Indiana State | Archive | November, 2007

By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

According to the Sagarin power ratings through Nov. 24, there are 14 big girls basketball games on the agenda for Week 4 of the 2007-08 season. Here’s a look at those marquee showdowns with assistance from John Harrell’s Indiana high school basketball website …

Monday, Nov. 26
One biggie …

North Daviess (4-1) at 3A No. 10 Owen Valley (5-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: Roger Carrithers, 34-37 in 4th year at North Daviess. Tom Anderson, 59-40 in 5th year at Owen Valley. SAGARIN RATINGS: Owen Valley, 80.76, 59th overall, 10th in Class 3A. North Daviess, 68.05, 149th overall, 11th in Class 1A. LAST OUTING: North Daviess defeated Loogootee, 49-27, Nov. 24. Owen Valley defeated Cascade, 64-47, Nov. 19. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: North Daviess 8-12, Owen Valley 15-15. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Owen Valley, 4-0. LAST MEETING: Owen Valley, 67-29, Nov. 27, 2006.

Tuesday, Nov. 27
Three biggies …

Anderson (3-2) at Columbus East (4-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: Shane Sumpter, 3-2 in 1st year at Anderson. Danny Brown, 81-19 in 5th year at Columbus East. SAGARIN RATINGS: Columbus East, 89.75, 18th overall, 15th in Class 4A. Anderson, 87.32, 23rd overall, 20th in Class 4A. LAST OUTING: Anderson defeated Frankton, 67-43, Nov. 17. Columbus East defeated New Palestine, 63-47, Nov. 23. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Anderson 14-8, Columbus East 7-10. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Anderson, 1-0. LAST MEETING: Anderson, 84-67, Nov. 28, 2006.

3A No. 8 NorthWood (4-1) at 4A No. 16 Penn (5-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: Steve Neff, 526-142 in 31st year at NorthWood. Mike Starrett, 5-1 in 1st year at Penn. SAGARIN RATINGS: Penn, 91.14, 15th overall, 12th in Class 4A. NorthWood, 83.8, 40th overall, 7th in Class 3A. LAST OUTING: NorthWood defeated New Prairie, 55-20, Nov. 17. Penn defeated Northridge, 71-32, Nov. 23. VS. COMMON FOES: NorthWood 1-1. Penn 1-1. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: NorthWood 9-15, Penn 14-14. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Penn, 4-1. LAST MEETING: Penn, 50-44, Nov. 28, 2006.

Western Boone (5-1) at 2A No. 15 Speedway (4-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: Willie Smith Jr., 30-19 in 3rd year at Western Boone. Robert Anglea, 4-0 in 1st year at Speedway. SAGARIN RATINGS: Western Boone, 78.07, 72nd overall, 15th in Class 3A. Speedway, 67.96, 151st overall, 19th in Class 2A. LAST OUTING: Western Boone defeated Seeger, 47-21, Nov. 20. Speedway defeated Park Tudor, 49-35, Nov. 20. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Western Boone 15-11, Speedway 7-9. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Western Boone, 5-0. LAST MEETING: Western Boone, 49-40, Nov. 28, 2006.

Wednesday, Nov. 28
One biggie …

1A No. 4 Fort Wayne Canterbury (3-0) at 4A No. 14 Fort Wayne South (4-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: Scott Kreiger, 138-72 in 10th year at Fort Wayne Canterbury. Andy Rang, 60-15 in 4th year at Fort Wayne South. SAGARIN RATINGS: Fort Wayne South, 96.63, 3rd overall, 3rd in Class 4A. Fort Wayne Canterbury, 70.29, 132nd overall, 7th in Class 1A. LAST OUTING: Fort Wayne Canterbury defeated Eastside, 64-40, Nov. 20. Fort Wayne South defeated Carroll (Fort Wayne), 57-47, Nov. 17. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Fort Wayne Canterbury 3-12, Fort Wayne South 21-5. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Fort Wayne South, 2-1. LAST MEETING: Fort Wayne South, 78-68, Nov. 29, 2006.

Thursday, Nov. 29
Two biggies …

4A No. 3 Lawrence North (4-0) at 4A No. 2 Ben Davis (2-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST (WBDG, 90.9 FM). COACHES: Jodie Whitaker, 134-109 in 11th year at Lawrence North. Stan Benge, 416-124 in 23rd year at Ben Davis. SAGARIN RATINGS: Ben Davis, 99.62, 2nd overall, 2nd in Class 4A. Lawrence North, 90.44, 16th overall, 13th in Class 4A. LAST OUTING: Lawrence North defeated Columbus North, 74-56, Nov. 24. Ben Davis defeated Brownsburg, 57-25, Nov. 23. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Lawrence North 5-12, Ben Davis 5-3. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Ben Davis, 4-2. LAST MEETING: Lawrence North, 55-51, Dec. 7, 2006.

1A No. 15 Vincennes Rivet (4-1) at 2A No. 14 Bloomfield (4-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: Tim Young, 4-1 in 1st year at Vincennes Rivet. Kyle von Almen, 4-0 in 1st year at Bloomfield. SAGARIN RATINGS: Bloomfield, 77.74, 75th overall, 10th in Class 2A. Vincennes Rivet, 68.39, 146th overall, 10th in Class 1A. LAST OUTING: Vincennes Rivet defeated Washington Catholic, 62-43, Nov. 21. Bloomfield defeated Shakamak, 44-30, Nov. 20. VS. COMMON FOES: Vincennes Rivet 1-1. Bloomfield 2-0. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Vincennes Rivet 7-15, Bloomfield 8-11. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Bloomfield, 5-0. LAST MEETING: Bloomfield, 65-33, Nov. 30, 2006.

Friday, Nov. 30
Three biggies …

1A No. 7 Carmel (4-1) at 1A No. 9 Fishers (4-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: Scott Bowen, 56-17 in 4th year at Carmel. Michael Gaines, 16-12 in 2nd year at Fishers. SAGARIN RATINGS: Fishers, 94.36, 7th overall, 7th in Class 4A. Carmel, 93.48, 9th overall, 8th in Class 4A. LAST OUTING: Carmel lost to Hamilton Southeastern, 54-50, Nov. 24. Fishers defeated Avon, 48-31, Nov. 24. VS. COMMON FOES: Carmel 0-1. Fishers 1-0. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Carmel 12-14, Fishers 14-9. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Tied, 1-1. LAST MEETING: Fishers, 58-54, sectional, Feb. 8, 2007.

Portage (4-0) at Michigan City (2-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM CST. COACHES: Kristen Peterson, 28-43 in 4th year at Portage. Gary Collins, 56-59 in 6th year at Michigan City. SAGARIN RATINGS: Michigan City, 87.75, 21st overall, 18th in Class 4A. Portage, 87.64, 22nd overall, 19th in Class 4A. LAST OUTING: Portage defeated Merrillville, 48-46, Nov. 23. Michigan City lost to Valparaiso, 75-64, Nov. 23. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Portage 7-11, Michigan City 5-11. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Michigan City, 9-0. LAST MEETING: Michigan City, 66-58, Jan. 23, 2007.

1A No. 9 Waldron (5-0) at Triton Central (3-1)
GAME TIME: 6:00 PM EST. COACHES: Brad Gossett, 43-28 in 4th year at Waldron. Larry Pringle, 357-151 in 25th year at Triton Central. SAGARIN RATINGS: Waldron, 67.89, 152nd overall, 13th in Class 1A. Triton Central, 67.4, 154th overall, 20th in Class 2A. LAST OUTING: Waldron defeated Brown County, 57-48, Nov. 24. Triton Central lost to Greenfield-Central, 61-53, Nov. 23. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Waldron 10-16, Triton Central 6-8. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Triton Central, 7-0. LAST MEETING: Triton Central, 54-45, Jan. 4, 2007.

Saturday, Dec. 1
Four biggies …

3A No. 9 Brebeuf (3-1) at 2A No. 1 Heritage Christian (3-0)
GAME TIME: 2:30 PM EST. COACHES: Kendall Kreinhagen, 101-34 in 6th year at Brebeuf Jesuit. Rick Risinger, 54-6 in 3rd year at Heritage Christian. SAGARIN RATINGS: Heritage Christian, 92, 12th overall, 1st in Class 2A. Brebeuf Jesuit, 85.51, 33rd overall, 4th in Class 3A. LAST OUTING: Brebeuf Jesuit defeated Franklin Central, 73-56, Nov. 24. Heritage Christian defeated Harding, 86-41, Nov. 24. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Brebeuf Jesuit 9-7, Heritage Christian 3-6. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Brebeuf Jesuit, 3-2. LAST MEETING: Heritage Christian, 60-50, Dec. 2, 2006.

2A No. 5 Garrett (5-0) at Leo (3-2)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: Dan Feagler, 200-79 in 13th year at Garrett. Carrie Shappell, 15-30 in 3rd year at Leo. SAGARIN RATINGS: Garrett, 79.45, 66th overall, 8th in Class 2A. Leo, 76.24, 84th overall, 17th in Class 3A. LAST OUTING: Garrett defeated Woodlan, 65-46, Nov. 23. Leo defeated Heritage, 44-31, Nov. 23. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Garrett 7-17, Leo 13-11. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Garrett, 2-0. LAST MEETING: Garrett, 61-37, Dec. 2, 2006.

