The holiday season started on a positive note as I went 8-1 (89 percent) last week. Heading into the final week of 2020, my overall record is 62-14, which has me at 82 percent for the season.
MONDAY
MICHIGAN CITY TOURNAMENT
Westville (3-1) vs. New Prairie (5-1): The Cougars posted a 61-49 win against Westville last season. Julian Ellis came up with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the Blackhawks’ 60-49 win over Wheeler. Hunter Smith tallied 18 points and 14 rebounds in New Prairie’s 70-45 win over Jimtown. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 64, Westville 54.
Clay (0-6) vs. Michigan City (5-1): The Wolves slipped past Clay, 58-54, during the 2016-17 campaign. Robert Allen netted 18 points in the Colonials’ 68-51 loss at Northridge. Tahari Watson scored 18 points in Michigan City’s 82-69 win over Gary 21st Century. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 75, Clay 56.
TUESDAY
Columbia City (3-4) at NorthWood (6-1): The Panthers roared to a 62-42 win over Columbia City a year ago. Jaxon Crawford finished with 15 points in the Eagles’ 77-49 loss to Churubusco. Chaz Yoder’s eight points helped NorthWood against Clay. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 55, Columbia City 48.
Riley (6-1) at Merrillville (1-3): The Pirates downed No. 10 (Class 4A) Riley, 64-55, a season ago. Nate Macht chipped in three points in the Wildcats’ 59-47 win over Plymouth. Dorian Harris ended with 18 points in Merrillville’s 93-58 loss to No. 6 (Class 4A) Indianapolis Cathedral. Matt’s pick: Riley 80, Merrillville 67.
CHESTERTON CLASSIC
Northridge (3-1) vs. Chesterton (5-1) (11 a.m.): Carter Stoltzfus netted 21 points in the Raiders’ 60-51 win over Angola. Travis Grayson poured in 36 points in the Trojans’ 62-50 win over Hammond Morton. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 59, Northridge 57.
Northridge (3-2) vs. Lake Central (5-3) (6 p.m.): Blake Jacobs added six points in the Raiders’ 58-43 win over East Noble. Jaiden Clayton racked up 12 points in the Indians’ 35-32 win over Munster. Matt’s pick: Northridge 44, Lake Central 40.
EAST NOBLE TOURNAMENT
Prairie Heights (2-4) vs. East Noble (2-3) (11 a.m.): The Knights crowned Prairie Heights, 62-33, in the 2017-18 season. Isaiah Malone mustered seven points in the Panthers’ 64-25 loss to Eastside. Chris Hood tallied 13 points in East Noble’s 56-54 win over Woodlan. Matt’s pick: East Noble 52, Prairie Heights 39.
Heritage (2-3) vs. Glenn (3-0) (1 p.m.): Leroy Lepper finished with 22 points in the Patriots’ 65-53 win over Garrett. Jack Porter added two points in the Falcons’ 50-47 win over LaVille. Matt’s pick: Glenn 61, Heritage 51.
Consolation game: Heritage (2-4) vs. Prairie Heights (2-5): Matt’s pick: Heritage 50, Prairie Heights 35.
Championship game: Glenn (4-0) vs. East Noble (3-3): Matt’s pick: Glenn 67, East Noble 64.
LAPORTE CLASSIC
Logansport (5-2) vs. Saint Joseph (4-2) (Noon): The Berries rolled to an 87-56 win over No. 8 (Class 3A) Saint Joseph during the 2018-19 campaign. Malachi Pearson added 22 points in Logansport’s 54-32 win against Muncie Central. Jack Quinn recorded eight points in the Indians’ 89-41 win over Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 70, Logansport 63.
Twin Lakes (6-0) vs. Saint Joseph (4-2) (3 p.m.): The Indians cruised to an 87-64 win against Twin Lakes last year. Kahari Jackson accounted for 15 points in Twin Lakes’ 74-39 win over Frontier. J.R. Konieczny contributed 19 points for Saint Joseph in a 71-46 loss to No. 3 Homestead. Matt’s pick: Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 76, Twin Lakes 67.
MARIAN TOURNAMENT
North Judson (2-1) vs. Marian (4-1) (11 a.m.): Payton Cox accounted for 12 points in the Bluejays’ 47-41 win over Knox. Kaleo Kakalia’s two points helped the No. 6 (Class 3A) Knights to a 53-50 win over Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Marian 64, North Judson 49.
Lighthouse CPA (2-3) vs. Fort Wayne South (2-3) (1 p.m.): Anton Winder scored 12 points in the Lions’ 105-55 loss to Michigan City. Ashton Johnson recorded 23 points in the Archers’ 63-51 win over Fort Wayne Northrop. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne South 74, Lighthouse CPA 71.
Consolation game: North Judson (2-2) vs. Lighthouse CPA (2-4): Matt’s pick: North Judson 42, Lighthouse CPA 41.
Championship game: Fort Wayne South (3-3) vs. Marian (5-1): Matt’s pick: Marian 77, Fort Wayne South 61.
WEDNESDAY
Fort Wayne Snider (4-2) at Elkhart (4-3): Jade Moore netted 24 points in the Panthers’ 79-75 overtime loss to Riley. Titus Rodgers chipped in three points in the Lions’ 78-69 win over Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 70, Fort Wayne Snider 68.
