Some progress was made as I posted a 22-4 (85 percent) record last week. This leaves my overall record at 54-19, which leaves me at 74 percent for the season.
TUESDAY
Clay (3-2) at Goshen (3-2): The RedHawks soared to a 69-44 win against Clay a season ago. Jamari Jones came up with five points in the Colonials’ 79-39 loss to Washington. Gage Worthman recorded 24 points and 11 rebounds in Goshen’s 73-64 overtime loss to Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Goshen 55, Clay 48.
Michigan City (3-1) at Mishawaka (3-1): The Wolves ended Mishawaka’s 2021-22 season with a 58-55 win in the Class 4A Plymouth sectional opener. Anthony Murphy tallied nine points in Michigan City’s 76-48 loss at Hammond Central. Cooper Pritchett registered 10 points for the Cavemen in their 62-57 win over Riley. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 61, Michigan City 57.
New Prairie (1-3) at Oregon-Davis (1-3): The Cougars clawed past Oregon-Davis twice last season by scores of 79-63 and 53-40. Kole Staley helped New Prairie snap a 14-game Northern Indiana Conference losing streak with 10 points in a 42-41 win over Bremen. The Bobcats were held scoreless in the first half of their 29-19 loss to Trinity Greenlawn. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 46, Oregon-Davis 35.
Northridge (5-0) at Riley (3-3): The Wildcats managed an 89-64 win at Northridge a year ago. Nolan Bales’ 13 points lifted the Raiders to a 56-44 win over Angola. Marvin Schindler ended with 17 points for Riley against Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Northridge 58, Riley 54.
NorthWood (5-1) at Jimtown (1-3): The No. 3 (Class 3A) Panthers rolled to a 72-50 win against Jimtown last year. Ian Raasch netted 19 points in NorthWood’s 64-24 win over Fairfield. Justin Price racked up eight points in the Jimmies’ 53-51 loss to No. 10 (Class 1A) Argos. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 73, Jimtown 52.
Washington (6-0) at Andrean (0-2): The 59ers suffered a 63-31 loss to No. 4 (Class 3A) Washington in their previous meeting. Terrence Reid came up with 12 points in the Panthers’ 62-54 win at LaPorte. Aiden Austin’s 36 points were not enough in Andrean’s 80-62 loss to Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Washington 69, Andrean 50.
FRIDAY
Clay (3-3, 1-2 NIC) at Adams (0-2, 0-2 NIC): The Eagles flew past Clay, 82-50, a year ago. Ayden Kent chipped in nine points in the Colonials’ 54-49 loss at Goshen. Brittain Vann poured in 28 points in Adams’ 52-50 loss to Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Adams 62, Clay 59.
Mishawaka (3-2) at Concord (2-4): The Cavemen earned a 56-47 win over Concord last season. Brady Fisher came up with 14 points and 13 rebounds in Mishawaka’s 67-49 loss to Michigan City. Parker McCuen mustered seven points in the Minutemen’s 78-47 loss to No. 2 (Class 4A) Penn. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 54, Concord 50.
New Prairie (2-3, 1-2 NIC) at Jimtown (1-4. 0-2 NIC): The Jimmies were a 59-56 winner against New Prairie last year. Trent Plantz scored nine points in the Cougars’ 56-41 win over Oregon-Davis. Max Gappa accounted for six points in Jimtown’s 66-28 loss to No. 3 (Class 3A) NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 43, New Prairie 40.
NorthWood (6-1) at Plymouth (3-2): The Pilgrims dropped a 55-38 decision to No. 3 (Class 3A) NorthWood a season ago. Cade Brenner ended with 20 points for the Panthers against Jimtown. Kadyn Ellery finished with six points in Plymouth’s 64-44 loss to No. 1 (Class 3A) Marian. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 63, Plymouth 45.
Penn (5-0, 2-0 NIC) at Bremen (0-5, 0-1 NIC): The No. 2 (Class 4A) Kingsmen crowned Bremen, 73-48, during the 2021-22 season. Marcus Burton’s 38 points vaulted Penn to a 58-51 win over Zionsville. Aden Hunziker totaled three points for the Lions against New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Penn 79, Bremen 51.
