The hoops season opened on a below average note as I went 12-6 (67 percent) last week.
NOVEMBER 28
Concord (1-1) at Saint Joseph (0-1): The Minutemen slipped past Saint Joseph, 60-59, a year ago. Michael Johnson came up with 21 points in Concord’s 45-36 loss to Michigan City. Brady Powers tallied 10 points for the Indians in a 52-32 loss to NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Concord 56, Saint Joseph 49.
Elkhart Memorial (1-0) at Elkhart Christian (1-0): The Chargers marched by Elkhart Christian, 61-46, a season ago. Trey Gallope scored 16 points for Memorial in its 57-55 overtime triumph at Mishawaka. Jon Burns netted 24 points for the Eagles in a 59-49 win over Clinton Christian. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Memorial 63, Elkhart Christian 54.
Goshen (1-0) at Elkhart Central (0-1): The Blazers needed two overtimes to escape with a 63-58 win against Goshen last season. Bryant Robinson finished with 20 points, including the game-winning 3-pointers, in the RedHawks’ 44-43 win over Fairfield. Ryan Charles managed only eight points in Central’s 66-54 loss to Northridge. Matt’s pick: Goshen 57, Elkhart Central 51.
Plymouth (2-0) at Triton (0-1): The Pilgrims cruised to a 60-35 win over Triton last year. Kadin McCrammer recorded nine points in Plymouth’s 50-34 win over New Prairie. Ross Johnson accumulated 15 points for the Trojans in their 42-31 loss to No. 10 (Class 1A) Oregon-Davis. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 54, Triton 41.
South Bend Career Academy (0-1) at New Prairie (0-1): The Cougars roared their way to a 70-32 win over Career Academy in their last meeting. De’Andre Coleman racked up 11 points for the Trailblazers in a 70-38 loss to LaVille. Jacob Tuttle finished with 10 points for New Prairie against Plymouth. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 65, Career Academy 48.
South Central (0-2) at Glenn (0-1): The Satellites soared to a 68-47 victory over Glenn during the 1997-98 campaign. Austin Sallee contributed 13 points for South Central in an 84-51 loss to Hanover Central. Rob Porter chipped in nine points for the Falcons in their 46-35 loss to Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Glenn 46, South Central 37.
NOVEMBER 30
Bremen (0-1) at LaVille (1-0): The Lancers marched past Bremen. 55-42, in the 2016-17 season. Justin Zumbrun tallied 10 points for the Lions in a 52-41 loss to Argos. Rilye Cox paved the way for LaVille with 19 points against South Bend Career Academy. Matt’s pick: LaVille 58, Bremen 45.
DECEMBER 1
Adams (0-1) at Plymouth (3-0): The Eagles soared to a pair of victories against Adams a season ago by scores of 72-54 and 53-43. Shakell Johnson netted 19 points for Adams in a 62-47 loss to Carroll (Fort Wayne). Garrett Tharp tallied 12 points for the Pilgrims in their 59-27 win over Triton. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 63, Adams 57.
Clinton Christian (1-2) at Jimtown (4-19): The Couriers posted a 62-53 win over Jimtown last season. Caleb Schrock recorded 10 points for Clinton Christian in its 50-40 loss to Lakewood Park Christian. Austin Pearison contributed 137 points last year for the Jimmies. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 43, Clinton Christian 39.
Elkhart Memorial (2-0) at Elkhart Central (1-1): The Blazers claimed two wins over Memorial a year ago by counts of 62-57 and 56-47. Iyan Jennings came up with eight points for the Chargers in a 39-37 win over Elkhart Christian. Adrean Sims racked up 12 points in Central’s 56-48 victory over Goshen. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Memorial 56, Elkhart Central 54.
Homestead (0-1) at Warsaw (2-0): The Spartans marched to a 50-37 win over Warsaw last year. Luke Goode contributed 13 points in Homestead’s 69-46 loss to Huntington North. Nolan Groninger poured in 14 points in the Tigers’ 44-38 win at Columbia City. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 49, Homestead 45.
LaPorte (1-1) at Washington (1-0): The Slicers edged Washington, 60-55, last season. Carson Crass scored 15 points in LaPorte’s 64-39 win over Clay. Cade Walberg finished with 14 points in the Panthers’ 92-44 triumph against Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Washington 65, LaPorte 62.
Manchester (0-2) at Wawasee (0-1): The Warriors slipped by Manchester, 41-40, last year. Koehi Fluke managed 17 points in the Squires’ 59-45 loss to Oak Hill. Jarius Boyer accounted for 16 points in Wawasee’s 52-27 loss to Fairfield. Matt’s pick: Wawasee 44, Manchester 43.
Mishawaka (0-1) at Goshen (1-1): The RedHawks were a 53-46 winner over Mishawaka in their last meeting. Grant Jablonski came up with 12 points for the Cavemen in a 57-55 overtime loss to Elkhart Memorial. Will Line paced Goshen with 19 points against Elkhart Central. Matt’s pick: Goshen 51, Mishawaka 48.
