Covington Catholic vs. Ft. Thomas Highlands

 

Tuesday January 4th, 2011 @ 7:30pm

 

Live from Ft. Thomas Highlands

Brought to live by

CovCath Internet Radio

Mark Wehry & Jason Elfers

 

 

Now if this were a Football game the good folks at HHS would have had this prediction thread started a week ago but since it's Basketball well......

 

All kidding aside: I know that the HHS Basketball team is hurting physically but since it's CovCath that HHS is playing, I look for the everyone on the HHS squad to be ready to play.

 

CovCath has been playing against some of the best High School Basketball teams in the Commonwealth this past week and have gone 3-1 with their only loss to #1 Louisville Ballard, while HHS was playing in the AIT and went 1-3 with losses to Louisville Male and Bullitt East.

 

CovCath should win this game but since it is a huge rivalry game, the records mean nothing and it's at Highlands, so the Bluebirds won't want the Colonels to go home with a victory.

 

It's a triple header of Basketball games @ HHS with the starting times listed below, so if you want to get into the HHS gym, you had better get there early:

 

Freshmen 4:30pm

JV 6:00pm

Varsity 7:30pm

 

 

The Birds will need to play with perfection and hopefully Stewart is ready to go. They are undefeated when he is in the lineup and he is a difference maker on the block. Both he and Towles could be a great one-two combination. If everyone is healthy I would expect these matchups.

 

Dean 5'10 / Maschinot 5'10 ?

Crowley 6'3/ Connelly 6'5

Towles 6'5 / Thelen 6'5

Egan 6'2 / Reidinger 6'2

Stewart 6'6/ Baker 6'6

 

These are actually very good matchups but the key is whether or not the Birds field this starting lineup on Tuesday night. Cov Cath probably has the advantage of playing a bunch of games with their set lineup and playing very good competition. The Birds have been hurt by injuries and sickness and while those guys have been out it has allowed Coach Flynn to develop some of his bench but also likely hurt in their conditioning.

 

Towles when he plays aggressively can control the boards, he pulled down 16 last week against West Carter and they had 3 guys all over 6'5 on their frontline. Stewart has a great soft touch around the rim and can block shots. Dean is a great penetrator and does a nice job of running the show. Crowley is a bonafide scorer and has been shooting the ball very well, he also is a fantastic FT shooter. Egan has shot the ball fairly well this season but needs to get more looks, possibly this will be the game with the inside/out game. Nick True 6'6 Frosh Center has been developing and should provide some nice minutes.

 

Playing at home will be key for the Birds and maybe catching the Colonels on a hangover from their recent tough tourney in Lexington but they will have their work cut out for them. I am hoping the Birds can apply fullcourt pressure and create some turnovers in the backcourt possibly taking the Colonels out of their strong half court game.

 

Im a homer and going with my heart on this one.

 

Highlands 57

CovCath 55

GO BIRDS:dancingpa

I like Cov. Cath in this one by no more than 10.

No score or winner ever surprises me in this one. CCH is the favorite but better bring their "A" game.

The Birds will not be at full stength once again.

I added a poll.

I think the Birds lose by atleast 10, if not fully healthy.

 

Covcath is a very good ball team and have a lot more depth than the Birds.

CovCath 75 Highlands 53

The Colonels are 20 points better on paper.

CovCath is 10 points better when the Birds are healthy, if they're not it will be a long night for the Birds.

Throughout the years, when people thought one team was much better than the other, that team, that everybody thought was so much better, usually lost this game. It's surprising how the team that is down or is suspose to be down, rises to the occasion to pull out the victory and especially more so, when playing on their home floor!

 

CovCath will need to bring their "A" game just like they did against UHA, Mercer Co and Lexington Henry Clay last week to win this contest and anything less will result in a loss!

 

It's a rivalry game and one of the biggest rivalry games in the Commonwealth and it wouldn't matter if it were an Academic Meet, neither school likes to lose to the other!

Throughout the years, when people thought one team was much better than the other, that team, that everybody thought was so much better, usually lost this game. It's surprising how the team that is down or is suspose to be down, rises to the occasion to pull out the victory and especially more so, when playing on their home floor!

 

CovCath will need to bring their "A" game just like they did against UHA, Mercer Co and Lexington Henry Clay last week to win this contest and anything less will result in a loss!

 

It's a rivalry game and one of the biggest rivalry games in the Commonwealth and it wouldn't matter if it were an Academic Meet, neither school likes to lose to the other!

 

:thumb: And you are saying it mildly. I have two hopes for the game, the first being all guys come out of it as healthy as they are going into it. Secondly I hope the Colonels win!

Throughout the years, when people thought one team was much better than the other, that team, that everybody thought was so much better, usually lost this game. It's surprising how the team that is down or is suspose to be down, rises to the occasion to pull out the victory and especially more so, when playing on their home floor!

 

CovCath will need to bring their "A" game just like they did against UHA, Mercer Co and Lexington Henry Clay last week to win this contest and anything less will result in a loss!

 

It's a rivalry game and one of the biggest rivalry games in the Commonwealth and it wouldn't matter if it were an Academic Meet, neither school likes to lose to the other!

 

I'd have to disagree here, TOG. Football, yes, but in basketball I think a lot of Covcath alum would consider the Holmes, Holy Cross, or even Newcath games much bigger rivalries than this one in basketball.

 

My reasoning for this is that Highlands simply isn't consistantly one of the better programs in the area on a yearly basis. Biggest rivalry in the 9th region is Holmes/Covcath.

 

I also think Highlands alums and fans would agree that Newcath is a bigger rivalry in basketball, than Covcath as well.

 

Just my opinion though, sir.

CovCath by 13