Capobianco started every game as a freshman last season and averaged a solid 11 points and eight rebounds a game while Wozniak logged considerable playing time as a part-time starter.

“Bobby is much more explosive this year and Brian is playing with much more confidence,” said Loveland head coach Tim Partin after the game.  “Most teams (this year) are not going to be able to shut both of them down.”

McNicholas, with no player over 6-4 on their roster, hung tough all night despite being out-sized.

The Rockets had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer and force overtime but a last second, off-balance 3-pointer by closely guarded junior forward Greg Ross missed badly.

Loveland appeared in control at 58-51 with about six minutes left in the game but the Rockets went on a 15-7 run to take the lead at 66-65 with 1:59 left in the game on a free throw by Joe Zerhusen.

A Capobianco basket at the 1:42 mark put Loveland back up 66-65 and after a McNicholas turnover, Wozniak dropped in four clutch free throws in the final 42.2 seconds of the game.

Neither team led by more than seven points the entire night.

Both teams started the game fast with McNicholas taking a 26-23 first quarter lead with senior guard Luke Barrett scoring nine points.  Loveland senior Justin Gatton dropped in three 3-pointers for nine points of his own.

The game was knotted at 37-37 at halftime before Capobianco and Wozniak started to dominate, scoring 13 of Loveland’s 18 points in the third quarter as the Tigers gained the lead at 55-49.

Barrett and Ross paced the Rockets with 14 points each.

“Our defense still has a long way to go and they (McNicholas) posed some match-up problems for us tonight because of their size…playing basically five guards,” said Partin.  “But of course our size also posed match-up problems for them.”