By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor
According to the Sagarin power ratings, there are 16 big games (pitting teams rated in their respective class’s Top 20) on tap for Week 6 of the 2009-10 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 regular-season coaches’ polls):
Monday, Dec. 28
Two biggies …
2A #6 Forest Park (4-1) vs. 1A #3 Barr-Reeve (6-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST, Graber Post Buildings Classic @ North Daviess.
COACHES: Nate Hawkins, 4-1 in 1st year at Forest Park. Bryan Hughes, 282-123 in 18th year at Barr-Reeve.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Barr-Reeve, 79.61, 62nd overall, 2nd in Class 1A. Forest Park, 78.98, 67th overall, 5th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Forest Park defeated Northeast Dubois, 63-55, Dec. 18. Barr-Reeve defeated Northeast Dubois, 55-36, Dec. 22.
VS. COMMON FOES: Forest Park 1-1. Barr-Reeve 1-1.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Forest Park 21-14, Barr-Reeve 25-30.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Barr-Reeve, 8-7.
LAST MEETING: Barr-Reeve, 62-48, Jan. 9, 2009.
3A #13 Fort Wayne Dwenger (4-2) vs. Fort Wayne Elmhurst (3-2)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST, Summit Conference Tournament @ Fort Wayne Wayne.
COACHES: Matt Kostoff, 142-82 in 11th year at Fort Wayne Dwenger. Shabaz Khaliq, 15-10 in 2nd year at Fort Wayne Elmhurst.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Fort Wayne Elmhurst, 87.08, 26th overall, 4th in Class 3A. Fort Wayne Dwenger, 85.99, 30th overall, 5th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Fort Wayne Dwenger defeated DeKalb, 47-34, Dec. 19. Fort Wayne Elmhurst defeated Fort Wayne Northrop, 72-71, Dec. 18.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Fort Wayne Dwenger 24-15, Fort Wayne Elmhurst 19-11.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Fort Wayne Dwenger, 15-4.
LAST MEETING: Fort Wayne Dwenger, 58-47, Jan. 20, 2009.
Tuesday, Dec. 29
Two biggies …
1A #15 Vincennes Rivet (3-3) vs. 2A #8 North Posey (5-0)
GAME TIME: 10:00 AM CST, Tecumseh Classic (WAOV, 1450 AM).
COACHES: Tim Vieke, 55-43 in 5th year at Vincennes Rivet. Matt Wadsworth, 14-12 in 2nd year at North Posey.
SAGARIN RATINGS: North Posey, 79.64, 61st overall, 4th in Class 2A. Vincennes Rivet, 67.09, 191st overall, 15th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: Vincennes Rivet defeated Clay City, 61-41, Dec. 18. North Posey defeated Pike Central, 61-52, Dec. 19.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Vincennes Rivet 27-18, North Posey 10-23.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.
Castle (4-1) vs. East Chicago Central (4-1)
GAME TIME: 5:00 PM CST, North Central (Indianapolis) Tournament.
COACHES: Brian Gibson, 96-62 in 8th year at Castle. Abe Brown, 38-13 in 3rd year at East Chicago Central.
SAGARIN RATINGS: East Chicago Central, 88.33, 19th overall, 16th in Class 4A. Castle, 88.26, 20th overall, 17th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Castle defeated Evansville Reitz, 70-68, overtime, Dec. 19. East Chicago Central defeated Indianapolis Howe, 62-61, Dec. 22.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Castle 17-15, East Chicago Central 13-14.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.
Wednesday, Dec. 30
Four biggies …
4A #1 Bloomington South (7-0) at 4A #8 Carmel (5-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST (WGCL, 95.9 FM, 1370 AM).
COACHES: J.R. Holmes, 470-169 in 28th year at Bloomington South, 613-287 in 40th year overall. Mark Galloway, 125-44 in 8th year at Carmel.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Bloomington South, 99.49, 1st overall, 1st in Class 4A. Carmel, 95.45, 5th overall, 5th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Bloomington South defeated Center Grove, 67-53, Dec. 22. Carmel defeated Penn, 49-41, Dec. 23.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Bloomington South 29-18, Carmel 21-19.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.
3A #3 Gary Wallace (5-1) at Detroit Country Day (MI)
GAME TIME: noon EST.
COACHES: Renaldo Thomas, 41-53 in 5th year at Gary Wallace.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Gary Wallace, 93.24, 7th overall, 1st in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Gary Wallace defeated Indianapolis Tech, 88-63, Dec. 22.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Gary Wallace 9-9, Detroit Country Day (Mich.) 0-0.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.
3A #10 Mt. Vernon (Fortville) (4-2) vs. 4A #5 Munster (7-0)
GAME TIME: 10:00 AM CST, Hal of Fame Tournament @ New Castle.
COACHES: Steve Lynch, 41-27 in 4th year at Mt. Vernon (Fortville). Mike Hackett, 168-48 in 10th year at Munster.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Munster, 89.64, 15th overall, 13th in Class 4A. Mount Vernon (Fortville), 84.05, 42nd overall, 8th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Mount Vernon (Fortville) lost to Tipton, 66-65, Dec. 19. Munster defeated Lake Central, 41-31, Dec. 23.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Mount Vernon (Fortville) 27-15, Munster 21-23.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.
1A #10 Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (4-2) at Warsaw (5-1)
GAME TIME: noon EST, Warsaw Tournament.
COACHES: Jay Sefton, 4-2 in 1st year at Fort Wayne Blackhawk. Doug Ogle, 102-58 in 8th year at Warsaw.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Warsaw, 87.69, 21st overall, 18th in Class 4A. Fort Wayne Blackhawk, 73.03, 117th overall, 6th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: Fort Wayne Blackhawk defeated Fort Wayne Canterbury, 65-64, Dec. 18. Warsaw defeated Wawasee, 97-82, Dec. 18.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Fort Wayne Blackhawk 18-20, Warsaw 24-17.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.
