BB: Week 6 big games

By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

According to the Sagarin power ratings, there are 13 big games (pitting teams rated in their respective class’s Top 20) on tap for Week 6 of the 2008 Indiana high school boys basketball season.

Here’s a preview of those big contests via the pertinent numbers taken from John Harrell’s Indiana high school basketball site (rankings are from the latest Associated Press polls):

Monday, Dec. 29
Four biggies …

New Washington (6-0) at 2A #16 Austin (6-1)
GAME TIME: 7:00 PM EST, Austin.
COACHES: Jonathan May, 10-17 in 2nd year at New Washington. Mike Deaton, 11-17 in 2nd year at Austin.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Austin, 76.39, 101st overall, 15th in Class 2A. New Washington, 66.15, 213th overall, 18th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: New Washington defeated Columbus Christian, 77-43, Dec. 27. Austin defeated Crothersville, 89-52, Dec. 27.
VS. COMMON FOES: New Washington 1-0. Austin 1-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: New Washington 13-33, Austin 28-21.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Austin, 11-4.
LAST MEETING: Austin, 58-56, Dec. 4, 2007.

North Miami (4-1) vs. 3A #10 Peru (4-1)
GAME TIME: 6:00 PM EST, Miami County Tournament at Maconaquah (WARU, 1600 AM).
COACHES: Zach Henson, 20-6 in 2nd year at North Miami. Eric Thompson, 63-76 in 7th year at Peru.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Peru, 84.01, 43rd overall, 5th in Class 3A. North Miami, 77.26, 86th overall, 12th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: North Miami defeated West Central, 72-41, Dec. 20. Peru defeated Eastern (Greentown), 68-44, Dec. 19.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: North Miami 13-16, Peru 12-14.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Peru, 14-3.
LAST MEETING: North Miami, 55-51, Feb. 19, 2008.

Seattle Garfield (WA) vs. 4A #4 Lawrence North (6-1)
GAME TIME: 5:15 PM EST, T-Mobile Invitational at Ball State.
COACHES: Jack Keefer, 562-216 in 33rd year at Lawrence North.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Lawrence North, 97.62, 2nd overall, 2nd in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Lawrence North defeated Chicago Simeon (Ill.), 63-61, Dec. 20.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Seattle Garfield (Wash.) 0-0, Lawrence North 28-14.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Lawrence North, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Lawrence North 63, Chicago Simeon (Ill.) 61, Dec. 20, 2008.

3A #12 West Vigo (7-2) vs. 1A #3 Rockville (5-1)
GAME TIME: 5:30 PM EST, Wabash Valley Classic at Terre Haute South.
COACHES: Joe Boehler, 7-2 in 1st year at West Vigo. Dave Mahurin, 71-51 in 6th year at Rockville.
SAGARIN RATINGS: West Vigo, 78.16, 78th overall, 17th in Class 3A. Rockville, 74.42, 116th overall, 7th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: West Vigo lost to Terre Haute South, 72-54, Dec. 27. Rockville lost to Marshall (Ill.), 55-53, Dec. 27.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: West Vigo 36-29, Rockville 8-17.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Rockville, 2-1.
LAST MEETING: Rockville, 65-57, overtime, Dec. 27, 2007.

Tuesday, Dec. 30
Five biggies …

2A #2 Bluffton (7-0) vs. 2A #1 Tipton (7-0)
GAME TIME: 10:00 AM EST, Hall of Fame Classic at New Castle.
COACHES: Wayne Barker, 210-94 in 14th year at Bluffton. Travis Daugherty, 59-37 in 5th year at Tipton.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Tipton, 85.77, 28th overall, 2nd in Class 2A. Bluffton, 78.27, 77th overall, 8th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Bluffton defeated Norwell, 62-54, Dec. 27. Tipton defeated Mount Vernon (Fortville), 49-35, Dec. 20.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Bluffton 10-29, Tipton 11-31.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.

4A #8 Franklin Central (7-1) vs. 4A #15 Lafayette Jefferson (6-2)
GAME TIME: noon EST, Hall of Fame Classic at New Castle.
COACHES: Mark James, 352-183 in 24th year at Franklin Central. Scott Bunnell, 56-22 in 4th year at Lafayette Jeff.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Lafayette Jeff, 89.39, 12th overall, 11th in Class 4A. Franklin Central, 88.35, 15th overall, 14th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Franklin Central defeated Kankakee Valley, 75-39, Dec. 27. Lafayette Jeff defeated Kokomo, 66-64, Dec. 20.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Franklin Central 28-30, Lafayette Jeff 29-22.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.

