I turned in another average performance by going 14-5 (74 percent) last week. Heading into the Christmas holidays, my overall record is now 55-20, which leaves me at for 73 percent.
MONDAY
Saint Joseph (3-2) at Reynoldsburg (Ohio) (4-1): Ethan Roseman scored 14 points in the Huskies’ 85-57 win against Paw Paw. Jordie Bowens netted 19 points in the Raiders’ 65-47 win over Groveport-Madison. Matt’s pick: Reynoldsburg 66, Saint Joseph 63.
TUESDAY
Fort Wayne Snider (2-3) at Riley (4-0): The Wildcats went to overtime to claim a 79-75 win over Fort Wayne Snider during the 2020-21 season. Trell Hogue ended with 15 points in the Panthers’ 59-57 win over Fort Wayne North. Dakori Parker chipped in 12 points in Riley’s 84-47 win over Niles. Matt’s pick: Riley 75, Fort Wayne Snider 56.
Goshen (4-0) at East Noble (1-4): The RedHawks escaped with a 52-49 win over East Noble a year ago. Evan Timmons amassed four points in Goshen’s 53-46 win over Northridge. Evan Cope canned five points in the Knights’ 64-23 loss to Columbia City. Matt’s pick: Goshen 51, East Noble 39.
Merrillville (1-3) at Warsaw (1-4): The Pirates dropped a 60-55 decision to Warsaw during the 2018-19 campaign. Charles Hardiman tallied 30 points in Merrillville’s 66-62 win over Andrean. Sam McDaniels accounted for six points in the Tigers’ 42-33 loss to Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 54, Merrillville 53.
Niles (4-4) at Mishawaka (2-3): The Cavemen clubbed Niles, 63-45, during the 2017-18 season. Brayden Favors’ 13 points were not enough for the Vikings against Riley. Colton Handley’s 11 points helped Mishawaka to a 44-43 win over Concord. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 46, Niles 44.
FRIDAY
HOMESTEAD TOURNAMENT
Penn (4-1) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (2-3): The Royals edged Penn, 55-49, a season ago. Lucas Obermeyer ended with six points in the Kingsmen’s 81-66 win at Michigan City. Luke Weemer’s 20 points lifted Hamilton Southeastern to an 80-67 win over Marion. Matt’s pick: Penn 63, Hamilton Southeastern 57.
Saint Joseph (4-2) vs. Mount Vernon (Fortville) (7-2): Braylen White’s 11 points helped the defending Class 3A state champion Huskies to an 85-57 win over Paw Paw. Max Vise recorded 20 points in the No. 7 (Class 4A) Marauders’ 60-56 loss to No. 2 (Class 4A) Crown Point. Matt’s pick: Mount Vernon (Fortville) 75, Saint Joseph 72.
SHENANDOAH TOURNAMENT
Warsaw (2-4) vs. Indianapolis Lutheran (2-3): Sam McDaniels netted a career-high 16 points in the Tigers’ 72-41 win over Merrillville. JeVon Perry canned 14 points in the Saints’ 77-50 loss to Decatur Central. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 56, Indianapolis Lutheran 49.
Warsaw (3-4) vs. Anderson (4-2): Matt’s pick: Anderson 67, Warsaw 58.
SATURDAY
Chesterton (5-1) at Elkhart (4-2): The No. 8 (Class 4A) Trojans marched past Elkhart, 70-45, last season. Jaylon Watts’ 17 points were not enough in Chesterton’s 63-55 loss to Bloomington North. Alonzo Newbern finished with eight points in the Lions’ 55-51 win at Fort Wayne Snider. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 69, Elkhart 61,
Kankakee Valley (1-5) at Goshen (5-0): Matthew Rose totaled four points in the Kougars’ 70-31 loss to Valparaiso. Evan Timmons chipped in five points in the RedHawks’ 53-46 win over Northridge. Matt’s pick: Goshen 67, Kankakee Valley 51.
Hammond Morton (0-7) at Goshen (6-0): Jaden Stockdale mustered nine points in the Governors’ 72-20 loss to No. 8 (Class 4A) Chesterton. Karter Marcum contributed 12 points in the RedHawks’ 65-42 win over East Noble. Matt’s pick: Goshen 64, Hammond Morton 50.
Washington (1-4) at Kalamazoo Phoenix (3-1): Quentin Bridgeman contributed three points in the Panthers’ 77-43 loss to Northridge. The Falcons dropped a 71-62 decision to Detroit Western. Matt’s pick: Kalamazoo Phoenix 54, Washington 52.
HOMESTEAD TOURNAMENT
Saint Joseph (4-3) vs. Carroll (Fort Wayne) (4-4): The Chargers are looking to avenge a 71-50 loss to Saint Joseph a year ago. Ryder Place had two points in the Huskies’ 85-78 double-overtime loss to No. 7 (Class 4A) Mount Vernon Fortville. Carroll was outscored 17-8 in the opening quarter of a 48-39 loss to Zionsville. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 72, Carroll (Fort Wayne) 56.
Penn (4-2) vs. Center Grove (3-4): Caleb Coolman closed with 25 points in the Kingsmen’s 65-55 loss to Hamilton Southeastern. The Trojans were outscored 17-10 in the fourth quarter in their 49-41 loss to Homestead. Matt’s pick: Penn 54, Center Grove 50.
Penn (5-2) vs. Zionsville (5-3): The Kingsmen suffered a 41-39 loss to Zionsville a season ago. Matt’s pick: Penn 60, Zionsville 53.
Saint Joseph (5-3) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (3-4): The defending Class 3A state champion Huskies edged Hamilton Southeastern, 88-85, in their previous meeting. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 71, Hamilton Southeastern 63.
SHENANDOAH TOURNAMENT
Warsaw (3-5) vs. Rushville (5-3): Sam Lara added 14 points for the Tigers against Merrillville. The Lions are looking to make amends for a 60-42 loss to Shenandoah. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 47, Rushville 43.