Games of the Week: Week 5

<p>The final week before Christmas in Indiana High School basketball features several high-powered matchups, with a lot of talent being showcased in the various holiday tournaments across the state. Let’s take a look at my top ten upcoming games across the state.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Indianapolis Chatard vs. Northeastern - Thursday @ 11:45 am at Delta</strong></p> <p>This game will be a knock-down, drag-out defensive battle as both of these teams are in the top-30 in the state in points allowed per game. Chatard is 4-0, and they have not allowed more than 46 points in a game this season which includes wins over Evansville Bosse and Indianapolis Washington. Northeastern is 4-2 with two narrow road losses to Monroe Central and Eastern Hancock. In their wins, they have held their opponents to under 30 points, but in their losses, they have allowed 42 and 56. This will be something to watch. Chatard is led by [player_tooltip player_id="1295301" first="AJ" last="Roseman"] at 19 points per game, and Northeastern is led by [player_tooltip player_id="1063964" first="Raedhyn" last="Foust"] at 15 points per game.</p> <p><strong>Fishers @ Homestead - Tuesday @ 12:00</strong></p> <p>In the marquee matchup of the Carroll-Homestead matchup, we have a consensus top-6 matchup in the entire state. Fishers comes in with a 6-1 record, and their one loss coming at Carmel by just five points. [player_tooltip player_id="769666" first="Jeffrey" last="Simmons"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1297052" first="Jalen" last="Haralson"], one of the top freshmen in the state, lead the way for the Tigers with 15 PPG. The guard play of [player_tooltip player_id="870272" first="Bryce" last="Williams"] and [player_tooltip player_id="958398" first="Charlie" last="Smith"] is also going to be huge if the Tigers are going to get the road win. Homestead is coming into this game off of a narrow, five-point loss to Chesterton on Saturday. [player_tooltip player_id="1063961" first="Fletcher" last="Loyer"] comes in averaging 28 PPG, so he is going to be the difference-maker in this game. [player_tooltip player_id="870214" first="Andrew" last="Leeper"] is another player to watch for Homestead as he comes in averaging 10 points, 5 boards, and 2 blocks. This is easily one of the top matchups in the entire state throughout the entire season.</p> <p><strong>Jay County vs. Scottsburg - Wednesday @ 12:45 at Madison</strong></p> <p>Jay County is 5-1 and has their best start since the 2012-2013 season in which they went 20-2 in the regular season. Their lone loss came at New Castle who is top 25 in 3A. Dusty Pearson has dominated the paint for Jay County this season, and he actually had a 16 rebound performance earlier in the season. Ethan Dirkson leads the Patriots with 18.3 points per game as well. Scottsburg is 6-1, and this is their best start since the 2003-2004 season. Their lone loss came on the road to Brownstown Central (#5 in 3A) by just four points. [player_tooltip player_id="870241" first="Hayden" last="Cutter"] leads the way for Scottsburg with 14 points per game, and the sophomore, Kody Clancy, has looked great, averaging 10 points per game.</p> <p><strong>Guerin Catholic @ Lebanon - Thursday @ 7:30</strong></p> <p>Guerin Catholic comes in at 3-3 with back-to-back narrow losses to Pendleton Heights and Heritage Christian. The Golden Eagles lost several key players last season, but Will Grissom has stepped up big, averaging over 24 points and 7 rebounds this season. Lebanon is 4-3 this season, but they have lost 3 of their last 4. [player_tooltip player_id="870313" first="Hunter" last="Crew"] leads the way for the Tigers with 11 points. [player_tooltip player_id="1162775" first="Korbyn" last="Sloggett"] and Drew Terrill are averaging 9 per game as well. Lebanon needs to get [player_tooltip player_id="870311" first="Kobe" last="Ottinger"] going this season, so that will be something to watch in this one.