Things were a little above average the second time around as I went 21-7 (78 percent) last week. My overall record is 34-11, which leaves me at 76 percent for the season.
TUESDAY
Goshen (1-2) at Elkhart (0-4): The RedHawks recorded a 56-46 win over Elkhart last season. Andre Williams ended with nine points in Goshen’s 58-45 loss to Washington. Antonio Hardin contributed 10 points in the Lions’ 55-45 loss to Glenn. Matt’s pick: Goshen 46, Elkhart 41.
Jimtown (0-2) at Plymouth (2-1): The Pilgrims claimed a 49-44 win over Jimtown during the 2021-22 campaign. Bishop Williams contributed six points in the Jimmies’ 45-30 loss to Concord. Trey Delp drained a three-pointer in Plymouth’s 74-59 loss to LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 50, Jimtown 45.
Mishawaka (1-0) at Marian (1-2): The Knights crowned Mishawaka, 51-34, a season ago. Rashauun Johnson’s 13 points helped the Cavemen to a 61-47 win over Tippecanoe Valley. Zion Rhoades’ 23 points were not enough for Marian in its 56-45 loss to Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 56, Marian 53.
Niles (1-1) at Clay (2-1): The Colonials registered a 74-54 win over Niles last year. Brayden Favors ended with 10 points in the Vikings’ 63-45 win over Three Rivers. Shaq Edwards amassed 19 points in Clay’s 73-53 loss to Penn. Matt’s pick: Clay 79, Niles 65.
Penn (3-0, 1-0 NIC) at New Prairie (0-2, 0-1 NIC): The Kingsmen cruised to a 73-17 win over New Prairie a year ago. Trey Miller accounted for 14 points in Penn’s 58-43 win over Crown Point. Marshall Kmiecik had four points in the Cougars’ 46-36 loss to LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Penn 80, New Prairie 61.
WEDNESDAY
West Noble (1-2) at Concord (3-1): The Chargers rolled to a 66-34 win over Concord in their last meeting. Nolan Kelly added nine points in West Noble’s 50-48 loss to Wawasee. Jaylan Bolen racked up 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter in the Minutemen’s 65-44 win over Angola. Matt’s pick: Concord 42, West Noble 40.
THURSDAY
NorthWood (0-0) at Westview (2-1): The defending Class 3A state champion and No. 3 ranked Panthers clawed past Westview, 59-31 win over Westview in the 2022-23 season. Tyler Raasch tallied over nine points a game a year ago for NorthWood. Kaden Grau’s 18 points vaulted the Warriors to a 58-39 win over Churubusco. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 52, Westview 49.
Riley (4-0, 2-0 NIC) at Glenn (1-2, 1-1 NIC): The Wildcats needed overtime to earn a 76-71 win over Glenn a season ago. Marvin Schindler came up with 17 points in Riley’s 80-70 win over Merrillville. Joey Shouse chipped in six points for the Falcons against Glenn. Matt’s pick: Riley 78, Glenn 62.
Saint Joseph (2-1, 1-0 NIC) at Jimtown (0-3, 0-1 NIC): The Jimmies had their 2023 season come to an end with a 76-52 loss to No. 9 Saint Joseph in the Class 3A Jimtown quarterfinals. Chase Konieczny ended with 25 points in Saint Joe’s 75-72 loss at No. 8 (Class 4A) Chesterton. Javen Jackson finished with 10 points in Jimtown’s 66-53 loss to Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 60, Jimtown 47.
Washington (3-1, 2-0 NIC) at Clay (3-1, 1-1 NIC): The Panthers racked up a 79-39 win over Clay last year. Jaydon Lineberry came up with six points for Washington against Goshen. Tyrese Jones amassed 13 points in the Colonials’ 64-57 win over Niles. Matt’s pick: Washington 74, Clay 68.
