Friday, December 29, 2000
Our Fearless Predictions for N.Ky. games
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
• Covington Catholic vs. Cincinnati St. Xavier
WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m. today, Fairfield High School, 8800 Holden Blvd., Fairfield.
WHAT TO WATCH: CovCath coach Mike Listerman is glad the Bombers are the last Greater Catholic League team he'll see this season. After winning three games to take the Scott Tipoff tournament to open the season, the Colonels are 0-3 against Moeller, Purcell Marian and McNicholas.
CovCath (3-3) has been close in the losses, but the Colonels have fallen in three different ways.
Against Moeller, it was a missed 3-pointer that would have given the Colonels a four-point lead, followed by three more misses in the final 90 seconds. The Colonels scored just 17 points in the second half against Purcell Marian, and a chance to tie McNicholas died when junior forward Matt Finke's was called for charging with less than two minutes to go.
St. Xavier (7-0) is the toughest of the four. The Bombers are the defending Ohio Division I champion, and they'll go 10 deep into their bench.
CovCath has a balanced attack. Senior center Chad Wachs leads with 12.5 points per game, and junior forward Brian Lewin adds another 10.5. Finke, senior guard Adam Quast and junior guard Greg Hiltz are next with 9.8, 9.5 and 9.0, respectively.
The Colonels main challenge tonight? Contain St. Xavier's Jordan Cornette, who's headed to Notre Dame. The Colonels also have to deal with guards Steve Callahan, Alex Bast and Mike Grogan, who all shoot well from 3-point range
PICK: St. Xavier.
• Gallatin County at Walton-Verona
WHEN/WHERE: 8 p.m. today, Walton-Verona HS, 30 School Rd., Walton
WHAT TO WATCH: The Bearcats and Wildcats wrap up the annual 31st/32nd Shootout.
Walton-Verona senior guard Robbie Huellemeier (18.8 points per game) and senior forward Brad Stevenson (13.2) are the top two scorers. Huellemeier scored his 1,000th-career point Wednesday against Carroll County.
Gallatin County is 0-4.
PICK: Walton-Verona.
• Girls: Augusta at Beechwood
WHEN/WHERE: 4 p.m. Saturday, Beechwood HS, 54 Beechwood Rd., Fort Mitchell
WHAT TO WATCH: Beechwood almost has turned its season around. The Tigers have gone from 1-4 to 4-5.
Beechwood also has won the last six games against Augusta, and the Tigers are the favorite here because senior Katie Pohlgeers averages 26 points per game.
PICK: Beechwood.
Last week: 6-2, Season: 22-7, .759.
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Our Fearless Predictions for N.Ky. games