Indiana Basketball Source’s Week In Preview segment looks at ten important games from around the state for December 8-13th.  All times are eastern.

 

Tuesday December 8th

 

Chesterton at Bowman Academy 8:30pm

 

Chris Palombizio takes his 3-0 Chesterton squad into Bowman to take on the defending 3A state runner up Eagles.  Gone are several key components from that team, including Davon Dillard and Justin King.  But Coach Marvin Rea still has athletes galore for his up tempo style. Chesterton is looking to build off a win over Lowell last week.

 

 

Wednesday December 9th

 

Lawrence Central at Lawrence North 7:30pm

 

An argument could be made that LC is the best 0-3 team in the state following losses to three of the top eight in class 4A.  Kyle Guy has struggled shooting early in the season, and the Pat Bacon-led Wildcats look to keep the Bears winless on the year.  Freshmen Kevin Easley and Antwaan Cushingberry of Lawrence North are already making an impact in their first year of varsity play.

 

 

Thursday December 10th

 

Warren Central at Fishers 7:30pm

 

Warren Central travels to 3-1 Fishers, who are coming off wins last weekend over Noblesville and Kokomo.  Shooting guard Djimon Henson, a 2016 prospect, has improved from last year and carries the torch for Warren Central.  Fishers is led by the trio of Cam Wolter, Keegan Kollmeyer, and Lance Dollison.

 

 

Friday December 11th

 

Carmel at North Central 7:30pm

 

A pair of 3-0 teams clash on 86th St. in a Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference battle.  RyanCline poured in 34 points last Friday for Carmel against Lawrence Central, while 2017 wing Kris Wilkes has started off the year strong for North Central.  Both these teams have been guard heavy in the past but boast formidable frontcourts this year.

 

 

Center Grove at Pike 7:30pm

 

Pike was tripped up last weekend by a tough Ben Davis squad, and looks to bounce back against Michael Benkert and the Trojans.  Last year Pike won by 24 in Coach Bill Zych’s first game at Pike against Center Grove, a school he coached at for over a decade.  If Pike has any thoughts of winning the MIC, this is a must-win game for them.

 

 

Tech at Cathedral 7:30pm

 

In a rematch of last year’s city title contest, both teams look dramatically different from the sides that met at Tech last January.  CJ Walker leads a Tech squad coming off a big win over Memphis White Station in the Marshall County Hoopfest.  Cathedral is led by juniors Jordan Walker, Tiernan Cook, and Matt Paligraf.  Cathedral is coming off a close loss to Taylor County of Kentucky, who features 2016 point guard prospect Quentin Goodin.

 

 

Munster at East Chicago Central 7:30pm

 

Two of the best 4A teams in Northwest Indiana match up in a possible sectional preview. Munster has coaches’ son and future UIC Flame Drew Hackett at point guard, while ECC has 2016 wing Damien Jefferson, who poured in 30 points and snagged 10 rebounds in their game against Brownsburg Saturday.  Should be an interesting matchup of styles with the halfcourt game of Munster against the pressure and up tempo style of East Chicago Central.

 

 

Pendelton Heights at Mt. Vernon 7:30pm

 

Butler-bound Sean McDermott and his Pendelton Heights Arabians take on the young but talented Mt. Vernon Marauders.  Both teams are 4-1 and last year’s game was a 59-56 win by Pendelton Heights, so this one could go down to the wire.  Mark Albers and Caleb Hardy are important factors for Heights, while Mt. Vernon is led by sophomores Mike Ertel and Erick Shepherd and junior Miles Wayer.

 

 

Saturday December 13th

 

Bloomington North at Evansville Reitz 7:30

 

Junior Malik Laffoon and freshman Musa Jallow are the two leading scorers for Bloomington North, who have two others in double figures, while Reitz has Toledo signee and future Southern Indiana teammates Alex Stein and Jacob Norman.  These two teams have not met since the 1995-1996 season, and both should figure prominently in how Class 4A in southern Indiana shakes out.

 

 

Corydon Central at New Albany 7:30pm

 

New Albany has dominated this matchup in the past, but Corydon Central took last year’s game by a score of 64-60.  It’s a battle of youth versus experience, as New Albany is led by freshman wing Romeo Langford and sophomore guard Isaac Hubbard, who scored 33 and 22, respectively, against Evansville Harrison last weekend.  Corydon Central is led by senior and Indiana State signee Bronson Kessinger, a 6’7 athletic forward.