February began a perfect note as I went 19-0 (100 percent) last week. My overall record is now 234-51, which has me at 82 percent for the season.
TUESDAY
Bremen (8-8) at New Prairie (3-14): The Lions roared to a 43-38 win over New Prairie a year ago. Silas Laidig had 11 points, but Bremen suffered a 56-54 overtime loss to Jimtown. Jayden Clemons’ six points were not enough in the Cougars’ 70-42 loss at Washington. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 49, New Prairie 39.
Career Academy (1-17) at Glenn (2-14): Phillip Bowker totaled five points in the Trailblazers’ 49-34 loss to Elkhart Christian. Matt Pearish amassed four points in the Falcons’ 60-53 loss to Westville. Matt’s pick: Glenn 54, Career Academy 41.
Elkhart Christian (6-11) at Wawasee (6-12): The Warriors needed overtime to a earn a 65-61 win over Elkhart Christian a season ago. Lewy Eyob tallied 11 points in the Eagles’ 49-35 win over Lakewood Park Christian. Austin Miller accounted for six points in Wawasee’s 58-20 loss to Northridge. Matt’s pick: Wawasee 51, Elkhart Christian 44.
Goshen (9-8) at Lakeland (11-6): The Lakers slipped past Goshen, 61-56, last year. Dominick Riley drained a pair of free throws in the RedHawks’ 62-49 win at Plymouth. Levi Cook added 12 points in Lakeland’s 52-34 win over Churubusco. Matt’s pick: Goshen 63, Lakeland 58.
Mishawaka (5-12) at Washington (13-4): The Cavemen clubbed Washington, 60-51, last season. Jackson Snyder netted 17 points in Mishawaka’s 61-49 loss to Warsaw. Ju Jones tossed in five points in the Panthers’ 82-50 win over Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Washington 69, Mishawaka 53.
Marian (11-8) at Jimtown (9-8): The Knights crowned Jimtown, 53-46, in their previous meeting. Terrance Lane finished with seven points in Marian’s 63-46 loss to No. 10 (Class 4A) Jeffersonville. Ed Potter mustered two points in the Jimmies’ 64-35 loss to Northridge. Matt’s pick: Marian 70, Jimtown 56.
NorthWood (15-3) at West Noble (8-9): The Panthers clawed past West Noble, 52-41, during the 2023-24 campaign. Tyler Raasch’s 20 points lifted NorthWood to 46-37 win over Concord. Jordan Eash helped the Chargers with 19 points in a 58-50 win over Fairfield. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 65, West Noble 57.
Pioneer (10-7) at Knox (1-13): The Redskins suffered a 45-35 loss to Pioneer a season ago. Aidan Quillen paced the Panthers with eight points in their 34-29 win over North Judson. Dayton Yeck finished with three points in Knox’s 50-36 loss to Trinity Greenlawn. Matt’s pick: Pioneer 46, Knox 38.
Plymouth (9-8) at Rochester (12-3): The Pilgrims claimed a 67-63 win over Rochester last season. Kadyn Ellery racked up 17 points and 18 rebounds in Plymouth’s 65-34 win against Career Academy. Drew Bowers rolled up 11 points in the Zebras’ 64-38 win over Southwood. Matt’s pick: Rochester 61, Plymouth 55.
Riley (14-3) at Columbia City (10-7): The Eagles soared past Riley, 56-46, during the 2015-16 campaign. Tree Johnson amassed 10 points in the Wildcats’ 69-56 win at Washington. Landon Richmond netted 19 points in Columbia City’s 65-57 win over New Haven. Matt’s pick: Riley 68, Columbia City 60.
Tippecanoe Valley (12-4) at North Miami (7-10): The Vikings marched past North Miami, 75-35, a year ago. Davis Cowan canned two three-pointers, good for six points, in Tippecanoe Valley’s 47-45 win over Western. Jake Riley registered 25 points in the Warriors’ 69-58 setback to Rochester. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 50, North Miami 43.
Warsaw (17-3) at Marion (8-8): The Giants posted a 76-66 win at No. 6 (Class 4A) Warsaw last year. Sam Lara ended with seven points for the Tigers against Mishawaka. Tim Jones registered 29 points in Marion’s 76-55 win over Muncie Central. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 64, Marion 59.
FRIDAY
Elkhart (5-12, 2-3 NIC) at Riley (15-3, 4-1 NIC): The Wildcats scratched their way to a 68-50 win against Elkhart last season. Tre’Vaun Ulmer added two points in the Lions’ 65-39 win over New Prairie. Isaiah Packer chipped in six points in Riley’s 57-47 win at Columbia City. Matt’s pick: Riley 76, Elkhart 58.
