Things were better the second time around as I went 25-5 (83 percent) last week. My overall mark is now 35-9, which is good for 80 percent.
TUESDAY
Goshen (2-1) at Elkhart (1-1): The Lions roared past Goshen, 63-45, a year ago. Drew Hogan tallied 11 points in the RedHawks’ 73-37 win over LaVille. Jacob Windy’s six points were not enough in Elkhart’s 54-50 loss to Glenn. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 48, Goshen 42.
Mishawaka (0-1) at Marian (3-0): The No. 1 (Class 3A) Knights edged Mishawaka, 52-45, last season. Rasauun Johnson had eight points in the Cavemen’s 38-37 loss to Culver Academy. Paxan Sullivan came up with four points in Marian’s 62-49 win over Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. Matt’s pick: Marian 61, Mishawaka 51.
Niles (0-0) at Clay (1-2): The Vikings from Michigan posted a 70-64 win over Clay during the 2013-14 campaign. Austin Bradley averaged nine points a contest for Niles (3-14) a season ago. Miguel Henry was limited to four points in the Colonials’ 84-45 loss to Penn. Matt’s pick: Clay 53, Niles 50.
Penn (3-0) at New Prairie (0-2, 0-1 NIC) at Penn (3-0, 1-0 NIC): The Kingsmen crowned New Prairie, 76-60, a season ago. Cole Wojciechowski finished with five points in Penn’s 52-48 win at Crown Point. Grady Lapczynski netted 20 points in the Cougars’ 61-49 loss to LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Penn 69, New Prairie 48.
Winamac (0-2) at Plymouth (0-3): The Pilgrims earned a 54-29 win over Winamac during the 2019-20 season. Russell Compton ended with 14 points in the Warriors’ 50-41 loss to Rochester. Tanner Feece recorded five points in Plymouth’s 52-50 loss to Argos. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 41, Winamac38.
WEDNESDAY
West Noble (3-0) at Concord (2-2): The Chargers marched past Concord, 53-34, last year. Julio Macias registered 12 points in West Noble’s 68-37 win over Wawasee. Amarion Moore contributed six points in the Minutemen’s 50-49 loss to Jimtown. Matt’s pick: West Noble 64, Concord 59.
THURSDAY
Elkhart (1-2, 1-1 NIC) at Adams (1-1. 0-1 NIC): The Eagles soared to a 71-58 win over Elkhart last season. Erick Nocentelli finished with 19 points in the Lions’ 51-43 loss to Goshen. Brittain Vann scored 13 points in Adams’ 70-68 loss to Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Adams 55, Elkhart 50.
Northridge (0-1) at East Noble (2-2): The Raiders claimed a 58-43 win over East Noble a year ago. Caden Mack provided 12 points in Northridge’s 72-62 loss to Valparaiso. Chris Hood managed 25 points in the Knights’ 58-52 win over Carroll (Fort Wayne). Matt’s pick: East Noble 49, Northridge 44.
NorthWood (3-0) at Westview (2-0): The Warriors earned a 67-56 victory against No. 6 (Class 3A) NorthWood last year. Ian Raasch contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds in the Panthers’ 69-43 win over No. 9 (Class 1A) Triton. Mason Yoder rolled up 31 points in Westview’s 75-37 win over Churubusco. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 65, Westview 64.
Riley (2-2. 1-1 NIC) at Glenn (3-0, 2-0 NIC): The Wildcats dropped a 65-64 decision to Glenn in their previous meeting. Caleb Francis racked up 13 points in Riley’s 63-57 loss to Merrillville. Jack Porter accounted for six points for the Falcons against Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Glenn 67, Riley 63.
Saint Joseph (2-1, 1-0 NIC) at Jimtown (1-1, 0-1 NIC): The No. (Class 3A) Indians cruised to an 89-41 win over Jimtown a season ago. Jack O’Dell tallied 16 points for Saint Joseph in its 90-81 overtime win over Marquette Catholic. Hunter Konrath added six points for the Jimmies against Concord. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 72, Jimtown 56.
Washington (3-1, 1-1 NIC) at Clay (2-2, 0-2 NIC): The Panthers needed overtime to post a 71-65 win against Clay during the 2020-21 campaign, Tyler Davis ended with nine points in Washington’s 50-49 win over Fort Wayne South. Alex Wroblewski recorded 10 points in the Colonials’ 58-39 win over Niles. Matt’s pick: Washington 60, Clay 48.
FRIDAY
Concord (3-2) at Penn (4-0): The Minutemen came up on the short end of a 50-34 decision to Penn last season. Zaven Kolkootian led Concord with 17 points in its 55-52 win over West Noble. Joe Smith netted 16 points in the Kingsmen’s 104-33 win at New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Penn 67, Concord 58.