4A No. 4 North Central (Indianapolis) (4-0) at 4A No. 7 Terre Haute South (5-1)
GAME TIME: 1:30 PM EST (WJEL, 89.3 FM). COACHES: Alan Vickrey, 160-78 in 11th year at North Central (Indianapolis). Alan Maroska, 383-185 in 26th year at Terre Haute South. SAGARIN RATINGS: North Central (Indianapolis), 94.46, 5th overall, 5th in Class 4A. Terre Haute South, 91.64, 14th overall, 11th in Class 4A. LAST OUTING: North Central (Indianapolis) defeated Perry Meridian, 70-44, Nov. 24. Terre Haute South defeated Sullivan, 71-25, Nov. 20. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: North Central (Indianapolis) 10-7, Terre Haute South 15-9. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: North Central (Indianapolis), 4-1. LAST MEETING: Terre Haute South, 63-49, Dec. 2, 2006.

3A No. 5 Plymouth (4-1) at 2A No. 11 North Judson (4-1)
GAME TIME: 6:30 PM CST. COACHES: Dave Cox, 237-111 in 16th year at Plymouth. John Hampton, 75-22 in 5th year at North Judson. SAGARIN RATINGS: Plymouth, 80.39, 62nd overall, 12th in Class 3A. North Judson, 77.98, 73rd overall, 9th in Class 2A. LAST OUTING: Plymouth lost to Valparaiso, 46-44, Nov. 24. North Judson defeated Kouts, 42-38, Nov. 24. VS. COMMON FOES: Plymouth 1-0. North Judson 1-0. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Plymouth 10-18, North Judson 13-12. SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Plymouth, 5-0. LAST MEETING: Plymouth, 62-26, Dec. 2, 2006.

Hit
the high-tech hardwood by sharing your thoughts on our Girls Basketball message
board.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

According to the Sagarin power ratings through Nov. 24, there are 11 big boys basketball games on the agenda for Week 2 of the 2007-08 season. Here’s a look at those marquee showdowns with assistance from John Harrell’s Indiana high school basketball website (rankings are from Chris May’s “Tickling the Twine” Tops 15s) …

Tuesday, Nov. 27
One biggie (and our Chris May will be there!) …

3A No. 9 Plymouth (1-0) at 1A No. 1 Triton (1-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: John Scott (interim), 1-0 in 1st year at Plymouth. Jason Groves, 26-21 in 4th year at Triton. SAGARIN RATINGS: Plymouth, 89.84, 15th overall, 2nd in Class 3A. Triton, 77.31, 83rd overall, 3rd in Class 1A. LAST OUTING: Plymouth defeated Bremen, 53-45, Nov. 24. Triton defeated Oregon-Davis, 78-24, Nov. 23. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Plymouth 1-1, Triton 0-2. SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Plymouth, 10-0. LAST MEETING: Plymouth, 63-40, Nov. 28, 2006.

Thursday, Nov. 29
One biggie …

Vincennes Lincoln (0-0) at 4A No. 3 Evansville Reitz (0-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM CST. COACHES: Steve Combs, 139-71 in 10th year at Vincennes Lincoln. Michael Adams, 176-132 in 15th year at Evansville Reitz. SAGARIN RATINGS: Evansville Reitz, 89.77, 16th overall, 14th in Class 4A. Vincennes Lincoln, 81.79, 48th overall, 16th in Class 3A. LAST OUTING: VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Vincennes Lincoln 0-0, Evansville Reitz 0-0. SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Vincennes Lincoln, 6-4. LAST MEETING: Vincennes Lincoln, 54-43, Nov. 24, 2006.

Friday, Nov. 30
Three biggies …

Noblesville (1-1) at 4A No. 7 Carmel (1-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: Dave McCollough, 212-81 in 14th year at Noblesville. Mark Galloway, 82-34 in 6th year at Carmel. SAGARIN RATINGS: Carmel, 91.83, 11th overall, 11th in Class 4A. Noblesville, 85.89, 24th overall, 20th in Class 4A. LAST OUTING: Noblesville defeated Indianapolis Washington, 69-52, Nov. 24. Carmel defeated Brownsburg, 59-47, Nov. 21. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Noblesville 1-1, Carmel 0-2. SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Noblesville, 7-4. LAST MEETING: Carmel, 56-54, Dec. 1, 2006.

3A No. 5 Northwestern (1-0) at 3A No. 14 Western (0-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: Jim Gish, 61-13 in 4th year at Northwestern. Andy Weaver, 134-93 in 11th year at Western. SAGARIN RATINGS: Northwestern, 84.31, 34th overall, 9th in Class 3A. Western, 79.59, 62nd overall, 20th in Class 3A. LAST OUTING: Northwestern defeated Tri-Central, 69-46, Nov. 24. Western lost to Kokomo, 61-60, Nov. 21. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Northwestern 0-2, Western 1-0. SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Western, 9-8. LAST MEETING: Northwestern, 50-37, Jan. 13, 2007.

NorthWood (0-0) at 1A No. 1 Triton (1-0)
GAME TIME: 7:45 PM EST. COACHES: Aaron Wolfe, 0-0 in 1st year at NorthWood. Jason Groves, 26-21 in 4th year at Triton. SAGARIN RATINGS: NorthWood, 84.48, 32nd overall, 8th in Class 3A. Triton, 77.31, 83rd overall, 3rd in Class 1A. LAST OUTING: Triton defeated Oregon-Davis, 78-24, Nov. 23. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: NorthWood 0-0, Triton 0-2. SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: NorthWood, 10-0. LAST MEETING: NorthWood, 60-37, Dec. 1, 2006.

Saturday, Dec. 1
Six biggies …

Blue River Valley (1-1) at 2A No. 2 Winchester (1-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: Brian Klein, 20-6 in 2nd year at Blue River. Chip Mehaffey, 198-61 in 12th year at Winchester. SAGARIN RATINGS: Winchester, 80.8, 53rd overall, 2nd in Class 2A. Blue River, 75.45, 110th overall, 6th in Class 1A. LAST OUTING: Blue River defeated Shenandoah, 51-42, Nov. 24. Winchester defeated Randolph Southern, 91-41, Nov. 23. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Blue River 2-2, Winchester 0-2. SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Winchester, 6-4. LAST MEETING: Blue River, 58-55, Dec. 2, 2006.

4A No. 1 Lawrence North (2-0) at 4A No. 2 Marion (1-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: Jack Keefer, 540-209 in 32nd year at Lawrence North. Joe Luce, 48-21 in 4th year at Marion. SAGARIN RATINGS: Lawrence North, 97.03, 3rd overall, 3rd in Class 4A. Marion, 91.2, 12th overall, 12th in Class 4A. LAST OUTING: Lawrence North defeated Brebeuf Jesuit, 58-40, Nov. 24. Marion defeated Maconaquah, 83-42, Nov. 21. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Lawrence North 0-3, Marion 0-1. SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Lawrence North, 7-3. LAST MEETING: Lawrence North, 77-75, 2 overtimes, Dec. 2, 2006.

Loogootee (0-0) at Vincennes Rivet (1-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST (WRZR, 94.5 FM; WAOV, 1450 AM). COACHES: Steve Brett, 88-34 in 6th year at Loogootee. Tim Vieke, 23-25 in 3rd year at Vincennes Rivet. SAGARIN RATINGS: Loogootee, 69.76, 165th overall, 11th in Class 1A. Vincennes Rivet, 65.51, 206th overall, 18th in Class 1A. LAST OUTING: Vincennes Rivet defeated White River Valley, 58-50, Nov. 24. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Loogootee 0-0, Vincennes Rivet 1-1. SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Loogootee, 15-0. LAST MEETING: Loogootee, 63-50, Jan. 9, 2007.

1A No. 7 North Daviess (1-0) at 3A No. 3 Washington (1-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST (WQTY, 93.3 FM; WAMW, 107.9 FM). COACHES: Brent Dalrymple, 75-85 in 8th year at North Daviess. Gene Miiller, 39-10 in 3rd year at Washington. SAGARIN RATINGS: Washington, 86.28, 23rd overall, 4th in Class 3A. North Daviess, 68.97, 172nd overall, 14th in Class 1A. LAST OUTING: North Daviess defeated Washington Catholic, 73-16, Nov. 24. Washington defeated Barr-Reeve, 63-40, Nov. 21. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: North Daviess 0-1, Washington 0-1. SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Washington, 9-2. LAST MEETING: Washington, 55-47, Dec. 2, 2006.

1A No. 6 Orleans (2-0) at 1A No. 10 Barr-Reeve (0-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST. COACHES: Tom Bradley, 149-53 in 9th year at Orleans. Bryan Hughes, 241-113 in 16th year at Barr-Reeve. SAGARIN RATINGS: Barr-Reeve, 77.86, 79th overall, 2nd in Class 1A. Orleans, 75.85, 105th overall, 5th in Class 1A. LAST OUTING: Orleans defeated Paoli, 52-36, Nov. 24. Barr-Reeve lost to Washington, 63-40, Nov. 21. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Orleans 1-3, Barr-Reeve 1-0. SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Tied, 5-5. LAST MEETING: Barr-Reeve, 43-42, 2 overtimes, Dec. 2, 2006.

Providence (0-0) at 3A No. 10 Madison (1-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST (WIKI, 95.3 FM; WORX, 96.7 FM). COACHES: Lou LeFevre, 60-11 in 4th year at Providence. Jim Matthews, 59-32 in 5th year at Madison. SAGARIN RATINGS: Providence, 80.14, 57th overall, 4th in Class 2A. Madison, 79.87, 58th overall, 18th in Class 3A. LAST OUTING: Madison defeated Southwestern (Hanover), 53-47, Nov. 21. VS. COMMON FOES: None. OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Providence 0-0, Madison 0-1. SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Madison, 6-4. LAST MEETING: Madison, 49-39, Dec. 2, 2006.

