The start of 2025 turned out well as I went 25-4 (86 percent) last week. My overall record is now 139-30, which leaves me at 82 percent.
TUESDAY
Columbia City (6-4) at NorthWood (10-1): The No. 6 (Class 3A) Panthers edged Columbia City, 45-41, a year ago. The Eagles managed only 10 points in the third quarter of their 57-52 loss to Muncie Central. Caleb Vincent’s three pointer lifted NorthWood to a 52-42 win over Fort Wayne North. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 62, Columbia City 51.
Edwardsburg (6-1) at Adams (8-1): Brody Schimpa’s 21 points lifted the Eddies to a 53-27 win over Sturgis. Garrett Miller came up with three points in the Eagles’ 71-38 loss to Avon. Matt’s pick: Adams 58, Edwardsburg 50.
Elkhart (2-6) at LaPorte (7-4): The Slicers squeezed past Elkhart, 63-60, last season. Keaton Anderson chipped in eight points in the Lions’ 57-56 win over Fort Wayne North. Riley Ryba totaled 12 points in LaPorte’s 79-56 loss to No.5 (Class 4A) Northridge. Matt’s pick: LaPorte 55, Elkhart 49.
Michigan City (5-4) at Riley (8-1): The No. 10 (Class 4A) Wildcats clawed their way to a 58-50 win over Michigan City in the 2024 Class 4A Mishawaka sectional semifinals. Anthony Murphy dropped in 16 points in the Wolves’ 59-54 win over Mishawaka. Kishawn Wright accounted for six points in Riley’s 80-48 win over Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Riley 75, Michigan City 63.
Saint Joseph (9-1) at Jimtown (5-3): The Jimmies suffered an 81-49 loss to No. 2 (Class 3A) Saint Joseph a season ago. Ed Potter finished with six points for Jimtown against Riley. Braylen White’s seven points helped the Huskies to a 92-27 win over Kalamazoo Loy Norrix. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 79, Jimtown 58.
Triton (6-1) at LaVille (6-3): The No. 10 (Class 1A) Trojans marched past LaVille, 59-41, last year. Dante Workman amassed 13 points in Triton’s 45-27 win at Pioneer. Avery Garrett netted two points in the Lancers’ 55-17 win over North Judson. Matt’s pick: Triton 47, LaVille 44.
THURSDAY
Concord (6-3, 1-0 NLC) at Goshen (5-5, 0-1 NLC): The Minutemen posted a 50-44 win over Goshen in last season’s Class 4A Elkhart Sectional quarterfinals. Reese Breveard racked up 21 points in Concord’ 53-47 overtime win over Fairfield. Braxton Cline notched 18 points in the RedHawks’ 67-55 win over McCutcheon. Matt’s pick: Concord 61, Goshen 56.
FRIDAY
Adams (8-2) at Washington (8-1): The Eagles soared to a 53-48 win against Washington last year. Michael Barr’s two points were not enough in Adams’ 62-60 loss to Edwardsburg. Gabe Burgin tallied 11 points in the Panthers’ 77-54 win over Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Washington 72, Adams 68.
Elkhart (2-7) at Penn (4-5): The Kingsmen earned a 52-41 win over Elkhart in last season’s Class 4A Elkhart Sectional semifinals. Blake Jones mustered two points in the Lions’ 65-47 loss at LaPorte. Christian Bonner added two points in Penn’s 55-49 loss to Hamilton Southeastern. Matt’s pick: Penn 60, Elkhart 47.
Jimtown (5-4, 2-0 INSC) at Knox (0-7, 0-2 INSC): The Redskins downed Jimtown, 54-47, during the 2022-23 campaign. Will Spurgeon netted 10 points in the Jimmies’ 77-42 loss to No. 1 (Class 3A) Saint Joseph. Chase Fletcher came up with two points in the Redskins’ 37-25 loss to Lewis Cass. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 43, Knox 34.
LaVille (6-4, 1-1 INSC) at Bremen (4-6, 1-1 INSC): The Lancers edged Bremen, 48-46, in last year’s Everwise Bi-County Tournament semifinals. Bradyn Foster contributed eight points and seven rebounds in LaVille’s 49-48 loss to No. 9 (Class 1A) Triton. Ty Graverson mustered 10 points in the Lions’ 52-48 loss to Rochester. Matt’s pick: LaVille 47, Bremen 45.
