I was definitely in the holiday spirit after going 15-2 (88 percent) last week. Heading into the final week of 2017, my overall record is now 76-30, which bumps me up to 72 percent for the year.
DECEMBER 27
RICHMOND TOURNAMENT
Adams (3-4) vs. Indianapolis Crispus Attucks (6-0): The defending champion Eagles soared to an 85-28 victory over top-ranked and defending Class 3A state champion Crispus Attucks during the 2008-09 campaign. Rico Swanson Jr. netted 17 points for Adams in a 60-44 win at Clay. Derrick Briscoe poured in20 points for the Tigers in their 56-53 win over Bedford North Lawrence. Matt’s pick: Crispus Attucks 80, Adams 69.
MARIAN TOURNAMENT
Concord (2-4) vs. Marian (4-1): The Minutemen marched past Marian, 64-52, a year ago. Grant Magnuson tallied 18 points for Concord in its 68-41 win over Jimtown. Coley Quinn came up with 11 points for the Knights in their 48-47 victory at Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Marian 62, Concord 51.
LaPorte (3-4) vs. Hammond Bishop Noll (4-5): The Slicers slipped past Bishop Noll, 73-71, during the 1974-75 season. Grant Seaburg scored eight points in LaPorte’s 66-62 win over Lowell. Jake Wadding managed 12 points in the Warriors’ 63-29 loss to Chesterton. Matt’s pick: LaPorte 53, Bishop Noll 50.
Hammond Bishop Noll (4-6) vs. Concord (2-5): The Minutemen were a 66-50 winner over Bishop Noll in the 1988 state semifinals. Matt’s pick: Bishop Noll 59, Concord 53.
LaPorte (4-4) vs. Marian (5-1): The Slicers posted a 45-37 win over Marian in the 1997-98 season. Matt’s pick: Marian 70, LaPorte 60.
DECEMBER 28
Glenn (6-2) at Tippecanoe Valley (2-6): The Falcons downed Tippecanoe Valley, 66-62, in double overtime last year. Jake Morris netted eight points in Glenn’s 49-46 win over Clay. Alex Morrison tallied seven points in the Vikings’ 60-43 loss to LaVille. Matt’s pick: Glenn 51, Tippecanoe Valley 49.
DEKALB SHOOTOUT
Westview (8-0) vs. Plymouth (5-3): The Pilgrims edged No. 2 (Class 2A) Westview, 38-32, a season ago. Charlie Yoder scored 21 points in the Warriors’ 58-50 win over Warsaw. Benji Nixon finished with four points in Plymouth’s 72-38 loss to No. 1 (Class 4A) Riley. Matt’s pick: Westview 47, Plymouth 41.
Plymouth (5-3) vs. Lakeland (4-3): The Lakers suffered a 56-49 loss to Plymouth a year ago. Cole Filson mustered only four points for the Pilgrims against Riley. Jashaun Poole netted 12 points in Lakeland’s 66-37 win over Eastside. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 43, Lakeland 39.
HIGHLAND TOURNAMENT
Washington (5-1) vs. Andrean (4-2): The Panthers rolled to a 70-57 victory over Andrean in the 2008-09 campaign. Washington was limited to eight points in the third quarter in its 71-58 loss at Gary 21st Century. Kyle Ross recorded 10 points for the 59ers in their 61-52 victory over Kankakee Valley. Matt’s pick: Washington 68, Andrean 63.
Washington (5-2) vs. Hammond Gavit (1-6): Matt’s pick: Washington 72, Hammond Gavit 56.
RICHMOND TOURNAMENT
Adams (3-5) vs. Northwest HomeSchool (16-3): Ben Foster paced the Eagles with 13 points in their 61-44 loss to top-ranked and defending Class 3A state champion Crispus Attucks. Johnny Brewer racked up 11 points in the Warriors’ 72-29 victory over Miami Valley HomeSchool. Matt’s pick: Adams 70, Northwest 67.
