I turned in an average performance by going 24-9 (74 percent) last week. Heading into the final week of the regular season, my overall record is now 279-64, which leaves me at 81 percent.
MONDAY
NorthWood (17-4) at Lake Station (4-15): On the way to the 2023 Class 3A state championship, the No. 6 Panthers cruised to a 72-35 win over Lake Station in the regional final. Mason Pearson hit a pair of free throws in NorthWood’s 44-37 loss to Fort Wayne Blackhawk. Areion Head’s 19 points were not enough in the Fighting Eagles’ 70-48 loss to No. 9 (Class 1A) Washington Township. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 72, Lake Station 52.
TUESDAY
Bremen (10-10) at Triton (18-3): The Lions clawed past No. 7 (Class 1A) Triton, 51-45, a year ago. Maddux Hickman ended with five points in Bremen’s 60-50 loss to Concord. Landon Patrick tossed in four points in the Trojans’ 60-52 win over Rochester. Matt’s pick: Triton 51, Bremen 43.
Elkhart (5-15) at Jimtown (11-10): The Jimmies earned a 53-45 win against Elkhart last season. Samarcus Gipson paced the Lions with six points in their 76-24 loss at Lawrence North. Trasean Baldwin notched two points in Jimtown’s 48-44 overtime win against Argos. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 55, Elkhart 50.
Elkhart Christian (8-12) at Adams (12-10): The Eagles soared to a 49-37 win over Elkhart Christian last year. Ace Haviland notched four points in the Eagles’ 57-28 loss to Fairfield. Garrett Miller hit a pair of free throws in Adams’ 65-53 loss to Marian. Matt’s pick: Adams 65, Elkhart Christian 51.
Glenn (3-17) at Concord (11-9): The Minutemen marched past Glenn, 48-29, a season ago. Gavin Myers totaled seven points in the Falcons’ 65-39 loss at Culver Academy. Noah Culp came up with two points for Concord against Bremen. Matt’s pick: Concord 61, Glenn 44.
Knox (2-17) at Culver (2-18): The Cavaliers suffered a 66-50 loss to Knox in their last meeting. Cain Weber scored seven points in the Redskins’ 51-36 loss to Trinity Greenlawn. Braylon Jackson accounted for 12 points in Culver’s 40-21 win over Tri Township. Matt’s pick: Knox 35, Culver 31.
LaVille (13-8) at Washington (16-5): The Panthers roared to a 59-48 win over LaVille during the 2015-16 campaign. Lance Edison had 12 points in the Lancers’ 67-60 loss at Whitko. Dejuan Jones tallied two points in Washington’s 89-60 win over Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Washington 67, LaVille 56.
Mishawaka (5-15) at Penn (14-8): The Kingsmen escaped with a 52-47 win against Mishawaka last year. Landon Johns totaled 10 points in the Cavemen’s 78-41 loss to Adams. Caleb Martinez finished with two points in Penn’s 67-39 loss to Riley. Matt’s pick: Penn 66, Mishawaka 48.
Northridge (18-3) at Fairfield (12-8): The No. 8 (Class 4A) Raiders claimed a 64-49 win over Fairfield last season. James Cranston chipped in four points in Northridge’s 65-55 win over Columbia City. Grady Garber’s six points lifted the Falcons past Elkhart Christian. Matt’s pick: Northridge 62, Fairfield 46.
Plymouth (9-12) at Saint Joseph (18-3): The No. 4 (Class 3A) Huskies cruised to a 98-57 win over Plymouth a year ago. Preston Wolfe canned six three-pointers, good for 18 points, in the Pilgrims’ 58-57 loss to Maconaquah. Braylen White came up with six points in Saint Joseph’s 78-28 win over New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 76, Plymouth 53.
