Things finally started looking up for me as I registered a 23-5 (82 percent) record last week. Heading into the home stretch of the regular season, my overall mark is 187-68, which leaves me at 73 percent for the season.
FEBRUARY 12
Goshen (7-10) at LaPorte (11-7): The RedHawks posted a 66-45 win over LaPorte a year ago. Porter Revoir registered two points in Goshen’s 42-41 double-overtime win over Wawasee. Grant Ott-Large tallied 10 points in the Slicers’ 71-68 loss to Merrillville. Matt’s pick: LaPorte 67, Goshen 58.
Jimtown (11-8) at Bethany Christian (3-15): The Jimmies claimed a 46-33 win against Bethany Christian last season. Caaden Beck’s four points lifted Jimtown to a 38-34 win over Elkhart Christian. Jack VonGunten had nine points in the Bruins’ 58-15 loss to Fairfield. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 42, Bethany Christian 32.
Marian (13-3) at Lakeshore (11-3): The No. 7 (Class 3A) Knights were a 46-33 winner over Lakeshore last season. Jake Bishop came up with seven points for Marian against Clay. Micah Seats added 18 points in the Michigan-based Lancers’ 53-33 win against Portage Northern. Matt’s pick: Marian 68, Lakeshore 60.
Northridge (11-8) at Lakeland (7-11): The Lakers captured a 64-52 win against Northridge a season ago. Sam Vogt ended up with nine points for the Raiders against Concord. Calin Kent managed 10 points in Lakeland’s 60-58 loss to Central Noble. Matt’s pick: Northridge 53, Lakeland 44.
Saint Joseph (8-8, 5-5 NIC) at New Prairie (6-11, 0-8 NIC): The Indians marched past New Prairie, 57-40, a year ago. Will Terry recorded two points in Saint Joseph’s 52-39 win against NorthWood. Evan Foerg racked up two points in the Cougars’ 59-44 loss to No. 10 (Class 4A) Riley. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 55, New Prairie 46.
FEBRUARY 13
Adams (9-11. 6-3 NIC) at Bremen (7-10, 2-7 NIC): The Eagles soared to a 71-44 win against Bremen a season ago. Quentez Columbus netted eight points in Adams’ 67-59 win at Mishawaka. Carson Miller managed just two points in the Lions’ 77-61 loss to Washington. Matt’s pick: Adams 64, Bremen 53.
Concord (5-13) at Clay (4-13): The Minutemen cruised to a 69-35 win over Concord last year. Michael Johnson’s 31 points were not enough for Concord in its 78-69 loss to Northridge. Anthony Neal scored seven points in the Colonials’ 70-55 loss to No. 7 (Class 3A) Marian. Matt’s pick: Concord 54, Clay 49.
Tippecanoe Valley (11-8) at NorthWood (6-12): The Panthers registered a 55-34 win over Tippecanoe Valley in last season’s Class 3A NorthWood sectional semifinals. Cam Parker’s 13 points powered the Vikings to a 68-46 win over North Miami. Toby Brenner’s two points was not enough for NorthWood against Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 50, NorthWood 49.
Washington (9-9, 4-4 NIC) at Mishawaka (9-8, 3-6 NIC): The Cavemen suffered a 59-42 setback to Washington in their previous matchup. Tyshawn Suell mustered four points in the Panthers’ 69-48 loss at Valparaiso. Grant Jablonski’s 14 points powered Mishawaka to a 48-45 overtime win at Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Washington 60, Mishawaka 57.
FEBRUARY 15
Bremen (7-11, 2-8 NIC) at New Prairie (6-12, 0-9 NIC): The Cougars clawed past Bremen, 43-33, last season. Justin Zumbrun tallied 18 points in the Lions’ 69-50 loss to Adams. Jake Tuttle came up with eight points in New Prairie’s 52-47 loss to Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Bremen 40, New Prairie 38.
East Noble (16-3) at Wawasee (5-14): The Knights crowned East Noble, 64-51, a season ago. Ali Ali was limited to six points in East Noble’s 49-44 loss to No. 9 (Class 4A) Homestead. Josh Slabaugh managed just one point for the Warriors against Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: East Noble 61, Wawasee 51.
Elkhart Central (4-14, 2-8 NIC) at Washington (10-9, 5-4 NIC): The Panthers roared to a 65-47 win over Elkhart Central last year. Ty Windy contributed six points in the Blazers’ 64-35 loss to No. 5 (Class 4A) Penn. Jylen Petty racked up 17 points in Washington’s 60-56 win at Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Washington 63, Elkhart Central 54.
Elkhart Christian (9-10) at NorthWood (7-12): The Eagles dropped a 58-43 decision to NorthWood a season ago. Joe Ndalga recorded 13 points in Elkhart Christian’s 63-40 loss to Fairfield. Matt Dutkowski’s six points helped the Panthers to a 51-45 win against Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 56, Elkhart Christian 43.
Goshen (8-10) at Westview (19-4): The No. 3 (Class 2A) Warriors posted a 45-30 win over Goshen in their last meeting. Drew Hogan added 10 points in the RedHawks’ 72-71 overtime win at LaPorte. Charlie Yoder poured in 22 points in Westview’s 66-44 win over Gary Roosevelt. Matt’s pick: Westview 65, Goshen 60.
Huntington North (16-4) at Plymouth (13-5): The Vikings claimed a 51-48 win over Plymouth during the 2017-18 campaign. Sawyer Stoltz tallied 15 points in Huntington North’s 40-38 win over Carroll (Fort Wayne). Tim Tremaine had five points in the Pilgrims’ 54-41 loss to Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 50, Huntington North 49.
