My good luck continued as I went 21-4 (84 percent) last week. My overall record is now 255-55, which leaves me at 82 percent for the season.
TUESDAY
Adams (11-9) at Mishawaka (5-14): The Cavemen edged Adams, 41-37, in the 2024 Class 4A Mishawaka sectional semifinals. Drew Dixon accounted for 14 points in the Eagles’ 64-32 win at Bowman Academy. Brady Hoopingarner was limited to one point in Mishawaka’s 76-34 loss to No. 8 (Class 3A) NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Adams 56, Mishawaka 49.
Central Noble (9-9) at Concord (10-8): Colt Kirkpatrick ended with 14 points in the Cougars’ 58-39 win over Eastside. Bo Brunner netted eight points in the Minutemen’s 78-23 loss to Northridge. Matt’s pick: Concord 49, Central Noble 46.
Fairfield (9-8) at Bremen (10-8): The Lions dropped a 53-42 decision to Fairfield in the 2022 Class 2A sectional quarterfinals. Parker Smith came up with nine points in the Falcons’ 46-33 win over Fremont. Chase Devine ended with 13 points in Bremen’s 54-37 win over Knox. Matt’s pick: Bremen 54, Fairfield 50.
Fremont (3-15) at Goshen (10-9): The RedHawks went to overtime to escape with a 71-70 win over Fremont during the 2016-17 campaign. Ethan Grimm finished with 12 points in the Eagles’ 55-50 double-overtime loss to Angola. Ryan Diaz had 11 points in Goshen’s 58-34 win over Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Goshen 60, Fremont 47.
Jimtown (9-10) at Bethany Christian (9-11): The Jimmies claimed a 50-39 win over Bethany Christian a year ago. Will Spurgeon recorded six points in Jimtown’s 38-35 overtime loss at Tippecanoe Valley. Zane Parson’s 12 points helped the Bruins to a 49-45 win over Lakewood Park Christian. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 44, Bethany Christian 41.
LaVille (13-6) at Whitko (4-14): The Wildcats escaped with a 50-48 win over LaVille last season. Travis Maldonado contributed four points in the Lancers’ 70-23 win over Glenn. Easton Grable’s 12 points were not enough in Whitko’s 31-29 loss to South Adams. Matt’s pick: LaVille 61, Whitko 51.
New Prairie (3-16) at Wheeler (9-9): The Cougars clawed their way to a 71-26 win over Wheeler a season aga. Andrew Evers scored three points in New Prairie’s 60-40 loss to Adams. Nick Scott accounted for 13 points in the Bearcats’ 51-49 loss to Boone Grove. Matt’s pick: Wheeler 62, New Prairie 55.
Northridge (16-3) at Lakeland (12-7): The Raiders posted an 82-72 win against Lakeland last year. Jayce Runyon chipped in two points for Northridge against Concord. Justin Carlson’s 13 points lifted the Lakers to a 40-38 win over Goshen. Matt’s pick: Northridge 74, Lakeland 59,
Penn (13-7) at Plymouth (9-10): The Kingsmen crowned Plymouth, 62-35, in their last meeting. Ben Murphy racked up three points in Penn’s 69-54 win over Washington. Kylen Ellery amassed five points in the Pilgrims’ 70-40 loss to Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Penn 63, Plymouth 53.
Riley (16-3) at Culver Academy (10-8): The Wildcats were a 48-36 winner over Culver Academy a year ago. Jaiden Stamps totaled two points in Riley’s 76-41 win over Elkhart. Jack Christensen netted 14 points in the Eagles’ 72-63 win over Victory Christian. Matt’s pick: Riley 70, Culver Academy 65.
Warsaw (18-4) at Fort Wayne Northrop (8-10): The Tigers cruised to a 74-21 win over Fort Wayne Northrop last year. Drew Jones canned five points for Warsaw against Plymouth. Donlaray Reese registered 13 points in the Bruins’ 48-42 win over Carroll (Fort Wayne), Matt’s pick: Warsaw 66, Fort Wayne North 58.
