Things were better the second time around as I went 22-3 (88 percent) last week. My overall record is now 35-6, which is good for 85 percent.
TUESDAY
Berrien Springs (1-1) at Adams (3-0): The Shamrocks picked up their first win of the 2024-25 season with a 60-43 triumph over St. Joseph. Kalen Allen netted 20 points in the Eagles’ 73-58 win over Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Adans 57, Berrien Springs 50.
Elkhart (0-3) at Goshen (1-2): The RedHawks rolled to a 53-36 win against Elkhart a season ago. Mikey Gilbert came up with two points in the Lions’ 74-64 loss to Concord. Dominick Riley managed six points in Goshen’s 60-58 loss to Washington. Matt’s pick: Goshen 49, Elkhart 41.
Marian (1-2) at Mishawaka (0-1): The Cavemen rallied for a 40-38 win at Marian last season. Brady Hoopingarner mustered two points in Mishawaka’s 74-29 loss to Riley. Deuce Owens recorded 11 points in the Knights’ 61-55 loss to No. 2 (Class 2A) Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. Matt’s pick: Marian 61, Mishawaka 53.
Plymouth (2-2) at Riley (3-0): The Wildcats clawed past Plymouth, 63-44, a year ago. Parker Wolfe contributed two points in the Pilgrims’ 62-54 loss at LaPorte. Jaylen Barbara accounted for 12 points for Riley against Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Riley 75, Plymouth 58.
Saint Joseph (2-0) at Marquette Catholic (3-0): The No. 3 and defending Class 3A state runner-up Huskies roared by No. 4 (Class 1A) Marquette Catholic, 81-71, during the 2022-23 campaign. AJ Boone chipped in 11 points in Saint Joseph’s 77-55 win over Chesterton. Colson Dobre tallied 13 points in the Blazers’ 66-25 win over Oregon-Davis. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 79, Marquette Catholic 72.
WEDNESDAY
Concord (3-1) at West Noble (0-2): The Chargers suffered a 48-42 loss to Concord last year. Bo Brunner’s eight points lifted the Minutemen to a 52-41 win over Angola. Jordan Eash racked up 13 points in West Noble’s 65-60 loss to Bethany Christian. Matt’s pick: Concord 60, West Noble 48.
Wawasee (1-3) at Columbia City (3-1): The Eagles flew past Wawasee, 42-35, in their last meeting. Nolan Holzwart’s 14 points helped the Warriors to a 52-28 win against West Noble. Owen Marshall added 13 points in Columbia City’s 44-35 decision over Carroll (Fort Wayne). Matt’s pick: Columbia City 55, Wawasee 43.
THURSDAY
Jimtown (3-0) at New Prairie (0-3): The No. 7 (Class 2A) Jimmies needed overtime to escape with a 58-50 win over New Prairie in the 2024 Class 3A Washington sectional quarterfinal. Dominic Fey nailed a three-pointer in Jimtown’s 50-34 win over LaVille. Jagger Daniels’ six points were not enough in the Cougars’ 55-33 loss to LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 56, New Prairie 44.
Saint Joseph (3-0) at Lakeland (3-0): Nick Shrewsberry poured in 21 points in the No. 1 (Class 3A_ Huskies’ 77-62 win at No. 2 (Class 1A) Marquette Catholic. Justin Carlson accounted for 17 points in the Lakers’ 62-39 win over Fremont. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 76, Lakeland 58.
Westview (3-1) at NorthWood (3-0): The Panthers dropped a 36-28 decision to Westview a season ago. Austin Schlabach tallied 26 points in the Warriors’ 52-41 win over Churubusco. Tyler Raasch ended with 14 points and 12 rebounds in NorthWood’s 51-40 win over Zionsville. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 67, Westview 61.
FRIDAY
Adams (4-0) at Victory Christian (4-1): The Eagles soared to a 68-53 win over Victory Christian a season ago. Drew Dixon knocked down a three-pointer for Adams in its 53-45 win over Berrien Springs. Carter Herrold netted 11 points in the Lions’ 72-36 win over Calumet. Matt’s pick: Adams 66, Victory Christian 50.