Leo (6-0) at Warsaw (5-4): Blake Davison netted 16 points in the Lions’ 75-57 win over Fort Wayne Concordia. Drew Heckaman registered nine points in the Tigers’ 61-52 loss at Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Leo 59, Warsaw 54.
MICHIGAN CITY TOURNAMENT
Westville (3-2) vs. Clay (0-7) (Consolation): Alec Hannon’s 10 points were not enough for the Blackhawks in their 80-38 loss to New Prairie. Davyaun Franklin managed 16 points in the Colonials’ 77-58 loss to Michigan City. Matt’s pick: Clay 61, Westville 60.
New Prairie (6-1) vs. Michigan City (6-1) (Championship): The Wolves claimed a 52-38 win over New Prairie during the 2009-10 campaign. Hunter Smith racked up 18 points for the Cougars against Westville. Evan Bush rolled up 28 points for Michigan City against Clay. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 73, New Prairie 65.
PLYMOUTH TOURNAMENT
Jimtown (1-4) vs. Plymouth (0-7) (10:30 a.m.): The Pilgrims slipped past Jimtown, 55-53, in the 2018-19 season. Tysen House had six points for Jimtown against Saint Joseph. Davis Wray poured in 12 points in Plymouth’s loss at Riley. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 42, Plymouth 40.
Knox (2-3) vs. Whitko (3-1) (12:30 p.m.): The Wildcats downed Knox, 69-67, during the 2018-19 campaign. Gunner Wagner finished with 18 points for the Redskins against North Judson. Drake Lewis scored 26 points in Whitko’s 71-50 win against Randolph Southern. Matt’s pick: Whitko 51, Knox 49.
Consolation game: Knox (2-4) vs. Jimtown (1-5): Matt’s pick: Knox 37, Jimtown 35.
Championship game: Plymouth (1-7) vs. Whitko (4-1): Matt’s pick: Whitko 52, Plymouth 44.
VALPARAISO CLASSIC
Adams (7-0) vs. Valparaiso (4-1) (11 a.m.): The Vikings earned a 68-60 win against No. 8 (Class 4A) Adams in the 2015-16 season. Lynn King accounted for 15 points in the Eagles’ 57-54 win at Carroll (Fort Wayne). Clay MacLagan came up with 15 points for Valparaiso against Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Adams 77, Valparaiso 71.
Adams (8-0) vs. Lighthouse CPA (2-6) (6 p.m.): The Eagles flew past Lighthouse CPA, 101-96, during the 2014-15 campaign. Quentez Columbus registered 14 points for Adams in a 61-54 win over Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger. Matt’s pick: Adams 81, Lighthouse CPA 60.
WAWASEE TOURNAMENT
Fairfield (1-5) vs. Garrett (0-6) (10 a.m.): The Railroaders suffered a 50-38 loss to Fairfield a year ago. Lincoln Penrose had eight points in the Falcons’ 56-51 loss to Goshen. Kyle Smith paved the way with 20 points for Garrett against Heritage. Matt’s pick: Fairfield 33, Garrett 30.
Illiana Christian (3-2) vs. Wawasee (2-2): Logan Van Essen tallied 27 points in the Vikings’ 59-47 win over Boone Grove. Jack Stover mustered eight points in the Warriors’ 41-24 loss to Columbia City. Matt’s pick: Illiana Christian 56, Wawasee 55.
Consolation game: Fairfield (1-6) vs. Wawasee (2-3): Matt’s pick: Wawasee 35, Fairfield 29.
Championship game: Garrett (1-6) vs. Illiana Christian (4-2): Matt’s pick: Illiana Christian 40, Garrett 30.
SATURDAY
Calumet (2-2) at Mishawaka (1-1): Jacob Berry finished with 12 points in the Warriors’ 75-39 win over Hammond Bishop Noll. Caleb Williams finished with 11 points in the Cavemen’s 78-60 win over Elkhart Christian. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 59, Calumet 53.
East Noble (3-4) at Concord (0-3): The Minutemen dropped a 45-26 decision to East Noble in their previous meeting. Chris Hood managed 14 points in the Knights’ 51-46 overtime loss to Glenn. Zaven Koltookian tallied 10 points in Concord’s 50-34 loss to Penn. Matt’s pick: East Noble 56, Concord 43.
Goshen (2-4) at LaVille (2-2): Deecon Hill chipped in 12 points in the RedHawks’ 56-51 win over Fairfield. Leyton Czarnecki racked up 17 points in the Lancers’ 55-48 win over Argos. Matt’s pick: LaVille 42, Goshen 40.
Marian (6-1) at Lawrence Central (6-3): Richard Brooks came up with 22 points in the No. 7 (Class 3A) Knights’ 47-46 win over Fort Wayne South. Greg Jenkins poured in 22 points in the Bears’ 72-63 win over Columbus North. Matt’s pick: Lawrence Central 78, Marian 72.
Riley (6-2) at Bowman Academy (2-8): Isaiah Robinson registered 18 points in the No. 9 (Class 4A) Wildcats’ 69-68 loss at Merrillville. Koron Davis’ 31 points were not enough for the Eagles in a 97-66 loss to Westfield. Matt’s pick: Riley 75, Bowman Academy 57.
Washington (1-3) at Northridge (4-2): The Panthers clawed past Northridge, 56-53, a season ago. Jason Jones racked up 22 points in Washington’s 71-65 overtime win over Clay. Sam Smith recorded 18 points in the Raiders’ 56-47 loss to Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Northridge 55, Washington 47.