The Guardian Angels Central Catholic Boys are 4-1 in their last five games, losing 63-60 at home to Oakland-Craig on Tuesday, December 20th, beating David City Aquinas 61-53 on the road on Thursday, December 22nd, topping Howells-Dodge 77-47 at the GACC Holiday Tournament last Thursday, downing BRLD 49-41 in the Holiday Tournament Championship game last Friday, and winning 65-60 at home over Lutheran High Northeast Tuesday night.
The Bluejays and Knights were tied at 15 at the end of one. Oakland-Craig won the second quarter 22-20 to lead 37-35 at halftime.
GACC won the third quarter 16-14 to tie the game at 51 at the end of three.
The Knights outscored the Bluejays 12-9 in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win it.
GACC held a 10-2 lead on the Monarchs after one. The Bluejays won the second quarter 15-11 to go up 25-13 at halftime.
David City Aquinas outscored GACC 23-7 in the third quarter to lead 36-32 at the end of three.
The Bluejays rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Monarchs 29-17.
The Bluejays led the Jaguars 17-6 at the end of one. GACC outscored Howells-Dodge 19-6 in the second quarter to go up 36-22 at halftime.
The Bluejays won the third quarter 24-5 to lead 60-27 at the end of three.
The Jaguars notched 20 points in the fourth quarter compared to 17 for GACC.
Kobe Slaughter had a game-high 21 points while Cole Kreikemeier and Mitch Haas registered 18 and 13, respectively. Andrew Guenther recorded 7.
Head Coach Brad Slaughter's team hit a surprising 14 threes.
"I've coached so long that to me I don't remember that as a team. So that was a pleasant surprise. It was a great job by the kids who knocked them down."
Slaughters' team scored 17 points in the first quarter to start strong.
"We're trying to create more easy baskets for us. And as long as we keep doing that and getting up and down the floor, I think the rest will come. So it was a matter of getting the ball in the hands where we wanted to get it, and the shots that we wanted. And we were able to get some of those to start that second half, and that really helped."
BRLD held a 10-7 lead after one. The Bluejays outscored the Wolverines 17-10 in the second quarter to take a 24-20 lead into the locker room.
BRLD bounced back in the third quarter, winning the frame 14-8 to go up 34-32 at the end of three.
GACC erupted in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Wolverines 17-7 to seal the deal.
Nolan Plagge notched a game-high 16 points for the Bluejays while Haas and Landon Stalp added 13 and 8, respectively.
Head Coach Brad Slaughter says it was a rough and tumble game.
"Their 1-3-1 doesn't allow many gaps. And we were too complacent about not attacking those gaps, and they took advantage of the situation, and they played a great game. I thought their defense was a key for them, and I knew it would be."
Slaughter says the Wolverines' zone defense was tough.
"We got some work to do on our zone offense, but we're too stagnant. And we got to move more without the ball. And you got to get cutters, we got to get flashers. And as soon as we figure that out we'll be real tough on zones. But we're just too stagnant right now."
The Bluejays led the Eagles 14-13 after one. GACC outscored LHNE 18-11 in the second quarter to take 32-24 lead into the locker room.
The Bluejays won the third quarter 14-11 to go up 46-35 after three.
The Eagles outlasted GACC 25-19 in the fourth quarter.
The Bluejays are playing great basketball right now. GACC has gotten their season turned around.
The Bluejays (5-5) host Clarkson/Leigh (0-10) on Saturday.
The Patriots lost 73-39 at North Bend Central Tuesday night.
It has been a difficult season for Clarkson/Leigh, but GACC can't feel sorry for the Patriots.
The Bluejays have to continue to play well, and must take the fight to Clarkson/Leigh.
GACC could really use a 2-0 week heading into next week's games with Wayne and Boone Central/Newman Grove.
The Bluejays need to try and slow down Anthony Bruhn, Bradley Bunner, and Blake Paprocki, among others.
GACC has to play well offensively and defensively to pick up a big win.
The Bluejays need to get a big lead so they rest starters.
GACC doesn't desperately need to get starters rest as there will be 6 days in between games for the Bluejays, but this isn't a game the starters should need to go the distance.
GACC needs to get everyone playing time if they can to help prepare the younger players for the future.
