Week in Preview: February 16, 2015

 

 

Tuesday February 17

Clay City at Linton Stockton 7:30

A small school battle between two successful southern Indiana programs kicks off our Week In Preview. The Eels of Clay City have won nine in a row and sit at 17-3. They made it all the way to the semistate round last season before falling to Barr-Reeve, and are led by a pair of 6'3 seniors in Logan Cesinger and Trevor Singer. Linton Stockton has a rich tradition as well, falling to Bowman Academy in the state finals in 2013. Sharpshooter Drew Witty and point guard Josh Dieball are the main weapons for the Miners.

 

 

 

Friday February 20

Chesterton at Valpo 8:00

Valparaiso clinched a Duneland Conference title this past weekend, and welcomes a reeling Chesterton squad to town as they look to put the finishing touch on a perfect conference slate. Valpo can hurt you inside or outside thanks to forwards Connor Ten Hove and Drew Paul as well as guard Steve Helm. Chesterton has lost their last three contests, but you can throw that out the window in a rivalry game like this. Chris Palombizio Is coming off a 3/14 shooting performance against Mishawaka Marian this past weekend, so look for him to make amends against Valpo. Rhyss Lewis is another player who could break out for Valpo.

 

Churubusco is looking for their first sectional in school history, and the 2A #7 Eagles look poised to do that thanks to senior forward Paul Forman. The 6'7 Bethel commit was homeschooled in previous years, but his addition has sparked the best season in quite a while for Busco. He's a true inside outside threat with solid athleticism, a real matchup nightmare as the small school level. But Fairfield is no pushover, as they lost by just four to Churubusco in the NECC tourney title game in January. The Falcons are led by shooting guard Joe Line, who nearly had a triple double (38/13/8) in a victory over Fremont last week.

 

North Side at FW Carroll 7:45

The SAC champs head up Lima Rd. to play Carroll, who have only lost to Homestead this year. There's no shortage of talent in this one, as Jujuan Starks and Sean McGee bring their Redskins squad up against Chandler White and Kyle Mallers. North Side should have an advantage inside with 6'9 sophomore Jaylen Butz, but they have to focus on getting him the ball and not being guard dominant. Carroll can counter on the other end with the athletic but smaller Jeremy Kalonji.

 

Guerin Catholic at Pendelton Heights 7:30

Two schools that are quietly having good seasons face off in this border county matchup. Pendelton Heights will have to find a way to defend Lehigh signee Matt Holba, Who exploded for 38 points and 12 rebounds against Heritage Christian last week. If Pendelton doubles Holba, they'll have to make sure they find Christian Munson on the perimeter, as he is shooting 42% from behind the arc. Pendelton Heights' Butler signee Sean McDermott is capable of getting hot from deep himself. Caleb Hardy, Mark Albers, and Kenton Dunham provide support for the Arabians, who are 16-4 on the year.

 

Cathedral at Ben Davis 7:00

Ben Davis picked up a quality win on Saturday afternoon agains Terre Haute South 70-58. The Giants were led by the senior duo of point guard DeShon Tate (19 points) and power forward Brennan Gillis (18 points). In fact, the Giants start five seniors, whose experience could be a factor against a young Cathedral squad. The Irish have been given a boost from the addition of junior guard Eron Gordon. Since Gordon has been reinstated, the Irish have not lost, going 6-0. Junior point guard Jordan Walker has been a big part of that run, as the athletic Walker is capable of going off in stretches.

 

Mishawaka Marian at Penn 7:30

These two teams are frequent selections for our Week In Preview article, and now they face off with a Northern Indiana Conference title at stake. Penn has not lost since they dropped a game to Brownsburg at the Hall of Fame tourney in New Castle just after Christmas. Marian hasn't dropped a game since last March, standing undefeated at 15-0 and atop the 3A rankings. Penn has a talented backcourt in Nate Miller, Billy Doslak, and Ryan Lutz. Marian has Princeton signee Devin Cannady on the perimeter and Nick Harris on the block. Cannady averaged 25.5 points per game in a pair of victories last weekend while shooting 10-18 from the three point line.

 

Terre Haute South at Southport 7:30

A pair of talented sophomores headline this Conference Indiana slugfest with Southport's Paul Scruggs and TH South's Jaylen Minnett. The matchup to watch for will be in the post, as the undersized Braves, with their tallest starter at 6'4, have to deal with 6'10 Joey Brunk of Southport. TH South lost to Ben Davis this past weekend, but looks to spoil an undefeated conference season for the Cardinals. If the Braves want to pull off the win, Matt Deady, Connor Shipley, and DeAvion Washington will need to bring it all game long.

 

 

Saturday February 21

FW Carroll at North Central 7:30

Carroll makes their second appearance this week as they head down I-69 to face the Panthers of North Central. The Chargers have four guys in double figures in Chandler White, Kyle Mallers, Jeremy Kalonji, and Jacob Redding. They'll need everyone firing on all cylinders to take down North Central. Kris Wilkes is having a fantastic sophomore season and Wes Stowers continues to be one of the most unheralded point guards in the state. Neither team features a traditional big man so this should be an up and down affair.

 

Evansville Reitz at Southport 7:30

This is one of the most anticipated games of the season as undefeated #1 Reitz heads north to take on the talented Southport Cardinals, ranked 5th in 4A. This will be the toughest test of the season for Reitz, who have blown out everyone in southern Indiana this year. This will be Southport's toughest test as well, as the frenetic Reitz defense will test guards Malik Bennett and Paul Scruggs. Jaelan Sanford, Alex Stein, Jacob Norman, and Nate Hansen are an experience core group of senior for Reitz.