COVINGTON CATHOLIC 79, FRANKLIN-SIMPSON 71

Our first quarterfinal of the afternoon saw No. 22 Franklin-Simpson's (7-1) unbeaten streak end at the hands of No. 5 Covington Catholic (7-1). The Colonels got off to a fast start opening with an early 4 point lead that they held onto until midway through the quarter, It was a 5-0 run by Franklin-Simpson that gave the Wildcats their first lead at 11-10. Covington Catholic countered with their own 8-0 run to move ahead 18-11 in the final two minutes of the quarter. It was a 13-2 run by Franklin-Simpson that pushed the Wildcats back ahead at 26-22 a minute into the second quarter. It was a 17-2 Covington Catholic run that put the Colonels firmly in control at 42-30 in the closing minutes of the first half. The Wildcats never got closer than ten points for the remainder of the half with Covington Catholic taking a 46-34 lead into halftime.

An 11-4 run to open the second half pushed the Covington Catholic lead to as many as 19 points at 57-38. The Wildcats clawed their way back into the game behind 10 points from Tavin Lovan as part of a 17-0 run that pulled Franklin-Simpson to within 55-57. The Colonels a pair of three-pointer from CJ Fredrick during a 13-4 run to pull back ahead 70-59 two minutes into the final quarter. A Carlesso Doaks three-pointer with 2:17 remaining pulled Franklin-Simpson back within five points but the Wildcats never got any closer. It was four clutch free throws by Cole VonHandorf that gave the Colonels their final margin of victory at 79-71.

Franklin-Simpson was led by senior Tavin Lovan with 34 points and 7 rebounds. Carlesso Doaks and Trey Radcliffe added 14 and 12 points respectively for the Wildcats. Covington Catholic was led by CJ Fredrick's 30 points, Cole VonHandorf's 23 points and a double-double by Jake Walter with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

[Click to View Box Score]

UP NEXT:

Covington Catholic vs. Winner Fern Creek/Trinity -- Monday 7:30pm

Franklin-Simpson vs. Loser Fern Creek/Trinity -- Monday 6:00pm