Evangel Christian boys capture All 'A' Classic crown. Could Sixth Region title be next?
RICHMOND, Ky. — The notion of tiny Evangel Christian winning the Sixth Region boys basketball championship might draw some snickers back home in Louisville, but Covington Holy Cross coach Casey Sorrell has some news for the doubters.
The Eagles are for real.
“That’s a state championship-contending team,” Sorrell said. “I joked earlier that it’s like Noah’s ark: They have two of everything. They have size, really good guards. They have shooters, guys who can get to the rim, playmakers. They have it all.”
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Evangel put the state on notice Sunday, beating Sorrell’s Indians 65-62 in the championship game of the All “A” Classic state tournament at Eastern Kentucky University’s Baptist Health Arena.
Evangel (20-3) — enrollment of 38 in grades 9-12 — became the first Louisville school to win the boys title at the All “A” event, reserved for the smallest 120 high schools in Kentucky.
The Eagles got their first-ever victory in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Sixth Region Tournament last season. With three weeks left in the regular season, the Eagles have even bigger goals for 2023.
“I feel like the Sixth Region is ours,” junior guard Christian Doerr said.
Doerr scored a team-high 18 points Sunday. Junior guard Kyran Tilley added 15 points, six assists and four steals. Doerr and Tilley showed why Evangel coach Larry Miller believes his backcourt is much better equipped for postseason play this season than it was last season.
“We have a lot of tools, but so do a lot of other people,” Miller said. “I think we have a great shot.”
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Of course, Evangel’s biggest advantage is its size. Johnny Djema, a 6-foot-8 junior, had 12 points and 10 rebounds Sunday. Ben Mukadi, a 6-9 sophomore, had eight points and eight rebounds. Cyr Malonga, a 6-11 senior who has signed with East Carolina, added six points and three rebounds but played just 16 minutes because of foul trouble.
The Eagles won the battle of the boards, 46-25, and turned 22 offensive rebounds into 12 second-chance points.
“That is the biggest, most athletic team I’ve ever seen in high school basketball,” Sorrell said.
Evangel built a 59-48 lead early in the fourth quarter but had to hold off a Holy Cross run led by senior Jacob Meyer.
The 6-2 senior scored 49 points on 17-of-34 shooting. He had three chances in the final minute to tie the score or give the Indians the lead but couldn’t convert.
Meyer finished the tournament with a record 157 points and was named MVP. Meyer, who has scholarship offers from nine NCAA Division I schools, is the state’s leading scorer at 34.7 points per game.
“I think he put the state on notice,” Sorrell said. “I hope the narrative about him changes. People can say what they want, but he’s a leader and he’s a winner. He’s more than just a guy who scores points and shoots shots. … I think he showed everybody who was here tonight what he’s all about.”
Meyer may have received the MVP honor, but Evangel took home the big trophy.
Miller said his team learned a lesson from last year’s All “A” Classic, which ended with a 59-33 loss to Pikeville in the semifinals.
“They just manhandled us, so we got in the weight room,” Miller said. “Right after our season was over, we started the very next day. That was huge.”
Added Tilley: “Them boys were just a lot bigger than us. So we had to get in the gym and get stronger and not get thrown around as much."
Can the Eagles do it come March? They blew a 19-point lead in a 56-55 loss to Doss in last season’s regional semifinals.
They’re 6-0 against Sixth Region competition this season, the biggest win coming over Pleasure Ridge Park, 70-67, on Dec. 30. Western, DeSales and Butler figure to be in the mix, but Evangel now knows it can grind out big victories on a big stage.
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“We’re doubted because we’re a little school in Louisville,” Doerr said. “People thought we weren’t ready to do it, but we came out here and showed who’s the best team out here.”
HOLY CROSS 14 14 16 18 - 62
EVANGEL CHRISTIAN 13 23 19 10 - 65
Covington Holy Cross (16-6) – Matthew Dreas 3, Javier Ward 7, Jacob Smith 2, Jacob Meyer 49, Sam Gibson 1.
Evangel Christian (20-3) – Christian Doerr 18, Kyran Tilley 15, Aaron Taylor 2, Cyr Malonga 6, Johnny Djema 12, Ben Mukadi 8, Isaiah Chitapa 4.
Tournament MVP - Jacob Meyer (Covington Holy Cross)
All-tournament team – Christian Doerr, Kyran Tilley, Cyr Malonga (Evangel Christian); Javier Ward, Matthew Dreas, Sam Gibson (Covington Holy Cross); Brian Griffith, Parker Gray (Owensboro Catholic); Teagan Moore, Brax Ware (Owen County); Lemar Northington (University Heights); Beau Baker (Washington County).
Girls championship game
Julia Hunt had 21 points, 19 rebounds and eight blocks to lead Covington Holy Cross to a 65-61 victory over Bethlehem.
Hunt was named the tournament MVP as the Indians (21-5) won their second All “A” Classic title, also taking the trophy in 2015.
Carlie Thurmond scored 25 points to lead Bethlehem (17-7), which won the title in 2020 and 2021.
BETHLEHEM 14 8 12 27 - 61
HOLY CROSS 17 8 19 21 - 65
Bethlehem (17-7) – Tessa Miles 10, Ashlyn Miles 5, Kensey Clayton 1, Carlie Thurmond 25, Emma Filiatreau 20.
Covington Holy Cross (21-5) – Julia Hunt 21, Aaliyah Hayes 7, Miyah Wimzie 5, Nejai Lewis 20, Aumani Nelson 3, Sarah Bottom 3, DMyah Williams 6.
Tournament MVP – Julia Hunt (Covington Holy Cross)
All-tournament team – Sarah Bottom, Nejai Lewis, Aleah Arlinghaus (Covington Holy Cross); Carlie Thurmond, Tessa Miles, Emma Filiatreau (Bethlehem); Noel Smith, Amy Thompson (Whitefield Academy); Trinity Rowe, Kyera Thornsbury (Pikeville); Desiree Tandy (Danville); Lily Roberts (Hancock County).
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Evangel Christian basketball wins All A title. 6th Region crown next?
