The 2018-2019 Indiana high school basketball season is upon us and we at Indiana Basketball Source are ready to go. This weekly article will showcase ten of the best games taking place around the state, regardless of size or location. As always, all times listed are Eastern. Without further ado, here’s the first installment of Week In Preview.

 

Monday, November 19

Lake Central at Andrean 8:00pm

Andrean won this matchup last year by a 78-74 score. Super sophomore Kyle Ross is a dangerous inside/outside threat for the 59ers. Ross is joined by fellow classmate Nick Flescher and senior John Carrothers as returning starters from last year’s 19-win squad. Lake Central coach Dave Milausnic looks to rebuild his Indian squad with seniors Jack Davis, Zack Dobos, and Dominic Ciaponni. This is always an intense game to kick off the season.

 

 

Tuesday, November 20

Bloomington South at Edgewood 7:30pm

Anthony Leal takes over the reins as the unquestioned leader of his Bloomington South squad following the graduation of Chance Coyle. Leal is the top junior in the state with a versatile offensive game from the guard position. Sophomore Connor Hickman is poised to have a breakout sophomore season South as well. Head coach JR Holmes is just 20 wins away from tying the all-time coaching victory mark in the state of Indiana. Edgewood sophomore Trevor Taylor had a phenomenal freshman campaign for a Mustang team that loses just three seniors after a 22-6 mark a year ago.

 

 

Brebeuf at Ritter 7:30pm

If Brebeuf has visions of vying for a state title this year, it will be led by the senior backcourt duo of Simon Banks and Spencer Reist. Banks is a physical do-everything guard while Reist should be the focal point of opposing defenses following the graduation of current Miami of Ohio guard Myja White along with six other seniors. Junior Jay Higgins brings athleticism and strength to the frontcourt. Ritter returns forward Nate Soltis, but Shelby Turner and Miles Tracy both graduated. Soltis will be a 20 and 10 threat each night out, and senior wing Joey Gruber looks for an expanded role after averaging just over seven points a game last year.

 

 

Lawrence Central at Fishers 7:30pm

Lawrence Central coach Al Golden will have plenty of weapons at his disposal this season with junior Nebraska commitment D’Andre Davis and senior Jacob LaRavia, who pledged to SIU-Edwardsville after a brilliant spring and summer on the grassroots circuit. Junior guard Nijel Pack has several D1 offers of his own and senior forward Wesley Jordan looks to be fully recovered from a knee injury that limited his junior campaign. Fishers brings back guard Willie Jackson and forward Terry Hicks, but must replace the shooting of graduated wing Jeremy Szilagyi. Second-year coach Matt Moore should have options in the backcourt with Josiah Matthews, Alex Szilagyi, Luke Hernandez, and Justin Long returning from last year’s squad.

 

 

Zionsville at Carmel 7:30pm

One of the best opening week games of every season will have plenty of college-bound talent on the floor. Carmel is coming off a state runner-up finish last year and returns three starters in point Luke Heady, Findlay bound forward Andrew Owens, and Butler commitment John Michael Mulloy in the middle. Freshman guard Pete Suder looks to make an impact right away in his rookie season for the Greyhounds, and senior Karsten Windlan will provide shooting and ball handling as well. Zionsville won their sectional last year before falling to North Side in the regional round. Senior guard Isaiah Thompson is back for his fourth year as a starter, and the future Boilermaker is one of the best scoring guards in the state. Bethel-bound forward Nate Childress and Pike transfer Brandon Vernon will man the frontcourt with Anthony Scales. Hogan Orbaugh and Gunnar Vannatta add to the plethora of size for Zionsville.

 

 

Wednesday, November 21

North Central at Brownsburg 7:30pm

North Central will be different this year, with graduating 10 seniors from a year ago being secondary to the sideline, where longtime coach Doug Mitchell hung up his whistle following a distinguished career that included four Mr. Basketball winners and multiple state titles. Former Pendelton Heights coach Brian Hahn takes over at the helm of the Panthers and has junior forward Charlie Peterson as a nice centerpiece to build around. Freshman Leland Walker has created a buzz for North Central heading into the season. Forward CJ Walton is the only other returning varsity player for the Panthers. On the other hand, Steve Lynch has plenty returning for his Brownsburg squad. High scoring guard Cameron Alford headlines while senior Reis Thomas, junior Malik Edmonds, and sophomore Pierce Thomas all return as starters from the 20-5 team a year ago. Guard Luke Lacey and 6’10 Richard Lang look to provide depth.

 

 

Hamilton Heights at Lebanon 7:30pm

Both these teams finished under .500 a season ago, but return plenty of firepower to turn those records around this year. Hamilton Heights returns a pair of standout guards in junior Camron Knott and sophomore Gus Etchison.  Guards AJ Field and Hudson Hochstedler look to help replace the six seniors that were in the rotation last season. Lebanon brings back three starters from last year in guards Carson Burtron, Jaden Jarrett, and Kye Zimmerman. Size might be difficult to find on the Tigers’ roster, so look for a more up-tempo attack for Lebanon.

 

 

Saturday, November 24

Penn at Carroll 5:30pm

It wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see these two teams make deep runs in March as they both return the core of very successful squads from last year. Carroll brings back Daniel McKeeman and David Ejah, who will both be in their third year starting for the Chargers. Marty Beasley will need to find answers behind those two, as the next four leading scorers all graduated. Penn brings a formidable one-two punch of their own in guard Drew Lutz and forward Noah Applegate. Both have committed to play at the college level, with Lutz heading to Bethel and Applegate moving on to Hillsdale. The Kingsman just lost one senior from a 14-10 team a year ago.

 

 

Bloomington South at New Albany 7:30pm

Bloomington South faces their second tough test of the week as they face off against the Bulldogs of New Albany. We’ve talked already about the Panthers, with Anthony Leal, Connor Hickman, and Noah Jager. They will go up against a new look New Albany squad, as coach Jim Shannon begins life after Romeo Langford. Langford leaves a hole that no singular player could replace, so it will be a group effort to replace his production as well as that of graduated point guard Sean East. Julien Hunter, Trey Hourigan, and Derrick Stevenson return as starters and Darin Starks also saw minutes for last year’s semistate team.

 

 

Marquette Catholic at Gary West Side 8:00pm

It’s a battle of experience against youth in this Region showdown as Marquette travels to Gary. Seniors Colin Kenney and Joe Andershock lead the way for the Blazers who look to rebound from a 13-15 season last year. Kenney is headed to Furman, while Andershock has several small school options. Jake Turnow and Jalen Russell look to step into bigger roles in the backcourt for Marquette. This game marks the debut for standout freshman Jalen Washington of Gary West Side. The 6’6 Washington projects to be one of the best players in the freshman class in Indiana, as he is adept at playing inside or away from the rim. He’s joined by sophomore guard Quimari Peterson on a Cougar roster that features seven freshmen and sophomores.