Friday, Jan. 1
One biggie …
2A #7 Wheeler (5-1) vs. Boone Grove (5-2)
GAME TIME: 6:00 PM CST, Valparaiso U.
COACHES: Mike Jones, 94-28 in 6th year at Wheeler. Matt McKay, 245-147 in 18th year at Boone Grove.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Wheeler, 74.56, 106th overall, 8th in Class 2A. Boone Grove, 70.19, 152nd overall, 19th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Wheeler defeated Marquette Catholic, 81-34, Dec. 22. Boone Grove defeated Morgan Twp., 63-50, Dec. 23.
VS. COMMON FOES: Wheeler 1-0. Boone Grove 1-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Wheeler 15-21, Boone Grove 24-20.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Boone Grove, 19-7.
LAST MEETING: Boone Grove, 59-50, Feb. 6, 2009.
Saturday, Jan. 2
Seven biggies …
1A #13 Blue River Valley (5-2) at Alexandria (5-2)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Brian Klein, 47-27 in 4th year at Blue River, 76-63 in 7th year overall. Garth Cone, 407-264 in 31st year at Alexandria.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Alexandria, 70.89, 142nd overall, 16th in Class 2A. Blue River, 69.72, 156th overall, 10th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: Blue River defeated Daleville, 64-59, Dec. 18. Alexandria lost to Lapel, 74-48, Dec. 23.
VS. COMMON FOES: Blue River 1-0. Alexandria 1-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Blue River 26-26, Alexandria 20-26.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Alexandria, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Alexandria, 59-54, Jan. 3, 2009.
2A #1 Bluffton (6-0) at 2A #5 Winchester (7-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST (WZZY, 98.3 FM).
COACHES: Kevin Leising, 6-0 in 1st year at Bluffton, 231-155 in 18th year overall. Chip Mehaffey, 248-70 in 14th year at Winchester, 312-150 in 21st year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Bluffton, 75.38, 96th overall, 7th in Class 2A. Winchester, 72.47, 124th overall, 12th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Bluffton defeated Eastbrook, 69-36, Dec. 22. Winchester defeated Shenandoah, 58-46, Dec. 22.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Bluffton 10-26, Winchester 24-30.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Bluffton, 4-2.
LAST MEETING: Bluffton, 56-42, Jan. 2, 2009.
4A #8 Carmel (5-1) vs. 4A #4 Valparaiso (7-0)
GAME TIME: 8:00 PM CST, Mackey Arena.
COACHES: Mark Galloway, 125-44 in 8th year at Carmel. Joe Otis, 7-0 in 1st year at Valparaiso, 303-189 in 23rd year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Carmel, 95.45, 5th overall, 5th in Class 4A. Valparaiso, 88.58, 17th overall, 15th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Carmel defeated Penn, 49-41, Dec. 23. Valparaiso defeated LaPorte, 75-53, Dec. 18.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Carmel 21-19, Valparaiso 23-30.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.
Lexington Catholic (KY) at 4A #1 Bloomington South (7-0)
GAME TIME: 6:30 PM EST (WGCL, 95.9 FM, 1370 AM).
COACHES: J.R. Holmes, 470-169 in 28th year at Bloomington South, 613-287 in 40th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Bloomington South, 99.49, 1st overall, 1st in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Bloomington South defeated Center Grove, 67-53, Dec. 22.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Lexington Catholic (Ky.) 0-0, Bloomington South 29-18.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.
Muncie South (4-1) at 2A #3 Fort Wayne Luers (2-2)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Rick Baumgartner, 214-93 in 14th year at Muncie South, 392-258 in 31st year overall. James Blackmon, 88-34 in 6th year at Fort Wayne Luers.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Fort Wayne Luers, 88.47, 18th overall, 1st in Class 2A. Muncie South, 77.36, 79th overall, 20th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Muncie South defeated Yorktown, 65-50, Dec. 19. Fort Wayne Luers lost to Detroit Country Day (Mich.), 93-77, Dec. 22.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Muncie South 19-15, Fort Wayne Luers 14-9.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.
Warsaw (5-1) vs. 4A #9 Noblesville (6-1)
GAME TIME: 7:15 PM EST, Mackey Arena.
COACHES: Doug Ogle, 102-58 in 8th year at Warsaw. Dave McCollough, 241-101 in 16th year at Noblesville, 398-196 in 27th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Noblesville, 95.61, 4th overall, 4th in Class 4A. Warsaw, 87.69, 21st overall, 18th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Warsaw defeated Wawasee, 97-82, Dec. 18. Noblesville defeated Kokomo, 52-46, Dec. 22.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Warsaw 24-17, Noblesville 31-16.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.
Columbia City (6-1) vs. Fort Wayne Canterbury (4-1)
GAME TIME: 1:30 PM EST, Homestead Shootout.
COACHES: Chris Benedict, 179-79 in 12th year at Columbia City. Ben Ottenweller, 43-50 in 5th year at Fort Wayne Canterbury.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Columbia City, 81.96, 50th overall, 11th in Class 3A. Fort Wayne Canterbury, 69.29, 164th overall, 11th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: Columbia City defeated Wawasee, 68-60, Dec. 22. Fort Wayne Canterbury lost to Fort Wayne Blackhawk, 65-64, Dec. 18.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Columbia City 21-24, Fort Wayne Canterbury 11-21.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Columbia City, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Columbia City, 39-36, Jan. 2, 2009.