Glenn (3-14, 0-4 INSC) at LaVille (12-6, 1-3 INSC): The Falcons went to overtime last year to earn a 59-52 win over LaVille. Jude Nicks accounted for 21 points in Glenn’s 43-41 win over Career Academy. Brandyn Foster’s seven points helped the Lancers to a 55-43 win over West Noble. Matt’s pick: LaVille 57, Glenn 44.
Jimtown (9-9, 4-0 INSC) at Tippecanoe Valley (13-4, 4-0 INSC): The Vikings edged Jimtown, 36-29, a year ago. Jackson Woolwine amassed three points in the Jimmies’ 40-38 loss to Marian. William Mellott ended with three points in Tippecanoe Valley’s 49-44 win over North Miami. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 58, Jimtown 49.
Knox (2-13, 1-3 INSC) at Bremen (9-8, 2-2 INSC): The Lions claimed a 55-44 win over Knox during the 2014-15 campaign. Chase Fletcher tallied six points in the Redskins’ 51-47 win over Pioneer. Chase Devine poured in 31 points in Bremen’s 53-47 win at New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Bremen 48, Knox 43.
New Prairie (3-15, 0-5 NIC) at Adams (9-9, 0-5 NIC): The Eagles flew past New Prairie, 63-49, a season ago. Isaac Fronk had two points for the Cougars against Bremen. Jarvis Tolbert canned nine points in Adams’ 59-46 loss at Portage. Matt’s pick: Adams 60, New Prairie 47.
Northridge (15-3, 4-2 NLC) at Concord (10-7, 3-3 NLC): The Minutemen suffered a 46-43 loss to Northridge last season. Gideon Campbell chipped in 10 points for the Raiders against Jimtown. Reese Breveard totaled 13 points for Concord against No. 6 (Class 3A) NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Northridge 55, Concord 48.
NorthWood (16-3, 5-1 NLC) at Mishawaka (5-13, 1-5 NLC): The Cavemen downed No. 6 (Class 3A) NorthWood, 40-32, a season ago. Maddux Everingham’s 34 points lifted the Panthers to a 72-42 win against West Noble. Kamdon Putz scored eight points in Mishawaka’s 81-49 loss to Goshen. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 69, Mishawaka 51.
Saint Joseph (16-3, 4-1 NIC) at Marian (12-8, 4-2 NIC): The No. 4 Huskies eliminated Marian, 65-48, in the 2024 Class 3A sectional semifinals. Paxan Sullivan finished with nine points for the Knights against Jimtown. Ethan Roseman recorded 11 points in Saint Joseph’s 80-64 loss to Chicago Mount Carmel. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 71, Marian 63.
Warsaw (17-4, 6-0 NLC) at Plymouth (9-9, 2-4 NLC): The No. 4 (Class 4A) Tigers earned a 63-56 win over Plymouth a year ago. Tristan Wilson contributed five points in Warsaw’s 70-64 loss at Marion. Hayden Feldman’s three points were not enough in the Pilgrims’ 70-57 loss at Rochester. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 61, Plymouth 53.
Washington (14-4, 2-3 NIC) at Penn (12-7, 5-0 NIC): The Kingsmen are looking to make amends for a 53-47 loss to Washington last year. Josh Johnson ended with 14 points for the Panthers against Mishawaka. Ethan Good’s two points helped Penn to a 44-39 win over Marian. Matt’s pick: Penn 45, Washington 41.
Wawasee (6-13, 0-6 NLC) at Goshen (9-9, 3-3 NLC): The RedHawks were a 55-44 winner over Wawasee in their previous meeting. Kane Dukes came up with nine points in the Warriors’ 46-39 loss to Elkhart Christian. Ryan Diaz mustered just two points in Goshen’s 40-38 loss to Lakeland. Matt’s pick: Goshen 52, Wawasee 40.
SATURDAY
Adams (10-9) at Bowman Academy (4-13): The Eagles soared to a 61-54 win over Adams a season ago. Johnny Anella tallied two points in the Eagles’ 60-40 win over New Prairie. Quentavious Fly contributed 10 points in Bowman Academy’s 75-31 loss to Michigan City. Matt’s pick: Adams 64, Bowman Academy 45.
Garrett (15-5) at Tippecanoe Valley (14-4): Parker Reed canned 17 points in the Railroaders’ 54-50 win over Lakeland. Deondre Hamilton finished with six points in the Vikings’ 50-33 win over LaVille. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 57, Garrett 56.