The 2024-25 campaign opened on a positive note as I went 13-3 (81 percent). Most of the other teams will open this week, so records are final 2023-24 season unless indicated.
TUESDAY
Adams (1-0) at Niles (0-1): The Eagles flew past Niles, 67-57, during the 2007-08 campaign. Kalen Allen recorded 12 points in Adams’ 56-49 win at LaPorte. Brayden Favors tallied 14 points in the Vikings’ 44-42 overtime loss to Three Rivers. Matt’s pick: Adams 62, Niles 50.
Columbia City (1-0) at Warsaw (19-6): The Tigers escaped with 58-55 win over Columbia City a season ago. The Eagles started their season with a 63-29 win over Whitko. Luke Bricker netted 15.9 points a contest a year ago for Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 60, Columbia City 54.
Concord (1-0) at Saint Joseph (20-10): The defending Class 3A state runner-up Huskies rolled to a 74-45 win against Concord last year. Cam Bonds lifted the Minutemen to a 68-36 win over Elkhart Christian. Ethan Roseman joins Saint Joseph after averaging 22.2 points for Indianapolis Bishop Chatard. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 69, Concord 61.
Marian (0-1) at Goshen (1-0): The Knights clubbed Goshen, 47-36, a year ago. Prescott Horvath totaled 15 points in Marian’s 51-38 loss to Fort Wayne Blackhawk. Karter Marcum added 11 points in the RedHawks’ 55-43 win over Fairfield. Matt’s pick: Marian 55, Goshen 51.
Riley (1-0) at Mishawaka (20-8): The Cavemen went to overtime to claim a 45-43 win over Mishawaka in the 2024 Class 4A Mishawaka sectional final. Tyrese Jones accounted for 20 points in the Wildcats’ 75-59 win over LaPorte. Jackson Snyder mustered 4.4 points a contest for Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Riley 53, Mishawaka 44.
Triton (1-0) at Plymouth (2-0): The Pilgrims downed Triton, 55-44, last season. Landon Patrick finished with 11 points in the Trojans’ 61-13 win over Oregon-Davis. Preston Wolfe added six points in Plymouth’s 51-45 win over Bremen. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 47, Triton 42.
THURSDAY
Marquette Catholic (1-0) at New Prairie (0-1): The Cougars clawed by Marquette Catholic, 76-31, during the 2010-11 campaign. Josiah Mays poured in 25 points in the Blazers’ 76-61 win over Bethany Christian. Griffin Ernst managed seven points in New Prairie’s 54-48 loss to Glenn, Matt’s pick: Marquette Catholic 64, New Prairie 49.
FRIDAY
Concord (1-1) at Elkhart (0-2): The Minutemen marched to a 45-30 win over Elkhart in their last meeting. Brady Emerick amassed nine points in Concord’s 91-48 loss to Saint Joseph. Samarcus Gibson ended with 11 points for the Lions in their 70-45 loss to Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Concord 57, Elkhart 42.
Culver Academy (1-0) at Northridge (2-0): The Eagles flew past Northridge, 45-39, last season. Culver Academy christened its season with a 71-65 win over Indianapolis Homeschool. Kam Radeker tallied 14 points in the Raiders’ 68-61 win at Westview. Matt’s pick: Northridge 64, Culver Academy 60.
Plymouth (2-1) at LaPorte (0-2): The Slicers claimed a 74-59 win over Plymouth a year ago. Hayden Feldman registered four points in the Pilgrims’ 46-43 loss to Triton. Reed Raymond added four points for LaPorte against Adams. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 48, LaPorte 45.
Triton (2-0) at NorthWood (1-0): The Panthers roared past Triton, 75-57, during the 2022-23 season. Gage Riffle amassed 13 points for the Trojans against Plymouth, Deondray Monroe contributed 11 points and seven rebounds in NorthWood’s 68-39 win over Fort Wayne Concordia. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 68, Triton 57.
Warsaw (1-0) at Homestead (2-0): The No. 8 (Class 4A) Tigers clawed past Homestead, 62-56, last year. Sam Lara accounted for 11 points in Warsaw’s 62-53 win over Columbia City. The Spartans netted 41 second-half points on their way to a 71-48 win over Manchester. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 58, Homestead 56.