Washington (14-5) at LaLumiere Regional (13-6): The Panthers roared to a 77-60 win against LaLumiere last season. Mike Stuckey totaled three points for Washington against Penn. Will Chang ended with 14 points in the Lakers’ 79-46 win over Heritage Christian. Matt’s pick: Washington 69, LaLumiere 65.
Westview (13-5) at Wawasee (6-14): The Warriors marched past Wawasee, 62-41, a year ago. Kaden Andrew mustered six points for the Warriors against Goshen. Owen Brill tallied eight points in Westview’s 61-39 win over Prairie Heights. Matt’s pick: Westview 67, Wawasee 45.
WEDNESDAY
Knox (2-14) at Kankakee Valley (10-8): The Kougars recorded an 80-60 win over Knox last season. Easton Carbine scored three points for the Redskins against Bremen. Brady Sampson netted 25 points in Kankakee Valley’s 77-46 win over Calumet. Matt’s pick: Kankakee Valley 58, Knox 40.
THURSDAY
Marquette Catholic (9-11) at Glenn (3-15): The Blazers are looking to make amends for a 46-29 loss to Glenn during the 2005-06 campaign. Nick Bakota added nine points in Marquette Catholic’s 56-46 win over Illiana Christian. Keagan Kaminski recorded two points for the Falcons against LaVille. Matt’s pick: Marquette Catholic 61, Glenn 46.
FRIDAY
Concord (10-9) at Bremen (10-9): The Minutemen marched past Bremen, 78-38, during the 2009-10 season. Cam Bonds’ 10 points were not enough in Concord’s 53-49 loss to Central Noble. Riley Tener was held to three points in the Lions’ 47-43 loss to Fairfield. Matt’s pick: Bremen 53, Concord 49.
Fort Wayne Blackhawk (17-3) at NorthWood (17-3): The Braves registered a 43-32 win over No. 6 (Class 3A) NorthWood a year ago. Kellen Pickett racked up 26 points in Blackhawk’s 69-49 win over Heritage Christian. Tyler Raasch tallied 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists for the Panthers against Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 57, Fort Wayne Blackhawk 54.
Gary 21st Century (14-6) at LaVille (13-7): Terrence Hayes poured in 24 points in the Cougars’ 85-50 over Hebron. Collin Czarnecki exploded for 44 points, but the Lancers came up on the short end of a 67-60 setback to Whitko. Matt’s pick: Gary 21st Century 70, LaVille 60.
Goshen (11-9) at Westview (14-5): The RedHawks racked up a 50-47 win against Westview a season ago. Brock Elion added four points in Goshen’s 59-36 win over Fremont. Austin Schlabach poured in 24 points in the Warriors’ 58-44 win at Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Westview 51, Goshen 44.
Harrison (West Lafayette) (16-5) at Warsaw (19-4): The Raiders suffered a 67-65 loss to No. 9 (Class 4A) Warsaw during the 2023-24 campaign. Ray Gibson accounted for 24 points in Harrison’s 78-46 win against Twin Lakes. Brandt Martin recorded 16 points in Warsaw’s 47-39 win over Fort Wayne Northrop. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 54, Harrison 50.
Huntington North (9-11) at Tippecanoe Valley (15-4): Dalton Husband registered 16 points in the Vikings’ 81-70 loss to No. 8 (Class 2A) Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. DeOndre Hamilton’s 11 points lifted Tippecanoe Valley to a 46-43 win over Garrett. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 61, Huntington North 57.
Knox (2-15) at Wheeler (9-10): The Bearcats dropped a heartbreaking 48-47 decision to Knox last year. Bryson Venice ended with four points in the Redskins’ 51-47 win over Pioneer. Marek Barton had five points in Wheeler’s 54-34 loss to New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Wheeler 50, Knox 45.
Marian (12-9, 3-3 NIC) at Adams (12-9, 1-5 NIC): The Knights crowned Adams, 50-36, last season. Prescott Horvath canned 16 points in Marian’s 57-54 loss to Saint Joseph. Carter Johnston came up with six points in the Eagles’ 78-41 win at Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Marian 59, Adams 56.
