Intriguing Prospects: Holy Cross (Covington) vs Newport Central Catholic
The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds defeated the Holy Cross Indians 61-52 on Friday. While New Cath led throughout, Holy Cross kept fighting and never let the game get truly out of hand. This was a pretty free-flowing game, with neither…
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Continue ReadingThe Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds defeated the Holy Cross Indians 61-52 on Friday. While New Cath led throughout, Holy Cross kept fighting and never let the game get truly out of hand. This was a pretty free-flowing game, with neither team setting up much in the way of half-court offense. New Cath’s ability to knock down shots from outside and the free-throw line was what ended up making the biggest difference, giving them more offensive firepower. Here are the players who stood out the most.
Annie Heck, New Cath- The top player for the Thoroughbreds, Heck excelled in basically every area. The junior guard was the team’s top scorer with 17 points, most of them coming off of 3 pointers and free throws. She was also tied for the team’s leading rebounder with 8 boards, was the best passer on the floor, and played excellent D to complete a well-rounded performance.
Grace Bezold, Holy Cross- The top player on the other side was clearly Bezold. The junior scored seemingly at will, getting to the rim consistently and converting almost every time she was there with a great touch for a game-high 25 points. Her scoring prowess was the single most impressive attribute showcased in Friday’s game.
Rylee Turner, New Cath- What stood out most for Turner in this game was her strong defense and rebounding. The sophomore guard tied Heck for the team lead with 8 rebounds and created quite a few turnovers, giving Holy Cross some trouble with her defense on the press. It was almost surprising to see that she was 2nd on the team with 14 points as well, showing her ability to score almost under the radar with the other things she did well.
Jade Simpson, Holy Cross- The do-it-all player for the Indians, Simpson had one of the game’s most well-rounded performances. The senior had a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, and also did a good job of making passes while running the offense. She was everywhere doing everything for Holy Cross, turning in an impressive performance with her numerous skills.
Sam Grause, New Cath- As mentioned earlier, one of the difference makers for New Cath was their outside shooting ability, and Grause was one of the team’s top shooters. The senior guard showed an impressive stroke, knocking down 2 three-pointers at key moments, as well as 5 of her 6 free throws down the stretch to put the game away for the Thoroughbreds. She ended up with 13 points in total, as well as making some nice passes on offense.
Julia Hunt, Holy Cross- The game’s best inside presence, Hunt did a good job in the paint for the Indians. The 8th grade forward showcased great toughness, coming down with 15 rebounds, taking advantage of her good size to win battles on the boards. She also played strong interior defense, doing a good job of not making things too easy at the rim for New Cath.