Things went better last week as I posted a 23-3 (88 percent) record. My overall record is now 167-44, which has me at 79 percent for the year.
MONDAY
New Prairie (4-8) at Boone Grove (3-7): The Cougars clawed past Boone Grove, 40-37, during the 2018-19 campaign. Devan Kalicki rolled up 16 points in New Prairie’s 52-43 win against Bremen. Jack Stevens tallied 21 points in the Wolves’ 71-44 loss to Morgan Township. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 45, Boone Grove 40.
TUESDAY
Adams (4-7, 1-4 NIC) at Bremen (0-12, 0-4 NIC): The Eagles needed overtime to post a 76-68 win over Bremen in the 2021-22 campaign. Amari Wesson came up with 12 points for Adams in its 70-53 loss to Marquette Catholic. AJ Ton’s four points were not enough for the Lions against New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Adams 61, Bremen 41.
Fairfield (3-9) at Mishawaka (13-2): The Falcons soared to a 56-49 win over Mishawaka a year ago. Tyson Frey ended with 10 points in Fairfield’s 50-47 loss to Westview. Tommy Harringer contributed 11 points in the Cavemen’s 73-57 win over Northridge. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 66, Fairfield 47.
Glenn (9-6, 3-3 NIC) at Marian (14-2, 3-1 NIC): The No. 2 Knights earned a Class 3A sectional crown in 2022 with a 46-43 win over Glenn. Chase Miller managed six points in the Falcons’ 54-52 loss to LaVille. Ben Warnell accounted for two points in Marian’s 66-52 loss to No. 2 (Class 4A) Penn. Matt’s pick: Marian 53, Glenn 43.
Riley (9-7) at Tippecanoe Valley (11-3): Manny Hill paced the Wildcats with 22 points in a 68-64 win over Clay. Nolan Cumberland racked up 13 points in the Vikings’ 62-47 win over Southwood. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 60, Riley 57.
Saint Joseph (7-8, 4-1 NIC) at Penn (13-1, 5-0 NIC): The No. 2 (Class 4A) Kingsmen crowned Saint Joseph, 73-56, last season. Brashaun Woods amassed 13 points in the Indians’ 64-58 loss to Elkhart. Joey Garwood netted 15 points in Penn’s 88-64 win over Carroll (Fort Wayne). Matt’s pick: Penn 75, Saint Joseph 54.
Wawasee (5-9) at Bethany Christian (10-4): The Warriors downed Bethany Christian, 58-48, last year. Peyton Felger’s four points lifted Wawasee to a 55-40 win over Plymouth. Tyson Chupp accounted for 28 points in the Bruins’ 69-39 win over Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Bethany Christian 49, Wawasee 47.
FRIDAY
Adams (5-7, 2-4 NIC) at Glenn (9-7, 3-4 NIC): The Eagles came up on the short end of a 64-51 decision to Glenn last year. Teon Wadley had eight points for Adams in its 53-48 win at Bremen. Noah Dreibelbeis came up with 10 points in the Falcons’ 52-41 loss at No. 2 (Class 3A) Marian. Matt’s pick: Glenn 58, Adams 50.
Bremen (0-13, 0-5 NIC) at Clay (6-7, 2-5 NIC): The Lions roared to a 72-48 win over Clay a season ago. Silas Laidig’s nine points were not enough for Bremen against Adams. Ahmad King tallied five points for the Colonials against Riley. Matt’s pick: Clay 60, Bremen 45.
Elkhart (4-10, 3-3 NIC) at Jimtown (2-12, 0-6 NIC): The Jimmies slipped past Elkhart, 54-51, last season. Rodney Gates poured in 11 points for the Lions against Saint Joseph. Dalton Cook ended with four points in Jimtown’s 66-29 loss to No. 4 (Class 3A) Washington. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 51. Jimtown 44.
Mishawaka (14-2, 4-0 NLC) at Goshen (7-6, 1-3 NLC): The Cavemen clubbed Goshen, 51-33, in their previous meeting. Jackson Snyder chipped in two points in Mishawaka’s 57-45 win over Fairfield. Braxton Cline added two points in the RedHawks’ 45-29 loss to top-ranked (Class 3A) NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 64, Goshen 59.
NorthWood (13-2, 4-0 NLC) at Warsaw (9-6, 3-1 NLC): The No. 1 (Class 3A) Panthers cruised to a 70-51 win over Warsaw during the 2021-22 season. Keegan Stats finished with two points for NorthWood against Goshen. Drew Heckaman finished with 15 points in the Tigers’ 61-58 win at Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 47, Warsaw 42.
