Week Two Previews and Predictions
*Photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Enquirer This is the first full week of basketball in the state of Ohio, and we already have some very good matchups on the slate for this week. Included in this week’s schedule are…
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Continue Reading*Photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Enquirer
This is the first full week of basketball in the state of Ohio, and we already have some very good matchups on the slate for this week. Included in this week’s schedule are two big time contest that are part of the inaugural Queen City Showcase at Princeton this Friday. Here is a preview of some of the best games this week in the Cincinnati area. Here is our Week Two Previews and Predictions.
Summit Country Day (0-1) vs. North College Hill (0-1), Tuesday 7:30pm- This is a game that almost always has conference title implications, and this year it should be no different. For Summit they must find a way to keep Finneytown transfer Cameron Harris (2019 PHO #123) off the boards, which will be a tough task for a team lacking size across the board. The Silver Knights senior back court combo of Terry Evans and Ryland Woods must come up with huge scoring games for Summit to come out with a victory.
Prediction: NCH
Walnut Hills (1-1) vs. West Clermont (1-0), Friday 7:30pm- A huge early season match up in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference for both teams. Walnut is coming off of a close loss to Princeton Sunday, and must find a way to get offense from players not named Nic Smith (2020 PHO #165) or Greg Phelia. Look for senior G/W Darren Pennington to get more of an opportunity after a solid showing Sunday off the bench as he was the Eagles most consistent outside shooter on Sunday. 2020 PHO Top 30 F/C Jackson Ames is off healthy and strong start this season after a 14 point, 6 rebound and 3 assist performance in the season opener against Little Miami for West Clermont.
Prediction: West Clermont
Hughes (1-0) vs. Moeller (1-0), Friday 7:30pm- A battle of two of the elite programs in the Cincinnati area in the 1st annual Queen City Showcase at Princeton. This will be a good test for a young but talented Big Red squad featuring 2022 guard Paul McMillan IV and 2021 G/W Cameron McKenzie who combined for 40 in Friday’s win against Woodward. They will be tested going up against maybe the best senior duo in the state in Bellarmine commit Alec Pfreim and West Virginia commit Miles McBride for the D-I defending champions. This is the first game of what will be an exciting double-header.
Prediction: Moeller
Deer Park (1-0) vs. Taft (0-1), Friday 7:30pm- The night capper of the 1st annual Queen City Showcase could end up being one of the best game of the season in the state, especially when you factor all the talent that will be on the floor including two of the top juniors in the state in Deer Park Mark Wise (PHO#16) and Taft Nekhi Smith (PHO#17). The defending D-III state champs against maybe the best D-II in Cincy matching up in a game that was scheduled for last season but was cancelled last second. With two teams that play similar styles, it will be the little things that decide this game. So expect the team that shoots better from the line and takes care of the basketball to walk away with the victory. If you saw these two teams play in June at Deer Park, a two-point Taft victory, then you know this is one not to miss.
Prediction: Taft