NorthWood (2-0) at Triton (0-2): The No. 4 (Class 3A) Panthers cruised to a 59-43 victory against Triton a year ago. Kaden Gongwer rolled up 19 points in NorthWood’s 52-32 win against Saint Joseph. Beau Hepler’s nine points were not enough for the Trojans against Plymouth. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 60, Triton 47.
Riley (1-0) at Northridge (1-1): The No. 7 (Class 4A) Wildcats roared past Northridge, 83-58, a season ago. Indiana recruit Damezi Anderson racked up 35 points in Riley’s 89-38 win at LaPorte. Nick Yoder recorded 18 points in the Raiders’ 67-60 loss to Westview. Matt’s pick: Riley 71, Northridge 53.
DECEMBER 2
Bremen (0-2) at South Central (0-3): The Lions recorded a 68-31 win over South Central a year ago. Jacob Wunder tallied 10 points in Bremen’s 60-53 loss to LaVille. Josh Sims netted 12 points in the Satellites’ 66-32 loss to Glenn. Matt’s pick: Bremen 51, South Central 47.
Clay (0-1) at Portage (0-2): The Indians suffered a 66-57 loss to Clay last season. Brayden Saxton scored 10 points for the Colonials against LaPorte. Greg Milledge recorded 18 points in Portage’s 57-48 loss to Munster. Matt’s pick: Portage 55, Clay 54.
Fort Wayne Northrop (0-2) at Adams (0-1): The Bruins got by Adams, 64-63, last year. Kareem Kubisty recorded 10 points in Northrop’s 42-39 loss to Columbia City. Ben Foster chipped in 17 points for the Eagles against Carroll. Matt’s pick: Adams 70, Northrop 65.
Goshen (1-1) at Carroll (Fort Wayne) (1-0): The Chargers claimed a 60-46 win over Goshen during the 2006-07 campaign. Porter Devoir contributed six points for the RedHawks against Elkhart Central. David Ejah racked up 12 points for Carroll against Adams. Matt’s pick: Carroll 63, Goshen 57.
Huntington North (2-0) at Warsaw (2-0): The Vikings dropped a 44-40 overtime decision to Warsaw in their last matchup. Mitchell Geller had eight points in Huntington North’s 36-30 win over Mississinewa. Jack Grose managed six points for the Tigers against Columbia City. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 52, Huntington North 48.
Marian (14-10) at Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (0-1): The Knights crowned Marian, 54-35, a season ago. Senior Zach Lattimer netted 14.4 points a contest for the Knights last year. Bishop Luers opened its season with a 58-42 loss to Fort Wayne Canterbury. Matt’s pick: Marian 59, Bishop Luers 50.
Marquette Catholic (0-1) at Saint Joseph (1-1): The Blazers racked up a 78-74 win against Saint Joe last year. Colin Kenney scored 13 points in Marquette Catholic’s 55-44 loss to Gary West. J.R. Konieczny chipped in 16 points in the Indians’ 69-44 win over Concord. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 62, Marquette Catholic 60.
Merrillville (1-0) at Riley (1-0): The Pirates downed Riley, 79-68, in the 2015-16 season. Johnny Bernard poured in 36 points in Merrillville’s 92-80 win over Hammond. Jathan Spicer came up with nine points for the Wildcats against LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Riley 75, Merrillville 72.
Mishawaka (0-1) at Valparaiso (2-0): The Vikings came up with a 79-47 victory over Mishawaka a year ago. John Binion scored 16 points for the Cavemen against Elkhart Memorial. Brandon Newman netted 31 points in Valparaiso’s 83-52 win over Hobart. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 66, Mishawaka 54.
New Prairie (1-1) vs. LaPorte (1-1): The Slicers earned a 50-43 win against New Prairie last season. This contest will take place at the LaPorte Civic Center. Mike Klemczak poured in 12 points in the Cougars’ 83-24 win over South Bend Career Academy. Carlos Jenkins contributed eight points for LaPorte against Clay. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 57, LaPorte 56.
Oregon-Davis (1-0) at Glenn (1-1): The two clubs split a pair of meetings last year with the Bobcats posting a 63-52 win, while the Falcons bounced back with a 54-44 triumph. Jon Clark came up with nine points in Oregon Davis’ 42-31 win over Triton. Robby Porter finished with 13 points for Glenn against South Central. Matt’s pick: Oregon-Davis 61, Glenn 59.
Wawasee (0-1) at West Noble (1-1); The Warriors posted a 61-44 win against West Noble in the first matchup a year ago, while the Chargers eliminated Wawasee, 42-38, in the post-season. Trevon Coleman was limited to five points for Wawasee against Fairfield. Josh Gross racked up 13 points in West Noble’s 69-49 win over Bethany Christian. Matt’s pick: West Noble 43, Wawasee 40.