</p> <p><strong>Silver Creek vs. Southwestern (Hanover) - Wednesday @ 11:00 at Madison</strong></p> <p>Silver Creek lost a ton last season in Kooper Jacobi and Trey Kaufman, but [player_tooltip player_id="769684" first="Branden" last="Northern"] is still there to carry the load for the Dragons. He is averaging 25 points on 37% from beyond the arc this season. The Dragons are just 3-3 on the year, but Northern has been very impressive. Southwestern (Hanover) is off to a great start this season at 5-1. This is the fifth season in a row that the Rebels have started the season 5-1 or 6-0. Southwestern (Hanover) is led by four seniors all averaging double figures with Parker Davis (15.8), Zach Cole (14.7), Mitch Mingione (11.5), and Colton Cloud (10.7). </p> <p><strong>Valparaiso @ Carmel - Wednesday @ 3:30</strong></p> <p>This game could not be more about contrasting styles. Valparaiso comes in at 7-0 and is a consensus top-10 team in the state. They had a big win over Gary 21st Century last week, and they are currently averaging over 70 points per game which is 18th in the state. Carmel, on the other hand, comes in averaging just 47 points and allowing just 40 points per game which is 23rd in the state. Valparaiso has scored 62 or more in every game this season, and Carmel has not allowed more than 50 this season. Carmel is 6-2 with their two losses coming to top-10 teams in Zionsville and Homestead. The two big matchups in this one will be [player_tooltip player_id="935722" first="Mason" last="Jones"] vs [player_tooltip player_id="769678" first="Charlie" last="Williams"] on the inside and [player_tooltip player_id="769662" first="Peter" last="Suder"] vs [player_tooltip player_id="870239" first="Breece" last="Walls"]. Walls is averaging 10 points and 7 assists per game this season and Jones is averaging 19 points and 7 rebounds, so if Carmel can slow these two down, they will have a good chance to win this game.</p> <p><strong>Guerin Catholic @ Lapel - Tuesday @ 7:30</strong></p> <p>Lapel comes in at 4-3, but they are coming off of a loss to a very good Monroe Central team. Lapel is one of the most balanced teams in the state, with 5 players averaging between 9.5 and 10.8 points per game this season. [player_tooltip player_id="1139220" first="Landon" last="Bair"] (10.8), Brode Judge (10.3), Bode Judge (10.3), [player_tooltip player_id="958414" first="Corbin" last="Renihan"] (9.7), and Griffin Craig (9.5) lead the way for the Bulldogs. As mentioned above, Will Grissom will be the player to watch for the Golden Eagles as he is averaging 24 points and 7 rebounds per game this season. </p> <p><strong>Hamilton Southeastern @ Homestead - Tuesday @ 6:00</strong></p> <p>We talked about the Fishers-Homestead game earlier, but Hamilton Southeastern played Fishers to a double-overtime thriller on Friday, so this game should be a great one as well. HSE is just 2-4, but their four losses are to the #1, #4, #11, and #16 teams in the state according to the Sagarin ratings. [player_tooltip player_id="958402" first="Sam" last="Jacobs"] leads the way for the Royals with 19 PPG. Rephaim Stevenson has also been a solid second option with 10 points per game. For Homestead, Loyer is the player to watch at 28 PPG. With this being the second game of the day for these teams, conditioning and fatigue could also play a factor in this one.</p> <p><strong>South Bend Adams @ Fort Wayne Concordia - Tuesday @ 12:00</strong></p> <p>South Bend Adams comes in at 3-1 with their lone loss coming by 2 at South Bend St. Joseph. Adams is being led by Thomas Snyder at 24 points per game and [player_tooltip player_id="1049188" first="Brittain" last="Vann"] at 11 points per game. Amari Wesson, a sophomore, has also looked good adding 9 points per game. Fort Wayne Concordia comes in at just 3-3, but they are on a three-game winning streak. The Cadets started this season with losses to Brownsburg (#15 in 4A), Leo (#6 in 3A), and NorthWood (#2 in 3A). The players to watch for the Cadets include [player_tooltip player_id="1272959" first="Grant" last="Hayworth"] and a pair of sophomores, [player_tooltip player_id="1158179" first="Ajani" last="Washington"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1158230" first="Cole" last="Hayworth"].</p> <p><strong>Monroe Central @ Connersville - Thursday</strong></p> <p>This may be the most defensive battle in the state the entire season. Connersville strives itself on defense, and they were able to make a run all the way to the Regional finals before falling to the star-powered Silver Creek by one point. They are 7-0 this season with the third-best defense in the state. Monroe Central is 6-0 with the 11th-best defense in the state. Monroe Central is led on offense by their two-headed monster of [player_tooltip player_id="870304" first="Jackson" last="Ullom"] and Gavin Smithson-Burciaga. Ullom averages 16 per game, and Smithson-Burciaga is dominating the paint with15 points and 9 rebounds. Connersville is led by [player_tooltip player_id="1295356" first="Lucas" last="Barron"] and Toby Billups at 12 points per game. If you like defense, this is the game for you.</p>