A little improvement was made as I went 15-7 (68 percent) last week. Heading into the final week of 2023, my overall record is now 82-31, which has me at 73 percent for the season.
WEDNESDAY
EAST NOBLE TOURNAMENT
Garrett (4-4) vs. East Noble (4-3): The Knights crowned Garrett, 49-41, a season ago. Drayton Myers finished with 15 points in the Railroaders’ 52-39 win over Bluffton. Ryan Quake netted 27 points in East Noble’s 53-42 win against Goshen. Matt’s pick: East Noble 58, Garrett 54.
Fremont (4-4) vs. Glenn (2-5): The Falcons soared to a 55-38 win over Fremont last year. Ethan Grimm’s seven points were not enough for the Eagles in their 70-38 loss to Woodlan. Carson Krueger managed seven points in Glenn’s 56-44 win over LaVille. Matt’s pick: Glenn 61, Fremont 51.
Consolation game: Glenn (2-6) vs. Garrett (4-5): Matt’s pick: Glenn 43, Garrett 40.
Championship game: Fremont (5-4) vs. East Noble (5-3): Matt’s pick: East Noble 52, Garrett 41.
HOMESTEAD TOURNAMENT
Hamilton Southeastern (3-3) vs. Marian (2-5): The Knights suffered a 49-46 loss to Hamilton Southeastern during the 2019-20 campaign. Nate Orr tallied 19 points in the Royals’ 62-49 win over Christel House Manual. Ben Warnell added two points in Marian’s 55-50 loss to Gary West. Matt’s pick: Hamilton Southeastern 59, Marian 52.
Zionsville (4-3) vs. Saint Joseph (5-3): Drew Snively contributed 20 points in the Eagles’ 69-52 win over Bloomington North. Chase Konieczny surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career with 18 points in Saint Joe’s 86-65 win over Saint Pius X (Missouri). Matt’s pick: Zionsville 66, Saint Joseph 60.
Marian (2-6) vs. Homestead (4-5): The Spartans needed overtime to claim a 55-49 win against Marian a year ago. Jordan Maust ended with two points in the Knights’ 53-45 loss to Lake Central. Alex Graber’s 10 points helped Homestead to a 41-38 win over DeKalb. Matt’s pick: Homestead 48, Marian 47.
Saint Joseph (5-4) vs. Carroll (Fort Wayne) (3-5): Jayce Lee came up with 14 points in Saint Joe’s 58-55 win over Fort Wayne Concordia. Jaxson Pardon accounted for 23 points in the Chargers’ 75-70 loss to Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 63, Carroll 58.
THURSDAY
FISHERS TOURNAMENT
Lawrence Central (4-3) vs, Chesterton (4-3): Greg Martin recorded 16 points in the Bears’ 69-55 win over Indianapolis Pike. Tyler Parish ended with 24 points in the Trojans’ 54-44 loss to Penn. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 69, Lawrence Central 65.
Jeffersonville (5-3) vs. Riley (9-2): Michael Cooper poured in 24 points in the Red Devils’ 64-57 loss to No. 8 (Class 4A) Kokomo. Payton Baird canned 24 points in the Wildcats’ 49-48 win over Mount Vernon (Fortville). Matt’s pick: Riley 75. Jeffersonville 71.
Lawrence Central (4-4) vs. Jeffersonville (5-4): Matt’s pick: Jeffersonville 67, Lawrence Central 62.
HOMESTEAD TOURNAMENT
Marian (3-6) vs. Valparaiso (7-3): The Knights downed Valparaiso, 48-46, last year. Paxan Sullivan’s 15 points lifted Marian to a 56-43 win over Homestead. Jack Smiley accounted for 26 points in the Vikings’ 62-51 win over Homestead. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 61, Marian 56.
Saint Joseph (5-5) vs. Munster (5-4): The Mustangs cruised to a 74-49 win against Saint Joseph in their last meeting. Chase Konieczny poured in 39 points in Saint Joe’s 72-70 loss to Zionsville. David Cundiff managed 11 points in Munster’s 60-52 loss to East Chicago Central. Matt’s pick: Munster 59, Saint Joseph 53.
