It proved to be another average performance as I went 19-7 (73 percent) last week. My overall record now stands at 148-48, which keep me at 76 percent for the year.
JANUARY 23
Bethany Christian (3-9) at Wawasee (3-10): The Warriors got past Bethany Christian, 37-23, a year ago. Seth Brenneman netted 14 points for the Bruins in their 57-43 win over Hamilton. Ethan Hardy was limited to four points in Wawasee’s 68-29 loss at Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Wawasee 39, Bethany Christian 30.
Marian (9-3, 4-2 NIC) at Bremen (4-9, 0-5 NIC): The Knights crowned Bremen, 68-31, a season ago. Michael Hemmingway poured in 16 points in Marian’s 77-43 win over Goshen. Brian Hardin tallied four points in the Lions’ 58-41 setback to LaVille. Matt’s pick: Marian 62, Bremen 45.
Northridge (6-6) at Clay (1-10): The Raiders edged Clay, 57-52, last season. Nick Yoder scored 16 points in Northridge’s 63-55 win over Elkhart Memorial. Jackson Jones managed just two points in the Colonials’ 64-34 loss at Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Northridge 57, Clay 50.
Saint Joseph (9-5) at LaVille (15-0): The No. 7 (Class 2A) Lancers downed Saint Joseph, 62-59, during the 1996-97 campaign. Phillip Robles recorded nine points in the Indians’ 67-58 win over Penn. Rilye Cox racked up 17 points in LaVille’s 52-42 win over Oregon-Davis. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 61, LaVille 57.
Washington (11-3, 5-0 NIC) at Glenn (10-4, 5-1 NIC): The Panthers roared past Glenn, 51-36, last year. Jylen Petty scored 16 points in Washington’s 52-46 win over Valparaiso. Evan Dreibelbeis had six points for the Falcons in their 47-35 win over Argos. Matt’s pick: Washington 64, Glenn 54.
JANUARY 25
Elkhart Central (5-8, 2-4 NIC) at Marian (10-3, 5-2 NIC): The Blazers posted a 54-51 win over Marian a season ago. Ryan Charles netted 13 points in Elkhart Central’s 71-57 loss to Fort Wayne North. Zach Lattimer finished with 15 points in the Knights’ 74-42 victory at Bremen. Matt’s pick: Marian 68, Elkhart Central 59.
JANUARY 26
Bremen (4-10, 0-6 NIC) at Jimtown (2-11, 0-7 NIC): The Lions roared to a 54-41 win over Jimtown last season. David Slos tallied five points for Bremen against Marian. Clay Campbell netted 15 points in the Jimmies’ 60-43 loss to Adams. Matt’s pick: Bremen 42, Jimtown 34.
Concord (4-9, 1-3 NLC) at Wawasee (4-10, 1-3 NLC): The Minutemen slipped past Wawasee, 29-28, last year. Luke Shoemaker had only five points in Concord’s 59-39 loss to Warsaw. Jarius Boyer came up with 12 points in the Warriors’ 45-34 win over Bethany Christian. Matt’s pick: Concord 44, Wawasee 36.
Goshen (5-8, 1-3 NLC) at Elkhart Memorial (7-7, 3-1 NLC): The RedHawks eliminated Elkhart Memorial, 65-56, in last year’s sectional tournament. Bryant Robinson chipped in 19 points for Goshen against Marian. Trey Gallope was limited to nine points for the Chargers against Northridge. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Memorial 53, Goshen 43.
Mishawaka (8-5, 4-2 NIC) at Penn (8-4, 4-2 NIC): The Kingsmen cruised to a 63-50 win at Mishawaka a season ago. Sam Shively poured in 12 points for the Cavemen against Clay. Noah Krathwohl tallied 12 points for Penn against Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Penn 65, Mishawaka 56.
New Prairie (6-6, 2-3 NIC) at Glenn (11-4, 6-1 NIC): The Cougars knocked off Glenn, 66-61, on January 16. Chase Ketterer netted 11 points in New Prairie’s 44-40 loss to Oregon-Davis. Mike Machnic recorded 19 points in the Falcons’ 46-42 win over Washington. Matt’s pick: Glenn 56, New Prairie 53.