Andrean (1-1) at Mishawaka (0-2): The 59ers downed Mishawaka, 49-41, a year ago. Jimmy Finley’s six points were not enough in Andrean’s 50-47 loss to Lake Central. Jackson Snyder contributed four points in the Cavemen’s 54-26 loss to Marian. Matt’s pick: Andrean 47, Mishawaka 41.
East Noble (0-1) at Goshen (2-2): The Knights crowned Goshen, 53-42, last season. Kobe Ritchie ended with 20 points in East Noble’s 63-44 loss to Fort Wayne Northrop. Braxton Cline added nine points in the RedHawks’ 55-43 win over Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Goshen 50, East Noble 46.
Penn (1-1) at Concord (4-1): The Minutemen edged Penn, 38-35, last year. Caleb Cooman’s 17 points were not enough in the Kingsmen’s 66-46 loss to No. 9 (Class 4A) Crown Point. Concord limited West Noble to eight points in the first half in its 39-25 victory. Matt’s pick: Concord 51, Penn 48.
SATURDAY
Angola (4-1) at Northridge (4-0): The No. 8 (Class 4A) Raiders got past Angola, 72-64, in their last meeting. Niles Knox came up with 12 points in the Hornets’ 60-45 win over Central Noble. Gideon Campbell finished with 12 points in Northridge’s 65-36 win at Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Northridge 64, Angola 49.
Fort Wayne Snider (1-2) vs. Warsaw (3-0) (Grace College): The No. 7 (Class 4A) Tigers posted a 56-48 win over Fort Wayne Snider during the 2017-18 campaign. Xavier Wilson amassed eight points in the Panthers’ 56-39 loss to Fort Wayne South. Parker Justice provided a spark off the bench with 11 points in Warsaw’s 77-53 win at Huntington North. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 57, Fort Wayne Snider 47.
Glenn (1-3) at Jimtown (4-0): The Falcons suffered a 47-38 loss to No. 7 (Class 2A) Jimtown last year. Joe Divine recorded four points in Glenn’s 65-36 loss to West Central. Will Spurgeon amassed 16 points in the Jimmies’ 58-27 win at New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 50, Glenn 38.
Goshen (3-2) at Saint Joseph (4-0): The RedHawks surprised No. 1 (Class 3A) Saint Joseph, 63-55, a year ago. Karter Marcum accumulated eight points in Goshen’s 52-49 win over East Noble. Elijah King totaled 18 points in the Huskies’ 77-62 win over No. 2 (Class 1A) Marquette Catholic. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 70, Goshen 54.
Marian (2-2) at Career Academy (0-4): The Knights cruised to a 73-25 win against Career Academy last season. Ryan Harris had three points for Marian against Mishawaka. Dylan Haskins ended with nine points in the Trailblazers’ 76-36 loss to No. 7 (Class 2A) Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Marian 81. Career Academy 61.
NorthWood (4-0) at Fairfield (2-2): The Falcons captured a 2024 Class 3A sectional crown with a 50-39 win over NorthWood. Myles Everingham accounted for 21 points in the Panthers’ 67-50 win over Westview. Parker Smith tallied 13 points in Fairfield’s 55-46 loss against Lakeland. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 62, Fairfield 45.
Riley (4-0) vs. Warren Central (1-2) (Southport): The Wildcats have now beat Plymouth 11 straight times with their 71-44 triumph. The Warriors picked up their first victory of the 2024-25 season with a 56-50 win at Southport. Matt’s pick: Riley 75, Warren Central 68.
Washington (2-0) at LaPorte (3-2): The Panthers slipped by LaPorte, 68-65, a season ago. Josh Johnson’s 10 points helped Washington rally past Goshen. Tim Knoll’s 12 points lifted the Slicers to a 49-34 win at Lowell. Matt’s pick: Washington 63, LaPorte 59.
Whitko (0-2) at Wawasee (1-4): The Wildcats needed three overtimes last year to earn a 58-53 win against Wawasee. Chandler Cox racked up 13 points in Whitko’s 59-46 loss to Heritage. The Warriors were limited to eight points during the second quarter of their 64-40 loss at Columbia City. Matt’s pick: Wawasee 40, Whitko 35.