It proved to be another productive performance last week as I posted a 21-3 (88 percent) record. My overall record is now 188-47, which has me at 80 percent for the year.
TUESDAY
Jimtown (2-13) at Elkhart Christian (5-8): The Eagles soared to a 58-46 win over Jimtown a year ago. -Javen Jackson ended with 11 points in the Jimmies’ 66-29 loss to No. 6 (Class 3A) Washington. Aiden Hibbard had nine points in Elkhart Christian’s 47-33 loss to Triton. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 39, Elkhart Christian 37.
Adams (5-8) at Victory Christian (15-4): Amari Wesson was limited to six points in the Eagles’ 57-47 loss to Glenn. The Lions saw their 10-game winning streak snapped with a 60-48 loss to Illiana Christian. Matt’s pick: Adams 61, Victory Christian 56.
Saint Joseph (8-9) at Culver Academy (9-5): The Indians posted a 52-48 win over Culver Academy last season. Brashaun Woods tallied 16 points in Saint Joseph’s 62-46 win over New Prairie. Cooper Farrall netted 29 points in the Eagles’ 56-44 win over Lake Forest Academy. Matt’s pick: Culver Academy 50, Saint Joseph 45.
THURSDAY
Concord (9-7, 3-2 NLC) at NorthWood (14-2, 5-0 NLC): The top-ranked (Class 3A) Panthers needed overtime last year to earn a 52-50 win over Concord. Braeden Messenger mustered five points in the Minutemen’s 58-34 win over LaPorte. Cade Brenner poured in 25 points in NorthWood’s 53-36 win over Warsaw. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 61, Concord 43.
Glenn (10-7, 4-4 NIC) at Penn (16-1, 7-0 NIC): The No. 2 (Class 4A) Kingsmen crowned Glenn, 78-53, a season ago. Carson Krueger chipped in four points in the Falcons’ 57-47 win over Adams. Dominic Bonner added seven points in Penn’s 80-41 win over Goshen. Matt’s pick: Penn 71, Glenn 58.
Goshen (8-7, 2-3 NLC) at Plymouth (6-9, 1-4 NLC): The RedHawks grounded Plymouth, 50-24, in their previous meeting. Noah Alford came up with six points for Goshen against Penn. Davis Wray’s 10 points lifted the Pilgrims to a 51-48 win at Northridge. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 48, Goshen 45.
Jimtown (3-13, 0-7 NIC) at Adams (6-8, 2-5 NIC): The Jimmies dropped a 74-47 decision to Adams last year. Jackson Clopton and the Jimmies ended their eight-game losing streak with a 51-47 win over Elkhart Christian. Da’yon Woods scored 10 points in the Eagles’ 82-74 win over Victory Christian. Matt’s pick: Adams 60, Jimtown 46.
Marian (16-2, 5-1 NIC) at Bremen (0-14, 0-6 NIC): The No. 2 (Class 3A) Knights crowned Bremen, 74-38, a year ago. Paxan Sullivan came up with three points in Marian’s 69-49 win over No. 4 (Class 3A) Washington. Camden Hickman recorded seven points in the Lions’ 70-46 loss at Clay. Matt’s pick: Marian 67, Bremen 42.
Mishawaka (14-2, 4-1 NLC) at Warsaw (10-7, 3-2 NLC): The Tigers clawed past Mishawaka, 52-46, last season. Cooper Pritchett’s four points were not enough in the Cavemen’s 47-44 overtime loss at Goshen. Carson Gould finished with five points in Warsaw’s 58-33 win over Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 50, Mishawaka 49.
New Prairie (6-9, 2-5 NIC) at Elkhart (5-11, 4-3 NIC): The Lions roared past New Prairie, 75-45, a season ago. Corbin Jones tallied seven points in the Cougars’ 63-54 win over South Central. Tre’Vonn Brown managed five points for Elkhart against Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 54, New Prairie 47.
Northridge (7-9, 1-4 NLC) at Wawasee (6-11, 1-4 NLC): The Raiders managed a 48-35 win over Wawasee during the 2021-22 campaign. Noah Zmuda ended with four points for Northridge against Plymouth. Colin Ziebarth’s 17 points helped the Warriors to a 53-50 win at Lakeland. Matt’s pick: Northridge 52, Wawasee 50.
Riley (9-9, 5-3 NIC) at Washington (14-3, 6-2 NIC): The Wildcats came up on the short end of an 80-37 decision to No. 6 (Class 3A) Washington last year. Shamar Jackson accounted for three points in Riley’s 76-61 loss to No. 2 (Class 4A) Penn. Jarrell Richie amassed four points in the Panthers’ 54-48 win over Crown Point. Matt’s pick: Washington 73, Riley 64.
FRIDAY
Clay (8-7, 3-5 NIC) at Saint Joseph (8-10, 5-2 NIC): The Colonials will look to make amends for a 73-62 loss to Saint Joseph a season ago. Jaden Pigee had two points in Clay’s 75-47 win over Highland. Jayce Lee ended with 18 points in the Indians’ 61-41 loss to Culver Academy. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 62, Clay 58.
SATURDAY
Chesterton (13-4) at Warsaw (11-7): The Trojans marched past Warsaw, 59-51, last year. Justin Sims contributed 24 points and 12 rebounds in Chesterton’s 59-57 win at Michigan City. Drew Heckaman finished with a career-high 25 points in the Tigers’ 57-54 win over Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 62, Warsaw 57.
Jimtown (3-14) at Northridge (8-9): The Raiders edged Jimtown, 66-62, last season. Taysire Williams netted 13 points for the Jimmies against Adams. Alex Ellenson’s 16 points in a 74-54 win over Wawasee helped Northridge snap an eight-game losing streak. Matt’s pick: Northridge 50, Jimtown 40.
Lake Central (12-5) at Elkhart (6-11): The Lions went to overtime a year ago to post a 50-48 win over Lake Central in their last matchup. Jake Smith added 16 points in the Indians’ 61-55 win over Merrillville. Demarion Anderson poured in 26 points in Elkhart’s 71-56 win over New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Lake Central 51, Elkhart 41.
New Prairie (6-10) at Wheeler (3-12): The Cougars came away with a 64-45 win over Wheeler a season ago. Reece Lapczynski came up with 11 points for New Prairie against Elkhart. Jalen Lewis contributed 32 points in the Bearcats’ 65-53 loss to Boone Grove. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 57, Wheeler 42.
Oregon-Davis (2-16) at Bremen (0-15): The Lions earned a 54-41 win against Oregon-Davis last season. Carson Matthew added 11 points in the Bobcats’ 45-26 loss to Culver. Silas Laidig recorded nine points in Bremen’s 68-26 loss to No. 2 (Class 3A) Marian. Matt’s pick: Bremen 35, Oregon-Davis 30.
Westview (10-5) at Plymouth (7-9): The Pilgrims want to make up for a 47-41 loss to Plymouth a year ago. Brady Yoder surpassed the 1,000-point mark with his 23-point performance in the Warriors’ 80-69 loss to No. 5 (Class 3A) West Noble. Preston Wolfe’s nine points lifted Plymouth to a 57-51 overtime win over Goshen. Matt’s pick: Westview 44, Plymouth 42.
