Cincinnati Previews and Predictions: Week Three
Believe it or not, but we are at the quarter point of the prep basketball season in the state of Ohio. Prep Hoops takes a look at some of the key matchups in Southwest Ohio for week three: #5 Aiken…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingBelieve it or not, but we are at the quarter point of the prep basketball season in the state of Ohio. Prep Hoops takes a look at some of the key matchups in Southwest Ohio for week three:
#5 Aiken (0-2) at #1 Roger Bacon (2-0), Tuesday 7:30pm: The number five ranked team in Division II, the beginning of the season for the Falcons has not be to kind as they are winless in their first two games of the season. Besides 5’8 senior G Marcus Baron, who leads the CMAC in scoring at over 30ppg, only one other Falcon averages double digits. Roger Bacon, the number one ranked Division III team in Cincinnati, enters this game with a 2-0 record and a balanced scoring attack lead by 6’6 senior F James Johnson 13ppg. Aiken desperately needs a victory if it wants to get a high seed in the playoffs.
Prediction: Roger Bacon
#1 Covington Catholic KY (5-0 )at #1 Moeller (2-0), Tuesday 7:30pm: What a matchup as the number one ranked team in Northern Kentucky travels across the Ohio River to take on the number one ranked Division I team in Cincinnati. Cov Cath brings with them one of the top players in the region, Ohio or Kentucky, in CJ Fredrick c/o’18 guard who already holds an offer from Xavier and Iowa amongst other schools. Playing in big games will be nothing new for the Crusaders, who again look to be in contention for a trip to Columbus for the Division I Final Four. Will the system of legendary coach Carl Kremer help Moeller defend their home turf?
Prediction: Moeller
#6 Shroder (4-0) at #9 Woodward (3-2), Friday 7:30pm: A big time game in the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference, with Shroder leading the conference with a perfect 2-0 mark while Woodward is seeking their first conference win of the season. This has been an uneven season for the Bulldogs who three wins come against teams with a combined 4-7 record, but a win against the conference leader Jaguars could kick start a run for the Bulldogs. Will Coker, last year’s leading scorer in the conference at over 25ppg, is coming off a 37 point performance against Mt. Healthy and could be rounding into form after the grind off a long football season. Shroder, the surprise of the conference so far with a 2-0 start in conference, has shot at least 50% from the floor overall and from the three point line in two of their first four games. In the Jaguars 20 point win over Dayton Stivers on Monday G Steve Stewart recorded his 3rd double-double of the season with a 10pt, 12reb effort and leads the best perimeter in the CMAC.
Prediction: Shroder
#4 Oak Hills (2-0) at #3 Mason (3-0), Friday 7:30pm: Another premier match-up between the third and fourth ranked teams in Division I. Not only is this game important for tournament seeding but also the winner gets a leg-up in the Greater Miami Conference championship race. Ashland commit senior forward Ryan Batte comes into the game averaging 21ppg and is in the running for conference POY. But he also gets tremendous help from a supporting cast lead by senior G Luke Rudy who shoots over 50% from the floor and from the 3-point line while averaging over 18ppg. Mason is led by senior G Eddie Puisis who is averaging 26.7ppg while shooting 60/50/90 from the field, three and free throw line respectively. This could turn-out the top game of the weekend.
Prediction: Mason