Saint Joseph (5-6) vs. Homestead (4-6): Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 45, Homestead 42.
Carroll (Fort Wayne) (4-6) vs. Marian (3-7): Matt’s pick: Marian 51, Carroll (Fort Wayne) 49.
Zionsville (6-4) vs. Valparaiso (8-3): Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 54, Zionsville 50.
Munster (6-4) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (6-3): Matt’s pick: Hamilton Southeastern 62, Munster 59,
HUNTINGTON NORTH TOURNAMENT
Adams (4-2) vs. Huntington North (0-7): Lemonz Jones tallied nine points in the Eagles’ 67-46 loss to Michigan City. Ethan Zahn racked up 14 points in the Vikings’ 63-44 loss to No. 2 (Class 4A) Westfield. Matt’s pick: Adams 57, Huntington North 48.
East Chicago Central (6-4) vs. Adams (4-3): The Cardinals posted a 65-57 win over Adams in the 2015-16 season. Lunden Walker finished with 12 points in East Chicago Central’s 69-33 win over Lighthouse Prep Academy. David Hayo amassed 12 points in the Eagles’ 67-41 win over Clay. Matt’s pick: East Chicago Central 71, Adams 64.
LAPORTE TOURNAMENT
Northridge (7-1) vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (6-0): Mason Bailes’ 24 points and 10 rebounds lifted the Raiders to a 69-62 win over Washington. Drelyn Truesdale scored 22 points in the No. 8 (Class 2A) Knights’ 69-47 win over Churubusco. Matt’s pick: Northridge 56, Bishop Luers 55.
Hanover Central (4-1) vs. Hammond Morton (2-5): The Governors were a 58-49 winner over Hanover Central during the 2021-22 campaign. Gage Rodriguez mustered 11 points in the Wildcats’ 71-34 win over Whiting. Hammond Morton had its two-game winning streak halted with a 49-46 loss to Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Hanover Central 45, Hammond Morton 43.
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (6-1) vs. Hammond Morton (2-6): Matt’s pick: Bishop Luers 59, Hammond Morton 42.
Northridge (8-1) vs. Hanover Central (5-1): Matt’s pick: Northridge 62, Hanover Central 52.
RICHMOND TOURNAMENT
NorthWood (3-2) vs. North Decatur (6-2): Ethan Wolfe totaled 16 points in the No. 6 and defending Class 3A state champion Panthers’ 50-35 loss to Fort Wayne Concordia. Chase Youngman registered 20 points in the Chargers’ 52-45 loss to Triton Central. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 50, North Decatur 47.
Indianapolis Tindley (6-1) vs. Centerville (3-5): Damon Van Horn’s 17 points helped the Tigers to a 61-56 win over Indianapolis Washington. Shea Hollendonner poured in 30 points in the Bulldogs’ 52-49 loss to Knightstown. Matt’s pick: Tindley 68, Centerville 59.
North Decatur (6-3) vs. Centerville (3-6): Matt’s pick: North Decatur 47, Centerville 45.
NorthWood (4-2) vs. Indianapolis Tindley (7-1): Matt’s pick: NorthWood 72, Tindley 69.
FRIDAY
FISHERS TOURNAMENT
Riley (10-2) vs. Chesterton (5-3): The Wildcats clawed past Chesterton, 84-77, during the 2002-03 campaign. Payton Baird’s half-court shot at the buzzer in overtime lifted Riley to a 60-58 win over Jeffersonville. Tyler Parrish’s free throws down the stretch helped the Trojans to a 57-54 win over Lawrence Central. Matt’s pick: Riley 70, Chesterton 63.
Portage (6-1) vs. Fishers (9-0): Michael Wellman drained a three-pointer as time expired to lift the Indians to a 69-66 win over Evansville Bosse. Justin Kirby had 17 points in the top-ranked (Class 4A) Tigers’ 94-48 win over Bloomington North. Matt’s pick: Fishers 80, Portage 65.