Hit the high-tech
hardwood by sharing your thoughts on our Boys Basketball message board.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

By Chris May
Boys Basketball Coordinator

Below are my first rankings for the 2007-08 Indiana high school boys basketball season. They are being released following the first week of games, which did have a small influence on the positioning of a couple teams I had ranked during the preseason.

The primary point in my initial round of “Tickling the Twine” rankings is that they are not based on last year’s results – reality and common sense are used to develop these rankings for how good a team could and should be this season (unlike the Associated Press preseason polls that, in some instances, make no sense to me).

Each week I’ll update my rankings to reflect how well (or poorly) a team has played of late. Prior to postseason play – which gets under way exactly three months from today – you’ll see my final rankings.

Last year’s state champions were ranked seventh (East Chicago Central in Class 4A), fourth (3A Plymouth), third (2A Northwestern), and fourth (1A Oregon-Davis), respectively, in my final regular-season rankings. All of the state finalists wound up among my first 11 – all but one were Top 10 – of their classes, so I have a pretty good track record here.

Without further avoidance, here’s how I see each of the four classes this season …
    
Class 4A
It’s a tough pick at the top but, based on returnees, influential newcomers, and height, Lawrence North starts the season as my large-school No. 1. A number of quality teams position themselves from spots 7-15 in 4A, where it looks to be another year with a lot of very good, but not perfect, teams.

The 4A Top 10:

1.    Lawrence North – The Wildcats endured a 16-8 season with a heap of injuries while trying to fill the Oden and Conley craters … and they still won the state’s toughest sectional. This year they’re loaded, with undoubtedly the state’s tallest – and now, healthy – team. Stephan Van Treese is the headline name early, but watch out for 6’9” sophomore Dominique Ferguson, 6’9” Jeff Robinson, and transfer guard Kyree Jones to potentially steal some of the headlines.
2.    Marion – Last year, I touted the Giants’ Julius Mays as the best junior in the state. If not the best, he’s top two in the senior class and is a huge reason Marion fans are thinking they’ll add another state championship banner this year. Junior Scott Wood is another future Division I college player (Mays is committed to North Carolina State), and Jay Edwards Jr. has a basketball pedigree. Joe Luce is the Giants coach and also helps their cause.
3.    Evansville Reitz – The Panthers have the fortune of bringing back nearly their entire nucleus from last season’s 20-4 team. Damion Garrett is the best of the returners, but Kevin King shouldn’t be overlooked – nor should anyone on this team. Last year, Reitz beat Warren Central and lost to Indianapolis Cathedral during the regular season, and those games – along with a clash at New Albany – should be big ones again for the Panthers to prove they’re more than just a good team from Evansville. They are among the state’s elite.
4.    East Chicago Central – They’re the defending state champs and, although E’Twaun Moore is now wearing a Purdue uniform, two names emerge as reasons the Cardinals should be contenders again this season. Six-foot-11 Angel Garcia has endured a number of challenges, including one from the IHSAA, but appears clear for a final season. Garcia, who has a good outside touch, has committed to Memphis. With Moore gone, it seems Garcia will be outside more with Kawaan Short – a future Purdue football player – on the inside. A coaching switch as Pete Trgovich walked away does factor in.
5.    Warren Central – After back-to-back 17-win seasons, Walter Offutt has reached his senior year for the Warriors, who will also look to Josh Jones and Jarrin Forte as team leaders. Playing in the state’s toughest conference (the always-tough Metropolitan Interscholastic) and the state’s toughest sectional (the Warriors host a seven-team field that includes Cathedral, Lawrence North, and post-Eric Gordon North Central) will be the biggest hurdles for the Warriors in trying to get to the regional round and beyond.
6.    New Albany – The Bulldogs went 21-4, were undefeated in Hoosier Hills play, and lost their four games by a combined 15 points in 2006-07. This time around, coach Jim Shannon has a group of seniors who’ve seen significant roles over their careers. Braydon Hobbs is one such player and should be a big-time performer for New Albany this year.
7.    Carmel – The parade of Division I players continues through the Greyhound program as sharp-shooting senior Stuart Douglass has committed to Michigan. Jordan Brewer and Daniel Moore are also key players returning for coach Mark Galloway. Carmel was 14-7 and lost to eventual state runner-up North Central last season.
8.    Bloomington South – The Panthers have won at least 21 games each of the past three seasons and haven’t had a losing campaign since 1994-95. In case you hadn’t noticed, 37-year veteran coach J.R. Holmes knows what he’s doing. With guard Jordan Hulls, the Panthers will be very good again in 2007-08.
9.    North Central (Indianapolis) – Yes, Eric Gordon is gone. But there are plenty of other players who will make the Panthers a tough team this winter. Junior guard Evan Gordon – Eric’s younger brother – will get a more prominent role, but the front line of James Hollowell and Chris Toler are also key players for coach Doug Mitchell’s team.
10.    Muncie Central – All-Star guard Ben Botts is gone to IP-Fort Wayne, and future IPFW teammate John Peckinpaugh is the lone returning starter. The Bearcats have just three seniors this season, but they’ll get plenty of scoring from junior Jauwan Scaife and have a four-year starter in the making with freshman guard Jeremiah Davis. Matt Fine is one of the best coaches in the state and will prepare this team well for the postseason.

The next five:

11.    Lafayette Jefferson – In a scrimmage at Southport, Jeff’s Broderick Lewis looked really good. In fact, the entire Bronchos team looked good and should be one of the frontrunners in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference.
12.    Pike – Jeff Teague is a tough talent to replace, but the Red Devils have some players ready to fill the holes. The Devils do have a pair of talented freshmen – 6’0” Marquis Teague and 6’4” Chandler Thomas – and 6’5” Brebeuf transfer Nick Kitcoff is under the radar.
13.    Indianapolis Cathedral – After an enormously successful season last winter, coach Scott Hicks still has talent to work with. Stephen Thomas, Ryan Sterling, and Keenan Barlow were the top three scorers (and were all seniors), but now players like Errick Peck, Kelsey Barlow (committed to Purdue), and Patrick Poligraf – all juniors – will be the leaders of this team.
14.    Brownsburg – The Bulldogs have two Division I signees in Gordon Hayward (Butler) and Julian Mavunga (Miami, Ohio), but they will need more than those two to get by. Austin Fish is a returning starter at guard that will be a key.
15.    Richmond – The Red Devils have six seniors, including Chris Kolger (20 points per game), coming back from an 11-10 season.

Class 3A
A number of teams appear to have a legit shot at the 3A state title and, factoring in a few schools moving up from 2A in realignment, this class looks even more competitive. My preseason pick as No. 1 is Batesville, which returns a Junior All-Star (Alex Grimsley), should have another Junior All-Star this season (Colt Ryan), and has a fantastic coach (Mel Siefert).

The 3A Top 10:

1.    Batesville – Grimsley and Ryan give the Bulldogs – one of my favorites from last year – plenty of talent to play around. The duo averaged over 35 points and 14 rebounds per game for Batesville last year. Grimsley is, in this writer’s opinion, one of the most – if not the most – underrated players in the state. Although five seniors were lost from last season, if you factor in that Siefert has announced this will be his final year at the helm then the players should have extra motivation and emotion.
2.    Edgewood – 6’7” Butler signee Garrett Butcher should get Mr. Basketball consideration this year, but watch point guard Tommy Weakley, who will be very important for the Mustangs. With their inside-outside combination and Butcher’s ability to step out and stretch defenses, Edgewood should be one of the best.
3.    Washington – The Hatchets won the 3A state title in 2005 with a tall front line, and the height hasn’t disappeared in the southwestern Indiana town. Seven-foot Tyler Zeller is a Mr. Basketball frontrunner headed for the University of North Carolina, and 6’10” Seth Coy is another frontline tower. But the story is much the same this winter – the Hatchets need good guard play to complement their inside players.
4.    Indianapolis Howe Academy – With experienced and prolific outside scorers Larry Stone (25 ppg, 8 assists per game) and Greg Foster (12 ppg) returning, the Hornets have one of the state’s best backcourts. An incredibly tough regular-season schedule should help ready coach Aaron Sembly’s team for one of the toughest 3A sectionals come tournament time.
5.    Northwestern – Last season’s 2A state champions are stepping up to 3A this year but should still be contenders with their two main scorers back for their senior seasons. Six-foot-six Zavier Sanders is the post presence for coach Jim Gish’s Tigers, while Josh Maggard was second in the state in assists last season.
6.    North Montgomery – Junior D.J. Byrd has already shot his way into the school record books, but the Purdue recruit will rely on help from seniors A.J. Sutherlin and Kyle Calder to make the Chargers a 3A threat. North Montgomery is another school transitioning from 2A to 3A after realignment.
7.    Evansville Memorial – Kyle Kuric may be the best shooter in the state. The 6’4” Louisville signee scored almost 25 ppg last season and will have a nice group of fellow seniors with him. The Tigers were 15-7 last year and, after the two-year run that Bosse went through, Memorial wants to take over this Evansville-area sectional held at Boonville.
8.    Rochester – Don’t overlook the Zebras this season. Senior Kory Barnett and junior point guard Bruce Grimm Jr. are two of four returning starters this year and will give coach Rob Malchow’s team scoring as they also move from 2A to 3A. Their sectional – one includes three of my top 15, including host Plymouth and South Bend St. Joseph’s – will be a difficult one.
9.    Plymouth – The defending 3A state champs lost legendary coach Jack Edison to retirement and had another coaching shuffle as Edison’s son, Michael, was named head coach and then replaced this fall before practices started. Underrated 5’10” guard Randy Davis, who will be a four-year starter, is the leader of this team but the only returner with vast varsity experience.
10.    Madison – Much like Plymouth, Madison has one major returner with numerous roles to fill around him. Six-foot-two Logan Jones is the Cubs’ lone returning starter, and the senior will be relied upon for scoring (the Valparaiso recruit averaged almost 21 ppg last season). After six players graduated from last year’s regional finalist team, coach Jim Matthews looks to numerous newcomers, including Jones’ 6’4” sophomore brother, Luke.

