By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
One of the guards on the Covington Catholic boys basketball team is a three-year starter enjoying his most productive season ever. The other guard is a newcomer to the starting lineup who does his best work on the defensive end.
The Colonels have won 31 games with seniors Aiden Ruthsatz and Casey Nowak in the backcourt and they’ll be in the starting lineup once again at 8 p.m. Thursday when CovCath plays Owensboro Apollo in the first round of the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Sweet 16 boys state tournament at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
CovCath senior guard Casey Nowak, right, tries to stop a drive to the basket by a Cooper player in the 9th Region semifinals. (Photo by Bob Jackson)
Ruthsatz, the head coach’s son, goes into the game averaging 14.3 points and 3.1 assists as the team’s point guard. He’s one of the state’s best free throw shooters, connecting on 122 of 136 for 89.7 percent, and has 1,145 points in his three-year varsity career.
Nowak is averaging just 1.5 points and 1.5 assists per game, but he’s a staunch defensive player who often guards the top scorer on the opposing team.
“It’s my role and I love doing it,” Nowak said. “Some people like to score, and I do too, but I also like to play defense a lot. That’s my game.”
Nowak earned a starting position by guarding his talented CovCath teammates in practice. Over the last three years, he worked on his defense against C.J. Fredrick and Cole Von Handorf, two of the most prolific scorers in the history of the program.
Last season, Nowak was getting a lot of playing time until he broke a bone in his right leg in early February. That injury put him on the bench during the entire playoffs.
He came back this season to fill the only vacancy in CovCath’s starting lineup, joining returning senior starters A.J. Mayer, Jake Walters, Fredrick and Ruthsatz. Together, they led the Colonels to their first 9th Region championship since 2015 and a return trip to the Sweet 16 state tournament.
Casey Nowak’s main focus this season has been on defense and the Colonels are allowing only 48.3 points per game. (Photo by Bob Jackson)
CovCath defeated St. Henry, 64-21, in the first round of the regional to set a tournament record for fewest points allowed since 1947. In the championship game, the Colonels defeated Dixie Heights, 74-31, the widest margin in the title game since 1954.
“These past two or three months we’ve really been focusing on locking down (on defense) and getting stops and, like we say, creating chaos,” Fredrick said after the regional final.
Even though he ranks near the bottom of the team’s scoring column, Nowak has helped create chaos on defense all season. CovCath is allowing just 48.3 points per game, one of best defensive averages in the state.
“I’m very accepting of my role,” Nowak said, “and just proud to be part of a team that’s so talented.”
In Thursday night’s game, Nowak’s defensive assignment will likely be one of Apollo’s best perimeter shooters. The Eagles’ scoring leaders are senior guard Nathan Boyle and Hayden Shelton, who have made 127 of the team’s 162 3-point goals.
Apollo (16-14) has the worst record among the 16 regional champions that qualified for state tournament, but nine of the losses were by three points or less. The Eagles have a 1-5 record in overtime games this season, including an 81-78 loss to Newport in December.
WHITAKER BANK/KHSAA SWEET 16 BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT
Wednesday — Upper bracket
Corbin 50, Estill County 40
Scott County 54, Louisville Trinity 53
Warren Central 68, Pulaski Southwestern 44
Pikeville 72, John Hardin 69 3-OT
Thursday — Lower bracket
Campbell County (28-5) vs. University Heights (23-7), noon
Fern Creek (26-6) vs. Boyd County (29-6), 1:30 p.m.
Oldham County (29-5) vs. McCracken County (28-6), 6:30 p.m.
Covington Catholic (31-4) vs. Owensboro Apollo (16-15), 8 p.m.
Friday
Corbin (26-7) vs. Scott County (35-1), noon
Warren Central (30-5) vs. Pikeville (25-9), 1:30 p.m.
Lower bracket quarterfinals, 6:30 and 8 p.m.
Saturday
Semifinals, 6:30 and 8 p.m.
Sunday
Championship game, 2 p.m.
