The good news for Lafayette Central Catholic was that the football team won a state championship on Saturday. The bad news is that meant most of their team were ineligible to play basketball on Tuesday. McCutcheon took full advantage of the short-handed LCC team for a 114-44 victory. Harrison was able to beat West Lafayette in the second game of the night as well.

It did not take long for McCutcheon and sophomore point guard Robert Phinisee to establish its will against Lafayette Central Catholic in a first round match-up in the J&C Hoops Classic. Phinisee was forcing LCC turnovers from the tip. He ended up getting eight steals on the night before bowing out in the third quarter.

Junior wing Haden Deaton and Phinisee took turns scoring early in the game. Deaton outscored the LCC team for most of the first quarter as he tallied a quick 10 points. He finished the game with 18 points on 6-11 shooting from the field.

The sole bright spot for LCC on Tuesday night was the outside shooting of junior guard Tyler Powers. He connected on four outside shots on his way to 15 points. No one else was in double digits for LCC.

Senior wing Darnell Butler took off much of the scoring after the first quarter. He was able to break loose for a couple dunks. Butler finished the game with 15 points.

Phinisee shined throughout the game for McCutcheon. He ended the game with 23 points, eight steals and five assists. He shot 10 of 14 from the field on Tuesday night. It was a great showing for Phinisee.

McCutcheon will face Harrison in the semifinals of the J&C Hoops Classic on Friday after Harrison defated West Lafayette. Lafayette Central Catholic faces West Lafayette on Thursday.