The next five:

11.    South Bend St. Joseph’s – The Indians are poised for a big year with a huge senior class. Coach Keith Kurowski’s team was 16-6 last year and has about 10 seniors, including a pair of Marcuses – Marcus Johnson and Marcus Macellari – that were scoring leaders last season.
12.    Fort Wayne Dwenger – Coming off a 17-win season with six seniors in the fold this winter makes Dwenger a team to watch. Guard Jermarkis Willis and 6’4” John Goodman are football players/hoopsters to watch for the Knights.
13.    Beech Grove – The Hornets have skill and athleticism with seniors John Hart, David Sanders, and Curtis Clem, but they’ll need to focus and come together to make some noise this season. Coach Randy Males’ team is in a loaded sectional that will feature Howe, Indianapolis Chatard, Brebeuf, Indianapolis Northwest, and Roncalli – all teams that could win the trophy.
14.    Western – Call this a “program pick.” Coach Andy Weaver has built the Panthers into perennial sectional winners and, despite the graduation of guard Wes Dickinson, Weaver will piece something together.
15.    Yorktown – The Kampens – 6’11” senior Emerson and 6’3” sophomore Elliott – give coach Judd Moulton’s team some size.

Class 2A
Last year Northwestern and Winchester went to double overtime in a state championship game featuring a lot of underclass talent. Northwestern got bumped up to 3A, but Winchester returns its most valuable player in Tyler Koch, now just a junior. The pick for the top spot, however, goes to Fort Wayne Luers (hot off its 2A football state title) because of nationally ranked sophomore DeShaun Thomas and his athletic teammates.

The 2A Top 10:

1.    Fort Wayne Luers – Thomas delivered last season at Luers as a highly touted freshman, finishing as the second-leading scorer in the state (29 ppg) behind Mr. Basketball Eric Gordon and leading the Knights to their first-ever sectional championship. This season, Thomas – along with juniors Lawrence Barnett and Troy Amos and freshman Evan Blackmon – give coach James Blackmon plenty of athletes to work with.
2.    Winchester – Coach Chip Mehaffey’s Golden Falcons were 2A state runners-up last spring after the double-OT loss to Northwestern. As Northwestern moves up to 3A, Winchester figures to be in prime position, especially considering Winchester brings most players back this winter. The focal point for opponents will be the 6’4” Koch, who averaged over 21 points and nearly seven rebounds per game in his sophomore season.
3.    Tipton – A drop down from 3A for the Blue Devils plus a major Division I recruit in junior Derek Elston make Tipton a contender for an extended postseason run. Coach Travis Daugherty’s team was 12-10 last season, but with the 6’8” Elston (committed to Indiana University) – he averaged a double-double last year inside and is also able to shoot outside – the Blue Devils have an advantage on most of their competition.
4.    Jimtown – Coach Randy DeShone’s Jimmies were 18-4 last season and bring back numerous seniors, including 6’9” Derek “Duke” Johnson. Their sectional is now a five-teamer, but host Westview is also a Top 10 team that should present challenges. Coaching plus returning talent make the Jimmies dangerous.
5.    Hauser – Now a full season removed from a 1A state championship, the pride of the town of Hope is moving up to 2A territory. The Jets racked up 19 wins last year but lose Gabe Miller, although junior J.D. Stephens is next in the line of scorers in coach Bob Nobbe’s program.
6.    South Knox – The Spartans won 21 games last year, making it to the regional final. With guard Levi Holscher still in the fold, coach Joe Patton’s boys should be good.
7.    Westview – With a 16-7 record last season and almost everyone back this season, the Warriors are an attractive pick.
8.    Cass – Legendary coach Basil Mawbey moves on without Taylor Bowser and Garrett Seagraves, but the Kings won 19 games last year and should have a lot of players back.
9.    Eastern Hancock – Six-foot-six senior Caleb Kennedy is a player to watch after a junior season where he averaged well over a double-double. The Royals will try to jump to the right side of the .500 mark as they were 10-12 last season.
10.    Centerville – Coach Ryan Chiddister’s Bulldogs will rely more on junior Drew Schauss this season. Schauss scored about 17 points last year as his team won 14 games the year following a No. 1 ranking early in the season. Chiddister’s coaching ability also factors into Centerville’s selection here.

The next five:

11.    Forest Park – The Rangers won 20 games last year but lost a lot of talent, including big man Clint Hopf. However, coach Tom Beach has built this into a program that should be able to fill in new players and still remain respectable.
12.    Oak Hill – Next year is the anticipated peak for the Golden Eagles. But with a core group of juniors this year, they still should be pretty good.
13.    Bluffton – Though the Tigers won 15 games last year, coach Wayne Barker has no seniors on this team. It might be a year too early for their best efforts, but by tournament time they should be good – and they’ll have to be better than good with Luers now in their sectional.
14.    Park Tudor – The Panthers won 13 games and their sectional last winter, and coach Michael Hasch returns numerous seniors.
15.    Union County – Michael Sustaric. The senior guard has been a scorer for the Patriots (17 ppg last season) and should continue to be this year. Their sectional with Eastern Hancock and Centerville (at Hagerstown), however, will not be not easy.

Class A
It was a remarkable state championship season for Oregon-Davis as both their boys and girls won the 1A state titles. But the loss of nearly the entire Bobcat starting lineup as well as their coach will be a significant setback to this year’s boys team. Ironically, one of their sectional opponents – the Triton Trojans – gets the nod as my 1A No. 1 as they bring everyone back from a team that probably wasn’t totally appreciated by basketball fans.

The 1A Top 10:

1.    Triton – This should be the year that the Trojans emerge from the shadows of Oregon-Davis and Westville in what has been a difficult 1A sectional. Coach Jason Groves’ team was 14-8 last year, with three of those losses to eventual state champions (twice to Oregon-Davis, once to Plymouth) and the other five to NorthWood, Glenn, Jimtown, Tippecanoe Valley, and Rochester – all teams who were ranked in their classes and a couple of whom made lengthy postseason runs. The best news of all is that Triton brings back all its players from last season, including the Trojans’ best player, 6’7” Jake Everett.
2.    Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian – The following elements combine to make Blackhawk one of the best 1As: The Braves’ coach is Gary Merrell. Six-foot-four senior Dayton Merrell and 6’6” sophomore Russell Byrd are among the best small-school players in the state. They will play a challenging schedule loaded with bigger Fort Wayne schools. They’ve won five straight sectionals. They won 15 games last year. Finally, the Braves lost few players.
3.    Rockville – The Rox should be fairly young and very tall. With their best players being juniors – including 6’7” R.J. Mahurin (committed to Indiana State) and 6’3” Matt King – the Rox have been building with younger players over the past few seasons. It seems nearly all of Rockville’s players will be 6’3” and over this season. Coach Dave Mahurin will have to get his team past Turkey Run, a team that has bounced the Rox from their sectional three of the last four years and who should also be good this season.
4.    Jac-Cen-Del – After winning 20 games last year, three starters and plenty of capable players are back this season for the Eagles. Juniors Matt Gehl and Blake Sutton and senior Brandon Gehl all scored above or nearly 10 points each last season, and junior Tim Arnett looks strong on the front line.
5.    Wes-Del – The Warriors won 17 games and their sectional and return senior guard Nick Millspaugh. Coach Greg Dean should have a good group around Millspaugh as well.
6.    Orleans – The latest Smith – Jacob – is now a senior for coach Tom Bradley and will provide scoring punch for the Bulldogs. Smith averaged 20 points per game last season as Orleans won 20 games and its fifth straight sectional championship.
7.    North Daviess – The Cougars have won 15 games each of the past two seasons and with 6’8” Dwain Joliff and 6’1” Aaron Harbstreit as their key players. Those two are now in their senior season for coach Brent Dalrymple, but they will have to fight off Barr-Reeve at the Loogootee Sectional.
8.    Lafayette Central Catholic – The Knights, winners of six straight 1A sectionals, should have another good group this winter. When it fell to eventual state champ Oregon-Davis in the postseason, Central Catholic also lost Will Hubertz among its graduates. However, hard-nosed Daniel Mills is among the returners for coach Dave Barrett.
9.    Tecumseh – The Braves have won nine straight sectionals – more than any other school in the state – and it doesn’t look like this year will end the streak. Senior Zach Adams is the returning statistical leader for coach Kevin Oxley.
10.    Barr-Reeve – The Vikings made it to Conseco Fieldhouse last year and wound up the 1A state runners-up, but they’ll have to replace 6’7” Nick Duncheon this season. Easing the troubles is junior point guard Ethan Knepp, who has been a varsity fixture since his freshman season. Bryan Hughes’ coaching experience also should help the Vikings.

The next five:

11.    South Central (Union Mills) – Height isn’t a worry as the Kitchells – 6’8” sophomore Jake and 6’4” senior Ethan – give the Satellites that. Getting better guard play, however, could be the difference between last season’s 10-11 record and a much better one this season.
12.    Tri-County – The Cavaliers made it to 17-0 last fall before their first loss. However, they lost more than half their starting lineup and coach Tom Bajzatt after a three-point regional loss to Oregon-Davis. Tri-County should still have some ammunition for this season, though.
13.    Shakamak – The Lakers started two freshmen last year, which makes them even more dangerous in 2007-08. Six-foot-three Billy Newton was a force, scoring over 16 points and grabbing over seven rebounds per game as a ninth-grader.
14.    Turkey Run – The Warriors were 16-8 and bring back a couple of double-digit scorers for this season.
15.    Indianapolis Lutheran – With a 14-7 record last season and eight seniors this year, things look good for the Saints.