Tippecanoe Valley (17-4) at Warsaw (21-4): The Vikings dropped a 62-50 decision to No. 9 (Class 4A) Warsaw a season ago. Blaine Sheetz’s 15 points vaulted Tippecanoe Valley to its 11th straight victory with a 54-49 decision over Kokomo. Drew Jones totaled seven points in the Tigers’ 66-54 win over Harrison (West Lafayette). Matt’s pick: Warsaw 57, Tippecanoe Valley 54.
West Noble (8-12) at Goshen (12-9): The RedHawks edged West Noble, 45-44, during the 2023-24 season. Isaac Mast registered four points in the Chargers’ 72-42 loss to No. 6 (Class 3A) NorthWood. Karter Marcum amassed 10 points in Goshen’s 51-41 win at Westview. Matt’s pick: Goshen 51, West Noble 45.
THURSDAY
LaVille (14-8) at Trinity Greenlawn (14-6): The Lancers rolled to a 50-26 win over Trinity last year. Travis Maldonado’s two points helped LaVille to a 51-50 win at Washington. Ian Abbott racked up 13 points in the Titans’ 43-36 win over Oregon-Davis. Matt’s pick: LaVille 45, Trinity 41.
New Prairie (4-17) at Boone Grove (10-10): The Wolves recorded a 41-35 win against New Prairie a year ago. Cayden Mayfield recorded four points for the Cougars against Saint Joseph. Jack Stephens ended with 16 points in Boone Grove’s 64-60 overtime win over Hebron. Matt’s pick: Boone Grove 50, New Prairie 43.
Riley (17-4) at Bowman Academy (4-16): The Wildcats roared past Bowman Academy, 72-37, a season ago. Brandon Williams piled up 15 points for Riley against Penn. Ja’Ray Walker was limited to two points in the Eagles’ 64-32 loss to Adams. Matt’s pick: Riley 74, Bowman Academy 52.
FRIDAY
Culver (2-19) at Bremen (11-10): The Lions registered a 58-35 win over Culver last season. Jordan Green tossed in six points in the Cavaliers’ 48-28 loss to Knox. Hartley Mitole ended with six points in Bremen’s 49-43 win over No. 6 (Class 1A) Triton. Matt’s pick: Bremen 49, Culver 33.
DeKalb (8-14) at Northridge (19-3): The Barons surprised No. 10 (Class 4A) Northridge, 43-39, in their last meeting. DeKalb outscored Heritage, 18-5, in its 57-46 victory. Kam Radeker scored 16 points in the Raiders’ 66-34 win over Fairfield. Matt’s pick: Northridge 70, DeKalb 58,
East Noble (12-9) at Wawasee (6-15): The Warriors racked up a 61-50 win against East Noble a year ago. Ryker Quake contributed 23 points in the Knights’ 68-53 win over Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger. Camden Reel added five points in Wawasee’s 58-44 loss to Westview. Matt’s pick: East Noble 57, Wawasee 47.
Goshen (13-9) at Glenn (3-18): The Falcons came up on the short end of a 53-46 decision to Goshen last year. Ryan Diaz chipped in 12 points in the RedHawks’ 54-43 win over West Noble. Logan Alexander finished with two points in Glenn’s 64-22 loss to Concord. Matt’s pick: Goshen 61, Glenn 43.
LaPorte (14-8) at Marian (13-9): The Knights crowned LaPorte, 83-40, during the 2017-18 campaign. Sawyer Tonagel registered 11 points in the Slicers’ 79-54 loss to Portage/ Prescott Horvath poured in 28 points for Marian against Adams. Matt’s pick: Marian 62, LaPorte 56.
Mishawaka (5-16) at Saint Joseph (19-3): The Cavemen escaped with a 57-55 win over No. 3 (Class 3A) Saint Joseph a season ago. Landon Snyder was limited to two points in Mishawaka’s 72-42 loss to Penn. Chase Konieczny erupted for 40 points in the Huskies’ 93-62 win over Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 75, Mishawaka 51.