Plymouth (5-9, 0-4 NLC) at Northridge (7-8, 1-3 NLC): The Pilgrims suffered a 55-45 loss to Northridge last year. Michael Sheely recorded four points in Plymouth’s 55-40 loss at Wawasee. Mason Bales came up with 22 points in the Raiders’ 73-57 loss to Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Northridge 61, Plymouth 51.
Penn (14-1, 6-0 NIC) at Riley (9-8, 5-2 NIC): The Wildcats dropped a 76-57 contest to No. 2 (Class 4A) Penn a year ago. Josh Gatete contributed eight points and nine rebounds in the Kingsmen’s 86-69 win over Saint Joseph. Ian Boles scored six points in Riley’s 50-46 loss to Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: Penn 79, Riley 62.
Saint Joseph (7-9, 4-2 NIC) at New Prairie (5-8. 2-4 NIC): The Indians rolled to a 97-40 victory over New Prairie last season. Jerry Barca had seven points for Saint Joseph against Penn. Kole Staley’s 11 points pivoted the Cougars to a 75-62 win at Boone Grove. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 53, New Prairie 43.
Washington (13-2, 6-1 NIC) at Marian (15-2, 4-1 NIC): The No. 4 (Class 3A) Panthers are looking to make amends for a 51-48 loss to No. 2 (Class 3A) Marian a season ago. Terrence Reid amassed five points for Washington against Jimtown. Zion Rhoades’ nine points lifted Marian past Glenn. Matt’s pick: Marian 75, Washington 70.
Wawasee (5-10, 1-3 NLC) at Concord (8-6, 2-2 NLC): The Minutemen marched past Wawasee, 66-56, in their last matchup. Weston Hoffert’s three points were not enough in the Warriors’ 50-49 loss to Bethany Christian. Javarion Sheppard accounted for three points in Concord’s 52-35 loss to Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Concord 45, Wawasee 38.
SATURDAY
Clay (7-7) at Highland (3-13): The Colonials registered a 70-62 win against Highland in the 2014-15 season. Ameer Harris tossed in 21 points in Clay’s 70-46 win over Bremen. Rico Maldonado managed 22 points in the Trojans’ 70-60 overtime loss to Andrean. Matt’s pick: Clay 64. Highland 49.
Concord (9-6) at LaPorte (10-6): The Slicers were a 60-53 winner over Concord last year. Andrew Kavanaugh connected for six points in the Minutemen’s 48-39 win over Wawasee. Malik Conley recorded eight points in LaPorte’s 68-51 loss to Crown Point. Matt’s pick: LaPorte 57, Concord 54.
Crown Point (9-6) at Washington (13-3): The Bulldogs earned a 65-53 win against No. 4 (Class 3A) Washington last season. Jack Svetich ended with four points for Crown Point against LaPorte. Ty’shaun Grundy was limited to four points in the Panthers’ 69-49 loss to No. 2 (Class 3A) Marian. Matt’s pick: Washington 77, Crown Point 63.
New Prairie (5-9) at South Central (4-10): The Cougars recorded a 74-43 win over South Central a season ago. Trent Platz’s 10 points was not enough in New Prairie’s 62-46 loss to Saint Joseph. Jay Huerta connected for 17 points in the Satellites’ 55-40 win over Tri Township. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 46, South Central 36.
Penn (15-1) at Goshen (8-6): The No. 2 (Class 4A) Kingsmen racked up a 70-45 victory against Goshen a year ago. Joe Smith canned 10 points in Penn’s 76-61 win against Riley. Gage Warthman’s three-points with three seconds left in overtime lifted the RedHawks to a 47-44 win over Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Penn 70, Goshen 51.
Warsaw (9-7) at Elkhart (5-10): The Tigers squeezed by Elkhart, 44-43, the last time these two clubs met. Luke Bricker mustered two points in Warsaw’s 53-36 loss to No. 1 (Class 3A) NorthWood. Tre Brown came up with six points and 10 rebounds in the Lions’ 54-32 win over Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 51, Elkhart 49.
Wawasee (5-11) at Lakeland (10-5): The host Warriors claimed a 53-32 win over Lakeland in last year’s Class 3A sectional semifinals. Darius Lewis had five points for Wawasee against Concord. Ben Keil scored 14 points in the Lakers’ 61-55 win at Columbia City. Matt’s pick: Lakeland 50, Wawasee 44.
