It proved to be another average performance as I went 19-6 (76 percent) last week. My overall record is now 210-68, which has me at 76 percent for the season.
MONDAY
Jimtown (9-9, 6-3 NIC) at Bremen (7-10, 1-7 NIC): The Jimmies edged Bremen. 33-32, a year ago. Bishop Williams recorded 11 points and 11 rebounds in Jimtown’s 47-38 win over Glenn. Ty Graverson racked up 17 points in the Lions’ 64-50 loss to Riley. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 44, Bremen 35.
TUESDAY
Bethany Christian (11-9) at Jimtown (10-9): The Bruins suffered a 63-53 loss to Jimtown a season ago. Carter Miller recorded 12 points in Bethany Christian’s 60-48 win over Lakewood Park Christian. Jackson Clopton notched 13 points for the Jimmies in their 50-42 win at Bremen. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 41, Bethany Christian 36.
Bremen (7-11, 1-8 NIC) at Saint Joseph (12-8, 6-3 NIC): The Lions dropped an 82-36 decision to Saint Joseph last year. Silas Laidig tallied 14 points for Bremen against Jimtown. Brashaun Woods managed four points in Saint Joe’s 54-51 loss to Marian. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 63, Bremen 45.
Clay (10-9) at Concord (15-3): The Minutemen downed Clay, 63-55, last season. Noah Fernandez accounted for eight points in the Colonials’ 66-51 win over Elkhart. Camden Bonds came up with two points in Concord’s 46-43 loss to Northridge. Matt’s pick: Concord 61, Clay 54.
Culver Academy (7-10) at Riley (17-4): The Wildcats clawed past Culver Academy, 47-44, in their last meeting. The Eagles were limited to five points in the third quarter in their 36-35 loss to Merrillville. Riley came up with 38 points in the first half against Bremen. Matt’s pick: Riley 67, Culver Academy 57.
Fort Wayne Northrop (1-16) at Warsaw (14-5): The Tigers needed overtime to post a 61-53 win over Fort Wayne Northrop in the 2015-16 campaign. Jaxon Hughes contributed eight points in the Bruins’ 57-39 loss to Warren Central. Luke Yeager’s six points lifted Warsaw to a 54-39 win over Westville. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 59, Fort Wayne Northrop 44.
Glenn (9-10) at Knox (6-10): The Falcons soared to a 68-31 win over Knox a year ago. Chase Miller racked up five points for Glenn against Jimtown. Nolan Short ended with 10 points in the Redskins’ 63-41 loss to Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: Glenn 45, Knox 40.
Lakeland (14-5) at Northridge (15-4): The Raiders slipped past Lakeland, 56-52, a season ago. Nate Kiel recorded 25 points in the Lakers’ 76-49 loss at NorthWood. Mason Bales tallied seven points for Northridge against Concord. Matt’s pick: Northridge 60, Lakeland 53.
LaLumiere (12-7) at Washington (8-10): The Lakers were outscored 27-18 in the fourth quarter in their 77-76 loss to Lane Tech. Josh Johnson’s 12 points lifted the Panthers to 53-47 win over Penn. Matt’s pick: Washington 71, LaLumiere 68.
Mishawaka (13-5) at Adams (8-11): The Cavemen downed Adams, 66-57, last season. Jackson Snyder’s four points gave Mishawaka a share of the Northern Lakes Conference title with a 40-32 win over defending Class 3A state champion NorthWood. Amari Wesson paced the Eagles with 24 points in their 63-49 win over New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 58, Adams 50.
New Prairie (4-16) at Goshen (6-12): Reece Eggert came up with two points for the Cougars against Adams. Gage Worthman exploded for 30 points in the RedHawks’ 55-44 win at Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Goshen 51, New Prairie 42.
Plymouth (7-12) at Penn (13-5): The Kingsmen crowned Plymouth, 86-65, last year. Caleb Bowling added two points in the Pilgrims’ 63-56 loss to Warsaw. John Bedient amassed six points for Penn against Washington. Matt’s pick: Penn 62, Plymouth 49.
Wawasee (6-13) at Westview (14-4): The Warriors surprised Westview, 69-62, in their previous matchup. Collin Ziebarth had 15 points for Wawasee against Goshen. Wyatt Zepp chipped in seven points in the Warriors’ 52-35 win over Prairie Heights. Matt’s pick: Westview 42, Wawasee 41.
