Friday, January 05, 2001
Our Fearless Predictions for Cincinnati games
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
• WESTERN HILLS (5-3) vs. WITHROW (7-1)
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m., today, Western Hills High School, 2144 Ferguson Rd. Western Hills.
WHAT TO WATCH: First place in the Queen City Conference is on the line when these two public high school teams renew one of Cincinnati's best rivalries.
Although Withrow is the visitor, the Tigers are coming off two victories in Detroit and may have an advantage because of confidence gained at the holiday tournament.
Pierre Dardin has stepped up on the inside for Withrow and guards Chris Washington and Donnie McGuire have been getting it done against the press.
Western Hills lost consecutive games at a holiday tournament in South Carolina and must regroup.
Darryl Peterson and Danny Horace have been outstanding inside, but the Mustangs must improve from the outside in order to prevail.
PICK: Withrow.
• MOELLER (5-3) vs. ELDER (7-2)
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m., today, Elder High School, 3900 Vincent Ave., Price Hill.
WHAT TO WATCH: Ranked No.4 in the Enquirer's Division I poll, Moeller won winning three-of-four games at the Torrey Pines Holiday Tournament in San Diego.
Team play was key for the Crusaders in San Diego as Scott Byrnes leading the offense with 15 assists in the final two games.
Elder is tough to beat at home.
After losing to LaSalle two weeks ago, the Panthers need a win to remain in the Greater Catholic League South Division race. Moeller is in the same position after losing to St. Xavier.
Scoring from the outside (Jake Bazeley and Mike Mahon) has been the Panthers strength. In order to defeat Moeller, however, inside players Phil Bengel, Scott Benken and Tim Schenke must deliver.
PICK: Moeller.
• LAKOTA WEST (5-2) vs. HAMILTON (5-2)
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m. today, Hamilton High School, 1160 Eaton Ave., Hamilton.
WHAT TO WATCH: Coming off a loss to Lakota East, coach Mike Mueller's West team must find another scorer to help David Hutzelman.
Hamilton struggled from the outside in its worst game of the season last week against Oak Hills.
Trailing Oak Hills and Hamilton by one game in the Greater Miami Conference, the Firebirds need a win to stay in the title race.
PICK: Lakota West.
• ST. XAVIER (9-0) vs. LA SALLE (4-4)
WHEN/WHERE: 8 p.m. today, La Salle High School, 3091 North Bend Rd., Montfort Heights.
WHAT TO WATCH: An unexpected 41-37 victory at Elder, put the Lancers in position to compete for the GCL South title.
A scrappy team that plays man-to-man defense, La Salle relies on Doug Kruthaupt, Jeff Hyle and Andy Bucheit for scoring.
Winning at La Salle hasn't been easy for defending state champion and top-ranked St. Xavier the past few years.
Coach Scott Martin relies on as many as 10 players with no one star. Jordan Cornette, Mike Grogan and Steve Callahan have carried the scoring burden.
PICK: La Salle.
• MADEIRA (7-1) vs. INDIAN HILL (3-3)
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m. today, Indian Hill High School, 6845 Drake Rd., Indian Hill.
WHAT TO WATCH: This is the make-or-break game for Indian Hill in the Cincinnati Hills League.
Coached by former Sycamore mentor Wally Vickers, the Braves have performed well with Grady Rogers and Andrew DeBord playing well.
Madeira is the team to beat.
Although the Mustangs lost to Finneytown by 24 points, they regrouped to win at Reading team to get back in the race.
Bret Underwood is the key player, although Robb Hern and Nolan Bowers have stepped up. Madeira's depth and superior defense will be the difference.
PICK: Madeira.
• OTHER PICKS
Taft at Aiken
Hughes at Mt. Healthy
Walnut Hills at Woodward
Kettering Alter over Purcell Marian
McNicholas over Chaminade-Julienne
Roger Bacon over Badin
Princeton over Fairfield
Lakota East over Sycamore
Oak Hills over Milford
Middletown over Colerain
CCD over Lockland
CHCA over New Miami
St. Bernard over Landmark
North College Hill over Seven Hills
Amelia over Turpin
Anderson over Harrison
Glen Este over Mason
Winton Woods over Northwest
Norwood over Goshen
Kings over Wilmington
Lebanon over Ross
Loveland over Little Miami
Finneytown over Deer Park
Mariemont over Reading
Wyoming over Taylor
Williamsburg over Felicity
Georgetown over New Richmond
Batavia over Bethel-Tate
Fenwick over Edgewood
Talawanda over Dayton Carroll
Franklin over Lemon Monroe
Springboro over Miamisburg
Last week: 13-3. Season: 89-25.
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Our Fearless Predictions for Cincinnati games