Northridge (17-3) at Columbia City (12-8): The Eagles fell to No. 8 (Class 4A) Northridge, 66-40, in their last meeting. Mason Bales surpassed the 1,000-point mark in his career with 20 points in the Raiders’ 67-27 win over Lakeland. Landon Richmond totaled 25 points in the Eagles’ 66-61 win over Leo. Matt’s pick: Northridge 64, Columbia City 55.
Penn (14-7, 6-0 NIC) at Riley (16-4, 5-1 NIC): The Kingsmen tallied a 66-54 win over Riley a year ago. Alex Hawthorne chipped in 13 points in Penn’s 61-48 win at Plymouth. Marvin Schindler netted 15 points in the Wildcats’ 57-47 win over Columbia City. Matt’s pick: Riley 67, Penn 62.
Saint Joseph (17-3, 5-1 NIC) at New Prairie (4-16, 0-6 NIC): The No. 4 (Class 3A) Huskies rolled to a 69-32 win against New Prairie last year. Ethan Roseman went over 1,000 points for his career with 10 points for Saint Joseph against Marian. Jaydon Clemons finished with 10 points for the Cougars against Wheeler. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 75, New Prairie 52.
Washington (15-5, 2-4 NIC) at Elkhart (5-13, 2-4 NIC): The Panthers picked up an 87-66 victory over Elkhart a season ago. Ashton Murray chipped in two points in Washington’s 74-62 win over LaLumiere Regional. Xavier Orozco knocked down a three-pointer for the Lions against Riley. Matt’s pick: Washington 73, Elkhart 60.
SATURDAY
Argos (4-15) at Jimtown (10-10): The Jimmies captured a 57-39 win over Argos last year. Mack Calhoun mustered two points in the Dragons’ 65-42 loss to South Central. Trasean Baldwin scored two points in Jimtown’s 46-25 win over Bethany Christian. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 56, Argos 38.
Elkhart (5-14) at Lawrence North (15-6): Alonzo Newbern’s three points vaulted the Lions to a 65-39 win over New Prairie. Brennan Miller contributed 23 points in the Wildcats’ 62-37 win over Carmel. Matt’s pick: Lawrence North 72, Elkhart 53.
Glenn (3-16) at Culver Academy (11-8): The Falcons eliminated Culver Academy, 47-41, in the 2024 Class 3A sectional quarterfinals. Kaden Lang notched 10 points in Glenn’s 60-53 loss to Westville. Luka Paic finished with 19 points in the Eagles’ 74-60 loss to Kokomo. Matt’s pick: Culver Academy 60, Glenn 41.
Hammond Morton (7-13) at Warsaw (20-4): The Governors came up on the short end of a 63-59 decision to No. 9 (Class 4A) Warsaw a year ago. LeBron Hill came up with 14 points in Hammond Morton’s 77-55 win over Calumet. Parker Justice canned 17 points in the Tigers’ 66-54 win over Harrison (West Lafayette). Matt’s pick: Warsaw 69, Hammond Morton 49.
Knox (2-16) at South Central (10-9): The Satellites squeezed by Knox, 48-46, last season. Noah Haward racked up 13 points for South Central against Argos. Brody Grass totaled eight points in South Central’s 59-57 loss to Washington Township. Matt’s pick: South Central 51, Knox 36.
Kokomo (15-6) at Tippecanoe Valley (16-4): The Wildkats clubbed Tippecanoe Valley, 59-37, a season ago. Korbyn Hammel poured in 28 points in Kokomo’s 96-90 win over Richmond. Davis Cowan recorded three points in the Vikings’ 49-44 win over North Miami. Matt’s pick: Kokomo 78, Tippecanoe Valley 69.
Maconaquah (15-5) at Plymouth (9-11): A.J. Kelly registered eight points in the Braves’ 61-54 win over Northfield. Dan Nguyen racked up five points for the Pilgrims against Penn. Matt’s pick: Maconaquah 74, Plymouth 59.