Early outlook: It’s championship or bust for Knoxville Catholic
Knoxville Catholic snapped its two-game losing streak with a 48-45 win over Memphis University School late Saturday afternoon on the final day of Stephen Jackson’s Battle in the Bluff High School Showcase. In the past three days, the Fighting Irish…
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Continue ReadingKnoxville Catholic snapped its two-game losing streak with a 48-45 win over Memphis University School late Saturday afternoon on the final day of Stephen Jackson’s Battle in the Bluff High School Showcase.
In the past three days, the Fighting Irish have played three talented teams out of West Tennessee. Knoxville Catholic has a talented team as well, and lost to Memphis East and Bartlett by a combined 11 points.
The Fighting Irish had their fair share of chances of defeating the Mustangs and the Panthers, and showed fight in both losses.
Moral losses don’t show up in the win or loss column, but it’s a positive sign that Knoxville Catholic will be one of the teams in March in position for a Division II-AA state title run.
Here are three things about the Fighting Irish to point out.
Blue Cain Blue Cain 6'4" | SG IMG Academy | 2023 State #102 Nation FL isn’t afraid to take big shots
The 6-foot-4 shooting guard made the game-winning 3 in the waning seconds against the Owls after sophomore combo guard Curtis Givens III tied the game 45-all with a deep 3 from the left wing. Cain dribbled the basketball up the floor, poised as always, and stepped into his jumper with confidence. The junior finished with 15 points, and most importantly, Cain showed how confident he is as a shooter in crucial moments of a contest.
Cain didn’t play with his head down, despite his team losing two straight after winning four of its first five. He kept playing at a high level. Cain kept taking shots, and he kept making shots.
“Blue makes big shots,” Knoxville Catholic head coach Michael Hutchens said.
The Fighting Irish found a way to stay in the game without Edwards
Senior point guard B.J. Edwards got in foul trouble in the third quarter and had to spend time on the bench. When he got back into the game, Knoxville Catholic had to get into a 2-3 zone defense to avoid Edwards from fouling out.
It worked.
He’s been the team’s primary ball handler and needed to be in order to help the Fighting Irish finish off a talented MUS team. Edwards scored 18 of his team-high 20 points in the first half, but Knoxville Catholic had to find a way to stay in the game offensively without him. Cain stepping up was a plus. Sophomore guard Quincy Pannell made some timely baskets as well.
The Fighting Irish have a fair share of players who will scratch, claw and battle to the very end, even when the team’s best player can’t be there to help.
It’s championship or bust
The main goal for Knoxville Catholic is to win its second Division II-AA state title in three years. This is the last go around for Edwards, Presley Patterson, and Luke Jessie, who were all sophomores two seasons ago when they defeated then-defending champion Briarcrest Christian.
Not playing in the state championship last season has lit a fire under the Fighting Irish, who has a coach that’s just as fired up as they are to end the season with a bang.
“It’s our goal. It’s get to state final or bust,” Hutchens said. “That’s the way we feel about it. That’s why we are down here playing this competition to get us ready for it. We are squared in on it.”