The first week of 2020 opened okay as I went 10-4 (71 percent) last week. My overall record is now 90-41, which has me at 69 percent for the season.
JANUARY 7
Adams (9-1, 3-0 NIC) at Clay (2-7, 0-4 NIC): The Eagles soared to a 67-49 win against Clay in last year’s Class 4A sectional semifinal. TeVaughn Columbus had two points in Adams’ 52-44 loss to Jeffersonville. Anthony Neal finished with 14 points in the Colonials’ 66-50 loss to NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Adams 77, Clay 59.
Columbia City (4-6) at Wawasee (6-3): The Warriors dropped a 58-42 decision to Columbia City a season ago. Gregory Bolt netted 13 points in the Eagles’ 62-42 loss to NorthWood. Ethan Hardy came up with 11 points in Wawasee’s 60-27 win over Garrett. Matt’s pick: Wawasee 57, Columbia City 51.
Culver Academy (4-4) at Warsaw (8-1): The Tigers clawed past Culver Academy, 62-33, during the 2012-13 campaign. Deontae Craig tallied 16 points in the Eagles’ 65-43 loss to No. 1 (Class 2A) Fort Wayne Blackhawk. Wyatt Amiss contributed seven points in Warsaw’s 43-40 win over Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Culver Academy 65, Warsaw 60.
Goshen (6-2) at Marian (4-2): The Knights crowned Goshen, 58-48, last year. Drew Hogan added 16 points in the RedHawks’ 46-41 loss to Elkhart Central. Mitchell Menting accounted for 10 points in Marian’s 69-48 win over Fort Wayne South. Matt’s pick: Marian 62, Goshen 56.
Jimtown (7-3, 2-1 NIC) at Glenn (6-2, 2-2 NIC): The Jimmies edged Glenn, 46-44, in their previous meeting, Hunter Konrath chipped in six points in Jimtown’s 64-29 win over Knox. Carter Yung scored 16 points in the Falcons’ 75-61 win over Clay. Matt’s pick: Glenn 49, Jimtown 48.
Mishawaka (4-3, 1-1 NIC) at Elkhart Central (3-4, 1-1 NIC): The Cavemen slipped by Elkhart Central, 57-56, a year ago. Latrell Franklin recorded seven points in Mishawaka’s 55-42 win over Logansport. Armon Hunt registered four points for the Blazers against Goshen. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 53, Elkhart Central 50.
New Prairie (4-3) at NorthWood (8-2): The Panthers earned a 61-45 win against New Prairie in the 2016-17 season. Rylan McBride knocked down 17 points, including the game-winning shot, in the Cougars’ 57-55 win over Clay. Brock Flickinger amassed 14 points for NorthWood against Clay. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 61, New Prairie 50.
Plymouth (4-6) at Michigan City (6-1): The Pilgrims and Michigan City are playing for the first time on the hardwood. Jake Reichard poured in 27 points in Plymouth’s 59-45 win over Whitko. Tahari Watson paved the way with 21 points in the Wolves’ 85-77 overtime win over Penn. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 70, Plymouth 57.
Riley (4-4, 1-1 NIC) at Bremen (2-5, 0-3 NIC): The Lions suffered 62-41 loss to Riley last year. Taedon Stumpf’s two points helped the Wildcats to a 57-52 win over Kalamazoo Central. Trevor Devine scored 15 points in Bremen’s 67-64 overtime loss to Central Noble. Matt’s pick: Riley 72, Bremen 54.
JANUARY 9
Career Academy (4-7) at Mishawaka (4-4): The Cavemen claimed a 70-59 win over Career Academy last season. The Trailblazers were limited to seven points in the third quarter of their 56-54 loss to Hebron. Donovan Snyder finished with three points in Mishawaka’s 48-46 loss to Elkhart Central. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 71, Career Academy 52,
JANUARY 10
Elkhart Central (4-4, 2-1 NIC) at Riley (5-4, 2-1 NIC): The Wildcats posted a 65-49 win over Elkhart Central last season. Ty Windy netted four points in the Blazers’ 48-46 win over Mishawaka. Riley outscored Bremen, 20-5, in the second quarter in its 72-43 victory. Matt’s pick: Riley 64, Elkhart Central 56.
Goshen (6-3, 0-1 NLC) at Concord (0-7, 0-1 NLC): The Minutemen recorded a 49-36 victory against Goshen last year. Blak Wiess had nine points in the RedHawks’ 33-30 loss to Marian. Payton Fish accounted for nine points in Concord’s 46-25 loss to East Noble. Matt’s pick: Goshen 47, Concord 39.