Hit the high-tech
hardwood by sharing your thoughts on our Boys Basketball message board.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

By Colin Altevogt
Girls Basketball Coordinator

Good thing my last HoosierAuthority.com power poll didn’t get posted (thanks, Aylsworth!). Yes, it’s still November. But we still have no idea what to make of Indiana’s best girls basketball teams.

Hamilton Southeastern was upset by Fishers, only to turn around and down highly touted Carmel the next week. The only prediction that’s safe now? Skylar Diggins is the best player in the state.

That’s why I have defending Class 4A champion South Bend Washington tops in my power poll. Everything else is a guess at this point. So, after nearly three weeks of my being almost deathly ill, here are my all-class-inclusive guesses from Nov. 25:

1. South Bend Washington
2. Ben Davis
3. Heritage Christian
4. Bloomington South
5. Lawrence North
6. Hamilton Southeastern
7. Carmel
8. Oak Hill
9. Martinsville
10. Fishers

On the radar: North Central (Indianapolis), Oregon-Davis, Terre Haute South, Wawasee

Here’s a look at this week’s big games, along with some insight:

Tuesday, Nov. 27
Columbus North @ Bedford North Lawrence: Struggling Bull Dogs hit the road, hoping to get back on track after brutal opening schedule.

Franklin @ Center Grove: Rematch of close Johnson County Tournament game won by the Grizzly Cubs. Center Grove was hit hard by graduation losses.

NorthWood @ Penn: Pair of one-loss teams do battle up north.

Seymour @ Bloomington South: Undefeated Owls try to take down red-hot and unbeaten South.

Wednesday, Nov. 28
Fort Wayne Canterbury @ Fort Wayne South: Two teams bouncing back from hard graduation hits, both have started the season well.

Hamilton Southeastern @ Brownsburg: Bulldogs’ first game back after blowout loss to Ben Davis isn’t much easier.

Thursday, Nov. 29
Lawrence North @ Ben Davis: Two highly ranked and undefeated teams led by standout juniors square off in crucial Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference game.

Friday, Nov. 30
Carmel @ Fishers: After knocking off rival HSE, Tigers get another test against one of the state’s best.

Franklin Central @ Perry Meridian: Important early season game for Conference Indiana standings.

Southport @ Bloomington North: HoosierAuthority.com webcast called by yours truly!

Saturday, Dec. 1
Brebeuf @ Heritage Christian: Defending 2A and 3A champs play in early December afternoon contest.

North Central (Indianapolis) @ Terre Haute South: Another big MIC game between two teams just missing this HoosierAuthority.com power poll.

Hit
the high-tech hardwood by sharing your thoughts on our Girls Basketball message
board.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

By Chris May
Boys Basketball Coordinator

BATESVILLE – Jac-Cen-Del coach David Bradshaw must have the answer many teams in southeastern Indiana, and all of Class 3A, are looking for: How do you beat Batesville?

The Class A Eagles (2-0) knocked off 3A No. 4 host Batesville by a 60-51 count Nov. 24, marking the second time in their last three meetings that JCD has defeated their Ripley County rivals.

“I think we took opportunistic shots, we took care of the basketball, and we got the ball in good shooting positions,” Bradshaw said. “I don’t think we had over half a dozen shots that I disliked all night.”

Batesville, 43-8 in its last 51 games, has lost to seven programs in that span – Jac-Cen-Del is the only team to defeat the Bulldogs twice.

While the 1A No. 8 Eagles (that’s their preseason Associated Press ranking … see my initial set of rankings Monday on HoosierAuthority.com) played a sharp game, the hosts looked less stellar in their season opener.

Batesville was effective early at pushing the fast break off Eagle misses, but later in the game those misses became more infrequent. Jac-Cen-Del offered few turnovers as Batesville struggled to find complementary scorers.

“The biggest thing we like out of this game is our turnover ratio,” Bradshaw said. “I think we only had about five turnovers the entire game. We took care of the basketball.”

Taking care of the ball got the Eagles a victory over the long haul, but early on Batesville held a decent lead.

The Bulldogs were up 15-8 with 2:44 left in the first quarter, thanks to Indiana All-Star candidate Alex Grimsley’s quick start.

The 6’6” 205-pound forward scored nine of Batesville’s first 13 points as Jac-Cen-Del had no one with the combination of size and speed to stay with him. A pair of Grimsley’s early baskets came as he ran and finished on the fast break.

Following two Eagle baskets, Grimsley came back with a rebound bucket that gave him 11 points in the opening quarter. And although JCD junior point guard Blake Sutton nailed a deep 3-pointer in the closing seconds, Batesville maintained a 17-15 lead heading to the second.

Held scoreless up to that point was Batesville’s outside answer to Grimsley – 6’4” junior shooting guard Colt Ryan. He responded by scoring the Bulldogs’ first three field goals of the second quarter and, with 5:08 left before halftime, gave the hosts a 24-16 lead – their biggest of the night.

Not to be outdone, JCD 6’3” junior Tim Arnett scored the next three buckets, drawing it back to a two-point game. In the final minutes, another Sutton three trumped another Grimsley basket and, riding a 9-2 run, Jac-Cen-Del trailed just 26-25 at the half.

Arnett gave Jac-Cen-Del its first lead of the game 11 seconds into the third quarter on a jumper, but a pair of Batesville baskets made it 30-27 Bulldogs with 6:02 left.

Jac-Cen-Del regained the lead – as it would turn out, for good – during a 7-0 run that put the Eagles up 34-30 midway through the third quarter as Batesville struggled to find scorers outside of Grimsley and Ryan. The duo – who scored all Batesville’s points in the second quarter – hit three of their team’s five field goals in the third as the Bulldogs trailed 39-37 entering the fourth.

They kept it tight in the first four minutes of the final period as Grimsley added seven more and Ryan hit two free throws. But after a Grimsley post-up basket with 4:15 got them with within one at 47-46, the Bulldogs found trouble.

Jac-Cen-Del rattled off eight straight points over the next 2:38 while Grimsley picked up his fourth foul on a rebound and Ryan missed a 3-point attempt, leaving the hosts in a 55-46 hole with 1:38 left.

Batesville made just one basket in the final 4:00 as Grimsley and Ryan were scoreless in that span. But the Eagle win wasn’t safe until Sutton hit a pair of free throws to give them a 60-50 lead with :38.2 left.

“We’re really pleased,” Bradshaw said. “We’re just tickled to death that we were able to come out and get a win here tonight. I thought all of our starters and our sixth man did outstanding jobs.

“We’ve spent a lot of time talking and preparing for this game – even over the summer talking about them. It’s a big game early in the season. We can use it to gauge where we are going to be, but Monday is a whole new week and we have to start all over.”

Grimsley finished with 24 points and Ryan had 11 as Tony Narwold (five), Michael Lanning (four), Jeremy Cook (three), Matt Werner (two), and Same Enneking (two) also scored for Batesville.

Jac-Cen-Del was paced by Arnett’s 16 points, while fellow juniors Blake Sutton and Matt Gehl scored 12 each. Sixth man Kellen Stolze had eight points, Brandon Gehl finished with seven, and Gerald Hardesty totaled five.

Although the Eagles have taken the regularly scheduled meeting between the teams, it seems likely they’ll meet again in the annual Ripley County tournament – the schools have met in the four-team tournament four straight seasons and have split their last eight meetings.

“That’s a good team,” Bradshaw said. “The next time we face them it will be a whole new story, a new game.”

Hit the
high-tech hardwood by sharing your thoughts on our Boys Basketball message board.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

INDIANAPOLIS – If Sheridan’s Nick Zachery was the one-man band that nearly single-handedly carried the Class A Blackhawks to their ninth football state championship Nov. 23, then quarterback counterpart Paul McIntosh certainly was his weekend co-star in bringing Evansville Reitz its first crown the following day at the RCA Dome.

McIntosh, the Ball-State-bound 6’2” senior, threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in the first half of the second-ranked Panthers’ Class 4A championship battle with No. 6 Lowell. His strong-armed and limber-legged effort over the game’s first 19 minutes ****** the life out of the 2005 4A state champion Red Devils as Reitz capped a perfect 15-0 season by rolling to a 33-14 victory.

“As far as I’m concerned, Paul McIntosh is Mr. Football – anyone who can’t figure that out is just not very smart,” said seventh-year Reitz coach John Hart. “He’s one of the best football players in the state of Indiana in a long time … the best since James Banks (Ben Davis’ 2001 Mr. Football, also a quarterback).”

Based on McIntosh’s amazing performance on four of Reitz’ first five possessions, it would be hard to argue that assessment.

•    Drive No. 1: After a three-and-out possession by Lowell to start the game, McIntosh goes 2 of 4 for 25 yards passing and carried four times for 28 yards in leading Reitz on an 11-play drive that covers 61 yards in only 3:36. His seven-yard run on a bootleg to the right gives the Panthers an early 7-0 lead following senior Houston Hobbs’ extra-point kick.

•    Drive No. 2: Following a missed 29-yard field goal by Lowell senior David Lang, McIntosh orchestrates an 80-yard drive over 15 plays and just 3:58. The 200-pounder goes 3 for 5 passing for 23 yards and carries three times for 15 yards, including a touchdown form one yard out on a fake-option keeper off right tackle. Hobbs’ PAT makes it 14-0 with 14 seconds left in the first quarter.