Wawasee (0-2) at Manchester (1-1): The No. 9 (Class 2A) Squires earned a 60-44 win over Wawasee a season ago. The Warriors were limited to four points in the third quarter of their 45-40 loss to Angola. Ethan Hendrix’s 21 points was not enough for Manchester against Homestead. Matt’s pick: Manchester 63, Wawasee 53.
SATURDAY
Angola (2-0) at Concord (2-1): The Hornets suffered a 65-44 loss to Concord a year ago. Ben Thomas came up with 13 points in Angola’s 60-45 win over Central Noble. Reese Breveard chipped in 11 for the Minutemen in their 74-64 win over Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Concord 52, Angola 47.
Career Academy (0-1) at Riley (2-0): Dezmon Moore finished with 10 points in the Trailblazers’ 76-36 loss to Jimtown. Marvin Schindler came up with 22 points in the Wildcats’ 74-29 win at Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Riley 80, Career Academy 56.
Chesterton (2-0) at Saint Joseph (1-0): The Trojans slipped past No. 3 (Class 3A) Saint Joseph, 77-75, last season. Logan Pokorney recorded 19 points for Chesterton against Elkhart. Brashaun Woods racked up seven points for the Huskies against Concord. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 76, Chesterton 71.
Crown Point (20-6) at Penn (1-0): The Kingsmen posted a 58-43 win over No. 10 (Class 4A) Crown Point last year. Mason Darrell netted 7.4 points per contest for the Bulldogs. Alex Hawthorne paved the way with 15 points in Penn’s 39-31 win at Carroll (Fort Wayne). Matt’s pick: Penn 45, Crown Point 43.
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (20-6) at Marian (1-1): The No. 2 (Class 2A) Knights downed Marian, 56-45, a season ago. Dereon Truesdale scored 17.5 points a game for Bishop Luers. Paxan Sullivan scored nine points in the Knights’ 60-47 win at Goshen. Matt’s pick: Bishop Luers 64, Marian 57.
Goshen (1-1) at Washington (1-0): The No. 10 (Class 3A) Panthers clawed their way to a 58-45 win at Goshen in their last matchup. Braxton Cline ended with four points for the RedHawks against Marian. Gabe Burgin recorded 11 points in Washington’s 79-77 win at Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Washington 61, Goshen 51.
LaPorte (1-2) at New Prairie (0-2): The Slicers came away with a 46-36 win over New Prairie last year. Timothy Knoll finished with 11 points in LaPorte’s 62-54 win over Plymouth. Brody Wiginton came up with 16 points in the Cougars’ 53-36 loss to No. 4 (Class 1A) Marquette Catholic. Matt’s pick: LaPorte 44, New Prairie 40.
Merrillville (0-1) at Adams (2-0): The Pirates claimed a pair of wins over Adams (65-52 and 60-43) a season ago. With its 72-47 loss at Fort Wayne Snider, Merrillville has now dropped three consecutive season openers. Carter Johnston chipped in six points in the Eagles’ 58-43 win over Niles. Matt’s pick: Adams 59, Merrillville 53.
Northridge (3-0) at Valparaiso (0-2): The Raiders edged Valparaiso, 74-70, a year ago. Mason Bales ended with 12 points in Northridge’s 59-30 win over Culver Academy. KJ Avery finished with nine points in the Vikings’ 65-41 loss to East Chicago Central. Matt’s pick: Northridge 63, Valparaiso 58.
NorthWood (2-0) vs. Zionsville (1-2) (Brownsburg): The Panthers rolled up 29 points in the second quarter in their 62-25 win over Triton. Drew Snively ended with 11 points in the Eagles’ 76-65 loss to No. 9 and defending Class 4A state runner-up Indianapolis Ben Daivs. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 62, Zionsville 60.
Warsaw (2-0) at Huntington North (1-1): The Vikings dropped a 63-50 decision to Warsaw during the 2023-24 campaign. Mydin Burgher scored the game-winning basket at the buzzer in overtime in the Tigers’ 62-60 win at Homestead. Ethan Zahn poured in 39 points in Huntington North’s 66-65 overtime loss to Mississinewa. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 60, Huntington North 57.
West Noble (0-1) at Wawasee (0-3): The Chargers are looking to make amends for a 50-48 loss to Wawasee a year ago. Aiden Replogle topped West Noble with 23 points in its 65-60 loss to Bethany Christian. The Warriors were limited to seven points in the first quarter of their 65-44 loss to Manchester. Matt’s pick: Wawasee 43, West Noble 41.