The Indiana Basketball Source Week In Preview finds some teams getting their seasons started this week while others have already played multiple games. All times listed are Eastern. (Pictured: Snider's Michael Ely)

 

Monday, November 26

McCutcheon at Lafayette Jeff 7:30pm

A first-round showdown in the Franciscan Health Hoops Classic pits two cross-town rivals with new looks this season. McCutcheon will miss Rob Phinisee, who graduated and is now starting at IU. But younger brother Joe along with returning starters Keldon Tyson and Rowan Farrell should keep the Mavs competitive under second-year coach Tyler Scherer. Joe Phinisee is a great athlete that can get to the basket on a regular basis. Farrell is a lights-out shooter from the outside. Lafayette Jeff has turned into a family affair as two sets of brothers led the way for the Bronchos. Coach Mark Barnhizer knows one set well, his sons Braxton and Brooks. Braxton, a junior, and Brooks, a sophomore, are both capable of bombing away from deep. The other set of brothers are the Beavers with junior Avery and sophomore Ashton, who are also proficient shooters. The Bronchos will not be shy about taking three-pointers this season, but 2020 forward Matt Jones gives them a big body in the post.

 

 

Tuesday, November 27

Snider at East Noble 7:30pm

These sectional foes get a preview of each other early on with an up and coming Snider squad travels to Kendallville. The Panthers return a pair of double-figure scorers from a year ago in 2020 forward Dillon Duff and 2021 guard Michael Eley. Jordan Moore, a transfer from North Side, will help solidify the backcourt. East Noble has started off with a pair of wins on the season, but their leading scorer so far isn’t 6’6 Akron signee Ali Ali or three year starting guard Hayden Jones, but senior forward Brent Cox, who scored 28 in the season opener against West Noble and is averaging 21 points and 9.5 rebounds so far.

 

 

Hamilton Southeastern at Pike 7:30pm

HSE brings back much of the production from their 17-win team last season. Seniors Noah Smith and Aaron Etherington along with juniors Mabor Majak and Chris Grubbs all played major roles last year. Brian Satterfield should get a boost from junior Kole Hornbuckle and sophomores Vinny Buccilla and Landon Morris. They opened the year with a 95-50 thrashing of Muncie Central. Pike made their yearly season-opening trip to Rockford, Illinois and came back with a 2-1 record. Guards AJ White, Jasen Graves, and Chris Robinson along with forwards Jalen Johnson and Ahmoni Jones will give the Red Devils a fighting chance every night with their toughness and athleticism. Davion Bailey and Lajuan Whitney are looking to have breakout seasons for Pike as well.

 

 

Friday, November 30

Floyd Central at Castle 7:30pm

The Highlanders graduated four senior starters from last year, but you wouldn’t know it from an impressive opening week win they had over Lawrence North. Indiana State signee Cobie Barnes returns and sophomore guard Jake Heidbreder steps into a large role in his first year on varsity. Nick Winchell and Levi Siewert handle the point guard duties and Cam Sturgeon gives them a physical body on the interior. Clemson signee Alex Hemenway seems like he has been at Castle forever, and he enters his senior year as one of the top players in the state. A lot will fall on his shoulders, as no returning player averaged more than three points a game last year for the Knights.

 

 

Cathedral at Center Grove 7:30pm

Both these teams have visions of a deep tournament run behind some dynamic play from their two seniors, Armaan Franklin and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Franklin, an Indiana signee, is joined on the Irish by two other playmaking guards in James Franklin and freshman Tayshawn Comer. Wing Justin Hensley is one of the best shooters in the state as well. Center Grove opened the season with big wins over Franklin and Franklin Central. Trayce Jackson-Davis will be at the head of the Mr. Basketball race for the whole season barring injury, but he’s far from a one-man team. Guards Ben Nicoson (UIndy) and Spencer Piercefield (Indiana Wesleyan) return as starters, and Justin DeGraaf is ready for a breakout junior season at the power forward spot.