South Atlanta (GA) vs. 4A #4 Lawrence North (7-1)
GAME TIME: 5:15 PM EST, T-Mobile Invitational at Ball State.
COACHES: Jack Keefer, 563-216 in 33rd year at Lawrence North.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Lawrence North, 97.62, 2nd overall, 2nd in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Lawrence North defeated Seattle Garfield (Wash.), 61-37, Dec. 29.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: South Atlanta (Ga.) 0-0, Lawrence North 28-15.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Lawrence North, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: Lawrence North 61, Seattle Garfield (Wash.) 37, Dec. 29, 2008.

Hamilton Southeastern (4-3) at Carmel (4-2)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Brian Satterfield, 106-58 in 8th year at Hamilton Southeastern. Mark Galloway, 107-39 in 7th year at Carmel.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Carmel, 91.95, 8th overall, 7th in Class 4A. Hamilton Southeastern, 87.08, 19th overall, 18th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Hamilton Southeastern lost to North Central (Indianapolis), 61-57, Dec. 20. Carmel defeated Lafayette Central Catholic, 74-56, Dec. 20.
VS. COMMON FOES: Hamilton Southeastern 2-1. Carmel 1-2.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Hamilton Southeastern 33-15, Carmel 26-17.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Carmel, 14-8.
LAST MEETING: Carmel, 77-60, sectional, Feb. 29, 2008.

Indianapolis Ritter (5-0) at Speedway (3-3)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Pete Bitting, 15-11 in 2nd year at Indianapolis Ritter. Chuck Bennett, 38-71 in 6th year at Speedway.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Indianapolis Ritter, 73.05, 129th overall, 18th in Class 2A. Speedway, 71.58, 146th overall, 20th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Indianapolis Ritter defeated Indianapolis Lutheran, 63-49, Dec. 20. Speedway lost to Mooresville, 52-30, Dec. 27.
VS. COMMON FOES: Indianapolis Ritter 1-0. Speedway 0-1.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Indianapolis Ritter 15-15, Speedway 22-17.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Speedway, 10-9.
LAST MEETING: Indianapolis Ritter, 62-37, Dec. 28, 2007.

Friday, Jan. 2
Three biggies …

1A #12 Monroe Central (5-0) at 2A #11 Wapahani (4-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Jeremy Duncan, 20-9 in 2nd year at Monroe Central. Matt Luce, 17-9 in 2nd year at Wapahani, 67-69 in 7th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Monroe Central, 75.55, 107th overall, 5th in Class 1A. Wapahani, 74.97, 112th overall, 16th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Monroe Central defeated Union (Modoc), 93-39, Dec. 19. Wapahani defeated Union City, 77-37, Dec. 13.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Monroe Central 11-20, Wapahani 15-17.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Wapahani, 9-8.
LAST MEETING: Monroe Central, 55-51, Dec. 28, 2007.

Warren Central (5-2) at 4A #4 Lawrence North (7-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Greg Graham, 5-2 in 1st year at Warren Central. Jack Keefer, 563-216 in 33rd year at Lawrence North, 624-242 in 37th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Lawrence North, 97.62, 2nd overall, 2nd in Class 4A. Warren Central, 87.62, 18th overall, 17th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Warren Central defeated LaPorte, 69-59, Dec. 27. Lawrence North defeated Seattle Garfield (Wash.), 61-37, Dec. 29.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Warren Central 28-22, Lawrence North 28-15.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Lawrence North, 19-5.
LAST MEETING: Lawrence North, 56-53, Jan. 12, 2008.

Garrett (5-0) at 3A #13 NorthWood (4-1)
GAME TIME: 7:45 PM EST, NorthWood Tournament.
COACHES: John Bodey, 5-0 in 1st year at Garrett. Aaron Wolfe, 17-11 in 2nd year at NorthWood.
SAGARIN RATINGS: NorthWood, 79.06, 69th overall, 11th in Class 3A. Garrett, 77.4, 84th overall, 11th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Garrett defeated Angola, 73-53, Dec. 23. NorthWood defeated Plymouth, 54-43, Dec. 20.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Garrett 10-21, NorthWood 16-14.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.

Saturday, Jan. 3
One biggie …

Frankfort (4-2) at 4A #2 North Central (Indianapolis) (7-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST (WJEL, 89.3 FM).
COACHES: Jason Good, 25-27 in 3rd year at Frankfort. Doug Mitchell, 246-119 in 16th year at North Central (Indianapolis).
SAGARIN RATINGS: North Central (Indianapolis), 100.24, 1st overall, 1st in Class 4A. Frankfort, 83.72, 45th overall, 6th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Frankfort defeated Western, 60-57, Dec. 20. North Central (Indianapolis) defeated Castle, 92-36, Dec. 29.
VS. COMMON FOES: Frankfort 0-1. North Central (Indianapolis) 1-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Frankfort 22-20, North Central (Indianapolis) 28-19.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.