The biggest thing for the Bluejays is to not get caught looking ahead.
GACC has two big games next weekend, but the only team the Bluejays should be focused on at the moment is Clarkson/Leigh.
GACC has played great basketball as of late, having won four in a row. I think the Bluejays finally got their basketball legs under them.
I don't think GACC will have any trouble putting the Patriots away. I look for the Bluejays to win big and going away.
The GACC Girls are 4-0 in their last four games, knocking off Wayne 69-55 in OT at home on Monday, December 19th, David City Aquinas 68-48 on the road on Thursday, December 22nd, BRLD 62-35 at the GACC Holiday Tournament last Thursday, and Howells-Dodge 45-40 in the Holiday Tournament Championship Game last Friday.
The Bluejays held a 14-13 lead on the Blue Devils at the end of one.
Wayne won the second quarter 13-10 to take a 26-24 lead into the locker room.
The Blue Devils outscored GACC 16-11 in the third quarter to go up 42-35 at the end of three.
The Bluejays outscored Wayne 17-10 in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 52 and send the game into OT.
GACC notched 17 points in the extra session and held the Blue Devils to just 3.
The Bluejays jumped out to a 28-13 lead on the Monarchs at the end of one. David City Aquinas won the second quarter 19-12 to make it a 40-32 game at halftime.
GACC outscored the Monarchs 19-10 in the third quarter to lead 59-42 at the end of three.
The Bluejays notched 9 points in the fourth quarter compared to 6 for David City Aquinas.
GACC led the Wolverines 18-9 after one. The Bluejays won the second quarter 19-12 to go up 37-21 at halftime.
GACC outscored BRLD 13-2 in the third quarter to lead 50-23 at the end of three.
Both teams scored 12 points in the fourth quarter.
Maddie Knobbe notched a game-high 27 points while Hannah Hunke added 13.
Head Coach Jerry Stracke says Maddie Knobbe's game high 27 points were big.
"I thought we got off to a very good start that first quarter. Kind of set a tone for us. Maddie was big for us that first quarter. Didn't have any answers for her."
"She's a big part of the team, and we like to get the ball in her hands whenever possible. So I mean as far as the game plan goes we try to do that as often as we can."
The Bluejays led the Jaguars 12-9 after one. Howells-Dodge won the second quarter 10-9 to make it a 21-19 game at halftime.
The Jaguars outscored GACC 11-9 in the third quarter to tie the game at 30 at the end of three.
The Bluejays put up 15 points in the fourth quarter while Howells-Dodge scored 10.
Lexis Haase had a game-high 19 points while Maddie Knobbe chipped in 13, all in the second half.
Stracke.
"We got in a little foul trouble there. We wanted to play a little conservative. But got after it the second half a little bit, and fought our way back, especially the fourth quarter there. Howells is a very good team, they can come back on anybody. They're going to have a great year, a great season. So it was a big, quality win for us."
GACC (8-1) hosts Clarkson/Leigh (4-7) on Saturday.
The Patriots lost 46-27 at North Bend Central Tuesday night.
I feel Clarkson/Leigh is an improved team, but I think the Bluejays will win rather handily.
GACC is a much different team with Knobbe in the lineup, and the Bluejays appear to be clicking on all cylinders right now.
GACC's only blemish on the season is a loss at Crofton, who is as good as they come.
The Patriots are an improved team I would say, but not improved enough to knock off a team like the Bluejays.
This is an important game for GACC though as Clarkson/Leigh is in their sub-district.
The Bluejays need to play well as you can bet the Patriots will be gunning for them.
Teams are always going to be gunning for and trying to knock off GACC so the Bluejays simply have to be focused and ready to play like they always are.
GACC shouldn't have much trouble with Clarkson/Leigh at all though.
I look for the Bluejays to win anywhere between 15 and 25 points.
I feel GACC has played really good basketball so far this year, but can play even better.
I'd say the Bluejays' best basketball is ahead of them. And a win over the Patriots would just add to GACC's confidence.
The Bluejays have a tough game at home against Bishop Neumann on Tuesday so GACC needs to do all the things necessary on Saturday to get ready for that contest.
That means not looking ahead to the game, getting everyone playing time, and resting starters.
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