Riley (4-3, 2-1 NIC) at Saint Joseph (4-1, 2-0 NIC): The Indians recorded a 69-59 win over Riley in their last matchup. Manny Hill’s 16 points lifted the Wildcats to a 65-59 overtime win over Northridge. Jayce Lee accounted for 15 points for Saint Joseph against Goshen. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 68, Riley 65.
Warsaw (2-2) at Wawasee (2-3): The Warriors dropped a 61-41 decision to Warsaw a year ago. Jaxon Gould came up with 15 points in the Tigers’ 60-53 loss at Fort Wayne North. Peyton Felger racked up 14 points in Wawasee’s 61-37 win over Whitko. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 55, Wawasee 44.
Washington (7-0, 3-0 NIC) at Glenn (1-4, 1-2 NIC): The Falcons claimed a pair of victories over No. 4 (Class 3A) Washington last year by counts of 54-47 and 46-35. Steven Reynolds tallied 17 points in the Panthers’ 86-55 win over Andrean. Carson Krueger mustered only three points in Glenn’s 55-43 loss to Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: Washington 71, Glenn 60.
SATURDAY
Concord (2-5) vs. East Noble (0-4) (Grace College): The Minutemen came up on the short end of a 64-36 decision to East Noble a season ago. Davon Smith added seven points in Concord’s 52-30 loss to Mishawaka. Hunter Kline poured in 22 points in the Knights’ 98-69 loss to Carroll (Fort Wayne). Matt’s pick: Concord 44, East Noble 42.
Fairfield (2-3) at Jimtown (1-5): The Jimmies posted a 59-55 victory against Fairfield last year. Noah Mast recorded five points in the Falcons’ 50-41 loss to Goshen. Gaege Wachs was limited to two points for Jimtown against NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Fairfield 38, Jimtown 35.
Gary West (2-3) at Marian (6-0): The top-ranked (Class 3A) Knights posted a 71-57 win over Gary West during the 2011-12 campaign. Trevion Williamson had 12 points in the Cougars’ 50-37 loss to Hammond Central. Deuce Owens scored 10 points in Marian’s 65-59 win over Warren Central. Matt’s pick: Marian 76, Gary West 63.
Goshen (4-2) at Northridge (5-1): The RedHawks surprised No. 9 (Class 4A) Northridge, 57-55, last season. Ryan Eldridge contributed 12 points for Goshen against Clay. Mason Bales’ 14 points were not enough for the Raiders against Riley. Matt’s pick: Northridge 61, Goshen 56.
LaVille (4-2) at Glenn (2-4): The Lancers are hoping to make amends for a 42-29 loss against Glenn a year ago. Collin Czarnecki racked up 25 points in LaVille’s 56-37 win over Pioneer. Chase Miller scored 10 points in the Falcons’ 52-31 upset of No. 4 (Class 3A) Washington. Matt’s pick: Glenn 52, LaVille 49.
Michigan City (5-1) at Adams (1-2): The Eagles captured the 2022 Class 4A Plymouth Sectional crown with a 78-71 win over Michigan City. Jaime Hodges recorded 10 points in the Wolves’ 69-65 win over East Chicago Central. Tommie Hunt’s 10 points lifted Adams to a 71-67 win over Clay. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 69, Adams 64.
Saint Joseph (5-1) vs. Warsaw (3-2) (Grace College): The Tigers managed a 100-73 win against Saint Joseph in the 1994-95 season. Brashawn Woods poured in 17 points in the Indians’ 73-65 win over Riley. Brandt Martin’s six points vaulted Warsaw to a 63-40 win over Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 65, Warsaw 61.
Valparaiso (3-2) at Elkhart (1-5): The Vikings seized a 62-47 win over Elkhart last year. Mason Jomes surpassed the 1,000-point in his career with 29 points in Valparaiso’s 66-51 win over East Chicago Central. Jacob Windy amassed 11 points for the Lions against Adams. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 70, Elkhart 57.