Things didn’t go as well last week as I posted a 14-5 (74 percent) record. My overall record is now 144-41, which leaves me at 78 percent for the year.
TUESDAY
Concord (7-5) at Elkhart (3-9): The Minutemen edged host Elkhart, 49-47, in last year’s Class 4A sectional opener. Parker McCuen’s rebound basket helped Concord to a 44-41 win over Plymouth. Rodney Gates managed 11 points in the Lions’ 65-43 win at Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Concord 53, Elkhart 50.
Culver Academy (6-3) at Marian (13-1): The top-ranked Knights squeezed by Culver Academy, 39-38, in the 2022 Class 3A South Bend Washington regional final. Folabomi Fayemi tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds in the Eagles’ 55-47 win over Park Tudor. Elias Norgaard had two points in Marian’s 68-57 win over Adams. Matt’s pick: Marian 47, Culver Academy 44.
Jimtown (2-10) at Goshen (6-5): The Jimmies posted a 48-45 win over Goshen last season. Will Spurgeon came up with four points in Jimtown’s 94-40 loss to No, 2 (Class 4A) Penn. Quinn Bechtel added 11 points in the RedHawks’ 51-48 win over Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Goshen 56, Jimtown 46.
Mishawaka (11-2) at Clay (6-5): The Cavemen earned a 52-49 win against Clay a season ago, Rasauun Johnson chipped in 10 points in Mishawaka’s 69-43 win over Wawasee. Ameer Harris mustered nine points in the Colonials’ 70-36 loss to No. 1 (Class 3A) Marian. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 65, Clay 57.
Northridge (7-6) at Penn (10-1): The No. 2 Kingsmen claimed a 60-47 win over Northridge a year ago in the Class 4A Elkhart Sectional semifinals. Mason Bales finished with 15 points in the Raiders’ 51-46 loss to NorthWood. Trey Miller contributed nine points for Penn against Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Penn 70, Northridge 55.
NorthWood (11-2) at Saint Joseph (7-6): The No. 2 (Class 3A) Panthers clawed past Saint Joseph, 68-49, during the 2021-22 campaign, Ian Raasch’s 22 points lifted NorthWood past Northridge. Jayce Lee recorded 20 points in the Indians’ 58-51 win at Glenn. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 60, Saint Joseph 54.
TCU BI-COUNTY TOURNAMENT
Argos (8-3) at Culver (5-6): The Dragons were a 44-31 winner over Culver in their previous meeting. Sean Richard accounted for 23 points for Argos in a 54-33 win over Oregon-Davis, Emiliano Ortiz racked up nine points in the Cavaliers’ 26-24 loss to Triton. Matt’s pick: Argos 39, Culver 33.
Bremen (0-10) at Triton (6-4): The Trojans came away with a 42-33 victory against Bremen last year. Tyrus Graverson had four points in the Lions’ 59-39 loss to Elkhart. Cole Shively ended with 12 points for Triton against Culver. Matt’s pick: Triton 41, Bremen 31.
New Prairie (3-7) at Glenn (7-5): The Falcons soared to a 59-38 win over New Prairie on January 5. Gavin Gonzalez came up with eight points in the Cougars’ 65-48 loss to Riley. Chase Miller netted five points for Glenn against Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Glenn 50, New Prairie 40.
Oregon-Davis (2-10) at LaVille (5-7): The Lancers cruised to a 78-48 victory against Oregon-Davis a season ago. Conner Danford mustered eight points in the Bobcats’ 60-19 loss to Rochester. Michael Good ended with 13 points, including the game-winning bucket, in LaVille’s 65-63 win over Elkhart Christian/ Matt’s pick: LaVille 45. Oregon-Davis 30.
THURSDAY
Clay (6-6, 2-4 NIC) at Riley (8-7, 4-2 NIC): The Wildcats held on for a 66-63 win over Clay a year ago. Miguel Henry managed 11 points in the Colonials’ 83-62 loss to Mishawaka. Payton Baird’s 12 points helped Riley get past New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Riley 74, Clay 67.
FRIDAY
Adams (4-6) at Marquette Catholic (6-7): The Blazers suffered a 54-53 loss to Adams last season. Robert Horton finished with two points for the Eagles against Marian. Jason Kobe’s 24 points lifted Marquette Catholic to a 71-65 win over Bowman Academy. Matt’s pick: Marquette Catholic 58, Adams 51.
Concord (8-5, 2-1 NLC) at Warsaw (7-6. 2-1 NLC): The Minutemen managed a 58-56 win over Warsaw last year. Lucas Prough drained 26 points in Concord’s 59-46 win over Elkhart. Carson Gould chipped in five points in the Tigers’ 62-52 win against Peru. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 43, Concord 41.
