I was definitely in the holiday spirit after going 9-2 (82 percent) last week. Going into the final week of 2022, my overall record at 78-28, which has me at 74 percent for the year.
TUESDAY
EAST NOBLE TOURNAMENT
Garrett (1-7) at East Noble (0-6) (11 a.m.): The Knights crowned Garrett, 53-21, during the 2017-18 season. Kyle Smith’s 25 points helped the Railroaders to a 69-68 win over Bluffton. Hunter Kline came up with 16 points in East Noble’s 63-53 loss to Goshen. Matt’s pick: East Noble 43, Garrett 38.
Fremont (6-2) vs. Glenn (3-4) (12:45 p.m.): Brady Foulk recorded 17 points and six rebounds in the Eagles’ 72-64 loss to Woodlan. Noah Dreibelbeis notched nine points in the Falcons’ 47-33 win over LaVille. Matt’s pick: Glenn 59, Fremont 55.
Consolation: Garrett (1-8) vs. Fremont (6-3): Matt’s pick: Fremont 47. Garrett 37.
Championship: East Noble (1-6) vs. Glenn (4-4): Matt’s pick: Glenn 62, East Noble 46.
NOBLESVILLE TOURNAMENT
Northridge (7-1) vs. Noblesville (5-1) (4:15 p.m.): The No. 8 (Class 4A) Millers downed Northridge, 67-59, in the 2019-20 campaign. The winner-loser takes on Crown Point (4-3) or Castle (3-2) in the next round. Nolan Bales accounted for 11 points in the Raiders’ 72-67 win over Fort Wayne North. Cooper Bean chipped in 16 points in Noblesville’s 83-46 win over Marion. Matt’s pick: Noblesville 66, Northridge 62.
Castle (3-3) vs. Northridge (7-2): Matt’s pick: Northridge 49, Castle 48.
WARSAW CLASSIC
Portage (6-1) vs. Warsaw (4-2) (11 a.m.): The Tigers registered a 48-32 win over Portage in the 2020-21 season. Garrett Clark poured in 30 points in the Indians’ 76-46 win over Gary West. Jaxson Gould mustered 13 points in Warsaw’s 65-48 win over Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 47, Portage 44.
Washington (7-1) vs. Harrison (West Lafayette) (7-0) (11 a.m.): Steven Reynolds scored three points in the No. 8 (Class 3A) Panthers’ 52-31 loss to Glenn. Malachi King ended with 14 points in the Raiders’ 45-42 win over Lafayette Jeff. Matt’s pick: Washington 70, Harrison 67.
Portage (6-2) vs. Washington (7-2) (6 p.m.): The Indians needed to overtime to eliminate No. 8 (Class 3A) Washington, 81-73, in the 2001 Class 4A sectional semifinals. Jaelyn Johnson managed 22 points in Portage’s 94-32 win over Calumet. Tyshaun Grundy finished with six points in the Panthers’ 86-55 win over Andrean. Matt’s pick: Washington 53, Portage 50.
Harrison (West Lafayette) (8-0) vs. Warsaw (5-2) (8 p.m.): Ben Henderson amassed 25 points in the Raiders’ 56-40 win over McCutcheon. Drew Heckaman ended with 10 points in the Tigers’ 63-40 win over Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 51, Harrison 49.
WEDNESDAY
HOMESTEAD SHOOTOUT
Fishers (5-3) vs. Marian (7-0) (10 a.m.): Keenan Garner racked up 18 points and 11 rebounds in the Tigers’ 65-60 win over Hamilton Southeastern. Zion Rhoades’ seven points helped the top-ranked (Class 3A) Knights to a 58-52 win over Gary West. Matt’s pick: Marian 61, Fishers 59.
Hamilton Southeastern (2-3) vs. Saint Joseph (5-2) (10 a.m.): Donovan Hamilton’s 22 points were not enough for the Royals against Fishers. Trey Place contributed seven points in the Indians’ 73-65 win over Riley. Matt’s pick: Hamilton Southeastern 64, Saint Joseph 60.
Marian (8-0) vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (1-5) (7:30 p.m.): Grant Mishler chipped in two points in the Knights’ 64-44 win over Plymouth. Sam Campbell added 11 points in the Knights’ 46-36 win over DeKalb. Matt’s pick: Marian 70, Bishop Dwenger 55.
