Covington Catholic Director of Athletics Tony Bacigalupo pointed out that even though the Covington Catholic Colonels and Highlands Bluebirds will be playing a game on the court, those two teams and the host Holmes Bulldogs are on the same team in the game of life.
That life is for Covington Catholic senior Thomas Burns. Burns is battling a rare form of cancer that primarily attacks the bones called Ewing Sarcoma. The proceeds from this game that starts at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Holmes will go toward his treatments.
“The Holmes administration has been great,” Bacigalupo said. “They knew that when I approached them in terms of anticipated attendance, they jumped right on board. This was simply a decision based upon the support that was shown from the Fort Thomas community and from our own Covington Catholic community. It was nothing to do with basketball. It was everything to do with supporting Thomas.”
Burns is a lacrosse player at CovCath. The CovCath students continually support the teams forming the student section known as the Colonel Crazies.
“It’s about a kid at 17, 18 years old having to deal with cancer treatments, diagnosis of cancer and radiation treatments. It’s an unprecedented situation that we hope in some small way can help him through it,” said Scott Ruthsatz, CovCath head coach. “The social disconnect he’s had with being a normal kid that goes to school, is in class with his buddies, is eating lunch and hanging out afterwards. Those days have been pretty much gone for him this year. This is a way for us to show we haven’t forgotten about him and that we’re praying for him.”
Highlands head coach Kevin Listerman has been on both sides of this rivalry. Listerman played on the 1992 region championship CovCath team and led the Bluebirds to the region and state championship two years ago. The two have combined to win the last five region crowns. CovCath won its second state championship in 2018.
“It’s what Northern Kentucky is known for,” Listerman said. “Even though we compete really hard in a lot of gyms, it’s about treating people the right way and understanding that there are other things bigger than basketball or sports. It’s really neat that we get to participate in this event.”
The David Evans Gymnasium at Holmes seats 3,000 for a greater capacity than the Highlands and CovCath gyms combined. The Russell Bridges Gym at Highlands seats 1,350 and the CovCath gym seats 1,250.
“With the game of that magnitude and with the history that we’ve got, just making sure that everyone can see that game and you don’t have to turn people away at the doors is a benefit,” said Wes Caldwell, Highlands Director of Athletics. “I’m looking forward to sometime in the near future moving that game to a bigger venue. CovCath and our gyms aren’t the biggest gyms in Northern Kentucky. It would just benefit those players if everyone gets to watch and have a great atmosphere.”
Game Preview:
Highlands comes into the game 14-5 overall including a 4-2 record in 9th Region action. The Bluebirds won both games last week after dropping a 57-50 home game to Newport on January 7.
The Bluebirds have outscored opponents, 1,505-1,253 for an average of just more than 79 points to allowing just below 66 points per game. They are shooting 50% from the field including 43% from 3-point range and have made 74% of their free throws to go with 612 rebounds on the season.
Highlands has three players averaging in double figures. The lone remaining starter off the 2021 state championship team in senior Will Herald leads the way averaging 20.3 per game. Juniors Nathan Vinson and Brayden Moeves average 14.5 and 13.3 per game, respectively.
“We have to be able to defend multiple positions. They can really shoot the ball. Both of us like to push,” Ruthsatz said. “We have multiple scorers. They like the three. We can do a little bit of both. This is another one of those big games where if we don’t get stops, we’re going to be in trouble. If we get stops, we’re going to be able to stay in the game regardless of how we’re shooting it.”
CovCath is 13-2 coming in off a 74-38 home win over Holmes to move to 5-1 in 9th Region play. The Colonels dropped a 74-68 game against Conner in Park Hills last week for their first region loss and in-state loss of the season.
The Colonels have made 49% of their shots including 33% from 3-point range and 77% of their free throws to go with 401 rebounds. They’ve outscored opponents, 1,117-869 for an average of just above 74 to allowing just below 58 per game.
CovCath also has three players averaging in double figures. Senior point guard Evan Ipsaro averages 25 per game with junior guard Brady Hussey and senior guard Kascyl McGillis averaging averaging 12.9 and 10.4 points per game, respectively.
“Ipsaro is definitely the engine to their machine so obviously, we’re going to have to do a good job making sure that he takes tough shots and probably most importantly cleaning up the rebounds and giving ourselves a chance to get out in transition,” Listerman said. “The other part is they always have a good defensive game plan. We have to make sure we get the right shots at the right times and knock them down. Those are obviously keys to any game.”
The teams have not played each other in nearly two years. CovCath has won the last three meetings.