Crown Point (3-1) at Warsaw (2-1): The Bulldogs rolled to a 68-55 win over Warsaw a season ago. Drew Adzia scored 19 points for Crown Point against Penn. Judah Simfukwe led the Tigers with nine points in their 35-32 win over Huntington North. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 50, Crown Point 47.
Marian (4-0) at Plymouth (0-4): The No. 1 (Class 3A) Knights recorded a 64-43 win over Plymouth a year ago. Richard Brooks had eight points and five rebounds in Marian’s 63-36 win over Mishawaka. Easton Strain racked up 17 points in the Pilgrims’ 50-44 loss to Winamac. Matt’s pick: Marian 61, Plymouth 45.
New Prairie (0-3, 0-2 NIC) at Bremen (3-0): The Lions dropped a pair of decisions to New Prairie last year by scores of 62-42 and 46-33. Hunter Groves mustered two points for the Cougars against Penn. Baylor Orcutt finished with eight points in Bremen’s 63-26 win over South Central. Matt’s pick: Bremen 40, New Prairie 35.
SATURDAY
Chesterton (2-0) at Elkhart (1-3): The Trojans posted a 59-45 win over Chesterton a year ago. Travis Grayson came up with 22 points in Chesterton’s 68-40 win over Hammond Morton. Demarion Anderson had eight points in the Lions’ 58-49 loss at Adams. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 65, Elkhart 54.
Elkhart Christian (3-0) at Mishawaka (0-2): The Cavemen clubbed Elkhart Christian, 78-60, last season. Andrew Stevens tallied 13 points in the Eagles’ 42-41 win over Prairie Heights. Arthur Jones managed 15 points for Mishawaka against Marian. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 44, Elkhart Christian 42.
Fairfield (3-1) at NorthWood (4-0): The Falcons suffered a 46-29 loss to No. 6 (Class 3A) NorthWood last year. Caleb Wright recorded 24 points in Fairfield’s 55-42 win over Lakeland. Cooper Wiens racked up 13 points in the Panthers’ 73-58 win at No. 10 (Class 2A) Westview. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 73, Fairfield 56.
Fort Wayne South (1-2) at Marian (5-0): The Knights hung on for a 47-46 win over Fort Wayne South a season ago. Derek Ruch accounted for 13 points for the Archers against Washington. Jackson Price tallied 14 points in Marian’s 59-22 win at Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Marian 77, Fort Wayne South 60.
Glenn (4-0) at Tippecanoe Valley (2-1): The Falcons flew past Tippecanoe Valley, 65-43, during the 2019-20 season. Silas Kaser chipped in 10 points in Glenn’s 56-42 win over Riley. Tayde Kiser poured in 29 points for the Vikings in their 56-39 win over Knox. Matt’s pick: Glenn 68, Tippecanoe Valley 51.
Jimtown (1-2) at Argos (3-1): The Jimmies rolled to a 60-31 win over Argos during the 2019-20 campaign. Braydon Campbell ended with four points in Jimtown’s 66-46 loss to Riley. J.J. Morris contributed 18 points in the Dragons’ 55-25 win over LaVille. Matt’s pick: Argos 38, Jimtown 33.
Kouts (3-2) at Clay (2-3): The Mustangs cruised to a 93-59 win over Clay in their previous meeting. Spencer Andrews registered 13 points in Kouts’ 62-40 loss to Kankakee Valley. Amari Williams ended with 11 points in the Colonials’ 76-35 loss to Washington. Matt’s pick: Clay 54, Kouts 50.
Northridge (1-1) at Angola (2-3): The Raiders claimed a 60-51 win against Angola last year. Nolan Bales added eight points in Noethridge’s 80-67 win at East Noble. Dane Lantz managed 10 points in the Hornets’ 46-39 loss to Woodlan. Matt’s pick: Northridge 71, Angola 61.
Riley (2-3) at Rushville (0-4): Jahmal Roberts finished with 12 points for the Wildcats against Glenn. Jerron Taylor accounted for 25 points in the Lions’ 67-49 loss to New Palestine. Matt’s pick: Riley 75, Rushville 63.
Saint Joseph (3-1) at Goshen (3-1): The Indians earned a 68-50 win over Goshen a year ago. Cole Hatkevich finished with 15 points for Saint Joseph against Jimtown. Ryan Eldridge’s two points helped the RedHawks get past Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 62, Goshen 56.
Wawasee (2-2) at Whitko (2-2): The Warriors earned a 63-55 win over Whitko last season. Austin Cripe’s 21 points were not enough for Wawasee against West Noble. Slater Craig had 14 points in the Wildcats’ 67-32 win over Smith Academy. Matt’s pick: Whitko 48, Wawasee 45.