The regular season closed on a sour note as I went 19-9 (68 percent) last week. Going into the state tournament, my overall record is 241-74, which keeps me at 77 percent for the year.
FEBRUARY 27
CLASS 4A ELKHART
Goshen (10-12) vs. Warsaw (11-11): The two-time defending champion Tigers posted a 53-36 victory over Goshen on January 12. Brockton Yoder managed eight points in the RedHawks’ 72-70 double-overtime win over Marquette Catholic. Jack Rhoades posted three points in Warsaw’s 46-32 loss at Carroll (Fort Wayne). Matt’s pick: Warsaw 52, Goshen 49.
CLASS 4A MISHAWAKA
Mishawaka (14-8) vs. Penn (13-9): The Cavemen rallied for a 55-50 win at Penn on January 26. Peyton Johnson recorded nine points in Mishawaka’s 59-54 win against Saint Joseph. Drew Lutz racked up 21 points for the Kingsmen in a 70-64 loss to Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Penn 59, Mishawaka 57.
LaPorte (5-16) vs. Adams (10-12): The defending champion Eagles needed a pair of overtimes to earn a 66-63 victory over LaPorte in last year’s sectional semifinal. Austin Haferkamp tallied 10 points in the Slicers’ 78-42 loss at Munster. Ben Foster scored 12 points for Adams in a 52-48 loss at New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Adams 65, LaPorte 51.
CLASS 3A NORTHWOOD
Lakeland (14-9) vs. Wawasee (6-15): The Lakers cruised to a 54-30 win against Wawasee on January 27. Camron Bontrager poured in 17 points in Lakeland’s 47-40 to Angola. Aaron Evans finished with six points in the Warriors’ 51-41 win over Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: Lakeland 46, Wawasee 40.
NorthWood (15-5) vs. Fairfield (19-4): The defending champion Falcons slipped by NorthWood, 45-42, on December 9. Brad Delio came up with seven points for NorthWood in a 52-40 win over Oregon-Davis. Peyton Feldoe helped Fairfield claim a share of the Northeast Corner Conference title with 12 points in a 54-35 victory over Central Noble. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 55, Fairfield 52.
CLASS 3A WASHINGTON
Washington (15-8) vs. Marian (19-3): The No. 9 Knights cruised to a 70-47 win at Washington on February 23. Xavier O’Neal came up with two points for the Panthers in a 65-47 win at Elkhart Central. Jaden Ivey mustered 13 points for Marian in a 69-36 win at Clay. Matt’s pick: Marian 66, Washington 61.
CLASS 2A WESTVIEW
Whitko (9-15) vs. Bremen (5-17): The Wildcats eliminated Bremen from the 2015-16 sectional tournament with 80-69 victory. River West scored 23 points in Whitko’s 53-40 loss to Heritage. David Slos paced the Lions with 11 points in a 49-46 setback to Culver. Matt’s pick: Whitko 45, Bremen 38.
Prairie Heights (8-14) vs. Westview (23-1): The No. 2 Warriors rolled to 53-36 victory over Prairie Heights on February 17. Mike Perkins poured in 32 points for the Panthers in a 62-36 triumph over Hamilton. Josh Hostetler finished with six points in Westview’s 65-46 win over Concord. Matt’s pick: Westview 60, Prairie Heights 44.
FEBRUARY 28
CLASS 4A ELKHART
Elkhart Memorial (10-12) vs. Plymouth (13-9): The Chargers came from behind to post a 53-47 win against Plymouth on January 5. Mike Williams tallied six points in Elkhart Memorial’s 66-48 loss to No. 10 East Noble. Clay Hillard recorded 24 points in the Pilgrims’ 60-53 double-overtime win over Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 57, Elkhart Memorial 53.
Elkhart Central (9-12) vs. Concord (7-14): The Minutemen are looking to avenge a 55-37 loss to Elkhart Central on January 16. Olazurus Miller racked up eight points in the Blazers’ 52-46 win over New Prairie. Drew McDougle came up with seven points for Concord against Westview. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Central 61, Concord 54.
CLASS 3A WASHINGTON
Saint Joseph (14-8) vs. Jimtown (5-17): The Jimmies suffered a 51-33 loss to Saint Joseph on January 4. Adam O’Dell had two points for the Indians against Mishawaka. Brayden Rice finished with six points in Jimtown’s 46-45 loss to Central Noble. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 58, Jimtown 42.
New Prairie (10-11) vs. Culver Academy (16-6): The No. 4 Eagles soared to a 62-46 victory against New Prairie in the 2015-16 sectional tournament. Jake Tuttle scored 13 points for the Cougars against Adams. Jordon Freeman managed 14 points for Culver Academy in a 78-36 victory over Providence Cristo Rai. Matt’s pick: Culver Academy 62, New Prairie 50.
MARCH 2
CLASS 4A ELKHART
Northridge (12-10) vs. Goshen (11-12): The Raiders slipped past Goshen, 49-47, on December 16. Jackson Erekson netted 19 points in Northridge’s 60-46 win over DeKalb. Porter Revoir tallied eight points in the RedHawks’ 58-45 win over two-time defending champion Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Goshen 50, Northridge 47.