Jimtown (7-3, 2-2 NIC) at Saint Joseph (7-1, 2-0 NIC): The Jimmies were a 43-40 winner over Saint Joseph a year ago. Clay Campbell chipped in five points in Jimtown’s 46-42 loss to Glenn. Adam O’Dell registered seven points in the No. 5 (Class 3A) Indians’ 87-64 win over Twin Lakes. Matt’s pick:  Sait Joseph 70, Jimtown 62.
Marian (5-2, 2-1 NIC) at Mishawaka (1-2 NIC): The No. 10 (Class 3A) Knights cruised to a 64-35 win over Mishawaka a season ago. Kaleo Kakalia tallied five points for Marian against Goshen. Caleb Williams came up with a career-high 17 points in the Cavemen’s 85-51 win over Career Academy. Matt’s pick: Marian 61, Mishawaka 54.
New Prairie (5-3, 1-2 NIC) at Washington (5-6, 1-2 NIC): The Panthers eliminated New Prairie from the 2019 Class 3A state tournament with a 52-38 victory. Braydon Flagg racked up 14 points in the Cougars’ 44-42 win at NorthWood. Demarcus Vaughn finished with 22 points in Washington’s 57-56 win over Kokomo. Matt’s pick: Washington 59, New Prairie 55.
NorthWood (8-3, 0-1 NLC) at Wawasee (7-3, 0-1 NLC): The Warriors dropped a 48-36 decision to NorthWood in their previous meeting. Trent Edwards’ 13 points were not enough for the Panthers against New Prairie. Keaton Dukes poured in 11 points in Wawasee’s 58-52 win over Columbia City. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 50, Wawasee 48.
Penn (4-3, 2-0 NIC) at Adams (10-1, 4-0 NIC): The Kingsmen captured a Class 4A sectional crown last year with a 63-60 win over Adams. Markus Burton scored eight points in Penn’s 90-57 win over Elkhart Memorial. Jessie Morgan accounted for 12 points in the Eagles’ 66-60 win over Clay. Matt’s pick: Adams 75, Penn 69.
Plymouth (4-7, 1-0 NLC) at Elkhart Memorial (4-4, 1-0 NLC): The Pilgrims needed overtime last year to earn a 61-57 victory against Elkhart Memorial. Brady Hissong added seven points in Plymouth’s 60-50 loss at Michigan City. Malachi Emmons recorded nine points for the Chargers against Penn. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Memorial 60, Plymouth 54.
Triton (4-3) at Glenn (7-2): The Trojans suffered a 47-24 setback to Glenn a season ago. Tyson Yates amassed 11 points in Triton’s 57-30 win over Winamac. Khori Barker tallied 17 points for the Falcons against Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Glenn 57, Triton 47.
Warsaw (8-2, 1-0 NLC) at Northridge (5-5, 1-0 NLC): The Raiders celebrated a Class 4A sectional championship last year with a 59-46 win over Warsaw. Blake Marsh ended up with 16 points in the Tigers; 55-47 loss to Culver Academy. Sam Smith wound up with 22 points in Northridge’s 68-58 loss at East Noble. Matt’s pick: Northridge 62, Warsaw 61
JANUARY 11
Adams (11-1) at Elkhart Memorial (4-5): The Chargers rallied for a 59-48 win at Adams last season. Lynn King recorded 13 points in the Eagles’ 80-60 win over Penn. Brackton Miller netted 11 points in Elkhart Memorial’s 53-50 loss to Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Adams 74, Elkhart Memorial 63.
Bethany Christian (2-6) at Bremen (2-6): The Lions roared to a 61-28 win against Bethany Christian last year. Mason Closson tallied seven points in the Bruins’ 48-35 win over Lakeland Christian. Carson Miller racked up 10 points for Bremen agauinst Riley. Matt’s pick: Bremen 51, Bethany Christian 35.
Penn (4-4) at Valparaiso (8-4): The Vikings dropped a 78-64 contest to Penn in their previous meeting. Casey Shultz chipped in 11 points for the Kingsmen against Adams. Brandon Mack’s 10 points helped Valparaiso to a 60-44 win over Portage. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 56, Penn 54.
Plymouth (5-7) at Tippecanoe Valley (4-7): The Pilgrims edged Tippecanoe Valley, 55-50,, during the 2018-19 campaign, Adam Hunter recorded 11 points for Plymouth against Elkhart Memorial. Nolan Cumberland’s 20 points lifted the Vikings to a 65-32 win over Northfield. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 45, Tippecanoe Valley 41.
