St. Xavier forward Jordan Cornette calls his team comparable to last season's Ohio Division I state champions.

        Cornette helped make that point Friday — his 15 points and nine blocked shots led the Bombers to a 59-46 win in the Holiday Classic at Fairfield Arena.

        CovCath (3-4) will play Milford for third place at 6:30 p.m. today St. Xavier (8-0) meets Fairfield for the title 30 minutes after the first game. Fairfield beat Milford 64-57 in the other game.

        “People expected us to be a sub-par team,” Cornette, a senior, said. “I think we're changing some expectations.”

        St. Xavier coach Scott Martin said this team is just as deep as last season's.

        “That's what's the strength of this team,” Martin said. “Each guy puts the ball in the basket.”

        St. Xavier needed every point, rebound and assist Friday. The Bombers shot only 24-for-62 for the game, and they made just four of their 13 3-point attempts.

        Senior guard Mike Grogan had 12 points and five assists, senior guard Steve Callahan scored nine points and senior forward Alex Bast had eight points and 11 rebounds for St. X.

        CovCath lost its fourth straight game — all to Greater Catholic League schools. Coach Mike Listerman could not help but cringe at Friday's statistics: 19-of-58 from the field; the 4-of-20 from 3-point range; 16 turnovers the Bombers turned into 14 points.

        “They capitalized on our mistakes,” Listerman said. “Our kids battled. We can shoot the ball better, maybe we're rushing some shots.”

        Cornette, a 6-foot-8 Notre Dame recruit, scored 13 first-half points. Cornette also blocked five shots.

        “He's tough, he's big,” said Matt Finke, who with Brian Lewin led the Colonels with 12 points. “He's got long arms and legs.”

        Neither team shot well to open the game. St. Xavier didn't score until Grogan's 3-pointer with 5:19 left in the first quarter.

        “It (was) a little nerves, it's a big gym,” Martin said.

        The Colonels stayed with the Bombers in the first quarter. Finke's two free throws made it 7-5 with 3:22 left, and St. Xavier led 15-9 at the end of the period.

        St. Xavier took a 30-22 lead into halftime, and its depth helped wear down CovCath in the second half.

        The Colonels closed to 39-32 on Matt Finke's two free throws with 1:31 left in the third, but a 9-2 run put the Bombers up 48-34 with 6:19 to play.

        COVINGTON CATHOLIC (46): Bain 1-9 0-0 2, Hiltz 3-12 0-0 7, Lewin 5-11 0-0 12, Finke 4-8 4-4 12, Quast 1-5 0-0 2, Wilcox 2-2 0-0 5, Albanese 1-1 0-0 2, Ammerman 1-1 0-0 2, Wachs 0-5 0-0 0, Middendorf 1-4 0-0 2. Totals: 19-58 4-4 46.

        ST. XAVIER (59): Callahan 3-12 2-3 9, Grogan 3-7 4-4 12, Cornette 7-16 1-3 15, Bast 4-9 0-0 8, Shriver 3-4 0-0 7, Williams 0-1 0-0 0, Gay 0-1 0-0 0, Heekin 0-1 0-0 0, Retzinger 0-3 0-0 0, Cashen 4-8 0-1 8. Totals: 24-62 7-11 59.

        Covington Catholic ....... 9 13 10 14—46

        St. Xavier ....... 15 15 14 15-59

        Three-point goals: CC 4-20 (Bain 0-6, Hiltz 1-3, Lewin 2-6, Finke 0-1, Quast 0-3, Wilcox 1-1); SX 4-13 (Callahan 1-4, Grogan 2-4, Cornette 0-1, Shriver 1-1, Cashen 0-3). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: CC 41 (Finke 8); SX 39 (Bast 11). Turnovers: CC 16 (Lewin 5); SX 11 (Grogan 3, Bast 3). Assists: CC 8 (Hiltz 3, Wachs 3); SX 16 (Grogan 5). Blocked shots: CC 4 (Lewin 2, Wachs 2); SX 9 (Cornette 9). Steals: CC 6 (Lewin 3); SX 12 (Callahan 4) Total fouls: CC 12, SX 7. Records: CC 3-4, SX 8-0.

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