•    Drive No. 3: Reitz goes three and out, one of only two such occurrences the entire game.

•    Drive No. 4: After Hobbs, who doubles as a defensive back, picks off a pass by Lowell junior QB Kurt Monix, McIntosh leads the Panthers on a five-play, 64-yard drive that eats all of 73 seconds off the clock. He hits on his only pass – a perfectly thrown, left-to-right crossing pattern to sophomore Jeff Hudson – for 13 yards and carries twice for 36 yards, the latter a 21-yard scamper around right end that features not one … not two …but three separate jukes of Red Devil defenders. Hobbs’ PAT is blocked, but Reitz is rolling at 20-0 barely five minutes into the second quarter.

•    Drive No. 5: Following Hobbs’ second pick of Monix and a subsequent 18-yard return to the Lowell 25, it’s easy pickins for McIntosh – a three-yard pass rifled to senior Ryan Williams while backpedaling 12 yards behind the line of scrimmage, and a gorgeous 22-yard floater to junior Ryan McIntosh that his brother dives for in the front left corner of the end zone. A two-point conversion pass is botched, but the Panthers now hold a commanding 26-0 lead with 4:57 to go before halftime.

Getting the concept here? That’s 8 for 12 through the air for 86 yards and one score, and nine carries for 79 yards and three TDs on the ground. Oh, and P-Mac engineered four touchdown drives that covered 227 yards of offense in just 9:32.

“I really thought on offense we were diversified, and that gave them some problems,” Hart said in the weekend’s largest understatement.

Said 17th-year Lowell coach Kirk Kennedy, whose Red Devils posted one of the all-time state finals shockers two years ago in upsetting Roncalli, 28-27, in the 4A championship game:

“They definitely came to play today – they were in a whole different gear than us. We were up against it today and didn’t have any answers for it.”

It’s quite possible the NOBODY could have had answers for Paul McIntosh on this special day. Remember, this is the guy who rushed for 157 yards and five touchdowns in the first half of Reitz’s improbable 61-60 regional victory two weeks ago over No. 5 Columbus East. (That Herculean effort ended with 232 yards rushing and six touchdowns on the ground and another 219 yards and a TD through the air.)

Yikes!

Lowell (13-2) did manage to get on the board before halftime, and the Red Devils did it in state-record fashion – ironically breaking a mark that was set against them two years ago on this same field. On 3rd and 8 from the Lowell 23, Monix headed left before flipping the ball to senior wide receiver Eric Roadruck, who was headed around right end.

The 5’10”, 149-pounder pulled up, however, and lofted a perfect pass to senior wideout T.J. Lukasik, who gathered in the throw and rambled some 50 yards down the right sideline for the score. Lang’s extra point made it 26-7, and that’s how the teams would enter their respective locker rooms at intermission.

A telltale sign of this one-sided affair? Lowell’s two leading tacklers at the half – Lukasik (eight solos, one assist) and senior Lukas Palmer (10 solos, one assist) – are defensive backs.

“We didn’t do much in the first half,” Kennedy said. “With the right combination of things, the game could still have been a win.”
 
That combination clearly would have to exclude apples as the pre-game meal. Paul and Ryan McIntosh have a baby brother on the team as well (freshman QB Matthew), so the Red Devils can certainly be excused for having nightmares about problems with their PCs for awhile.

One Lowell player who lived his own bad dream on this day was standout running back Brandon Grubbe. The 5’10”, 168-pound sophomore entered the 4A final with 276 carries for 1,666 yards and 21 touchdowns, and he had five carries for nine yards on Lowell’s first two possessions.

But his day ended on the final play of the first quarter when, on a gruesome tackle by Reitz senior defensive back Lucas White, Grubbe broke his left arm in two places.

“I’m sure it took some of the wind out of our sails, but we have other football players,” Kennedy said. “We made our adjustments and didn’t make plays.”

The Reitz defense had a lot to do with that. The Panthers held Lowell to just six first downs in the game and only 77 yards on the ground. Monix, meanwhile, struggled on just 6-of-14 accuracy for 46 yards with the two INTs.

“I thought our defense played well and really stepped it up and played great team football,” said Hart, whose Panthers were eliminated at the regional level the past two years in 5A before moving down to 4A this season. “Other than the trick play and a dropped punt, we shut them out.

“A little piece of this win goes with everyone who has played football at Reitz. We have had several mythical state championships – now we can say we’ve just got a state championship.”

Each team added a score in the second half to get to the final tally.

Reitz took the opening kickoff and went 70 yards in 15 plays, taking a relatively tortoise-like 4:57 to find the end zone. Paul McIntosh carried five times for 16 yards and was 2 of 4 passing, including an eight-yard scoring strike to Hudson. Hobbs’ final PAT gave the Panthers a 33-7 lead a tick over five minutes into the third quarter.

Lowell took advantage of a muffed punt by Hudson to acquire its second touchdown near the end f the third period. It took the Red Devils four plays to go 14 yards, with Lukasik making a diving six-yard catch from Monix on 4th and 2.

Reitz’s Kissel named mental attitude award winner
Following the contest, Evansville Reitz’s Zak Kissel was named the winner of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A football by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to F.J. Reitz High School in the name of Kissel.

He is the second student-athlete from Reitz to earn an IHSAA mental attitude award (Bob Stephenson, 3A football in 1977). The son of Rick and Jody Kissel of Evansville intends to study engineering at either Purdue University or Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
 
Kissel maintains a 3.8 GPA, ranks 40th in his senior class of 317 students, and is a member of the National Honor Society. He gives back to the community through several volunteering efforts, mission trips, and church activities.
 
Athletically, Kissel is a three-year varsity letterwinner in football and has been an Academic All-City honoree each of those three years. He also has played basketball for the Panthers, earning two varsity letters in the sport and being selected the team’s mental attitude award winner the last two years.
 
The award is presented annually to a senior participant in the state finals who was nominated by his principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability. It is named in honor of the IHSAA’s third commissioner, who served the association from 1962-76 and helped initiate the state tournament in 1973.

FOOTBALL?
You bet! Share
your thoughts on our Football message board.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

By Brandon Jones
Eel Daddy

INDIANAPOLIS – Special teams were the story in the fifth and final contest of 35th Annual IHSAA Football State Finals held Nov. 24 at the RCA Dome.

The feel-good story of the 2007 Class 5A campaign was the second-ranked Pike Red Devils and their deep run into the postseason. But Saturday night, first-year coach Derek Moyers’ previously undefeated Red Devils walked out of the dome with their first loss of the season in a 16-7 defeat at the hands of No. 6 Carmel.

Pike got on the scoreboard first in grand style on a 52-yard strike from senior quarterback Josh Carpenter to fellow senior wideout Jeremy Turner on a crossing pattern left to right with 3:21 left in the opening period.

But from there it was all blue & gold as the Greyhounds (13-2) rattled off the game’s final 16 points en route to their sixth state championship.

Pike (14-1) definitely did not help its cause as a couple of key special teams miscues led to points for the white-and-blue-clad ballers from Indy’s suburban northside.

The contest began with both squads trading punts, but Carmel was winning the battle of field position by a decisive margin.

“The difference in the game was when we had big plays, we had penalties,” Moyers said. “Plus we had zero field position all night long. A lot of that had to do with the kicking game.”

The ’Hounds appeared ready to strike first as they set up at the Red Devils’ 34-yard line. But it was not to be as senior tailback Aaron King coughed up the pigskin after appearing to have the necessary yardage to pick up a crucial first down.

Pike junior Troy Smith caused the fumble and fell on it, setting up the aforementioned score from Carpenter to Turner on the fifth play of the ensuing drive. The drive was kept alive by a 20-yard completion from Carpenter to Turner on 3rd and 13.

If Pike was nervous in its first-ever state finals appearance, it did not show as the Red Devils were on top 7-0 with 3:21 to go in the opening quarter following senior Dustin Weber’s extra-point kick.

“We got down 7-zip but the kids didn’t blink,” said Carmel coach Mo Moriarity, whose ’Hounds answered right back with a 15-play, 67-yard scoring drive.

The Greyhounds picked up five first downs en route to the score before junior QB Morgan Newton found rarely used tight end Jacob LaRosa in the end zone from two yards out.

Senior Cory Kemps’ extra point tied the score at 7 with 8:23 to go in the first half.

Pike then appeared to be driving for the lead as a roughing-the-passer penalty kept the Red Devils’ drive alive, as did a 26-yard scamper by senior running back Ryan Taylor five plays later. But three straight incomplete passes by Carpenter (the last on fourth down) gave the ball back to Carmel at its own 31.

Yet Carmel could not do anything with the ball as the Pike defense (as it had done all season long) made a stop. After a Pike punt, however, Carmel took over on its own 48 (back to that whole “winning the field position” thing) with just under 45 seconds remaining in the half.

A couple of quick sideline passes to senior running back Kurt Freytag put the ’Hounds in prime position for a score before halftime. A late-hit penalty on Newton added 15 yards onto the end of a scamper by the quarterback, and Carmel was in business.

The Greyhounds would be stopped and forced to attempt a field goal, but little did they know at the time that points in this contest would come at a premium as both defenses were playing great. Kemps (who would go on to set a state finals record for number of field goals in the contest) booted one in from 30 yards out as time expired, and the Greyhounds took a 10-7 lead into the locker room.

Things got very interesting in the second half with a number of edge-of-the-seat plays, but turnovers would doom the Red Devils.

