The Covington Catholic Colonels (30-4 overall) have been through this a lot in recent years.
The 9th Region champion Colonels finished ranked third in the latest Associated Press poll. They may have to beat a few ranked teams to bring another gold ball back to Park Hills.
CovCath escaped a huge battle from the 2nd Region champion Lyon County Lyons (29-7), 59-57 in the state quarterfinals on Friday at Rupp Arena in Lexington. Junior guard Kascyl McGillis led the way scoring 17 points with senior 6-foot-8-inch center Mitchell Rylee scoring 16 and sophomore guard Brady Hussey adding 13.
“What a game. Lyon County was well-prepared for us,” said Scott Ruthsatz, CovCath Head Coach. “(The Lyons) gave us all that we could handle, especially in the second half. We knew a couple of their guys could shoot deep. I thought their post players were good, too. I thought they rebounded really well. They kept balls alive, made us foul, especially in the first half. But at the end of the day, I’m very proud of my team from the standpoint that it’s survive and advance at this point in time.”
CovCath is going back to the state semifinals for the sixth time in school history. The Colonels have both their state championships in school history under Ruthsatz in 2014 and 2018. CovCath finished state runner-up in 1967 and lost in the state semifinals in 2004 and 2015.
The opponent will be the 4th Region champion Warren Central Dragons (28-3). Warren Central rallied past the 1st Region champion Murray Tigers (26-7), 54-48 in the final quarterfinal game. Warren Central is back in the state semifinals for the first time since 2019.
“You wouldn’t want it any other way,” said William Unseld, Warren Central Head Coach. “We have to get back to the hotel, feed them, get off our feet, ice bags, get their legs back under them. It’s going to be tough. You’re playing on the last day of the high school season. You’re getting to the finish line. CovCath is going to be a heck of a challenge.”
Warren Central put three players in double figures. Senior shooting guard Jaiden Lawrence scored 13 with junior point guard Omari Glover scoring 11 and sophomore shooting guard Kade Unseld scored 10.
“It was a fight,” Coach Unseld said. “I knew it was going to be. I told the kids that (earlier Friday). They were tough, physical. The kids held on and fought. We made the plays when we needed to. We did a great job late defending and rebounding.”
Murray put two players in double digits. Junior guard Grant Whitaker put up a tremendous 23 points and senior forward Trey Boggess scored 12.
George Rogers Clark (35-1) survived a scare from 15th Region Pikeville in the second game Friday afternoon, 43-38. The Cardinals made four free throws after the Panthers trimmed the margin to 39-38 on a senior point guard Keian Worrix three-pointer with 5.5 seconds left to pull off their first trip to the state semifinals since 1990.
The Holmes Bulldogs knocked off the Cardinals, 84-81 in the state semifinals that year before losing 77-73 to Louisville Fairdale in the title game. The Head Coach of that Holmes team was Mike Flynn – the head coach at Highlands before current Head Coach Kevin Listerman took over in 2013.
“It was a lot of fun, wasn’t it? It’s tournament play and you got to have toughness,” said Josh Cook, GRC Head Coach. “You got to be able to guard. People talk about our offense – how many points we can score and we have guys that obviously want to score and share the basketball. But it takes a lot of character and toughness to want to sit down and guard. We’ve instilled that in our guys and our guys believe in that. I’m just proud of them.”
Senior guard Tanner Walton and junior guard Jerome Morton had double-doubles of 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Cardinals. Junior wing Trent Edwards followed with nine points.
Worrix gave the Panthers a chance to win near the end scoring 13. Senior forward Alex Rogers came off the bench to add nine.
GRC will face 12th Region champion Lincoln County (31-7) in the first semifinal game Saturday at 11 a.m. This marks the first time the Patriots have made it to the state semifinals in school history.
Lincoln County knocked off 8th Region champion North Oldham, 56-46 in the first game of the day. The Patriots had good balance in the historic win. Junior guard Tramane Alcorn led the way with 15 points and four assists. Senior guard Jaxon Smith scored 10 points and junior Colton Ralston added 10.
“Both teams played really, really hard,” said Jeff Jackson, Lincoln County Head Coach. “I’m really proud of our kids for taking care of some things with the basketball late in the game moving the ball and getting good shots. We stepped up and made our free throws, which helped an awful lot down the stretch when (the Mustangs) were fouling.”
North Oldham saw junior forward Ian Higdon record 20 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Jack Scales scored 12.
George Rogers Clark owns one state championship in 1951. The Cardinals beat the now-defunct Cuba High, 69-44 at the University of Kentucky’s Memorial Coliseum. Cuba High was located south of Paducah in western Kentucky.
Dunking Not Allowed in Pre-Game Warm-ups:
The State Tournament Instruction Guide does not allow dunking in pre-game warm-ups whether officials are on the floor or not. A total of $250 is deducted from the team travel fund and likely higher if another violation of the rule occurs.
CovCath Brings Three Uniforms to Tournament:
The Colonels brought two sets of away uniforms to the state tournament. They wore the home white uniforms Thursday in the win over Ashland before putting on the black uniforms against Lyon County on Friday in the state quarterfinals.
CovCath would have to put the white uniforms in the laundry that one time over three days. The Colonels will wear the white ones again in the state semifinals and would wear the blue away ones in the title game Saturday if they win Saturday afternoon.
Colonel Crazy Attire:
The Covington Catholic Student Section known as the Colonel Crazies dressed in black uniforms against Lyon County. They dressed in green primarily for St. Patrick’s Day in the win Thursday against Ashland.
Kentucky Boys Sweet 16 State Basketball Tournament at Rupp Arena, Lexington Schedule, Results:
Wednesday, March 16 Results:
Lincoln County 45, Jeffersontown 41
North Oldham 36, Muhlenberg County 32
George Rogers Clark 77, Perry County Central 36
Pikeville 59, North Laurel 51
Thursday, March 17 Results:
Warren Central 57, Male 54 (OT)
Lyon County 82, John Hardin 65
Murray 57, Henry Clay 53
Covington Catholic 76, Ashland 65
Friday, March 18 Results:
Lincoln County 56, North Oldham 46
George Rogers Clark 43, Pikeville 38
Covington Catholic 59, Lyon County 57
Warren Central 54, Murray 48
Saturday, March 19 Semifinals:
Lincoln County (31-7) vs. George Rogers Clark (35-1), 11 a.m.
Covington Catholic (30-4) vs. Warren Central (28-3), 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 19 Title Game:
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
