[Wideleft01]

The defending Indiana 3A champions, Bishop Chatard, beat Elder a week ago with their full team playing. No team suddenly and unexpectedly loses 8 starters without missing a beat. Also, as yes you said, Elder has been in most of its games - which means that its reserves have not had as much experience as their teams normally do. There have not been many opportunities for mop-up duty this season for Elder's bench. The team that Highlands beat Friday night was a team with 2 wins that was missing key players. Maybe Elder's 2-win team minus 8 starters was better than either Covington Catholic or Ashland with their full rosters but I doubt it.

Maybe get out of Eastern Ky. Elder's 2 win team even without 8 starters is still better than anyone in Ky besides Trinity and Highlands. Ashland won't stay within 40 points of Highlands should they play, with or without Towles. Covcath is also probably 20+ pts better than Ashland. All you have to do is look at history.