“In the playoffs our defense has really been playing well … best of the year,” said Moriarity, whose stop troops held Pike to just 53 yards rushing and 195 yards overall. “You have to be able to win with offense, defense, or special teams, and tonight it was mainly defense and special teams.”

Following a tradeoff of punts, Pike took over at its own 23. After a first-down run netted zero yards, Carpenter forced an errant pass into double coverage. It was picked off by Carmel sophomore defensive back Chase Varndell, and he took it the other way for what appeared to be a 33-yard touchdown.

But it was called back for a block-in-the-back penalty on the return.

Luckily for Pike, Carmel looked out of sync on the ensuing possession as the Greyhounds could not take advantage of the gift of field position at the Pike 16. After a failed reverse in which junior wideout Troy Stratford fumbled but the Greyhounds recovered, Carmel faced a 3rd and 11 at the Pike 14.

Enter Pike senior defensive back Kendall Flemings.

Newton escaped the oncoming pass rush from the Pike defensive line and took a chance in looking for his favorite target, senior wide receiver Jordan Brewer, at the goal line. But Flemings stepped in front of the pass and took it away.

His return to the Carmel 20 likewise was called back as a personal-foul penalty meant the Red Devils would start at the Pike 35. They could not take advantage.

After managing to pick up a first down on a 13-yard connection from Carpenter to Turner (84 yards on four catches), Pike was forced to punt four plays later. When the snap bounced off the fingers of punter Weber, he could not escape the Carmel pursuit as the 230-pound defensive lineman was tackled on his own 42.

A 23-yard sideline connection from Newton to Brewer (three catches, 45 yards) on 3rd and 10 kept the drive alive, Carmel could manage but five yards on its next three plays. Kemps was called out once again to tack on points to Carmel’s total, and he did.

The strong-legged 6’1” right-footer (three of his four kickoffs were for touchback) connected once again, this time from 32 yards, to put the Greyhounds on top 13-7 with 1:23 remaining in the third quarter.

Credit must be given to the Pike defense. They once again stepped up to the challenge and kept their offense in the game by stalling a Carmel offense that had been averaging nearly 38 points per game.

But penalties and miscues again reared their **** – and, ultimately, fatal – heads on Pike’s next possession. A beautiful 26-yard run by Taylor was called back for an illegal block, backing Pike up inside its own 10.

Three plays later, the Pike special teams unit took the field and once again self destructed.

This time the snap hit the ground, and all Weber could do was fall on it. The bad news being that Weber was standing at his own 28, from where Carmel took possession.

Once again, Moyers’ defense was up to the challenge. Though Carmel did get a first down, the drive stalled when Newton could not pick up the first down with his legs on a third-down opportunity.

But as he had all night, Kemps bailed the ’Hounds out. Kemps knocked another one through the uprights, this time from 25 yards out, and Carmel now held a two-possession lead at 16-7 with 8:41 to play.

“We do have one heck of a kicker,” Moriarity said of Kemps, whose only 3-pointer all year long had come in Carmel’s 32-31 Week 3 loss to Center Grove. “He’s been kicking well all year long, even though he hasn’t had to hit many field goals.

“When two teams are as evenly matched, it’s going to come down to something like the kicking game, and that was the case tonight.”

Pike managed to advance the ball to midfield on its next possession, but the Red Devils could not convert as Newton (he’d entered the game as a defensive back in the second quarter) picked off Carpenter’s desperation fourth-down gamble with 6:23 remaining.

That was Pike’s last decent shot as Carmel improved to 6-2 all-time in state championship contests.

“We wanted to get back and win one,” Moriarity said, whose team fell 35-14 in last year’s 5A final to Warren Central. “The last one (championship) was in 1989, and it feels good to be a part of bringing that back to Carmel.

“We got close last year, and this year we got it.”

Though Newton ended up with just 77 yards passing on 9-of-20 accuracy (he added 62 yards on the ground), fans were highly impressed with his poise and arm strength.

“Morgan is a very special 16-year old, and he is going to get a lot of attention in the coming months,” Moriarity said.

Carpenter, meanwhile, finished 9 for 26 for 142 yards for the Red Devils, who ended a magical season that brought the school’s first-ever sectional, regional, and semistate championships.

“I hope no one takes anything away from our players tonight,” Moyers said. “No one in the state of Indiana thought we would be here at the beginning of the season. If we continue to do the things we did this year, there is no doubt that we will be back.

“The penalties came back to haunt us, and we turned the ball over too many times. If you ask Carmel, that was the best defense they saw all year. The defense kept us in the ball game.”

Pike’s Lowery named mental attitude award winner
Following the contest, Pike’s Cameron Lowry was named the winner of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 5A football by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Pike High School in Lowry’s name.

Athletically, Lowry is the team’s leading blocker and is a four-year starter at left tackle for the Red Devils. He has been named Junior All-State by the Indiana Football Coaches Association, Bloomington Herald All-State, All-Conference Indiana, and All-Marion County by the Indianapolis Star. Besides football, Lowry also has thrown the discus and shot put for the school’s track & field team.
 
The son of Orlando and Penny Lowry of Indianapolis also is a member of the school’s symphonic orchestra, and he made an appearance earlier this season on the HoosierAuthority.com High School Sports Show.
 
Academically, Lowry rates among the best students in his class of 595. He maintains a spot on Pike’s honor roll and is a member of the National Junior Honor Society. He plans to study pharmacy at a college to be decided.
 
The award is presented annually to a senior participant in the state finals who was nominated by his principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability. It is named in honor of the IHSAA’s third commissioner, who served the association from 1962-76 and helped initiate the state tournament in 1973.

FOOTBALL?
You bet! Share
your thoughts on our Football message board.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

By Craig Adkins
Contributing Writer

INDIANAPOLIS – Experience is a great thing when it comes to the state finals, especially in football. In the Class 3A state finals Nov. 24, Indianapolis Chatard coach Vince Lorenzano was coaching in his fourth championship game in only five seasons.

That sideline experience, plus injuries to South Bend St. Joseph’s top two running backs, were key as Lorenzano’s third-ranked Trojans dominated the No. 2 Indians in a 31-7 victory at the RCA Dome.

On Saturday afternoon, winning his second straight state title at Chatard – and the school’s record-tying ninth overall, the last seven of which have come in 3A – was not really first and foremost in Lorenzano’s mind, however.

“You know what? They’re all great,” said Lorenzano, who improved to 3-1 in finals contests. “But it’s not about the title – it’s really about the kids. I really still believe that it’s all about those kids reaching your potential.

“You’ve got to remember that they’re high school kids, and just them getting here is a heck of an accomplishment.”

Chatard (12-3) benefited tremendously from not having to completely deal with the vaunted 1-2 rushing attack of St. Joseph’s senior Jordan Taylor (25 touchdowns, 8.1 yards per carry) and junior Dustin White (1,011 rushing yards, 18 TDs). Although both played, neither Taylor – whose 2,339 rushing yards were 350 more than any other running back in this weekend’s state finals – nor White were anywhere close to full strength.

“Taylor was a little injured and that caused them problems, so we were able to stop them,” Lorenzano said of the 6’1”, 215-pounder who injured his hamstring in last week’s semistate win over Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran.

The first quarter of the first of three championship games Saturday was a stalemate as punting the ball became old hat for both clubs. But midway through the second quarter, Chatard put together an eight-play scoring drive that covered 54 yards in just under four minutes.

Senior running back Dan Kleinschmidt dove into the end zone from three yards out, and sophomore Cody Dickson’s extra-point kick gave the Trojans a 7-0 lead.

Following another punt by St. Joseph’s (12-3), Chatard struck again. This time it was sophomore running back Ari Pappas bolting across the goal line for paydirt, with Dickson’s PAT leaving the Indians down two TDs at 14-0.

The Indians’ next drive came to a screeching halt when Chatard senior cornerback Kyle Dietrick intercepted a pass from junior Joe Hecklinski and returned it 36 yards. The touchdown with 18 seconds left before the half was Chatard’s third of the second quarter and gave the Trojans a commanding 21-0 halftime lead.

“We’ve been a good defense all year – that’s not surprising,” said Lorenzano, whose team limited St. Joseph’s to just 36 total yards in the first half and 133 for the game. “We’ve played the best of the best this year (including losses to defending 4A state champ Indianapolis Cathedral and nationally ranked Cincinnati St. Xavier).

St. Joseph’s appeared to be on the bounceback to start the second half, mounting a 15-play, 54 yard drive that lasted almost seven minutes. But the Indians turned the ball over on downs at the Chatard 21, and that was about it for the South Bend contingent.

Chatard senior quarterback Rob Doyle & Co. went back to work, driving down to the St. Joe’s 24 before Doyle completed a touchdown pass to junior tight end Steve Webster. The kick made it 28-0 with 3:24 left in the third, and Dickson put this one completely out of reach with a 34-yard field goal just into the fourth quarter for a 31-0 cushion.

St. Joseph’s finally got on the board midway through the fourth quarter when junior defensive back Zach Matthews forced a fumble by Chatard junior Braylon Parham, picked it up and returned it 37 yards for the score. Senior Jay Dobson tacked on the extra point to put this one to bed, 31-7.

Despite being hampered with injury, Taylor managed 38 yards on 15 carries while White ran 11 times for 32 yards. Hecklinski, meanwhile, was limited to 9-of-15 passing for 41 yards and two interceptions (both by Dietrick) for the Indians, who committed 12 penalties for 104 yards.

