Here are the must-watch high school basketball games in Greater Cincinnati from Jan.13-19

Almost every night in Greater Cincinnati, there is a marquee high school basketball game taking place. Looking back at certain results teaches us a bit about who teams are, but looking forward to future contests is just as enticing.

The next week is littered with contests where the top teams in Ohio and Kentucky are taking the court against each other.

Here are a handful of games to watch.

More: Which Northern Kentucky basketball teams are included in the latest statewide media poll?

Girls

Holy Cross (12-4) at George Rogers Clark (15-1): The next seven days will be a litmus test for the Indians as they also travel to Notre Dame on Jan. 17 in a game that could decide the top seed in the 35th District.

George Rogers Clark is currently the second-ranked team in the state but they recently lost top scorer Ciara Byars for the season. The Cardinals still have a versatile roster; five players scored in double figures in their most recent win. Holy Cross will use their scrappy, swarming defense to try and slow down GRC, which is scoring 66 points per game. When: 5:15 p.m. on Jan. 13

Lebanon (13-3) at Kings (10-4): An eight-game winning streak has propelled the Warriors to the top of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference standings. Kings is a few defensive stops away from being 9-1 in the conference. Lebanon won, 39-38 on Dec. 1 in a game where neither team shot above 30 percent from the field. Kings senior Kassie Ingram leads the ECC at 20.2 points per game. Lebanon's Jordan and Maddie Mueller are combining for almost nine assists per game. When: 6 p.m. on Jan. 16

Conner (6-10) at Grant County (11-4): The Cougars are better than their record indicates. Nine of their 10 losses came during a 1-9 stretch from Dec. 1 to Dec. 28. Seven of their 10 losses have come by 10 points or less. Top scorers Izelee Kerns, Ava Brown and Alexis Craddock have all missed a few games. This is a chance for them to right the ship against a Grant County team that has become a perennial contender in the 32nd District and Eighth Region. Jada Cummins (20.1 points per game) leads four Grant County players who average more than eight points per game, while Sarah Russell is grabbing 10.2 rebounds per game. When: 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 16

Oakwood (9-4) at Waynesville (13-0): The Spartans are one of two undefeated teams in Greater Cincinnati. They are winning games by an average of 32 points, allowing their opponents to score just 31 points per game. You won't see many Waynesville players leading the Southwestern Buckeye League in the league-wide stats report, but six players are scoring at least five points per game and four players are averaging more than four rebounds per game. Oakwood is led by Caroline Roelle, Ashley Bowden and Evelyn Connor, who combine for 38 of the teams 49 points per game. When: 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 18

Cincinnati Country Day (9-2) at Purcell Marian (14-1): Can anyone stop Purcell Marian's explosive offense this season? The Cavaliers routinely score more than 70 points per game, a large part of why they have lost only one league game since they joined the Miami Valley Conference in 2021. Dee Alexander recently scored a season-high 33 points in a win over CHCA. The Nighthawks are led by five seniors who won a soccer state championship (Sam Easter, Piper Farris, Kendall Weber, and Elizabeth and Megan Zimmerman). Can that chemistry translate from the field to the court to slow down one of the top teams in Ohio? When: 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 18

Newport Central Catholic (11-4) at Highlands (9-5): Caroline Eaglin is the only NewCath player averaging more than 10 points per game (her 23.7 average leads the Ninth Region), but the Thoroughbreds have received valuable contributions from Madison Wherry McFarland, Jaylee Brannen and Alaina Albrinck. Highlands has won five games in a row thanks to a defense that has allowed only 41 points per game. The x-factor in this game will be Bluebirds forward Marissa Green, who is averaging a double-double and recorded her third career triple-double a few weeks ago. When: 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 19.

Boys

Purcell Marian (8-4) at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (7-2): Both teams enter the weekend in a three-way tie for first place in the Scarlet Division of the Miami Valley Conference with one loss. Purcell’s loss came by six to CHCA while the Eagles fell by one to the other co-leader, Summit Country Day.  CHCA boasts the league’s leading scorer, Luke Sanders with 23.7 points per game. He had 28 in the win over PM. He also averages five rebounds and two assists. Jackson Woods averages 13 points and Griffin Richard 11.3 points with 6.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Marion Tate and Michael Manuel lead the Cavaliers with over 11 points per game. When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Woodward (8-4) at Taft (7-6): The teams entered play Jan. 12 tied for first in the CMAC-Red at 3-1. Woodward’s Ru Mills is the CMAC’s leading scorer at 23.8 points per game, and Jeremiah Hughes leads the league in assists with 7.7. Jordyn Buchanan leads Taft with 20.3 ppg, fourth in the league, and Quannie Bostic averages 5.3 assists, third in the CMAC. Woodward has already beaten Aiken this season and had two wins over Florida teams during the holidays. Taft beat Woodward by one, 66-65, on Dec. 8. When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Winton Woods (7-0) at Anderson (7-3): After playing at Loveland (7-5, 5-3 Eastern Cincinnati Conference) Friday, the Warriors have a chance to take control of the ECC race. All of WW’s games have been in the ECC, and Anderson is 5-1 in league play heading into a game at Lebanon Friday. UC commit Tyler McKInley leads the Warriors with 16 6 points per game and 9.6 rebounds as the Warriors look for their first ECC title in their fourth season in the league. Anderson won 67-49 last year. When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Moeller (10-1) at St. Xavier (8-2): Friday nights belong to the Greater Catholic League-South for the rest of the regular season, as the four teams will play each other every Friday the rest of the way. Moeller was set to play 11-1 Elder Friday, and St. X was travelling down North Bend Road to play La Salle (4-7). Depending on those results, this could be a battle for a first place or a desperation game to avoid falling to 0-2. Moeller won both meetings last year, 46-38 and 34-31. When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19.

Sycamore (9-1) at Fairfield (3-8): Sycamore is first place in the Greater Miami Conference heading into this weekend, while Fairfield, the three-time defending league champs, are trying to find their way with a young team. Fairfield has played three GCL-South teams, losing by 5, 6, and 15 points, and three of its four losses in the GMC have been by seven points or less. Fairfield is led by Kam Sanders at 15.5 points per game. Sycamore won by five at home, 52-47 on Dec. 8.  When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Covington Catholic (12-4) at Lloyd Memorial (11-4): The Juggernauts have a big week as they look to prove they belong in the Ninth Region discussion. After playing 2023 regional runner-up Cooper on Wednesday, Lloyd hosts perennial power CovCath in what should be a marquee matchup between future DI big men E.J. Walker and Caden Miller. Lloyd lost by 11 to the Colonels last season. When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Boone County (11-3) at Cooper (9-6): The Rebels look to prove they belong in the Ninth Region discussion as they are well on their way to their first winning season in six years. Boone averages 75 points per game, the highest average in the Ninth Region, which makes for an intriguing matchup with the always defensive-oriented Jaguars. Boone has lost four straight to Cooper since 2021 by an average of 24 points.  When: 8 p.m. Friday.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Greater Cincinnati high school basketball: games to watch, Jan. 13-19