The first week of the holiday season proved to be productive as I went 35-10 (78 percent). Heading into the final week of 2024, my overall record is now 114-26, which has me at 81 percent.
THURSDAY
Washington (7-1) vs. Merrillville (3-6) (Hammond Morton): Steven Reynolds poured in 50 points in the Panthers’ 87-51 win over Hobart. Josiah Jones added 16 points in the Pirates’ 80-63 loss to Kokomo. Matt’s pick: Washington 74, Merrillville 54.
HUNTINGTON NORTH
Fort Wayne Snider (3-3) vs. Marian (6-3): Xavier Wilson’s 19 points lifted the Panthers to a 67-56 win over Elkhart. Brandon Foster ended with two points in the Knights’ 58-38 loss to No. 3 (Class 3A) Indianapolis Crispus Attucks. Matt’s pick: Marian 56, Fort Wayne Snider 51.
Adams (6-0) vs. Gary Lighthouse (0-7): Michael Barr contributed four points in the Eagles’ 66-52 win over Michigan City. The Lions were outscored 28-10 in the third quarter of their 75-56 loss to Hammond Central. Matt’s pick: Adams 77, Gary Lighthouse 53.
Adams (7-0) vs. Huntington North (3-4): The Vikings slipped past Adams, 61-59, a year ago. Carter Johnson chipped in seven points in the Eagles’ 65-46 win over Victory Christian Academy. Ethan Zahn tallied 32 points in Huntington North’s 73-60 loss to Marion. Matt’s pick: Adams 72, Huntington North 62.
Avon (7-1) vs. Marian (6-4): Keriawn Berry managed 12 points in the Orioles’ 70-57 win over Brownsburg. Calvin Bailey ended with 14 points in the Knights’ 69-61 win at Martinsville. Matt’s pick: Avon 70, Marian 59.
KOUTS
Frontier (4-3) vs. Bremen (3-4): Dayton Hoover helped the Falcons to a 59-40 win over South Newton. Aden Hunziker finished with two points in the Lions’ 44-39 win against Caston. Matt’s pick: Bremen 46, Frontier 42.
West Central (6-1) vs. Kouts (5-1): The No. 5 (Class 1A) Mustangs rolled to a 115-21 win over West Central during the 2019-20 campaign. Brady Bishop had nine points in the Trojans’ 66-39 loss to Washington Township. Lucas Kleckner totaled 11 points in Kouts’ 62-41 win over South Central. Matt’s pick: Kouts 52, West Central 46.
Consolation: Frontier (4-4) vs. West Central (6-2): The Trojans dropped a 69-55 contest to Frontier last season. Matt’s pick; West Central 40, Frontier 37.
Championship: Bremen (4-4) vs. Kouts (6-1): Matt’s pick: Kouts 57, Bremen 50.
RICHMOND
Warsaw (6-2) vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (4-0): The No. 8 (Class 4A) Tigers cruised to a 73-46 win against No. 2 (Class 2A) Bishop Luers in the 2013-14 season. Brandt Martin scored 18 points in Warsaw’s 51-44 loss to No. 9 (Class 4A) Jeffersonville. Danny Kelly racked up 16 points in the Knights’ 68-56 win against Homestead. Matt’s pick: Bishop Luers 64, Warsaw 61.
Indianapolis Washington (3-3) vs. NorthWood (7-0): The Continentals were limited to 10 second quarter points in their 61-56 loss to Highland. Mason Pearson amassed seven points and eight rebounds in the No. 6 (Class 3A) Panthers’ 68-61 win over Plymouth. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 70, Washington 51.
Warsaw (6-3) vs. Purdue Poly Englewood (6-4): Matt’s pick: Warsaw 74, Purdue Poly Englewood 58.
NorthWood (8-0) vs. Indianapolis Ben Davis (4-2): The Giants downed NorthWood, 60-42, in the finals of 2022 Hall of Fame Classic. Matt’s pick: Ben Davis 61, NorthWood 60.
FRIDAY
Jimtown (5-2) vs. Riley (7-1): The Wildcats clawed past Jimtown, 71-61, a season ago. Brandon Williams recorded 10 points in Riley’s 66-51 win over Park Tudor. Javen Jackson was limited to three points in the Jimmies’ 48-45 loss to Fairfield. Matt’s pick: Riley 78, Jimtown 64.
