New Albany vs. Cincinnati Princeton headlines a big week in Southern Indiana high school hoops

The New Albany boys’ basketball team will be on the big stage once again when Cincinnati Princeton visits Friday night.

ESPNU will televise the showdown, which features 6-foot-9 Princeton standout Darius Bazley, a Syracuse University signee.

The game will tip at 5:30 p.m. Both teams are 11-1.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, have won eight straight since a 49-47 overtime loss at Floyd Central on Dec. 8.

More headlines

►Jeffersonville wrestling's key to success may be in other sports

►New Albany boys basketball dismantles rival Jeffersonville

►All 'A' basketball regional tournaments in Louisville this week

Bazley, who withdrew his commitment from Ohio State before signing with the Orange, is considered the top player in Ohio and is ranked No. 9 in the country by Rivals.com.

New Albany, of course, is led by Indiana’s top player, Romeo Langford, who is considering Indiana, Vanderbilt and Kansas.

Langford, who is averaging 33.5 points per game, now has 2,447 points, ninth on the state’s all-time list.

PROVIDENCE GIRLS BUSY WEEK

The Providence girls won’t get much rest this week after playing four games in five days.

In a game rescheduled because of sickness at New Washington, the Pioneers will travel to New Washington Tuesday.

Then Providence will entertain Rock Creek Wednesday.

The Pioneers then will travel to Triton Central Friday night and finally face Austin Saturday afternoon.

Whew!

JEFF VISITS FLOYD TUESDAY

The Jeffersonville-Floyd Central boys’ game – snowed out last Friday – will be played Tuesday night at Floyd Central.

The Highlanders (11-1), ranked No. 6 in Class 4A, have only lost to No. 8 Bloomington South in overtime. They own wins over No. 2 New Albany and Louisville Ballard. The Red Devils (11-1) have only lost to New Albany 85-61.

NEW ALBANY-JEFF GIRLS THURSDAY

The Jeffersonville girls (13-4) are putting together a nice season against a stiff schedule. The Red Devils, ranked No. 9 in Class 4A, will visit archrival New Albany (10-8) Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

All girls’ teams will find out their sectional assignments Sunday afternoon when the IHSAA will conduct the basketball draw.

CHEATHAM CLOSES IN ON 700

Scottsburg coach Donna Cheatham, coaching for the 42nd year, only needs three wins to reach 700 career wins. She would be the ninth Indiana high school coach to reach the milestone and first girls coach.