FRIDAY
Adams (8-12, 5-4 NIC) at Riley (18-4, 9-1 NIC): The Wildcats posted a 78-64 win over Adams a year ago. Jarvis Tolbert’s 18 points were not enough in the Eagles’ 52-50 loss to Mishawaka. Riley can earn a share of the Northern Indiana Conference crown with a win. Matt’s pick: Riley 80, Adams 67.
Bremen (7-12, 1-9 NIC) at Glenn (10-10, 3-7 NIC): The Falcons claimed a 67-36 win over Bremen in the 2023 Class 3A sectional semifinals. Julian Alvardo came up with four points in the Lions’ 73-41 loss to Saint Joseph. Joe Chrapliwy accounted for 12 points in Glenn’s 49-37 win at Knox. Matt’s pick: Glenn 53, Bremen 40.
Career Academy (4-15) at Mishawaka (14-5): The Trailblazers suffered a 74-62 loss to Mishawaka in their last matchup. Quincy Bradshaw’s 16 points in a 45-42 win over Lakeland Christian helped the Trailblazers halt an eight-game losing streak. Jack Troyer added six points for the Cavemen against Adams. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 70, Career Academy 51.
Columbia City (15-6) at Northridge (16-4): The Eagles soared to a 64-58 win over Northridge last season. Matthew Mulligan’s 11 points lifted Columbia City to a 47-42 win over West Noble. Dylan Springer recorded 10 points in the Raiders’ 82-72 win over Lakeland. Matt’s pick: Northridge 73, Columbia City 61.
Elkhart (3-16, 2-7 NIC) at Penn (14-5, 8-2 NIC): The Kingsmen opened the 2023 Class 4A Elkhart Sectional with an 83-37 win over Elkhart. Javeis Hines amassed 16 points for the Lions against Clay. Ben Murphy ended with five points in Penn’s 62-35 win over Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Penn 66, Elkhart 49.
Jimtown (11-9, 7-3 NIC) at Marian (13-8, 7-1 NIC): The Knights cruised to a 73-33 win over Jimtown a season ago. Branden King racked up 20 points and 10 rebounds in the Jimmies’ 50-39 win over Bethany Christian. Jordan Maust scored four points for Marian against Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Marian 64, Jimtown 57.
New Prairie (4-17, 0-10 NIC) at Clay (10-10, 3-7 NIC): The Cougars clawed past Clay, 75-64, last year. Trenton Klute’s six points were not enough in New Prairie’s 78-47 loss to Goshen. Jamari Jones mustered four points in the Colonials’ 51-32 loss to Concord. Matt’s pick: Clay 68, New Prairie 54.
NorthWood (13-7) at Fort Wayne Blackhawk (14-6): Ethan Wolfe finished with 27 points for the defending Class 3A state champion Panthers against Lakeland. Isaac Smith scored 23 points in the No. 9 and defending Class 2A state champion Braves’ 63-53 loss to Heritage Christian. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Blackhawk 56, NorthWood 50.
Saint Joseph (13-8, 7-3 NIC) at Washington (9-10, 6-4 NIC): The Panthers went to overtime to capture the 2023 Class 3A Jimtown Sectional crown with a 62-61 win against Saint Joseph. Chase Konieczny poured in 30 points for Saint Joe against Bremen. Donovan Johnson tallied 15 points in Washington’s 77-60 win over LaLumiere Blue. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 73, Washington 69.
Westview (15-4) at Goshen (7-12): The RedHawks rolled to a 60-44 win over Westview a year ago. Luke Helmuth came up with 15 points in the Warriors’ 62-41 win over Wawasee. Braxton Kline contributed 19 points for Goshen against New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Westview 61, Goshen 52.
SATURDAY
Mishawaka (15-5, 5-1 NLC) at Wawasee (6-14, 1-5 NLC): The Cavemen clubbed Wawasee, 69-43, last year. Trey Thomas tallied a career-high 22 points in Mishawaka’s 81-36 win over Career Academy. Davis Everingham chipped in two points for the Warriors against Westview. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 65, Wawasee 52.
Plymouth (7-13) at Triton (14-4): The Pilgrims earned a 47-29 win over No. 8 (Class 1A) Triton a season ago. Coby Walters had four points for Plymouth against Penn. Tanner Witt-Hoyo notched 15 points in the Trojans’ 66-56 win over Rochester. Matt’s pick: Triton 44, Plymouth 39.
Warsaw (15-5) at Hammond Morton (7-13): Parker Justice canned a three-pointer in the Tigers’ 74-21 win over Fort Wayne Northrop. Jaden Lee’s 22 points and 14 rebounds lifted the Governors to a 76-35 win over Calumet New Tech. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 55, Hammond Morton 40.