DAN GUNN TOURNAMENT
Mishawaka (4-4) vs. Clay (0-7): The Cavemen got by Clay, 45-42, in their last meeting. Sam Shively came up with 11 points for Mishawaka against Marian. Allen Bobo mustered only seven points for the Colonials against Glenn. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 55, Clay 44.
Edwardsburg (2-3) vs. NorthWood (5-2): The Eddies and NorthWood are playing on the hardwood for the first time. Chase Sager accumulated 15 points for Edwardsburg in a 67-57 loss to Dowagiac. Nick Bean had nine points in the Panthers’ 52-51 win over Plymouth. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 62, Edwardsburg 54.
DECEMBER 29
WAWASEE TOURNAMENT
Knox (7-1) vs. Wawasee (2-4): Ethan Coad scored 21 points in the Redskins’ 60-44 win over Culver. Jacob Hand pouted in seven points as the Warriors snapped their 42-game Northern Lakes Conference losing streak with a 28-20 win at Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Knox 43, Wawasee 37.
Saint Joseph (4-3) vs. Northridge (3-2): The Indians marched past Northridge, 50-44, a season ago. Brady Powers tallied 23 points in Saint Joe’s 63-52 win over Elkhart Central. Connor Utley accounted for the game-winning bucket in the Raiders’ 49-47 win at Goshen. Matt’s pick: Northridge 52, Saint Joseph 51
Northridge (3-3) vs. Knox (7-2): Matt’s pick: Northridge 44, Knox 41.
Saint Joseph (5-3) vs. Wawasee (3-4): Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 48, Wawasee 40.
HIGHLAND TOURNAMENT
Washington (6-2) vs. Hammond Morton (3-5): After dropping a 60-44 decision to Andrean, the Panthers bounced back for a 77-36 win over Hammond Gavit. The Governors posted a 90-72 win over Whiting. Matt’s pick: Washington 57, Hammond Morton 51.
RICHMOND TOURNAMENT
Adams (4-5) vs. Indianapolis HomeSchool (9-7): Matt’s pick: Adams 60, Indianapolis HomeSchool 50.
Adams (5-5) vs. Greensburg (9-1): Shakell Johnson scored 17 points in the Eagles’ 48-40 win over Northwest HomeSchool. The No. 4 Pirates were Class 3A state champions in 2013 and 2014. Matt’s pick: Greensburg 69, Adams 56.
DAN GUNN TOURNAMENT
Clay (0-8) vs. Edwardsburg (2-4): The Colonials rolled to a 72-41 win over Edwardsburg in their last meeting. Brayden Sexton tallied 15 points in Clay’s 46-35 loss to Mishawaka. Chase Sager contributed 10 points in the Eddies’ 77-32 loss to NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Clay 51, Edwardsburg 46.
Mishawaka (5-4) vs. NorthWood (6-2): The Panthers posted a 55-43 victory over Mishawaka a season ago. Dylan Hall chipped in 19 points for the Cavemen against Clay. Luke Holland finished with 11 points for NorthWood against Edwardsburg. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 60, Mishawaka 52.
DECEMBER 30
GRACE COLLEGE CLASSIC
Zionsville (6-0) vs. Warsaw (3-6): Isaiah Thompson poured in 40 points in the No. 7 (Class 4A) Eagles’ 70-56 win over Kokomo. Nolan Groninger is averaging 11.7 points and 5.6 assists per game for the Tigers. Zionsville’s Shaun Busick used to be an assistant at Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Zionsville 57, Warsaw 46.
Fishers (3-4) vs. Warsaw (3-6): Willie Jackson recorded 10 points for the Tigers in a 62-56 victory over Muncie Central. Tyler Metzinger is scoring an average of 7.2 points and grabbing 3.6 rebounds a contest for Warsaw. Former Tigers’ assistant Matt Moore is in his first season at Fishers. Matt’s pick: Fishers 45, Warsaw 39.