The Guardian Angels Central Catholic Boys Basketball team is 1-1 on the season following a win over Wisner-Pilger and a loss to Lutheran High Northeast over the weekend.
GACC led the Gators 12-10 after one. The Bluejays doubled up Wisner-Pilger 14-7 in the second quarter to take a 26-17 lead into the locker room.
GACC outscored the Gators 13-6 in the third quarter to go up 39-23 at the end of three.
The Bluejays won the fourth quarter 16-12.
Head Coach Brad Slaughter says his boys turned in an impressive defensive performance.
"Wisner-Pilger it was a good start for us. We were able to maintain some pretty good defensive pressure and kind of cause some havoc with our guys that were on the floor. They did a good job in responding and making things difficult for the Gators the other night."
Slaughter says the Bluejays had difficult time knocking down shots in the second half against the Eagles.
Lutheran High Northeast led GACC 18-7 after one. The Bluejays won the second quarter 22-17 to make it a 35-29 game at halftime.
The Eagles outscored GACC 11-4 in the third quarter to lead 46-33 at the end of three.
LHNE registered 13 fourth quarter points and limited the Bluejays to just 2.
It's tough to win any game when scoring just 6 points in a half, but I'm sure GACC is a better team than what they showed against the Eagles.
Guardian Angels Central Catholic (1-1) hosts Columbus Scotus (1-0) Tuesday night on 107.9 the Bull.
The Shamrocks won 46-28 at home over Hastings St. Cecilia in Thursday night's season opener.
Slaughter says the Shamrocks are a talented and experienced team.
"Oh they're athletic. They're a good group of kids. A lot of those kids have been starting for 2 or 3 years. And I mean this year is one of their classes that they've always hyped about. So they got a good class. To me is it an insurmountable challenge...no. I mean I think any given night, any certain day...things can go in your favor."
I agree with Slaughter in that anything can happen.
The Bluejays are a good team, and will no doubt want to show it Tuesday night.
I don't think GACC played their best basketball against Lutheran High Northeast, and has a chance to give Scotus a better game.
It's going to be tough for the Bluejays to upset the Shamrocks, but the game is in West Point, and if the crowd can be a big factor in the game, and Columbus Scotus has an off game, then GACC can definitely pull the upset.
With that said, this game could also be lopsided. The Shamrocks really did a number on the Bluehawks, and played an outstanding game defensively.
There's no doubt the Bluejays will need to play their best offensive game of the season. A repeat second half of the Lutheran High Northeast game would spell doom for GACC..
Kobe Slaughter, Andrew Guenther, Mitch Haas, and others need to play well for the Bluejays to be successful.
GACC has to match Scotus's defensive intensity, and get after things on the defensive end of the floor.
The Bluejays showed they can be a great team given how they beat Wisner-Pilger, but GACC has to be more consistent, and it all starts against the Shamrocks Tuesday night.
It should be an exciting night of basketball on the Bull.
The girls game is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. with the boys game to follow.
The Guardian Angels Central Catholic Girls are 2-0 on the season following victories over Emerson-Hubbard and Wisner-Pilger over the weekend.
The Bluejays led the Pirates 33-5 after the first quarter. GACC outscored Emerson-Hubbard 17-10 to go up 50-15 at halftime.
Both teams scored 10 third quarter points to make it a 60-25 game at the end of three.
The Pirates won the fourth quarter 8-6.
The Gators held an 11-10 lead over the Bluejays at the end of one. GACC outscored Wisner-Pilger 12-8 in the second quarter to take a 22-19 lead into the locker room.
The Bluejays won the third quarter 15-14 to make it a 37-33 game at the end of three.
GACC scored 7 points in the fourth quarter and held the Gators to 6.
Head Coach Jerry Stracke says his team was led by the likes of Hannah Hunke and Lauren Wobken.
"Lauren Wobken had double digits and double rebounds in the Wisner game. Hannah Hunke's coming up big for us. So is Lexis Haase. And just need to find someone else to step up and then we'll be okay."
Guardian Angels Central Catholic (2-0) hosts Columbus Scotus (0-1) Tuesday night on 107.9 the Bull.
The Shamrocks lost 38-36 at home to Hastings St. Cecilia in the season opener Thursday night.
Stracke discusses the keys to beating the Shamrocks.
"Scotus is going to be good this year. They play really tough defense. And for us to be able to compete with them we're going to have to be able to execute on offense and take care of the ball."
I think the Bluejays have a good chance of winning.
Bishop Neumann, who I might add is very good, beat the Hawkettes by 41, just to give you an idea of how Scotus ranks in terms of the top teams.
The Shamrocks have a tough defense, but their offense really struggles.
With that said, outside of one quarter this season, GACC hasn't exactly been lighting it up offensively.
I do think the Bluejays will win, but I think it will be a close, grind it out affair similar to the Wisner-Pilger game.
It's important for GACC to play well and pick up a win Tuesday night with tough games against Wynot and Crofton later this week.
I think Tuesday's game will sort of set the tone for the rest of the week regardless of how the Bluejays fare.
I think GACC has a good chance to win Tuesday night, but I feel the Shamrocks are also capable of coming in and stealing one on the road as well.
It should be a good, close, and tight contest that comes down to defense and free throw shooting.
The Bluejays won last year's game 49-21, and while GACC may not be as good as they were last year, I'm not so sure that Scotus isn't weaker this year than last.
It all depends on which Bluejays' team shows up, in my opinion, but if GACC plays up to their potential, they should find a way to come away with a win.
I look for the crowd to be electric, making for a great night of basketball.
The girls game is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. with the boys game to follow.