Mishawaka (3-6, 0-1 NLC) at Plymouth (5-5, 0-1 NLC): The Cavemen clubbed Plymouth, 59-43, a year ago. Landon Johns finished with six points in Mishawaka’s 59-54 loss to Michigan City. Kadyn Ellery managed eight points in the Pilgrims’ 54-47 loss to Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 51, Mishawaka 48.
New Prairie (2-6) at Marian (7-5): The Knights crowned New Prairie, 64-47, a season ago. Braden Bachmann ended with two points in the Cougars’ 69-35 loss to Plymouth. Calvin Bailey scored eight points in Marian’s 75-25 win over Gary Lighthouse. Matt’s pick: Marian 64, New Prairie 42.
Northridge (10-0, 1-0 NLC) at Warsaw (9-3, 1-0 NLC)): The No. 9 (Class 4A) Tigers clawed past No. 3 (Class 4A) Northridge, 54-53, last season. Kam Radeker drained 24 points in the Raiders’ 79-56 win over LaPorte. Tristan Wilson amassed six points in Warsaw’s 76-30 win over Indianapolis Washington. Matt’s pick: Northridge 59, Warsaw 56.
Saint Joseph (10-1) at Riley (9-1): The Wildcats slipped by No. 1 (Class 3A) Saint Joseph, 79-73, last year. Nick Shrewsberry picked up four points for Saint Joseph against Jimtown. Jaylen Barbara’s 10 points lifted Riley to an 83-53 win over Michigan City. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 77, Riley 73.
Tippecanoe Valley (7-4, 2-0 INSC) at Glenn (1-8, 0-2 INSC): The Falcons claimed a 2024 Class 3A sectional crown with a 35-30 win against Tippecanoe Valley. Davis Cowen had eight points for the Vikings against Plymouth. Hunter Dupont’s three points were not enough in Glenn’s 61-28 loss at East Noble. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 45, Glenn 32.
Wawasee (3-7, 0-1 NLC) at NorthWood (11-1, 1-0 NLC): The Warriors suffered a 56-53 loss to No. 5 (Class 3A) NorthWood in their last meeting. Kane Dukes totaled nine points in Wawasee’s 52-36 loss to Norwell. Tyler Raasch poured in 28 points in the Panthers’ 64-53 win over Columbia City. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 61, Wawasee 50.
SATURDAY
Argos (1-7) at Plymouth (6-5): The Dragons slipped past Plymouth, 52-50, during the 2021-22 campaign. Luke Stults recorded 18 points in Argos’ 56-49 loss to Trinity Greenlawn. Trey Delp racked up six points in the Pilgrims’ 61-39 win over Mishawaka, Matt’s pick: Plymouth 56, Argos 44.
Concord (6-4) at New Prairie (2-7): The Cougars dropped a 53-32 setback to Concord a season ago. Brady Emerick’s four points were not enough in the Minutemen’s 59-53 loss at Goshen. Brody Wiginton ended with 14 points in New Prairie’s 76-35 loss to Marian. Matt’s pick: Concord 51, New Prairie 39.
Valparaiso (4-8) at Penn (5-5): The Vikings escaped with 47-44 win over Penn last season. Caden Crowell registered 14 points in Valparaiso’s 47-42 loss to Homestead. Lucas Obermeyer came up with three points in the Kingsmen’s 54-41 win over Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Penn 57, Valparaiso 47.
Wawasee (3-8) at Prairie Heights (3-6): The Panthers are looking to make amends for a 57-43 loss to Wawasee during the 2020-21 season. The Warriors were limited to four points in the third quarter in a 69-33 loss to No. 5 (Class 3A) NorthWood. Jake Stoy contributed six points in Prairie Heights’ 58-29 loss to West Noble. Matt’s pick: Prairie Heights 40, Wawasee 38.
White Pigeon (5-3) at Elkhart (2-8): Josh Davidson accumulated 30 points in the Chiefs’ 74-63 win over Bloomfield. Christian Bloch amassed two points for the Lions against Penn. Matt’s pick: White Pigeon 65, Elkhart 55.