It proved to be another below average week as I went 19-9 (68 percent). This leaves me with an overall record of 31-15, which keeps me at 67 percent.
DECEMBER 5
Adams (2-1) at Elkhart Central (2-1): The Blazers claimed a 78-66 win over Adams a year ago. Ben Foster netted 12 points in the Eagles’ 71-67 win over Fort Wayne Northrop. Cole Alberson knocked down nine points in Central’s 44-37 win over rival Elkhart Memorial. Matt’s pick: Adams 68, Central 64.
Glenn (2-1) at Bremen (1-2): The Falcons soared to a 63-39 win over Bremen last season. Zac Mago poured in 15 points in Glenn’s 48-23 win over Oregon-Davis. Jacob Strehler scored 13 points for the Lions in a 44-32 win at South Central. Matt’s pick: Glenn 51, Bremen 40.
New Prairie (1-2) at Marian (1-0): The Knights posted two wins over New Prairie a season ago by scores of 58-49 and 54-41. Jacob Tuttle managed 14 points in the Cougars’ 57-49 loss to LaPorte. Jaden Ivey chipped in 14 points in Marian’s 54-42 win at Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. Matt’s pick: Marian 63, New Prairie 52.
Penn (0-0) at Clay (0-2): The Kingsmen were a 73-66 winner over Clay last season. Junior Drew Lutz averaged eight points a game for Penn (10-13) last year. J.P. Kehoe scored only three points in the Colonials’ 64-39 loss to LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Penn 62, Clay 48.
Riley (3-0) at Saint Joseph (2-1): The No. 4 (Class 4A) Wildcats clawed past Saint Joe, 85-67, a year ago. Damezi Anderson poured in 28 points in Riley’s 69-56 win over Merrillville. Ben Terry chipped in 16 points for the Indians in their 72-70 win against Marquette Catholic. Matt’s pick: Riley 79, Saint Joseph 65.
Washington (2-0) at Jimtown (1-0): The Panthers earned a 59-45 win over Jimtown last year. Corey McKinney finished with 16 points in Washington’s 64-52 win over LaPorte. Clay Campbell contributed 11 points in the Jimmies’ 49-40 victory over Clinton Christian. Matt’s pick: Washington 54, Jimtown 41.
Winamac (2-0) at Plymouth (3-1): The two clubs are meeting for the first time since the 1959-60 campaign when the Pilgrims earned a 66-48 win over Winamac. Calvin Larkin had 19 points in the Warriors’ 45-43 overtime victory against Rochester. Bryce Carmichael was held to four points in Plymouth’s 63-53 loss to Adams. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 55, Winamac 50.
DECEMBER 7
Mishawaka (1-2, 0-0 NIC) at Riley (4-0, 1-0 NIC): The Cavemen suffered a 70-61 loss to Riley a year ago. Sam Shively tallied 11 points in Mishawaka’s 66-58 loss at Valparaiso. Rylen Grundy finished with 20 points in the Wildcats’ 84-55 victory at Saint Joseph, Matt’s pick: Riley 74, Mishawaka 60.
NorthWood (3-0) at Westview (3-0): The No. 4 (Class 3A) Panthers edged No. 8 (Class 2A) Westview, 60-57, in their last meeting. Luke Hollnad recorded 10 points in NorthWood’s 57-35 victory at Triton. Charlie Yoder racked up a career-high 37 points in the Warriors’ 86-50 win over Churubusco. Matt’s pick: Westview 64, NorthWood 61.
DECEMBER 8
Clay (0-3, 0-1 NIC) at Washington (3-0, 1-0 NIC): The Colonials claimed a 64-53 win over Washington last season. Trent Johnson tallied 19 points in Clay’s 70-60 loss to Penn. Demarcus Vaughn netted nine points in the Panthers’ 67-36 win over Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Washington 63, Clay 50.
Concord (1-2) at Penn (1-0): The Kingsmen crowned Concord, 47-38, a year ago. Grant Magnuson managed 11 points for the Minutemen in a 69-44 loss to Saint Joseph. Noah Applegate netted 28 points for Penn against Clay. Matt’s pick: Penn 57, Concord 48.
Elkhart Central (3-1, 1-0 NIC) at Glenn (3-1, 1-0 NIC): The Falcons slipped by Elkhart Central, 49-48, last season. Adrean Sims recorded seven points in the Blazers’ 58-52 win at Adams. Collin Barker chipped in four points in Glenn’s 48-38 win at Bremen. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Central 54, Glenn 52.
Elkhart Memorial (2-1) at LaPorte (2-2): The Slicers managed a 66-61 victory against Memorial last year. Jose Soto racked up 10 points in the Chargers’ 44-37 loss to Elkhart Central. Jake Spence recorded 16 points in LaPorte’s 57-49 win over New Prairie. Matt’s pick: LaPorte 61, Elkhart Memorial 56.