Northridge (7-6, 3-1 NLC) at Plymouth (9-6, 2-2 NLC): The Raiders posted a 58-47 win over Plymouth a year ago. Alex Stauffer racked up 11 points in Northridge’s 57-46 win at Clay. Cole Filson had 12 points for the Pilgrims against Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 45, Northridge 44.
Riley (15-0, 6-0 NIC) at Clay (1-11, 0-7 NIC): The top-ranked (Class 4A) Wildcats edged Clay, 76-70, in their last meeting. Harrington Greer tallied 14 points in Riley’s 66-36 win against Jimtown. Josh Black managed only four points for Clay against Northridge. Matt’s pick: Riley 81, Clay 61.
Saint Joseph (9-6, 5-2 NIC) at Washington (11-4, 5-1 NIC): The Indians were a 51-48 winner over Washington last year. Ben Lamont mustered just two points for Saint Joe in a 56-38 loss at LaVille. Cade Walberg accounted for nine points for the Panthers against Glenn. Matt’s pick: Washington 68, Saint Joseph 60.
Warsaw (8-7, 3-1 NLC) at NorthWood (8-4, 2-2 NLC): The Panthers suffered a 54-37 loss at Warsaw last season. Zach Riley had seven points for the Tigers at Concord. Luke Holland scored two points in NorthWood’s 48-43 loss to Goshen. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 51, NorthWood 48.
JANUARY 27
Clay (1-11) at Lake Central (9-6): The Indians earned a 65-54 win at Clay a season ago. Allen Prestly was held to three points in the Colonials’ contest with Northridge. Corey Landers scored 15 points in Lake Central’s 69-62 loss to Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Lake Central 66, Clay 50.
Elkhart Central (5-9) at Warsaw (8-7): The Blazers saw their season come to a close last year with a 71-36 loss to Warsaw. Richard Wayker knocked down six points in Elkhart Central’s 74-39 loss to Marian. Trevor Rumple finished with three points for the Tigers against Concord. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 50, Elkhart Central 46.
Goshen (5-8) at Penn (8-4): The Kingsmen are looking to avenge a 62-59 loss at Goshen a year ago. Phillip Wertz tallied nine points for the RedHawks against Marian. Beau Ludwick contributed six points for Penn against Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Penn 61, Goshen 53.
Lakeland (9-6) at Wawasee (4-10): The Lakers got by Wawasee, 35-32, last season. Kole Miller came up with 12 points in Lakeland’s 51-35 loss to Fairfield. Ryan Edington racked up 11 points for the Warriors against Bethany Christian. Matt’s pick: Lakeland 41, Wawasee 37.
LaPorte (4-9) at Concord (4-9): The Slicers chopped Concord, 76-42, a season ago. Carlos Jenkins netted 17 points for LaPorte in a 64-60 loss to Michigan City. Matt Auger had three points for Concord against Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Concord 47, LaPorte 45.
Mishawaka (8-5) at Plymouth (9-6): The Cavemen dropped a 40-37 overtime loss to Plymouth in last season’s sectional tournament. Dylan Hall tallied 12 points for Mishawaka against Clay. Bryce Carmichael scored two points for the Pilgrims against Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 60, Mishawaka 57.
New Prairie (6-6) at South Central (3-10): The Cougars cruised to 76-45 win over South Central last year. Jacob Tuttle had two points for New Prairie against Oregon-Davis. Austin Sallee poured in six points for the Satellites in a 57-38 loss to Morgan Township. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 71, South Central 52.
Washington (11-4) at Crown Point (5-9) The Bulldogs claimed a 64-52 win against Washington a season ago. Tony Stuckey mustered only two points for the Panthers against Glenn. Sam Decker scored 10 points in Crown Point’s 46-44 loss at Michigan City. Matt’s pick: Washington 65, Crown Point 59.