Tippecanoe Valley (6-4) at Plymouth (5-4): The Pilgrims suffered a 45-44 loss to Tippecanoe Valley last year. Stephen Akase deposited 16 points in the Vikings’ 54-27 win over Trinity Lutheran. Hayden Feldman ended with three points in Plymouth’s 69-35 win over New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 50, Tippecanoe Valley 47.
HUNTINGTON NORTH
Marian (6-5) vs. Gary Lighthouse (0-8): The Knights claimed an 85-55 win over Gary Lighthouse in the 2022 Class 3A regional semifinals. Marian outscored Fort Wayne Snider, 21-10 in the fourth quarter, but still suffered a 60-55 setback. Martez Dunbar scored 11 points in the Lions’ 71-33 loss to Adams. Matt’s pick: Marian 79, Gary Lighthouse 52.
Adams (8-0) vs. Avon (8-1): Kalen Allen’s 11 points lifted the Eagles to a 63-42 win over Huntington North. The Orioles made it eight straight wins with their 74-58 triumph over Marian. Matt’s pick: Avon 77, Adams 72.
RICHMOND
Warsaw (7-3) vs. Indianapolis Washington (4-4): Drew Sullivan chipped in 10 points in the Tigers’ 54-46 win over Purdue Englewood. The Continentals were limited to seven points in the third quarter of their 64-48 loss to NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 51, Indianapolis Washington 41.
Fort Wayne North (4-5) vs. NorthWood (8-1): Sebastian Moore accounted for 15 points in the Legends’ 64-61 overtime win over Purdue Poly Englewood. Maddux Everingham registered 24 points for the Panthers against Indianapolis Washington. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 58, Fort Wayne North 50,
Warsaw (8-3) vs. North Decatur (4-6): Matt’s pick: Warsaw 63, North Decatur 50.
NorthWood (9-1) vs. Heritage Christian (5-3): Matt’s pick: NorthWood 70, Heritage Christian 52.
WAWASEE
South Central (3-4) vs. Wawasee (2-6): Noah Howard registered 15 points in the Satellites’ 54-40 win over Glenn. Weston Hoffert’s 12 points were not enough in the Warriors’ 45-37 loss at Central Noble. Matt’s pick: Wawasee 41, South Central 38.
Elkhart Christian (2-3) vs. Norwell (6-2): Reid Hoober canned 25 points in the Eagles’ 60-33 win over Hamilton. Josh McBride racked up 15 points in the Knights’ 41-33 win over Bluffton. Matt’s pick: Norwell 55, Elkhart Christian 44.
Consolation: South Central (3-5) vs. Elkhart Christian (2-4): Matt’s pick: Elkhart Christian 39, South Central 38.
Championship: Wawasee (3-6) vs. Norwell (7-2): Matt’s pick: Norwell 64, Wawasee 45.
SATURDAY
Fairfield (3-3) at Concord (5-3): The Minutemen earned a 73-47 win over Fairfield during the 2010-11 campaign. Ben Kio came off the bench to net 12 points for the Falcons against Jimtown. Jake DeShone contributed five points in Concord’s 54-42 loss to Berrien Springs; Matt’s pick: Concord 60, Fairfield 54.
North Judson (3-2) at LaVille (5-3): The Bluejays soared to a 48-33 win over LaVille in the 2024 Class 2A sectional semifinals. Logan Pradke had 16 points in North Judson’s 59-43 loss to Rochester. Collin Czarnecki became the Lancers’ all-time leading scorer with 26 points in a 62-49 win over Hebron in the finale of the Hebron Holiday Tournament. Matt’s pick: LaVille 53, North Judson 45.
Northview (10-0) at Mishawaka (3-5): Brayden Goff’s 14 points vaulted the Knights to a 49-37 win over Terre Haute North in the Wabash Valley Classic finale. The Cavemen were outscored 20-8 in the fourth quarter in a 52-43 loss to Fort Wayne North. Matt’s pick: Northview 65, Mishawaka 56.
Rochester (4-2) at Bremen (4-5): The Zebras downed Bremen, 63-55, during the 2003-04 season. Drew Bowers paved the way with 12 points in Rochester’s 43-31 loss to Northwestern. Maddux Hickman added two points in the Lions’ 65-43 win at Argos. Matt’s pick: Rochester 44, Bremen 43.