Saint Joseph (5-3) vs. Homestead (6-1) (7:30 p.m.): The No. 4 (Class 4A) Spartans cruised to a 71-46 win over Saint Joseph during the 2020-21 season. Chase Konieczny racked up 24 points for the Indians against Warsaw. Will Jamison had 13 points in Homestead’s 49-46 win over Leo. Matt’s pick: Homestead 75. Saint Joseph 62.
NOBLESVILLE TOURNAMENT
Northridge (7-3) vs. Chesterton (5-4): The Trojans cruised to a 64-40 win over Northridge last season. Wyatt Zepp came up with four points in the Raiders’ 65-59 overtime loss to Riley. Sean Kasper registered 16 points in Chesterton’s 82-47 win over Andrean. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 65, Northridge 61.
WARSAW CLASSIC
Portage (6-3) vs. Harrison (West Lafayette) (9-0): Michael Wellman netted 15 points in the Indians’ 58-51 loss to Warsaw. Christopher Lucas had six points in the Raiders’ 45-42 win over Lafayette Jeff. Matt’s pick: Harrison 57, Portage 48.
Washington (8-2) vs. Warsaw (5-3): The No. 8 (Class 3A) Panthers suffered an 88-58 loss to Warsaw a year ago. Marcus Northern’s 20 points propelled Washington to a 62-54 win over LaPorte. Brandt Martin recorded 13 points for the Tigers in a 59-45 loss to Harrison. Matt’s pick: Washington 76, Warsaw 71.
THURSDAY
HOMESTEAD SHOOTOUT
Munster (7-2) vs. Saint Joseph (5-4) (10 a.m.): David Cundiff accounted for 13 points in the Mustangs’ 47-44 loss to Lake Central. Chase Konieczny netted 25 points in the Indians’ 83-50 loss to No. 4 (Class 4A) Homestead. Matt’s pick: Munster 56, Saint Joseph 47.
Valparaiso (6-3) vs. Marian (9-0) (10 a.m.): Jack Smiley contributed nine points in the Vikings’ 46-33 loss to No. 10 (Class 4A) Carmel. Deaglan Sullivan ended with 21 points in the top-ranked (Class 3A) Knights’ 39-33 win over Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger. Matt’s pick: Marian 62, Valparaiso 58.
Saint Joseph (5-5) vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (1-7): Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 58, Bishop Dwenger 54.
Marian (10-0) vs. Homestead (8-1): Matt’s pick: Homestead 75, Marian 72.
HUNTINGTON NORTH TOURNAMENT
Mishawaka (5-2) vs. Fort Wayne Snider (1-4) (2 p.m.): Maddux Yohe chipped in 10 points in the Cavemen’s 74-42 win over New Prairie. Qualyn Clopton notched 10 points in the Panthers’ 55-38 loss to No. 8 (Class 4A) Center Grove. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 47, Fort Wayne Snider 43.
Mishawaka (6-2) vs. Huntington North (3-5) (6 p.m.): Brady Fisher’s 16 points lifted the Cavemen to a 52-30 win over Concord. Zach Nash’s 11 points were not enough in the Vikings’ 47-32 loss to No. 7 (Class 3A) Peru. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 51, Huntington North 44.
KOKOMO TOURNAMENT
Center Grove (8-0) vs. Riley (5-4) (6 p.m.): The winner-losers meets Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (4-3) or No. 6 (Class 4A) Kokomo (5-3) in the next contest. Owen Baker tallied eight points in the No. 8 (Class 4A) Trojans’ 81-52 win over Whiteland. Maleek Richardson ended with two points in the Wildcats’ 58-48 win over Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Center Grove 74, Riley 65.
LAPORTE TOURNAMENT
Adams (2-2) vs. Lowell (2-5) (11 a.m.): Next up is either Tippecanoe Valley (5-2) or Lake Central (5-1). Jeremiah Love racked up 13 points in the Eagles’ 70-60 win over Michigan City. Ethan Hernandez managed 15 points in the Red Devils’ 55-49 loss to Hobart. Matt’s pick: Adams 69, Lowell 50.
Adams (3-2) vs. Lake Central (6-1): Matt’s pick: Adams 63, Lake Central 60.