“It would have been nice to showcase (Taylor and White’s) talents in a state championship game because they are great playmakers,” said St. Joseph’s coach Kevin Downey. “There weren’t a whole lot of plays that we could call – it was the first time all year that we came across someone who could stop our run game.

“We ran into a better team. They were very physical and did a great job of dominating the line of scrimmage and scoring points.”

For the victorious Trojans, Pappas led the way with 19 carries for 82 yards and one touchdown. Doyle finished his career with in stellar fashion, going 10 of his 12 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.

Reitz’s Kissel named mental attitude award winner
Following the contest, Evansville Reitz’s Zak Kissel was named the winner of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A football by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Evansville Reitz in the name of Kissel.

He is the second student-athlete from Reitz to earn an IHSAA mental attitude award (Bob Stephenson, 3A football in 1977). Kissel maintains a 3.8 GPA, ranks 40th in his senior class of 317 students, and is a member of the National Honor Society. He gives back to the community through several volunteering efforts, mission trips, and church activities.
 
The son of Rick and Jody Kissel of Evansville intends to study engineering at either Purdue University or Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Kissel is a three-year varsity letterwinner in football and has been an Academic All-City honoree each of those three years. He also has played basketball for the Panthers, earning two varsity letters in the sport and being selected his team’s mental attitude award the last two years.
 
The award is presented annually to a senior participant in the state finals who was nominated by his principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability. It is named in honor of the IHSAA’s third commissioner, who served the association from 1962-76 and helped initiate the state tournament in 1973.

FOOTBALL?
You bet! Share
your thoughts on our Football message board.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

CRAWFORDSVILLE – Purdue recruit D.J. Byrd scored 24 points as Class 3A 15th-ranked host North Montgomery pulled way from 4A No. 21 Noblesville in the final three minutes of a 54-46 victory Nov. 21 in the season opener for both schools.

The victorious Chargin’ Chargers led most of the way before Noblesville tied it at 42 on a 3-pointer by sophomore Leland Brown. But North Montgomery went on an 8-2 run and knocked down eight of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter to preserve the win.

“Our defensive intensity was great, and we’re gonna have that every game all year,” Byrd said amid a midcourt post-game celebration. “For Noblesville, they wanted to come all the way here and get a win.

“So it was great for us to step up and pull it out.”

The muscular 6’5”, 205-pound Byrd – only a junior – was joined in double figures by seniors Kyle Calder and A.J. Sutherlin, who each scored 13 points. Senior forward Raymond Burks, who posted a double-double, was the lone Noblesville player to reach double digits with 20 points, 16 of which came in the second half.

“With the Burks kid beatin’ us up inside, we said ‘Hey! Let’s not feed the bear,’ ” said seventh-year North Montgomery coach Scott Radeker.

After North Montgomery had pushed a 23-20 halftime lead to seven on Byrd’s gorgeous left-handed reverse layup and a baseline jumper from senior Lucas Galloway following a steal by Calder, Burks went to work. The 6’3 forward scored three straight buckets on close-range shots to keep the Millers close at 30-26.

Following a double-pump baseline jumper by Byrd and a Calder fast-break layin off his own steal got the lead back to 34-26, Burks answered with a three-point play on a putback (one of his 11 rebounds) and subsequent free throw. Finally, his turnaround jumper in the paint finished the Millers’ scoring with 28 seconds left in the period, allowing Noblesville to stay within three at 40-37.

And although Burks opened the fourth-period scoring with yet another layin, the Chargers adjusted defensively to push the ball to the perimeter. By the time Burks got his next (and final) bucket in one final layin with 1:36 to play, North Montgomery was in the double bonus.

The final straw for the visitors came on their next possession, after Byrd had hit one of two free throws to give the Chargers a 51-46 lead. It was a possession from **** for the Millers, who failed to score after the ball went out of bounds, twice … senior guard Michael Jones missed a three … the ball went out of bounds again … and senior guard Grant Rogers was forced to foul after he was stripped going up for a 3-point attempt.

All told, the empty effort drained 44 seconds off the clock and resulted in a pair of free throws from Calder that all but sealed it.

“It felt like it was about a three-minute possession,” said Radeker, who coached for eight years at Noblesville, seven of them under current Millers mentor David McCullough. “That was huge because it was a five-point game and it could have been a one-possession game.

“Our kids needed a game like this, moving up to 3A. Win or lose, we were gonna learn a lot from it.”

Forced to go outside, Noblesville misfired on five of its six 3-point attempts in the fourth quarter. While Burks ended up 9 of 15 from the floor, the rest of his teammates went only 10 of 27, including a frigid 2-of-16 effort from downtown.

All game long, all eyes were on Byrd, who finished 7 of 12 from the field (including 3 of 5 from 3-point distance) and 7 of 9 from the foul line. Yet it was an inauspicious beginning for the future Boilermaker, who picked up his second foul with 1:22 remaining in the first quarter.

Banished to the bench, Byrd was forced to re-enter just three minutes later after North Montgomery opened the second stanza with three missed shots and a turnover. The move paid almost immediate dividends as Byrd drained a wide-open 18-footer off the break, then made a gorgeous assist from the baseline on the next play despite being triple covered.

It was, in fact, a perfect second quarter for Byrd as he nailed a three and hit a pair of free throws while managing to avoid his third foul. Despite a couple stretches where he forced the action just a bit, it was an impressive opening performance for the North Montgomery catalyst.

“I could have made some better decisions on some shots, but I had a lot of energy,” Byrd said.

Next up for North Montgomery is the HoosierAuthority.com “Friday Night Legends” game Nov. 30 at county rival Southmont. Noblesville, meanwhile, hosts Indianapolis Washington Nov. 24.

Hit the high-tech
hardwood by sharing your thoughts on our Boys Basketball message board.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

Results from Week 3 (Nov. 19-24) of the 2007-08 girls
basketball season, courtesy of John Harrell’s Indiana high school basketball
website:

Nov. 23

Nov. 21

Austin	91	Scottsburg	65
Avon	47	Danville	32
Carroll (Flora)	46	Delphi	22
Castle	60	Evansville North	48
Crawford County	47	Eastern (Pekin)	42
Decatur Central	48	Whiteland	38
East Central	50	Greensburg	43
Evansville Memorial	64	Boonville	31
Fishers	42	Hamilton Southeastern	39
Greenwood	62	Plainfield	58
Hammond Morton	44	Griffith	36
Hanover Central	45	Lowell	20
Indian Creek	79	Edinburgh	13
Indianapolis Chatard	70	Indianapolis Cathedral	46
Indianapolis Roncalli	62	Covenant Christian	60
Indianapolis Washington	53	Indianapolis Tindley	49
Jeffersonville	77	South Central (Elizabeth)	58
Merrillville	84	East Chicago Central	57
Monrovia	45	Eminence	36
Mooresville	68	Martinsville	58
Morgan Twp.	35	Hebron	30
New Washington	31	Charlestown	21
North Central (Indianapolis)	60	Pike	46
North Harrison	53	Silver Creek	39
Northeastern	55	Union (Modoc)	41
Princeton	55	Evansville Harrison	54 (OT)
Randolph Southern	55	Wapahani	51
Salem	75	West Washington	21
Southwestern (Hanover)	74	Madison	52
Triton Central	72	Morrist [!] Flag as Inappropriate Processing your request, Please wait.... Report as: Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights Write in Words: (Optional) Posted in Uncategorized0 Comments « Newer Entries Older Entries » Filter Articles Recent 100 August 2015 (1) September 2014 (4) March 2012 (1) October 2010 (1) June 2010 (53) May 2010 (78) April 2010 (60) March 2010 (76) February 2010 (94) January 2010 (97) December 2009 (99) November 2009 (88) October 2009 (97) September 2009 (104) August 2009 (78) July 2009 (39) June 2009 (65) May 2009 (79) April 2009 (54) March 2009 (79) February 2009 (100) January 2009 (91) December 2008 (98) November 2008 (107) October 2008 (125) September 2008 (99) August 2008 (80) July 2008 (40) June 2008 (55) May 2008 (102) April 2008 (73) March 2008 (87) February 2008 (114) January 2008 (119) December 2007 (104) November 2007 (70) October 2007 (284) September 2007 (353) August 2007 (280) July 2007 (62) June 2007 (131) May 2007 (215) April 2007 (190) March 2007 (213) February 2007 (278) January 2007 (312) December 2006 (275) November 2006 (260) October 2006 (1221) September 2006 (231) August 2006 (190) July 2006 (85) June 2006 (104) May 2006 (125) April 2006 (93) March 2006 (101) February 2006 (127) January 2006 (169) December 2005 (159) November 2005 (118) October 2005 (121) September 2005 (75) August 2005 (33) July 2005 (37) June 2005 (36) May 2005 (56) April 2005 (25) March 2005 (34) February 2005 (2) January 2005 (1) Categories Athlete Profile (0) College Recruiting (0) Game Preview/Recap (0) Game/Team Tradition (0) Miscellaneous (0) Play of the Week (0) Season Preview (0) Season Recap (0) Sidebar Photoblog (1) Sports Feature (0) Uncategorized (6) Tags baseball (1) Bernacchi (1) Blazers (1) blue blazers (1) Central (1) champions (1) Championship (1) draft (1) Elkhart (1) High School (1) HS (1) Indiana (1) Jack Bernacchi (1) Marian (1) Memorial (1) MLB (1) NIC (1) Northern (1) OBP (1) prospects (1) sectional (1) St. Joseph (1) statistics (1) Tanner Tully (1) team (1) Tully (1) website (1) win (1) Alerts 0 Alerts   Please log in to vote You need to log in to vote. If you already had an account, you may log in here Alternatively, if you do not have an account yet you can create one here.