Week in Preview of December 7, 2015
There is a loaded slate of games this week across the state. Week In Preview takes a look at ten of the best matchups.
Tuesday December 8
South Bend Riley at South Bend St. Joseph 7:30pm
South Bend St. Joseph hosts last year's 4A semistate finalist in the Wildcats of Riley. St. Joseph is led by the inside-outside combination of Mark Madden and Dominic Ferro, who look to build off a 19 win campaign last year which saw them lose in the regional title game to Griffith. Riley is led by senior guard Reontrae Lawrence, who is averaging over 20 points a night, and has a pair of talented sophomores in Damezi Anderson, who hit eight triples on his way to 30 points against Northridge, and Shamar Dillard.
Warren Central at Cathedral 7:30pm
Warren was hurt by the transfer of guard Djimon Henson to Lawrence North, but the backcourt of Bishop Smith and Trequan Spivey has plenty of experience. Paul Minor is a bit undersized on the block but is as physical and aggressive as they come. Cathedral blends a mix of old and new, as the senior guard trio of Jordan Walker, Matt Paligraf, and Eron Gordon are capable of putting point on the board in a hurry. Sophomore wing Jarron Coleman looks to be the next in a long line of talented Irish hoppers.
Wednesday December 9
Lawrence North at Lawrence Central 7:30pm
Rivalries don't come much more heated than this, as both squads have realistic dreams of a deep March run. Lawrence North has one of the deepest rosters in the state, but they were upended last weekend by Marion. Senior guards Djimon Henson, Ethan Jarrett, and Jaylen McKay along with sophomores Kevin Easley and Antwaun Cushingberry give coach Jack Keefer plenty of options. Lawrence Central isn't as deep, but Al Gooden has pretty good options in senior guards Mekhi Biffle and Kyle Guy. Guy dropped 29 on Carmel last weekend.
Friday December 11
Bloomington South at Southport 7:30pm
Bloomington South is coming off a 60-55 loss to Floyd Central, and will look to upset Southport, who is currently ranked 8th in 4A. The Panthers bring a talented group led by Tucker Blackwell, Josh Hall, and Chance Coyle. Kyle Simpson's Cardinals are led by Butler bound double double machine Joey Brunk and do every thinking junior Paul Scruggs. They're coming off a hard fought win over the Ben Davis Giants on Saturday night.
Evansville Harrison at Castle 8:00pm
We head to the banks of the Ohio River for our next matchup between two talented southwestern Indiana squads. The host Knights do not have a senior on their roster, but a large junior class is full of playmakers. The headliner is 6'9 Jack Nunge, who is averaging 21 pts and 11 rbs per game. Brandon Eades and Payton Mills are productive players in their own right. Harrison has great balance, with six players averaging between 8 and 13 points per game. They're led by senior guard CJ Hedgepath and sophomore guard Robin Duncan. The Warriors are looking to rebound after a 49 point loss at the hands of New Albany.
The Cadets welcome Carroll to the Summit Athletic Conference in an important early season conference matchup. Paxton Bergdoll and Reggie Tharp have been through the battles in the SAC for years now, and shooting guard Cam Weikart is capable of hitting threes in bunches. Carroll is new to the conference, but they've played in plenty of big games, and look to build towards a successful postseason. Ball State signee Kyle Mallers is one of the top shooters in the state, but don't sleep on junior point guard Jacob Redding, who hit eight threes on his way to 28 points against Concord.
Saturday December 12
Evansville Reitz at Bloomington North 7:30pm
Last year's 4A runner up team looks drastically different than this year's Reitz Panthers. Graduated are Jaelan Sanford, Nate Hansen, Jacob Norman, and Alex Stein. Just one starter, point guard Dru Smith, returns, and senior guard Blake Ruckman steps into a prominent scoring role. Smith had 23 points in a season opening win over Vincennes Lincoln. Bloomington North comes into this week winless on the year. Standout sophomore wing Musa Jallow is one of the most explosive players in the state, and when he comes out aggressive, it can be a long night for opponents. Point guard Malik Laffoon might be small in stature, but the senior plays with a confidence much bigger than his frame.
Marion at Zionsville 7:30pm
Marion owns an impressive win already, beating Lawrence North 79-70 last weekend. It seems like Vijay Blackmon and Reggie Jones have been around for about six years now, but the two seniors who have been making an impact since their freshman year are finally in their last go round for the Giants. While those two make get the headlines, 5'9 junior Tim Leavett is actually leading Marion in scoring so far this season, putting up over 22 a night. Zionsville is in the midst of a youth movement, and the Eagles have reason to be excited. Freshman guard Isaiah Thompson leads the way for the 2-1 Eagles at 22 points a game. Sophomore guard Riley Bertram is back for his second year as a starter, and Dominic Genco is a junior guard who is wired to score. Look for plenty of points to be put on the scoreboard in this game.
Hamilton Southeastern at North Central 7:30pm
The 4-0 Royals are looking to make amends for a subpar year last season, and they lean on junior forward Zach Gunn. He's a tough matchup with his ability to score inside as well as hit shots from behind the arc. Senior Greg Miller provides a steady backcourt presence. Doug Mitchell is excited about this year's version of the Panthers, and it's easy to see why. North Central has one of the best five man groups in the state with forwards Emmanuel Little and Antonio Singleton manning the interior, guards Mateo Rivera and Tyrie Johnson outside, and junior wing Kris Wilkes everywhere. The 6'7 junior is one of the best players in his class nationally and could be the best player in the state regardless of class.
Ben Davis at Terre Haute South 10:00am
An early morning game at the Terre Haute South Shootout pits these two former MIC rivals. Ben Davis graduated all five starters from last year's team, but coach Mark James is confident he'll have enough talent to get the job done. Josh Brewer, Aaron Henry, Ian Dieters, and LeShaun Minor all got valuable experience on varsity last year and step into bigger roles this season. Terre Haute South is 2-0 on the young season, and will face their first real test of the season. Point guard Jaylen Minnett can score as well as set up teammates, such as sophomore wing De'Avion Washington and forwards Matt Deady and Chase Dinkel.