Improvement was made as I went 18-4 (82 percent) last week. My overall record is now 52-15, which has me at 78 percent for the season.
TUESDAY
Bremen (3-1) at Lakeland Christian (0-5): Landon Bates contributed three points in the Lions’ 62-32 win over New Prairie. Micah Martin tallied 24 points in the Cougars’ 68-40 loss to Bluffton. Matt’s pick: Bremen 44, Lakeland Christian 37.
Goshen (3-2) at Clay (3-2): The RedHawks edged Clay, 54-49, a season ago. Merrill Weddell chipped in six points in Goshen’s 63-55 win over Saint Joseph. Brad Hicks ended with 14 points in the Colonials’ 77-72 loss to Washington. Matt’s pick: Clay 70. Goshen 65.
Jimtown (0-4) at NorthWood (1-1): The defending Class 3A state champion Panthers clawed their way to a 66-28 win over Jimtown a year ago. Dylan Fey’s 21 points and eight rebounds were not enough in the Jimmies’ 81-49 loss to Saint Joseph. Ethan Wolfe poured in 16 points in NorthWood’s 36-21 win over Fairfield. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 49, Jimtown 38.
Mishawaka (2-1) at Michigan City (3-1): The Cavemen captured their first sectional crown since 1986 with a 77-68 win over Michigan City last season. Brady Fisher recorded 18 points in Mishawaka’s 49-41 loss at Andrean. Elijah Wright mustered 16 points in the Wolves’ 70-34 win over Hammond Central. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 61, Michigan City 58.
Oregon-Davis (0-4) at New Prairie (0-4): The Bobcats are looking to make amends for a 56-41 loss to New Prairie in their last meeting. Oregon-Davis is looking to halt a 21-game losing streak dating back to the 2022-23 season. Jaydon Clemons came up with four points for the Cougars against Bremen. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 42, Oregon-Davis 33.
Riley (5-0) at Northridge (4-1): The Wildcats went to overtime to past a 65-59 win over Northridge last year. Riley is off to its best start since the 2018-19 campaign. Brady Scholl’s 22 points lifted the Raiders to a 72-64 win over Angola. Matt’s pick: Riley 77. Northridge 71.
FRIDAY
Adams (3-1, 1-1 NIC) at Clay (3-3, 1-2 NIC): The Eagles clipped Clay, 71-67, a year ago. KJ Johnston mustered five points in Adams’ 51-40 win over Elkhart. Noah Fernandez managed six points in the Colonials’ 63-52 loss to Goshen. Matt’s pick: Clay 76, Adams 71.
Bremen (4-1, 1-0 NIC) at Penn (4-1, 2-0 NIC): The Kingsmen clubbed Bremen, 79-16, a season ago. Julian Alverado ended with 10 points in the Lions’ 55-32 win over Lakeland Christian. Ethan Good tallied five points in Penn’s 38-35 loss to Concord. Matt’s pick: Penn 69, Bremen 49.
Concord (5-1) at Mishawaka (3-1): The Cavemen claimed a 52-30 win over Concord last year. Lucas Prough had seven points for the Minutemen against Penn. Anthony Nelson drained a three-pointer in Mishawaks’s 54-44 win over Michigan City. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 51, Concord 48.
Glenn (1-4, 1-2 NIC) at Washington (5-1, 3-0 NIC): The Falcons earned a 2023 Class 3A regional crown with a 58-54 win over No. 9 Washington. Joe Devine scored three points in Glenn’s 52-46 loss at Tippecanoe Valley. Josh Johnson scored five points in the Panthers’ 68-65 win over LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Washington 65, Glenn 50.
Jimtown (0-5, 0-2 NIC) at New Prairie (1-4, 0-3 NIC): The Cougars clawed past Jimtown, 54-51, in their previous meeting. Brandon King accounted for six points in the Jimmies’ 33-32 loss to defending Class 3A state champion NorthWood. Devan Kalicki mustered six points in New Prairie’s 53-45 win over Oregon-Davis. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 38, New Prairie 37.
Lake Central (4-0) at Marian (2-3): Dorien Beatty and the Indians are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign. Paxan Sullivan poured in 17 points in the Knights’ 65-27 win over Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Marian 60, Lake Central 58.
