Friday, January 26, 2001
Our Fearless Predictions for Cincinnati games
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
• Kettering Alter (13-1, 7-1 GCL) vs. Elder (10-4, 7-2 GCL)
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m. today, Elder High School, 3900 Vincent Ave., Price Hill.
WHAT TO WATCH: The pressure is on Elder as the Panthers need a victory to keep pace in the Greater Catholic League South race with St. X and Moeller.
Since losing to La Salle and Moeller, Elder was on a roll, defeating previously undefeated St. Xavier before losing to Covington Catholic on Tuesday.
Alter has the height advantage with Adam Waleskowski (6-8), Jeff Penno (6-5) and Dave Kohls (6-5), but Elder is the better outside shooting team with Jake Bazeley, Mike Mahon and Steve Miller.
PICK: Elder.
• Colerain (9-5, 6-4 GMC) vs. Hamilton (9-3, 8-1 GMC)
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m., today, Hamilton High School, 1160 Eaton Ave., Hamilton.
WHAT TO WATCH: The return matchup with Oak Hills is two weeks away and coach Larry Allen's Hamilton team can't afford to look past Colerain, a team capable of the upset.
Substitute senior forward Tyrell Williams has saved the Big Blue in recent games but the key for Hamilton is the outside shooting of Josh Andrews and E.J. Underwood.
Colerain counters with Doug Monaghan, a 6-4 senior who is reaching top form after a slow start because of the late ending of the football season.
The Cardinals, who appear out of the Greater Miami Conference race with four losses, would enjoy playing the spoilers.
PICK: Colerain
• Amelia (7-6, 4-4 FAVC) vs. Winton Woods (13-0, 8-0 FAVC)
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m., today, Winton Woods School, 1230 Kemper Rd., Forest Park.
WHAT TO WATCH: This game appears to be a mismatch as undefeated Winton Woods is the solid favorite.
However, Amelia has been playing well the past two weeks. Seniors Ron Scott, Ryan Caldwell and the Smith brothers, Matt and Joe, have stepped up.
Winton Woods has four players scoring in double figures and the fifth averages nine a game. P.J. Mills, DeForrest Riley, Robert Hite and C.J. Anderson lead the Warriors.
Although the Warriors should win, the Barons will put up a fierce fight.
PICK: Winton Woods.
• Clermont Northeastern (12-3, 7-0 SBC) vs. Hillsboro (8-6, 5-2 SBC)
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m. today, Hillsboro, 358 W. West Street, Hillsboro.
WHAT TO WATCH: The Rockets are closing in on the SBC American Division title and a victory over the Indians would clinch a tie.
Ian Lafferty and Charlie Roberts have been led a high-scoring Rockets team that also plays a tough man-to-man defense.
Hillsboro is tough to beat at home. Matt Marischen and Derrik Haithcock average in double figures for the Indians. Clint Williamson and Tyler Walker also are capable of lighting up the scoreboard.
The Rockets have too much talent for the Indians.
PICK: Clermont Northeastern.
• Moeller (9-4, 4-2 GCL) vs. McNicholas (9-4, 4-3 GCL).
WHEN/WHERE: 8 p.m. today, McNicholas High School, 6536 Beechmont Ave., Mount Washington.
WHAT TO WATCH: The outside scoring of Nicholas Monserez has added another dimension to an already tough Moeller team that features Matt Sylvester and Clint Nagel on the inside.
With Monserez and Scott Byrne bombing away from the perimeter, the inside has opened up to make Moeller a more potent offensive team.
While some may think McNicholas has struggled, this is a typical season for the Rockets. Playing a predominantly Division I schedule, the Rockets have won eight of 12 games.
Paul Sheehy has been the scoring leader for McNicholas but every starter is capable of scoring in double figures. If the Rockets' man-to-man defense is effective, McNicholas could pull off the upset .
PICK: Moeller.
• Other games
LaSalle over Purcell Marian
St. Xavier over Roger Bacon
Chaminade Julienne over Badin
Lakota West over Fairfield
Middletown over Lakota East
Oak Hills over Sycamore
CCD over Summit Country Day
CHCA over Landmark
Seven Hills over New Miami
North College Hill over St. Bernard
Goshen over Kings
Lebanon over Wilmington
Little Miami over Norwood
Loveland over Ross
Anderson over Mason
Glen Este over Turpin
Harrison over Northwest
Deer Park over Indian Hill
Mariemont over Finneytown
Madeira over Taylor
Withrow over Aiken
Hughes over Walnut Hills
Mt. Healthy over Taft
Western Hills over Woodward
Fenwick over Monroe
Talawanda over Edgewood
Dayton Stebbins over Miamisburg
Dayton Carroll over West Carrollton
Springboro over Franklin
Batavia over Williamsburg
Georgetown over Felicity
Bethel Tate over Western Brown
North Adams over Fayetteville
Last week: 29-9. Season: 171-52.
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Our Fearless Predictions for Cincinnati games