Week In Preview takes a look at ten of the best games from around the state for the upcoming week. This week we have several games from outside the central Indiana area as well as a couple of small school matchups that should be absolute barnburners. All times listed are eastern.
Wednesday December 16
Winchester at Shenandoah 7:30pm
Two coaches who have been extremely successful at the 4A level have migrated to 2A schools, where they are working their magic with highly successful programs. Matt Fine, who took Muncie Central to back to back 4A title games in 2004 and 2005, is at perennial 2A power Winchester.
Michigan running back recruit Kiante Enis is back for another year on the hardwood, and he's flanked by two stellar guards in junior Michael Georgi and senior Elias Gates. Former Noblesville chief Dave McCullough has landed on his feet at Shenandoah. Junior Gavin Griggs is an athletic wing who put put points on the board, and his senior brother Mason mans the point guard spot. The Raiders come into the week at 5-0.
Thursday December 17
South Bend Washington at Penn 7:30pm
The Washington Panthers have a senior-laden group looking to make some noise this season. One way to make an early statement would be a road win at NIC foe Penn. Lorenzo Glass, Bryant Givens, and Kaylen Andrews give coach Chad Johnston a balanced trio to rely upon. Penn is still getting their basketball legs underneath them after the football team made a run to the 6A state finals. The leader for the Kingsman is senior wing Matt Trewhella, who is averaging around 20 points per game this season. His outside shot has developed into a major weapon.
Friday December 18
Two of the best under the radar talents in the state lead their teams into this SIAC contest. Castle forward
Jack Nunge had a huge outing last Friday, going for 35 points and 15 rebounds in front of Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery, who has offered the 6'10 junior. Junior forward Payton Mills had recorded double doubles in each of his last two games for the Knights.
Dru Smith is one of the best available guards in the 2016 class, and he has taken on a bigger scoring role this year for coach Michael Adams. He's averaging over 17 points per game, and senior Blake Ruckman is coming off a 20 point outing against
Evansville North last week.
Brown County at Cloverdale 7:30pm
Brown County certainly has size with Josh Cochran and Austin Kritzer, but they'll have to face off against Cloverdale and recent
Butler commit
Cooper Neese. Neese is a 6'3 guard that can absolutely fill it up from deep, and he's averaging 27 points per game so far this season. Point guard
Jalen Moore plays much bigger than his 5'5 height. The sophomore got time on last year's sectional championship team, and is averaging 18 points per game. The Clovers have a new coach this year in Patrick Rady, who is taking over following the retirement of his Hall of Fame father, Pat.
Eastern Greene at Barr-Reeve 7:30pm
We stay in southern
Indiana for this 2A game, and the gym should be packed
Friday for this one. Eastern Greene comes into the week at 6-0 following wins over Washington and North Knox. Guards Jeff Graham and Caleb Hamilton led the charge for John McNeil's Thunderbirds. The Vikings of Barr-Reeve have been in the class 1A title game each of the past two seasons, winning last year's crown, and that success has moved them into 2A. Coach Bryan Hughes lost post player Addison Wagler and Duncan Roy, who played great in last year's state finals. Point guard
Logan James returns, and a pair of forwards have stepped to the forefront in juniors Jonathan Walker and Trevor Lengacher.
A Summit Athletic Conference battle showcases the two of the best frontcourts in Northeast
Indiana. Snider boasts 6'5 Li Donta Hicks-Gentry, 6'6 Devin Tennant, and 6'11
Malik Williams, a top 50 ranked junior nationally. Williams had 15 points and 6 rebounds in Snider's loss to Brebeuf this past weekend. North Side is looking to extend their 19 game conference winning streak. Junior
Jaylen Butz and super frosh
Keion Brooks Jr., who went for 32 and 13 in a win over South Side last week, man the interior for the Redskins. Junior point guard
Devontae Kinnie has been spectacular running the show for North Side this year.
Logansport at Lafayette Jefferson 7:30pm
The Berries bring their undefeated record to the Crawley Center to face off against Lafayette Jeff and their 6-0 mark. Logansport is bouyed by a pair of juniors in guard
Matt Jennings and wing
Jalen Adaway. Adaway is putting up over 25 points per night on the young season, and Jennings went for over 20 in two of their first three outings. Scott Radeker's Bronchos are powered by a diminutive backcourt trio of 5'10
David Hanyard, 5'10 Darian Collins, and 5'8 Koty Vitone. Lafayette Jeff won the J&C Hoops Classic earlier this month.
Lawrence Central at Pike 7:30pm
Points should be plentiful when these two teams face off on
Indianapolis's northwest side. Both these teams were victorious
Saturday at the Forum Credit Union Tip Off Classic, as Lawrence Central earned a 74-65 win over Cathedral and Pike knocked off New Albany 73-68. Each squad ranks in the top 35 in the state in scoring. Lawrence Central got 25 points from
Kyle Guy, a Virginia signee, this weekend, while
Justin Roberts poured in 24
on Saturday. Pike already has one conference loss this year, and a second would dampen their hopes of a MIC title.
Saturday December 19
Crispus Attucks at North Central 7:30pm
The Tigers of Crispus Attucks bring their #3 in the state scoring average to North Central in a showdown pitting the 3A #8 team versus the top ranked team in 4A. Junior wing
Nike Sibande is averaging a double double at 18 points and 12 rebounds per game for Attucks on the season, while three other Tigers also score in double figures per game. They face a tough matchup in 6'7 small forward
Kris Wilkes and
Antonio Singleton, who scored the game winner at the buzzer against Carmel last Friday.
New Albany at Carmel 7:30pm
Top ten 4A schools face off as the Bulldogs of New Albany head up I-65 for face off against Scott Heady's Greyhounds. Heady's crew will have their hands full with 6'4 sophomore
Romeo Langford, who went for 30 and 12 against Pike this past
Saturday. Senior shooting guard Josh Jefferson tossed in 25 points in that game and is capable of going off from deep. Carmel will look to control tempo behind the point guard play of
Sterling Brown. The 6'0 junior has taken on a larger scoring role this year for Carmel. Senior forward
Preston Flamion is a stat sheet stuffer and Hillsdale signee
Trenton Richardson gives the Greyhounds an inside presence.