NorthWood (18-4) at Elkhart (5-16): The Panthers were a 52-40 winner over Elkhart in their last matchup. Ethan Sears amassed three points in NorthWood’s 85-34 win at Lake Station. Will Cochrane mustered five points in the Lions’ 48-42 loss to Jimtown. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 66, Elkhart 55.
Penn (15-8) at Merrillville (5-17): The Pirates earned a 64-57 win over Penn last year. Ethan Good had nine points for the Kingsmen against Mishawaka. Jalen McAlister’s 17 points pivoted Merrillville to a 70-62 win over Hobart. Matt’s pick: Penn 63, Merrillville 53.
Tippecanoe Valley (17-5) at Washington (16-6): The Vikings managed a 54-48 victory against Washington a year ago. Davis Cowan recorded seven points in Tippecanoe Valley’s 62-55 loss to No. 8 (Class 4A) Warsaw. Jaydon Lineberry’s 14 points were not enough for the Panthers against LaVille. Matt’s pick: Washington 55, Tippecanoe Valley 54.
Triton (18-4) at Knox (3-17): The No. 6 (Class 1A) Trojans posted a 44-36 win over Knox last season. Gage Riffle came up with 10 points for the Trojans against Bremen. Chase Fletcher finished with 13 points for the Redskins against Culver. Matt’s pick: Triton 62, Knox 44.
Westview (16-6) at Concord (12-9): The Warriors slipped by Concord, 40-39, a season ago. Austin Schlabach tossed in 13 points in Westview’s 67-37 win over Fremont. Carson Weirich canned 10 points for the Minutemen against Glenn. Matt’s pick: Concord 45, Westview 42.
SATURDAY
Elwood (5-17) at Knox (3-18): Jayden Mullins netted 10 points in the Panthers’ 60-54 loss to Cowan. Dayton Yeck ended with 12 points in the Redskins’ 64-32 loss to South Central. Matt’s pick: Knox 40, Elwood 37.
GIRLS’ STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Class 1A: Lafayette Central Catholic (25-4) vs. Borden (22-5): The No. 6 Knights are in pursuit of their first state title since claiming the Class 2A crown in 2016, while No. 2 Borden is the state finals for the first time. Carley Barrett accounted for 16 points in Lafayette Central Catholic’s 53-50 overtime upset of No. 1 and defending state runner-up Marquette Catholic. Ava Wheeler came up with 15 points in the Braves’ 65-41 win over Northeast Dubois. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Central Catholic 56, Borden 53.
Class 2A: Rensselaer Central (26-2) vs. South Knox (27-2): The No. 2 Bombers and top-ranked South Knox are both making their first visit to Gainbridge Fieldhouse; Courtney Mathew recorded 17 points in Rensselaer Central’s 55-42 win over No. 5 Eastside. Ella Bobe exploded for 26 points in the Spartans’ 58-40 win over Heritage Christian. Matt’s pock: South Knox 61, Rensselaer Central 58.
Class 3A: Norwell (22-6) vs. Greensburg (27-0): The No. 9 Knights finished state runner-up a year ago, while No. 1 Greensburg was state runner-up in 2018. Macie Saalfrank registered 16 points in Norwell’s 61-53 triumph over No. 5 Columbia City. Claire Larrison scored 24 points in the Pirates’ 71-58 win over Indianapolis Roncalli. Matt’s pick: Greensburg 66, Norwell 61.
Class 4A: Warsaw (26-1) vs. Lawrence North (18-8): The No. 5 Tigers were state champions in 1976 and 1978 and state runner-up in 2004, while Lawrence North claimed the 2020 crown and was state runner-up in 2019. Brooke Zartman erupted for 25 points in Warsaw’s 67-61 upset of top-ranked Hamilton Southeastern. Kya Hurt’s 14 points lifted the Wildcats to a 45-44 win over Indianapolis Pike. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 55, Lawrence North 50.