. The Colonels return two of their top 5 scorers from last season in senior guard Brady Hussey (12.5 ppg) and sophomore guard Athens McGillis (4.9 ppg). Cov Cath is also armed with Arkansas transfer, senior center Caden Miller, who tallied 33 points in the first two games of the season. They will be playing tonight without sophomore guard Cash Harney, sohpomore forward Donovan Bradshaw or senior forward Noah Johnson, who are all on the football team that will be playing in the 4A state finals on Friday evening.

Frosh play at 5:00pm, JV plays at 6:00pm and Varsity plays at 7:30pm. Both games will be on the NFHS Network.

Junior Varsity: Covington Catholic at Great Crossing - 6:00pm

Varsity: Covington Catholic at Great Crossing - 7:30pm

Yeah, this one is going to be a tough one for the Colonels. In order to compete they are going to need to hit the three at a high rate, and so far this season that hasn't been the case versus two mediocre teams. This will be a great early season test for them and will prepare them for Newport next week. Here is the only way I see Cov Cath competing or having a chance to win:

•  Hussey, McGillis, and Miller all must have over 20 points each or close to it. FG% has to be near 50%
• They MUST keep the Offensive Rebounding difference to +10. If Great Crossing out rebounds them offensively by any more than that, they are toast. 
• Limit turnovers this game to under 8. They have had silly turnovers and this can't happen tonight. 
• Defensive rebounding is key to get 2nd chance opportunities, Miller needs to have 15+ rebounds, and Hussey, Stewart, Wurmuth need to each have in the 4-6 range for def. rebounds.
• Cov Cath needs to play a pressure half court zone, must trap, and try to run as much as possible. 50% or more of their points need to be off of fast break. 

These are the keys to success for the Colonels. If one of these don't happen above they won't win. If 2 or more don't happen, they will lose by 20+ for the first time in a long time.

My two cents! 

Seems like a bridge too far for the Colonels without Cash and the other footballers.  I don't think they lose by 20+, but I do think they are down 10-15 most of the 2nd half.

I will add this asterisk:  if they can get a lead in the 2nd half they are going to be in terrific shape, because they play keep-away as well as any program in the state, which is testament to a great coaching staff and a long-line of great guards (Cole Von Handorf, CJ Fredrick, Evan Ipsaro, etc).  Athens and Hussey will get some opportunities for easy buckets for their teammates if they get a lead in the 2nd half and make Great Crossing chase the ball.

This will be a tough night for the boys in blue. Hopefully the adrenaline and excitement from football will fuel them tonight!

Moreno is a force and I will be interested in seeing him and Miller on the floor, esp in a beginning of season match up.

I forgot about football kids not playing when I picked Cov. Cath. to win. 

JV game has 20 seconds remaining. Colonels just hit a three to go up 43-41.

Great Crossing just went up by one on a three point play.

44-43 with 5.9 seconds to go.

1 minute ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Great Crossing just went up by one on a three point play.

44-43 with 5.9 seconds to go.

Cov Cath inbounds the ball to no one and it bounces out of bounds. Warhawks ball. And another timeout.

Foul game for the Colonels. Great Crossing hits two more buckets from the charity stripe and the game ends.

Warhawks win the JV match 46-43.

Dawson for 2.

2-0 Warhawks 

Moreno intercepts a pass.

4-0 Warhawks 

Hussey for 3.

4-3 Great Crossing

Great Crossing answers.

7-3 Warhawks

Bounce pass to Caden Miller is off the mark. Cov Cath turns over a second time.

Then Miller picks off a Greay Crossing pass.