Week In Preview: Week 2

The Indiana Basketball Source Week In Preview segment features ten top games from around the state this week.  All times are Eastern.

Tuesday December 2nd

Fishers at Pike 7:30pm

Cam Wolter, Lance Dollison, and crew travel to northwest Indy to face one of 4A’s best teams, the Pike Red Devils.  Fishers is coming off a win over Shortridge and Pike split a weekend trip to Rockford, Illinois this past weekend.  Keegan Kollmeyer of Fishers is a guard that is looking for a breakout season following his play this summer.  Pike features a tremendous backcourt in 5’11 junior Justin Thomas and 6’ sophomore Justin Roberts.  Up front for Pike is 6’8 Ball State signee Tahjai Teague, who is one of the top seniors in the state.

Friday December 5th

Evansville Reitz at Vincennes Lincoln 7:30pm

Reitz is looking to make some noise this year behind an experienced quarter of seniors in 6’3 Toledo signee Jalen Sanford, 6’4 Nate Hansen, and Southern Indiana signees Alex Stein, a 6’3 guard, and 6’5 forward Jacob Norman.  They travel north to take on a Lincoln squad that went 15-8 and has visions of competing for a sectional title this season.  If Reitz is going to be one of the better teams in the state, this is an early test they will have to pass.

Guerin Catholic at Hamilton Heights 7:30pm

Two of 3A’s best teams square off in an early battle for supremacy.  Guerin lost a lot from last year in point guard Whit Rapp and current IUPUI Jaguar Aaron Brennan, but do return 6’6 Lehigh signee Matt Holba and 6’3 perimeter assassin Christian Munson.  Hamilton Heights has 2015 Purdue signee Grant Weatherford and junior guard Hunter Crist. Hamilton Heights beat a good Mt. Vernon team over the weekend. Both teams have aspirations of making it deep in the state tournament.

Cathedral at Indianapolis Howe 7:30pm

Cathedral is without Eron Gordon, ruled ineligible by the IHSAA, but does return a solid core from last year’s team, including Tiernan Cook, Matt Paligraf, Tra Landers, and Jared Thomas.  They will also North Central transfer Jordan Walker as well as a pair of freshmen in 6’4 Emil Ekiyor and 6’3 Jarron Coleman.  Howe is led by 5’11 Evansville signee Harris Brown, an electric guard who averaged 27 per night last season and is just as comfortable finishing above the rim as he is shooting from behind the arc. Junior guard Brian Warren had a huge scoring game against Detroit Henry Ford before Thanksgiving. Inside for Howe is 6’5 bruiser Dreon Lewis, a player who can get a double-double on any given night.

Indianapolis Scecina at Indianapolis Crispus Attucks 7:30pm

Much is expected of Scecina this year, which may sound odd for a team that didn’t win their sectional in 2014.  They feature two pairs of future college teammates.  Huntington signees Zach and Josh Rutland are two heady guards who have won games throughout their entire career.  Zach is a 5’7 point guard who makes plays all over the court and 5’9 Josh is an athletic guard that can defend and score.  Future IUPUI teammates TJ Henderson, a 6’1 guard, and Gary Bonds, a 6’8 power forward, provide shooting and post play, respectively.  Attucks won their sectional last year and is a favorite to repeat.  They are led by 6’3 senior forward Darrell Hutchinson, 5’10 senior guard Isaiah Ware, and 6’2 senior forward Omari Robinson.  Hutchinson and Ware averaged over 30 points per game combined last year, and Robinson provides athleticism.

Lawrence Central at Carmel 7:30pm

Lawrence Central fell to Brownsburg last Tuesday, and will try to notch a win against top ranked Carmel.  LC starts five juniors, led by Kyle Guy, Chris King, and Mekhi Biffle.  Carmel has Purdue signee and Mr. Basketball candidate Ryan Cline and 6’6 Air Force signee Keegan Culp and is fresh off a double digit win over Zionsville last Wednesday.  Look for the Bears to try to push the tempo against Carmel’s stingy halfcourt defense.

Saturday December 6th

Marquette Catholic vs. Barr Reeve 1:15pm (Southport HS)

A rematch of last year’s 1A state title match that saw Marquette prevail in overtime, and both teams bring back major pieces from those teams.  Marquette Catholic features sweet shooting 6’8 forward Ryan Fazekas, who has signed with Providence, as well as 6’ senior guard Braxton Miller, 6’3 senior forward Jovonte Peals, and 6’4 junior forward Tyshaun Smallwood.  Barr Reeve returns four starters from last year, but lost leading scorer Micah Bullock.  Back are 6’5 post Addison Wagler, 6’5 forward Duncan Roy, 6’ guard Chris Wittmer, all seniors, and 6’1 junior point guard Logan James.  These two teams could easily see each other again on the last Saturday in March in the state finals.

Homestead vs. Lawrence Central 3:00pm (Southport HS)

Chris Johnson brings his 4A #2 Homestead squad down to Indy to take on Lawrence Central, who will face the two top ranked 4A schools in less than 24 hours.  Homestead picked up a win over Huntington in their opener, and saw them defeat Memphis White Station behind a ridiculous game from 6’8 senior Caleb Swanigan this past Saturday.  Lawrence Central’s guard will have to control this game because they have no answer for Homestead’s inside duo of Swanigan and 6’9 Colgate signee Dana Batt.

East Chicago Central vs. Brownsburg 4:45pm (Southport HS)

ECC’s Hyron Edwards dropped 39 points in a victory of Marquette Catholic Saturday, and KJ Walton poured in 33 in their win Tuesday against Lawrence Central.  While each may not top the 30 point barrier this weekend, there are talented players all over the court in this contest.  Brownsburg’s senior trio of Walton, Darrian Ringo, and Jordache Mavunga will face off against the senior Edwards, 6’4 junior Damien Jefferson, and 6’ sophomore Jermaine Cousnard. 

Center Grove at Bloomington North 7:30pm

Center Grove heads down SR 37 to take on a Bloomington North squad looking to avenge last season’s 59-55 loss to the Trojans.  Center Grove is led by 6’4 Belmont signee Michael Benkert, who averaged over 18 a night last year, and 6’4 senior Matt Hawk, who poured in 17 in their win over Franklin Central on Saturday night.  Bloomington North won their opener over Bedford North Lawrence, but is much different than the semistate team from last year.  Gone are Saikou Jallow and Grant Sims, and in their place are junior guard Malik Laffoon and freshman wing Musa Jallow.