Jimtown (12-8, 6-4 NIC) at Clay (4-14, 3-8 NIC): The Jimmies earned a 50-38 win against Clay last season. Preston Phillips had 10 points in Jimtown’s 51-22 win over Bethany Christian. Josh Black netted 12 points in the Colonials’ 71-52 loss to Concord. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 54, Clay 52.
Marian (14-3, 8-1 NIC) at Penn (16-2, 10-0 NIC): The Knights went to four overtimes before earning an 87-86 win over Penn last year. Jaden Ivey racked up 27 points in Marian’s 41-34 win against lakeshore. Derek Derda notched two points the Kingsmen against Elkhart Central. Matt’s pick: Penn 72, Marian 65.
Mishawaka (9-9, 3-7 NIC) at Glenn (10-9, 3-6 NIC): The Cavemen clubbed Glenn, 59-40, a year ago. A.J. Rosebush notched 14 points for Mishawaka against Washington. John Drews scored 11 points for the Falcons in their 77-51 loss to Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 55, Glenn 53.
Riley (16-4, 9-1 NIC) at Adams (10-11, 7-3 NIC): The Eagles edged No. 10 (Class 4A) Riley, 76-70, on December 14. Blake Wesley chipped in 24 points in the Wildcats’ 69-61 loss at No. 6 (Class 4A) Indianapolis Cathedral. Ben Foster registered 18 points for Adams against Bremen. Matt’s pick: Riley 74, Adams 70.
Saint Joseph (9-8) at Elkhart Memorial (14-4): The Indians slipped past Elkhart Memorial, 69-64, a season ago. Jack Futa finished with nine points for Saint Joseph against New Prairie. Brackton Miller’s two points helped the Chargers in their 56-47 win over NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Memorial 66, Saint Joseph 62.
FEBRUARY 16
Bremen (8-11, 3-8 NIC) at Marian (15-3, 9-1 NIC): The Lions dropped a 74-42 decision to Marian last year. Brooks Feldman netted seven points in Bremen’s 51-43 win at New Prairie. Kaleo Kakalia had a career-high 12 points in the Knights’ 70-53 win at Penn. Matt’s pick: Marian 71, Bremen 51.
Clay (4-15) at Elkhart Memorial (14-5): The Chargers edged Clay, 62-58, last season. Nate Sanders tallied 14 points in the Colonials’ 57-55 loss to Jimtown. Trey Gallope’s 25 points was not enough in Elkhart Memorial’s 63-62 loss to Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Memorial 68, Clay 50.
Concord (6-13) at Valparaiso (17-5): The Vikings needed two overtimes to earn a 70-66 win at Concord a season ago. Shamari Southern recorded 11 points for the Minutemen against Clay. Cooper’s nine points lifted Valparaiso to the Duneland Conference crown with a 67-39 win over Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 67, Concord 52.
Indianapolis Scecina (4-16) vs. Adams (10-12): This is part of Mishawaka’s Organ Donor Classic. Jayvon Hatton came up with 17 points in the Crusaders’ 81-56 loss to Park Tudor. Shak Johnson contributed 21 points in the Eagles’ 85-70 loss to Riley. Matt’s pick: Adams 73, Indianapolis Scecina 56.
Lakeland (7-13) at Mishawaka (10-9): Tristin Ritchie was held to two points in the Lakers’ 67-61 loss to Northridge. C.J. Fisher chipped in 10 points for the Cavemen in their 65-59 double-overtime win over Glenn. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 61, Lakeland 46.
LaVille (17-3) at Saint Joseph (10-8): The No. 7 (Class 2A) Lancers posted a 52-38 win over Saint Joseph a year ago. Connor Wieczorek chipped in three points in LaVille’s 62-50 win over Whitko. J.R. Konieczny poured in 39 points for the Indians against Elkhart Memorial. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 56, LaVille 54.
Lighthouse CPA (6-8) at Washington (11-9): The Lions came up on the short end of an 86-69 decision to Washington in their last matchup. Jordan Higgins contributed 11 points in Lighthouse CPA’s 50-43 loss to Bowman Academy. Demarcus Vaughn added 14 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer, in the Panthers’ 56-54 win over Elkhart Central. Matt’s pick: Washington 74, Lighthouse CPA 51.
Northridge (12-8) at Columbia City (8-12): The Eagles flew past Northridge, 52-47, a season ago. Camden Knepp ended up with 12 points in the Raiders’ win at Lakeland. Max Bedwell drained the game-winning 3-pointer in Columbia City’s 62-61 win over West Noble. Matt’s pick: Northridge 55, Columbia City 49.
Penn (16-3) at Plymouth (13-6): The Kingsmen recorded a 69-45 win over Plymouth last year. Kegan Hoskins’ six points was not enough for Penn against Marian. Adam Hunter contributed four points in the Pilgrims’ 56-35 loss to Huntington North. Matt’s pick: Penn 66, Plymouth 54.
Warsaw (13-4) at Carmel (18-1): The No. 2 (Class 4A) Greyhounds escaped with a 53-49 win at Warsaw last year. Jaylen Coon added one point in the Tigers’ 60-55 win against Merrillville. John Michael Mulloy racked up 20 points in Carmel’s 62-41 win over Carroll (Fort Wayne). Matt’s pick: Carmel 62, Warsaw 58.
