Game Preview: OH – KY Border Rivalry Highlights Kemba Credit Union MLK Classic!
St. Xavier (OH) vs. Covington Catholic (KY)
Date: Monday, January 19, 2026
Venue: Cintas Center, Xavier University
The Inaugural Kemba Credit Union MLK Classic comes to the Cintas Center on Monday, January 19th headlined by a quintessential “Border Battle” between two of the Greater Cincinnati area’s most storied programs. The Covington Catholic Colonels cross the Ohio River to face the St. Xavier Bombers in a matchup that promises high stakes, tactical battles, and roaring student sections.
After a razor-thin contest last season where Cov Cath escaped with a 55-53 victory, St. Xavier is looking for revenge, while the Colonels aim to assert their dominance on the big stage.
Covington Catholic Colonels (Park Hills, KY)
• Head Coach: Jake Thelen
• 2025-26 Record: 12-1, 0-0 District 35 (as of 1/7)
Under the guidance of Head Coach Jake Thelen, the Colonels have continued their tradition of excellence, playing a fast-paced but disciplined brand of basketball. Thelen, a former Cov Cath standout himself, has the program humming with a record of 9-1 (as of 12/29) heading into the Kemba MLK Classic.
The engine of the Colonel offense is senior guard Athens McGillis. One of the premier shooters in the state of Kentucky, McGillis is currently the team’s leading scorer, averaging over 20 points per game. His ability to stretch the floor and create his own shot makes him the focal point of the scouting report. If McGillis gets hot from deep Cintas Center could get loud very quickly.
St. Xavier Bombers (Cincinnati, OH)
• Head Coach: Ryan Fleming
• 2025-26 Record: 7-2, 0-0 GCL South (as of 1/7)
On the other side, Head Coach Ryan Fleming has his Bombers playing their signature brand of tough, physical GCL South basketball. St. Xavier enters the contest with a respectable 5-1 (as of 12/29) record, having navigated a brutal early-season schedule.
Following the graduation of last year’s leading scorer, the Bombers have adopted a “strength in numbers” approach. Rather than relying on a single superstar, St. X has found success through a balanced offensive attack and a suffocating half-court defense. Look for junior Liam McGeady and senior John Veith to provide the physicality needed in the paint to disrupt Cov Cath’s rhythm. For St. Xavier to win, they will need to control the tempo and turn this into a grind-it-out affair that limits the Colonels’ transition opportunities.
The Matchup
This game presents a classic clash of styles: Covington Catholic’s perimeter firepower versus St. Xavier’s defensive structure. The key to the game will likely be the Bombers’ ability to chase McGillis off the three-point line without compromising their interior defense. For Covington Catholic, the goal will be speeding up the Bombers and forcing turnovers that lead to easy runouts.