Elkhart (3-10, 2-3 NIC) at Saint Joseph (7-7, 4-0 NIC): The Indians registered a 78-65 win over Elkhart in their last matchup. Braeden Becker scored two points for the Lions against Concord. Brashaun Woods ended with 14 points in Saint Joseph’s 66-37 loss to NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 55, Elkhart 47.
Goshen (7-5, 1-2 NLC) at NorthWood (12-2, 3-0 NLC): The RedHawks came up on the short end of a 54-40 decision to No. 2 (Class 3A) NorthWood last season. Ryan Eldridge amassed 11 points in Goshen’s 51-50 overtime win over Jimtown. Cade Brenner netted 21 points in the Panthers’ 66-37 win over Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 60, Goshen 49.
Jimtown (2-11, 0-5 NIC) at Washington (12-2, 5-1 NIC): The No. 5 (Class 3A) Panthers rolled to a 60-33 win over Jimtown a season ago. Bishop Williams managed seven points for the Jimmies against Goshen. Devin Devries added two points in Washington’s 49-40 win over Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Washington 69, Jimtown 46.
Marian (14-1, 3-0 NIC) at Penn (11-1, 4-0 NIC): The No. 1 (Class 3A) Knights managed a 68-59 win over No. 2 (Class 4A) Penn a year ago. Deuce Owens’ seven points vaulted Marian to a 46-34 win over Culver Academy. Mookie Ward came up with six points in the Kingsmen’s 85-42 win over Northridge. Matt’s pick: Penn 79, Marian 72.
Plymouth (5-8, 0-3 NLC) at Wawasee (4-9, 0-3 NLC): The Pilgrims recorded a 46-38 win against Wawasee during the 2021-22 season. Preston Wolfe scored 15 points for Plymouth against Elkhart. Peyton Felger was held to two points for the Warriors against Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Wawasee 48, Plymouth 45.
TCU BI-COUNTY TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS
Triton (7-4) vs. Glenn (8-5): The Falcons soared to a 52-27 win over Triton on January 6. Evan Briles contributed four points and seven rebounds in the Trojans’ 43-42 win over Bremen. Carson Krueger recorded seven points in Glenn’s 69-43 win over New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Glenn 51, Triton 43.
Argos (9-3) vs. LaVille (6-7): The Dragons dropped a 47-46 decision to LaVille on December 6. Luke Stults amassed 11 points for Argos in a 43-39 win over Culver. Ross Wagner racked up nine points in the Lancers’ 68-28 win over Oregon-Davis. Matt’s pick: LaVille 45, Argos 44.
CONSOLATION ROUND
Bremen (0-11) vs. New Prairie (3-8): The Cougars held on for a 42-41 win over Bremen on December 9. Silas Laidig tallied 15 points for the Lions against Triton. Devan Kalicki mustered 10 points for New Prairie against Glenn. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 40, Bremen 32.
Culver (5-7) vs. Oregon-Davis (2-11): The Cavaliers posted a 37-28 win over Oregon-Davis in last year’s Class 1A sectional opener. Davis Hite scored eight points for Culver against Argos. Cashton Swanson had six points for the Bobcats against LaVille. Matt’s pick: Culver 36, Oregon-Davis 28.
SATURDAY
Northridge (7-7, 1-2 NLC) at Mishawaka (12-2, 3-0 NLC): The Raiders racked up a 59-53 win over Mishawaka a season ago. Gideon Campbell contributed six points for Northridge against Penn. Arthur Jones poured in 24 points for the Cavemen against Clay. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 62, Northridge 56.
Penn (12-1) at Carroll (Fort Wayne) (8-4): The No. 2 (Class 4A) Kingsmen opened last year with a 70-52 win over Carroll (Fort Wayne). Trey Miller accounted for 11 points in Penn’s 65-52 win over No. 1 (Class 3A) Marian. Drelyn Truesdale ended with 20 points in the Chargers’ 58-52 win over New Haven. Matt’s pick: Penn 70, Carroll 54.
Warsaw (8-6) at Valparaiso (8-8): The Tigers roared to a 57-51 win over Valparaiso a year ago. Luke Yeager registered 13 points and 10 rebounds in Warsaw’s 52-35 win over Concord. Derrick Brooks accounted for six points for the Vikings against Washington. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 47, Warsaw 43.
TCU BI-COUNTY TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP
Glenn (9-5) vs. LaVille (7-7): The Falcons flew past LaVille, 47-33, on December 17. Joe Chrapliey recorded 12 points in Glenn’s 56-22 win over Triton. Collin Czarnecki led the charge with 29 points in the Lancers’ 59-52 win over Argos. Matt’s pick: Glenn 52, LaVille 42.