 

 

Lawrence Central at Carmel 7:30pm

The MIC opener for both sides should be a dandy, as state runner-up Carmel hosts an LC team that is going from the hunter to the hunted. The Greyhounds opened their season with a win over top 5 ranked Zionsville behind Butler signee John Michael Mulloy’s double-double and 14 points from freshman guard Pete Suder. Lawrence Central brings back some very talented players, starting with 2020 Nebraska commitment D’Andre Davis and SIU-Edwardsville signee Jacob LaRavia. Nijel Pack returns at the point guard spot and Wesley Jordan and Xavier DelReal bring experience and athleticism to the frontcourt. A transfer from Illinois, PJ Edwards, brings another option for Coach All Gooden’s backcourt.

 

 

Lawrence North at Marion 7:30pm

For Lawrence North to be successful this year, a lot will depend on the consistency of their big three, junior wing Tony Perkins, senior guard Jared Hankins, and sophomore forward DJ Hughes. The Wildcats are looking to respond from a season-opening loss to Floyd Central. Marion has sophomore guard Jalen Blackmon who is coming off a fantastic freshman campaign. Speaking of freshman, Marion has another standout freshman in Rasheed Jones. He had 20 points in the season-opener. JK Thomas (out with injury currently) and Dre Aguillar were standouts this fall on the gridiron for Marion’s semistate football team, and both are returning starters on the hardwood as well. The Giants jumped out to a 33-4 first-quarter lead before cruising in their season-opening win against North Side.

 

 

Jeffersonville at Evansville Bosse 7:30pm

Two of the state’s best 2020 frontcourt players will face off when Jeffersonville’s Tre Coleman and Bosse’s Kiyron Powell match up. A larger scoring role will fall to Powell, who had to patrol the defensive end for last year’s 3A runners-up while Mekhi Lairy and Jaylin Chinn handled much of the scoring duties. Jeffersonville opened the season with a drubbing of Evansville Day. Coleman is the main attraction but freshman Will Lovings-Watts will be able to step right into a main role on the wing. Guard Jacob Jones also returns as a double-figure scorer for the Red Devils, who won 20 games a year ago. This game should show where each team is standing early in the season.

 

 

Saturday, December 1

Gary 21st Century at Valpo 3:00pm

Johnell Davis and crew know that if they wanted to win the 1A state title, being tested is part of that. They’ll definitely be tied this weekend by one of the better 4A teams in the state in the Valpo Vikings. Davis, along with junior guard Triyontae Lomax and senior forward Tawain Hayes will give fits to most 1A opponents, but this will be a challenge for the Cougars. The challenge begins with how to handle Mr. Basketball candidate Brandon Newman. The Purdue signee averaged 24 points and 9 boards per game last year and put up 38 and 16 in a season-opening win over Hobart this year. He’s got a familiar roster beside him, as Valpo graduated just two seniors from a 24-2 team last year. Bethel signee Nate Aerts was a double-figure scorer last year and guards Colin Walls and Colton Jones are able to make plays from the backcourt positions.

 

 

Alexandria at Shenandoah 7:30pm

First-year coach Marty Carroll has the Alexandria Tigers off to a 2-0 start behind a pair of standouts that combined to average 30 points per game last season. Junior guard Brennan Moorhead provides scoring and ballhandling, but senior wing Avery Paddock is the number one option as he led the Tigers in points, rebounds, assists, and steals a season ago. Alexandria has been dominant in wins over Anderson Prep Academy and Liberty Christian this year. Shenandoah is coming off a sectional title a year ago and has a talented but young backcourt that could be ready sooner rather than later. Coach Dave McCullough starts three sophomores, led by Andrew Bennett. Bennett averaged over nine points as a freshman, and look for that average to be closer to the 15 point mark this season. Jakob Kinsey and Kade McCullough join him in the backcourt after being role players last year on the varsity. Junior forward Peyton Starks is also a turning starter for a team that has only two seniors on the roster.