FRIDAY
Concord (4-1) at Penn (4-0): The Minutemen are looking to make amends for a 78-47 loss to No. 10 (Class 4A) Penn a season ago. Avery Johnson added nine points in Concord’s 48-42 win over West Noble. Casey Finn contributed nine points and eight rebounds in the Kingsmen’s 72-21 win over New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Penn 70, Concord 56.
Elkhart (0-5, 0-2 NIC) at Adams (2-1, 0-1 NIC): The Lions slipped past Adams, 52-50, a year ago. Will Cochrane mustered 11 points in Elkhart’s 53-36 loss to Goshen. Gerron Barr accounted for nine points in the Eagles’ 76-52 loss to Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Adams 63, Elkhart 54.
Marian (1-3) at Plymouth (3-1): The Knights clubbed Plymouth, 64-44, last year. Deuce Owens managed 12 points in Marian’s 40-38 loss to Mishawaka. Colby Walters registered 14 points for the Pilgrims against Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Marian 45, Plymouth 43.
Mishawaka (2-0) at Andrean (1-1): The 59ers were a 67-39 winner over Mishawaka in the 1997-98 season. Cooper Pritchett recorded 13 points and nine rebounds for the Cavemen against Marian. Jerry Triplett contributed six points in Andrean’s 60-46 loss to Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 47, Andrean 42.
New Prairie (0-3, 0-2 NIC) at Bremen (2-1): The Cougars roared to a 52-43 win over Bremen in their last matchup. Bryce McCorkel’s four points were not enough for New Prairie against Penn. Camden Hickman was held to seven points in the Lions’ 55-30 loss to Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: Bremen 38, New Prairie 35.
SATURDAY
Fairfield (2-2) at NorthWood (0-1): The Panthers downed Fairfield, 59-33, in last year’s Class 3A sectional semifinals. Mitchell Miller chipped in 16 points in the Falcons’ 55-40 win over Lakeland. Seth Russell contributed two points in NorthWood’s 36-28 loss to Westview. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 41, Fairfield 33.
Fort Wayne North (3-0) at Warsaw (3-0): The Legends came away with a 60-53 win over Warsaw a season ago. Jaxson Fugate finished with 23 points in Fort Wayne North’s 70-57 win over DeKalb. Luke Bricker’s career-high 30 points lifted the Tigers to a 63-50 win over Huntington North. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne North 56, Warsaw 54.
Glenn (1-3) at Tippecanoe Valley (2-2): The Falcons opened the 2023 Class 3A playoffs with a 68-55 win over Tippecanoe Valley. Chase Miller managed 12 points in Glenn’s 35-24 loss to Riley. Ian Cooksey contributed 24 points for the Vikings against Bremen. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 46, Glenn 43
LaPorte (2-2) at Washington (4-1): The Slicers suffered a 62-54 loss to Washington a year ago. Nic Spence registered 11 points and 10 rebounds for LaPorte against New Prairie. Steven Reynolds III totaled 21 points in the Panthers’ 77-72 win at Clay. Matt’s pick: Washington 76, LaPorte 67.
Northridge (3-1) at Angola (1-4): The Raiders claimed a 56-44 win over Angola last season. Gideon Campbell contributed 16 points in Northridge’s 74-70 win over Valparaiso. Tommy Caswell recorded 10 points in the Hornets’ 46-41 loss to Woodlan. Matt’s pick: Northridge 54, Angola 42.
Saint Joseph (3-1) at Goshen (2-2): Saint Joe went to overtime to earn a 73-64 win against Goshen in their last matchup. Jayce Lee amassed 15 points in Saint Joseph’s 81-49 win over Jimtown. Braxton Cline’s 10 points helped the RedHawks against Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 69, Goshen 59.
Wawasee (3-1) at Whitko (3-1): The Wildcats dropped a 61-37 decision to Wawasee in the 2022-23 season. Myler Everingham ended with eight points for the Warriors against West Noble. Kyler Krull managed 23 points in Whitko’s 78-15 win against Smith Academy. Matt’s pick: Whitko 48, Wawasee 44.