Friday, Jan. 23, St. X and Male will tip off for the third time this season.
After a heated semifinal matchup in the Louisville Invitational Tournament last Friday, in which St. X tied the series at 1-1, this next meeting is already charged with tension. The last game featured plenty of trash talk and technical fouls. Friday night should be a fun one.
Following their LIT championship, the Tigers dropped a game Tuesday to the North Oldham Mustangs, led by Pierre Rondo (17 points, nine assists) and Eli Green (22 points, 6-of-8 from 3-point range). Head coach Kevin Klein will have his team even more locked in for Friday night’s matchup.
Male also dropped a game Tuesday, suffering a rough 12-point loss to the Butler Bears. The Bulldogs bounced back Wednesday with a dominant 40-point win over Central. After the last matchup, head coach Todd Haworth will undoubtedly have his team fired up for Friday night.
Senior Jeremiah Jackson has played some of his best basketball against Male, averaging 25 points and 8.5 rebounds over two matchups this season. Sophomore Jordan Jackson is also looking to build off a strong performance against North Oldham, scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Sophomore Josh Lindsay continues to provide a spark on the offensive end. Seniors Bryce Johnson and Chief Cameron will also play key roles in Friday’s outcome.
Sophomore guard Jordan Mitchell continues to lead the way for the Bulldogs. He recently surpassed 1,000 career points and scored 26 points in the first matchup against St. X. Male consistently plays the Tigers with a different level of intensity, which is clear to anyone watching.
Senior point guard Cornelius “Corn” Barnett plays a vital role for the Bulldogs, even if it does not always show up on the stat sheet. A strong defender, the offense runs through his movement and passing. Senior Jaymes Clark knocked down six 3-pointers in the LIT semifinal against the Tigers, and if he can replicate that performance with help from Mitchell, the Bulldogs will be in good shape.
Another factor to watch will be injuries. Male lost starting 6-foot-10 center Trey Hillerich to a torn ACL. Hillerich averaged 10.2 points and 7.4 rebounds this season and will be a significant loss for the Bulldogs.
There is no shortage of tension between these two teams. With the series tied 1-1, Friday night is shaping up to be a classic. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Male.