Consolation game: Riley (10-3) vs. Portage (6-2): Matt’s pick: Riley 75, Portage 68.
Championship game: Chesterton (6-3) vs. Fishers (10-0): Matt’s pick: Fishers 70, Chesterton 60.
HUNTINGTON NORTH TOURNAMENT
Adams (4-4) vs. Merrillville (3-4): The Pirates suffered a 63-57 loss to Adams last season. Jarvis Tolbert amassed 26 points in the Eagles’ 79-67 loss to East Chicago Central. Jaeden Williams added 11 points in the Pirates’ 61-59 loss to Fort Wayne Snider. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 57, Adams 55.
LAPORTE TOURNAMENT
Northridge (9-1) vs. LaPorte (7-3): Kam Radeker recorded 14 points in the Raiders’ 54-52 win over No. 7 (Class 2A) Fort Wayne Bishop Luers Malik Corley accounted for 17 points in the Slicers’ 65-50 win over Logansport. Matt’s pick: Northridge 65, LaPorte 62.
PLYMOUTH TOURNAMENT
Knox (2-2) vs. Plymouth (3-4): The Pilgrims registered a 43-27 win over Knox last season. Jashawn Tinsley added 12 points in the Redskins’ 57-42 win over Caston. Dan Nguyen tallied eight points in Plymouth’s 63-44 loss to Riley. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 44, Knox 38.
Lewis Cass (2-5) vs. New Prairie (1-7): Owen Lowe netted nine points in the Kings’ 66-37 loss to Manchester. Brody Wiginton ended with six points in the Cougars’ 41-35 loss to Boone Grove. Matt’s pick: Lewis Cass 35, New Prairie 33.
Consolation game: New Prairie (1-8) vs. Knox (2-3): Matt’s pick: Knox 36, New Prairie 30.
Championship game: Lewis Cass (3-5) vs. Plymouth (4-4): Matt’s pick: Plymouth 45, Lewis Cass 41.
RICHMOND TOURNAMENT
Fort Wayne North (8-2) vs. NorthWood (4-3): Eugene Young netted 14 points in the Legends’ 52-36 win over Indianapolis Shortridge. Keegin Stats chipped in 13 points in the No, 10 and defending Class 3A state champion Panthers’ 59-47 win over North Decatur. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne North 61, NorthWood 54.
NorthWood (5-3) vs. Bloomington South (6-4): Matt’s pick: NorthWood 59, Bloomington South 57.
WAWASEE TOURNAMENT
Rochester (3-3) vs. Wawasee (4-4): The Warriors managed a 61-48 win against Rochester in the 2013-14 season. Drew Bowers’ nine points were not enough in the Zebras’ 70-30 loss to Tippecanoe Valley. Collin Ziebarth finished with 18 points in Wawasee’s 68-48 loss to Central Noble. Matt’s pick: Wawasee 47, Rochester 41.
Fort Wayne Wayne (5-2) vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (1-3): The Generals charged to a 61-43 win over Bishop Dwenger a season ago. Jevon Lewis netted 22 points in Wayne’s 69-49 win over Columbia City. Caleb Lehman accounted for 16 points in the Saints’ 59-45 win over DeKalb. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Wayne 70, Bishop Dwenger 58.
Consolation game: Bishop Dwenger (2-4) vs. Rochester (3-4): Matt’s pick: Bishop Dwenger 51, Rochester 42.
Championship game: Fort Wayne Wayne (6-2) vs, Wawasee (5-4): Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Wayne 63, Wawasee 54.
SATURDAY
Warsaw (5-2) at Harrison (West Lafayette) (5-3): The Raiders claimed a 59-45 win against Warsaw a season ago. Brandt Martin contributed 14 points in the Tigers’ 75-70 win at Carroll (Fort Wayne). Malachi King accounted for 22 points in Harrison’s 57-41 win over McCutcheon. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 65, Harrison 63.