Plymouth (3-2) at NorthWood (2-1): The Pilgrims dropped a 54-30 decision to No. 7 (Class 3A) NorthWood during the 2022-23 season. Keegin Stats chipped in 12 points for the Panthers against Jimtown. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 45, Plymouth 41.
Saint Joseph (3-2, 2-0 NIC): at Riley (5-1, 3-0 NIC): The Wildcats suffered a 73-65 loss to Saint Joseph last year. Nick Shrewsberry’s two points were not enough for Saint Joe against Goshen. Brandon Williams amassed five points in Riley’s 42-41 loss at Northridge. Matt’s pick: Riley 77, Saint Joseph 74.
Wawasee (3-2) at Warsaw (3-1): In the battle for the 2022-23 “W” trophy, the Tigers posted a 63-40 win over Wawasee. The Warriors’ 58-53 triple-overtime loss to Whitko was their first triple-overtime contest since a 59-56 setback to Elkhart in the 2012-13 season. Brandt Martin logged 14 points in Warsaw’s 57-56 loss to Fort Wayne North. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 63, Wawasee 54.
SATURDAY
Adams (4-1) at Michigan City (3-3): The Wolves downed Adams, 70-62, in the 2023 Class 4A LaPorte sectional quarterfinals. Jarvis Tolbert recorded 18 points in the Eagles’ 67-41 win at Clay. Anthony Murphy notched 17 points in Michigan City’s 81-72 loss to East Chicago Central. Matt’s pick: Adams 72, Michigan City 66.
East Noble (3-2) vs. Concord (5-2) (Grace College): The Minutemen claimed a 55-26 win over East Noble last season. Kobe Ritchie registered 11 points in the Knights’ 47-44 win over Lakeland. Parker McCuen added 10 points in Concord’s 43-34 loss to Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Concord 59, East Noble 53.
Elkhart (0-6) at Valparaiso (4-2): The Lions dropped a 64-32 setback to Valparaiso a year ago. Frankie Willis registered nine points in the Lions’ 51-40 loss against Adams. Caden Crowell ended with 13 points in the Vikings’ 68-64 overtime win over Gary 21st Century. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 65, Elkhart 49.
Fort Wayne Concordia (2-1) vs. Saint Joseph (3-3) (Grace College): Jerry Barca’s four points were mot enough in the Indians’ 79-72 loss at Riley. Cole Hayworth ended with 12 points in the Cadets’ 49-45 win over Bellmont. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 71, Fort Wayne Concordia 61.
Glenn (1-5) at LaVille (3-1): The Lancers captured the 2023 Everwise Bi-County tournament title with a 54-52 win over Glenn.: Carson Krueger finished with 16 points in the Falcons’ 55-48 loss to No. 9 (Class 3A) Washington. Lucas Plummer scored 18 points in LaVille’s 69-55 win over Winamac. Matt’s pick: LaVille 46, Glenn 44.
Jimtown (1-5) at Fairfield (2-3): The Jimmies posted a 53-43 win against Fairfield last year Jackson Clopton racked up nine points in Jimtown’s 66-35 win over New Prairie. Tyson Frey mustered 11 points for the Falcons against NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 37, Fairfield 33.
Marian (2-4) at Gary West (6-1): The Cougars are looking to avenge a 58-52 loss to Marian in their previous meeting. Deuce Owens totaled 17 points in the Knights’ 53-45 loss to Lake Central. Bryce Cooper accounted for 18 points in Gary West’s 64-47 win over Marquette Catholic. Matt’s pick: Gary West 61, Marian 58.
Northridge (5-1) at Goshen (4-2): The Raiders were a 59-50 winner over Goshen during the 2022-23 season. Dylan Springer’s two points allowed Northridge to get past Riley. Braxton Cline’s 10 points helped the RedHawks get past Clay. Matt’s pick: Northridge 54, Goshen 49.
Washington (6-1) vs. Warsaw (3-2) Grace College): The No. 9 (Class 3A) Panthers clawed past Warsaw, 51-44, a season ago. Steven Reynolds amassed 23 points for Washington against Glenn. Robbie Finlinson tallied 11 points in the Tigers’ 56-51 loss to Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Washington 57, Warsaw 51.