Elkhart Memorial (11-12) vs. Elkhart Central (10-12): The Blazers downed Elkhart Memorial, 44-37, on December 1. Jai-Veon Qaiym came up with 10 points in the Chargers’ 66-52 victory against Plymouth. Richard Wayker had 11 points in Elkhart Central’s 48-42 triumph over Concord. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Memorial 61, Elkhart Central 57.
CLASS 4A MISHAWAKA
Riley (22-0) vs. Penn (14-9): The No. 2 Wildcats roared past Penn, 63-43, on February 1. Gabe Johnson finished with eight points in Riley’s 65-49 win over Glenn. Beau Ludwick poured in 15 points for the Kingsmen in 52-48 win against Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Riley 71, Penn 62.
Clay (2-20) vs. Adams (11-12): The Colonials suffered a 60-44 setback to Adams on December 16. Anthony Neal managed just two points in Clay’s 74-34 loss to Valparaiso. Sidney Jeffries contributed 11 points in the Eagles’ 62-44 victory against LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Adams 68, Clay 48.
CLASS 3A WASHINGTON
Glenn (13-8) vs. Marian (20-3): The Falcons rallied for a 49-48 win at No. 6 Marian on December 14. Mike Machnic chipped in 12 points for Glenn against Riley. Zach Lattimer scored 14 points in the Knights’ 50-47 overtime victory against Washington. Matt’s pick: Marian 62, Glenn 54.
Saint Joseph (15-8) vs. Culver Academy (17-6): The No. 4 Eagles soared to a 55-45 victory over Saint Joseph on January 13. Alex Mossey managed 11 points and 10 rebounds in the Indians’ 64-44 win over Jimtown. Amari Curtis mustered seven points for Culver Academy in a 56-20 victory against New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Culver Academy 59, Saint Joseph 52.
CLASS 3A NORTHWOOD
West Noble (11-11) vs. Lakeland (15-9): The Lakers were a 55-46 winner over West Noble on January 10, Mason Stover tallied 15 points for the Chargers in 66-50 win over Garrett. Cole Harp finished with 12 points for Lakeland in a 53-43 victory against Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Lakeland 48, West Noble 40.
Tippecanoe Valley (5-17) vs. NorthWood (16-5): The Panthers cruised to a 53-37 win against Tippecanoe Valley on February 13. Alex Morrison had nine points for the Vikings against Wawasee. Kaden Gongwer netted 19 points in NorthWood’s 59-39 victory over Fairfield. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 60, Tippecanoe Valley 44.
CLASS 2A WESTVIEW
Central Noble (12-10) vs. Bremen (6-17): The Lions needed two overtimes to escape with a 49-48 win over Central Noble on December 22. Sawyer Yoder poured in seven points for the Cougars against Fairfield. Ryan Caldwell netted 20 points in the Bremen’s 62-53 win over Whitko. Matt’s pick: Central Noble 42, Bremen 41.
LaVille (23-0) vs. Westview (24-1): The No. 2 Warriors eliminated No. 3 LaVille, 57-51, from the 2014 sectional tournament. Luke Beehler helped the Lancers complete their first unbeaten regular season with 16 points in 51-46 triumph against Oregon-Davis. Charlie Yoder finished with 23 points in Westview’s 62-31 win over Prairie Heights. Matt’s pick: Westview 55, LaVille 51.
MARCH 3
CLASS 4A ELKHART
Northridge (13-10) vs. Elkhart Memorial (12-12): The Raiders came away with a 63-55 win over Elkhart Memorial on January 20. Conner Utley netted 20 points in Northridge’s 44-31 win over Goshen. Hank Smith came up with seven points in the Chargers’ 36-32 victory against Elkhart Central. Matt’s pick: Northridge 43, Elkhart Memorial 40.
CLASS 4A MISHAWAKA
Riley (23-0) vs. Adams (12-12): The No. 2 Wildcats claimed a pair of wins over Adams this year, including a 69-52 triumph on February 18. Marlon Taylor tallied 12 points in Riley’s 60-47 win over Penn. Shakell Johnson poured in 30 points in the Eagles’ 73-52 triumph over Clay. Matt’s pick: Riley 74, Adams 61.
CLASS 3A WASHINGTON
Marian (21-3) vs. Culver Academy (18-6): The No. 4 Eagles handed No. 6 Marian its last loss, a 59-53 decision, on January 16. Michael Hemingway recorded 25 points in the Knights’ 56-37 win over Glenn. Trey Galloway racked up 22 points in defending champion Culver Academy’s 72-44 victory against Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Marian 62, Culver Academy 60.
CLASS 3A NORTHWOOD
Lakeland (16-9) vs. NorthWood (17-5): The Panthers opened the season with a 69-52 victory over Lakeland on November 22. Brayden Bontrager scored 16 points in the Lakers’ 54-46 win against West Noble. Luke Holland came off the bench to contribute 15 points and seven rebounds in NorthWood’s 55-34 win over Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 54, Lakeland 51.
CLASS 2A WESTVIEW
Central Noble (13-10) vs. Westview (25-1): The No. 2 Warriors rolled to a 54-41 win against defending champion Central Noble on January 9. Ridley Zolman contributed 15 points in the Cougars’ 58-53 double-overtime triumph against Bremen. Nic Rensberger had 11 points in Westview’s 50-39 win over No. 3 LaVille. Matt’s pick: Westview 59, Central Noble 48.