PLYMOUTH TOURNAMENT
Knox (3-4) vs. Plymouth (3-4) (10:30 a.m.): The Redskins downed Plymouth, 62-47, during the 2019-20 season. Owen Binkley registered 17 points in Knox’s 42-39 win over North Judson. Kadyn Ellery finished with four points for the Pilgrims against Riley. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 52, Knox 49,
Jimtown (2-6) vs. Lewis Cass (5-2): Taysire Williams had only four points in the Jimmies’ 61-59 loss to Triton. Luke Chambers recorded 24 points in the Kings’ 59-53 loss to Tipton. Matt’s pick: Lewis Cass 42, Jimtown 39.
Consolation: Knox (3-5) vs. Jimtown (2-7): Matt’s pick: Jimtown 35, Knox 32.
Championship: Plymouth (4-4) vs. Lewis Cass (6-2): Matt’s pick: Plymouth 41, Lewis Cass 37.
FRIDAY
HALL OF FAME CLASSIC
NorthWood (7-1) vs. North Daviess (8-0) (11 a.m.): Brock Bontrager scored five points in the No. 3 (Class 3A) Panthers’ 54-30 win over Plymouth. Lance Wilson paced the No. 2 (Class 3A) Cougars with 19 points in a 49-29 win over South Knox. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 40, North Daviess 38.
Penn (6-0) vs. Indianapolis Ben Davis (10-0) (12:45 p.m.): Dominic Bonner accounted for eight points in the No. 2 (Class 4A) Kingsnen’s 79-16 win at Bremen. Shaun Arnold totaled 14 points in the No. 1 (Class 4A) Giants’ 75-59 win over Lawrence Central. Matt’s pick: Ben Davis 77, Penn 73.
Consolation: North Daviess (8-1) vs. Penn (6-1): Matt’s pick: Penn 67, North Daviess 63.
Championship: NorthWood (8-1) vs. Ben Davis (11-0): Matt’s pick: Ben Davis 71, NorthWood 60.
HUNTINGTON NORTH TOURNAMENT
Mishawaka (7-2) vs. Merrillville (5-1): Cooper Pritchett tallied 12 points in the Cavemen’s 66-57 win over Fort Wayne Snider. Bryce Peters managed 16 points in the Pirates’ 75-55 win over Griffith, Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 55, Merrillville 54.
KOKOMO TOURNAMENT
Riley (5-5) vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (4-4): The Knights handed Riley a 57-50 setback during the 2005-06 season. Jaylen Barbara notched 17 points in the Wildcats’ 73-62 loss to No. 8 (Class 4A) Center Grove. Nick Thompson chipped in 16 points in Bishop Luers’ 75-48 loss to No. 6 (Class 4A) Kokomo. Matt’s pick: Riley 65, Bishop Luers 62/
Riley (6-5) vs. Guerin Catholic (5-4): Matt’s pick: Riley 72, Guerin Catholic 66.
LAPORTE TOURNAMENT
Adams (3-3) vs. Logansport (3-6): The Berries suffered a 71-65 loss to Adams during the 1999-2000 campaign. Javis Tolbert had eight points in the Eagles’ 48-46 loss to Lake Central. Jacob Taylor contributed 10 points in Logansport’s 55-23 loss to LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Adams 60, Logansport 51.
WAWASEE TOURNAMENT
Trinity (Greenlawn) (1-6) vs. Wawasee (3-5) (10 a.m.): Jack Trumble came up with nine points in the Titans’ 44-29 loss to Culver. Collin Roberson added seven points in the Warriors’ 55-47 win over Central Noble. Matt’s pick: Wawasee 50, Trinity 40.
Woodlan (8-2) vs. Rochester (3-2) (11:30 a.m.): The Zebras dropped a 61-34 contest to Woodlan a season ago. Trey Yoder registered 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Warriors against Fremont. Brock Bowers’ 13 points vaulted Rochester to a 63-38 win against North Miami. Matt’s pick: Woodlan 43, Rochester 41.
Consolation: Trinity (1-7) vs. Rochester (3-3); Matt’s pick: Rochester 45, Trinity 32.
Championship: Wawasee (4-5) vs. Woodlan (9-2): Matt’s pick: Woodlan 54, Wawasee 49.