Jimtown (1-1, 0-1 NIC) at New Prairie (1-3, 0-1 NIC): The Cougars clawed their way to a 54-26 win over Jimtown last year. Caaden Beck netted 10 points for the Jimmies against Washington. Cade Boniface finished with 13 points in New Prairie’s 58-39 loss to Marian. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 49, Jimtown 44.
Marian (2-0, 1-0 NIC) at Adams (2-2, 0-1 NIC): The Eagles soared to a 67-53 win against Marian in their last meeting. Coley Quinn chipped in seven points for the Knights against New Prairie. Shakell Johnson’s 16 points were not enough for Adams against Elkhart Central. Matt’s pick: Marian 62, Adams 58.
Peru (0-2) at Plymouth (4-1): The Pilgrims earned a 47-41 win over Peru last year. Gavin Gysin had nine points for the Bengal Tigers in a 45-30 loss to Knox. Cole Filson tallied 13 points in Plymouth’s 47-33 triumph over Winamac. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 50, Peru 46.
Saint Joseph (2-2, 0-1 NIC) at Bremen (1-3, 0-1 NIC): The Lions are looking to make amends for 69-42 loss to Saint Joe a season ago. Alex Mossey contributed 11 points for the Indians against Riley. Ryan Caldwell came up with 11 points for Bremen against Glenn. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 61, Bremen 47.
Warsaw (2-2) at Lake Central (2-2): The Indians escaped with a 34-31 win at Warsaw in their last matchup. Jack Rhoades scored only four points in the Tigers’ 44-36 loss to Huntington North. Derek Hobbs poured in 19 points in Lake Central’s 86-82 win over Lighthouse CPA. Matt’s pick: Lake Central 43, Warsaw 40.
DECEMBER 9
Fairfield (2-2) at NorthWood (3-1): The Falcons eliminated NorthWood from last year’s sectional tournament with 59-51 victory. Cordell Hofer tallied 14 points in Fairfield’s 69-61 double overtime loss to Lakeland. Brad Delio had 12 points for the Panthers in their 61-55 loss to No. 4 (Class 2A) Westview. Matts pick: NorthWood 60, Fairfield 54.
Glenn (3-1) at Tippecanoe Valley (1-3): The Falcons needed two overtimes a year ago to claim a 66-62 win over Tippy Valley. Zac Mago poured 19 points for Glenn against Bremen. Cameron Parker scored 12 points for the Vikings in their 56-53 decision over Oregon-Davis to give new coach Chad Patrick his first career win. Matt’s pick: Glenn 51, Tippecanoe Valley 49.
Jimtown (1-1) at Argos (3-1): The Dragons were a 37-33 winner over Jimtown last season. Bill Pawlak mustered only three points for the Jimmies against Washington. Ian Kindig chipped in 13 points for Argos in a 42-35 loss to LaVille. Matt’s pick: Argos 43, Jimtown 35.
Northridge (1-2) at Angola (1-1): The Raiders posted a 66-50 victory against Angola a season ago. Braden Tadeo managed just six points in Northridge’s 76-45 loss to Riley. Braxton Meek tallied 20 points in the Hornets’ 55-40 win over Central Noble. Matt’s pick: Northridge 59, Angola 51.
Penn (1-0) at Crown Point (1-2): The Kingsmen suffered a 57-51 overtime setback to Crown Point last year. Kegan Hoskins contributed 12 points for Penn against Clay. Elias Gerodemos netted 21 points in the Bulldogs’ 61-58 overtime victory against East Chicago Central. Matt’s pick: Penn 58, Crown Point 54.
Pickerington North (0-1) vs. Riley (5-0): This first meeting between the Panthers from Ohio and Riley takes place at Southport High School. Jerome Hunter netted 21 points in North’s 65-60 loss to Wayne. Marlon Taylor came up with 10 points for the Wildcats in a 62-48 win over Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Riley 76, Pickerington North 71.
Portage (2-2) at Elkhart Memorial (2-1): The Chargers marched past Portage, 49-42, during the 2009-10 campaign. Ian Mulle recorded 16 points in the Indians’ 62-36 win over Hobart. Hank Smith recorded just four points for Memorial against Central. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Memorial 45, Portage 39.
Saint Joseph (2-2) at Goshen (1-3): The RedHawks flew past Saint Joe, 53-45, last year. Adam O’Dell racked up six points for the Indians against Riley. Joe Good scored only three points in Goshen’s 66-39 loss at Carroll (Fort Wayne). Matt’s pick: Saint Joe 64, Goshen 53.
Wawasee (1-2) at Whitko (2-3): The Warriors earned a 54-47 double overtime win over Whitko last season. Trevon Coleman paced Wawasee with 12 points in a 39-32 setback to West Noble. River West paved the way with 26 points in the Wildcats’ 70-59 loss against West Noble. Matt’s pick: Whitko 56, Wawasee 49.