Games of the Week: Week 6

<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. Since the majority of games are these Holiday Tournaments, only the first-round matchups are taken into consideration here. So, let’s take a look at my top ten upcoming games across the state.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Fort Wayne Blackhawk @ North Daviess - Tuesday @ 6:00</strong></p> <p>The most anticipated and best matchup in the state this week features two of the unbeaten teams left in the state. Fort Wayne Blackhawk is 6-0 while winning each game by an average of 16 points. North Daviess comes in at 9-0 with a win over Hammond Central last week. This tournament features several top-level teams including Barr-Reeve, Brownstown Central, and Loogootee, so there will be several great matchups all tournament long. However, this opening round matchup might be the best in the state. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Homestead vs. Indianapolis Cathedral - Thursday @ 12:30 in New Castle</strong></p> <p>One of the best tournaments in the state is the Hall of Fame Classic at New Castle Fieldhouse, and this year, we get a matchup between two of the best teams in the state. Cathedral comes in as our #5 team in the state, and Homestead comes in at #9. [player_tooltip player_id="1063961" first="Fletcher" last="Loyer"], [player_tooltip player_id="868219" first="Xavier" last="Booker"], [player_tooltip player_id="1063971" first="Jaxon" last="Edwards"], and [player_tooltip player_id="870212" first="Tayshawn" last="Comer"] are all Division 1 talent that will be on display in one of the biggest gyms in the country. This will definitely be the place to be on Thursday in Indiana.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Zionsville @ Mt. Vernon (Fortville) - Tuesday @ 7:30</strong></p> <p>Zionsville comes in as the number one team in the state and one of only four unbeaten teams remaining in 4A. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id="868255" first="Logan" last="Imes"] at over 20 points per game and a frontcourt of [player_tooltip player_id="868244" first="Nick" last="Richart"] and [player_tooltip player_id="774740" first="Isaiah" last="Davis"]. Mt. Vernon (Fortville) comes in at 5-1 with their lone loss coming at Fishers by 6 points. The Marauders are led by [player_tooltip player_id="870268" first="Armon" last="Jarrard"] and [player_tooltip player_id="870220" first="Amhad" last="Jarrard"], a pair of twins that will both be attending IUPUI.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Lawrence North @ Indianapolis Tindley - Tuesday @ 7:30</strong></p> <p>This game features a battle between two top 4 teams with the 4A #4 Lawrence North and the 1A #4 Indianapolis Tindley. This game will be the first game back for [player_tooltip player_id="870213" first="Chris" last="Gunn"] after breaking his toe prior to the start of the season. Tindley is led by another set of twins in [player_tooltip player_id="868226" first="Jayden" last="Pinkston"] and Jeffrey Pinkston as well as their point guard, [player_tooltip player_id="1049167" first="Billy" last="Brown"]. [player_tooltip player_id="870213" first="Chris" last="Gunn"] is definitely the story to watch in this one for all Indiana fans across the state.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Gary 21st Century vs. Perry Meridian - Tuesday @ 11:00 am</strong></p> <p>Gary 21st comes in at 4-1 with their one loss coming at Valparaiso who was the #2 team in the AP poll last week. The trio of [player_tooltip player_id="868220" first="Ashton" last="Williamson"], [player_tooltip player_id="1160677" first="Quintin" last="Floyd"], and DJ Moss is averaging over 50 points per game this season. Perry Meridian has struggled this season at just 2-5, but the size of their frontcourt with [player_tooltip player_id="1273006" first="Patrick" last="Schott"], [player_tooltip player_id="1273030" first="Richard" last="Dube"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1348459" first="Connor" last="McNabb"] will be an interesting matchup for Gary 21st.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Northview vs. Terre Haute North - Monday @ 10:00 am in Terre Haute South</strong></p> <p>The Wabash Valley Classic is one of the biggest holiday tournaments in the state, and the opening game features one of the last four unbeaten teams in 4A in Terre Haute North. They have had two narrow wins in their last two games with a one-point win at Bloomington South and a two-point win at home against Plainfield. This game will feature a battle of junior prospects in [player_tooltip player_id="868264" first="Drew" last="Cook"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1049186" first="Bryson" last="Carpenter"] which will be the matchup to watch.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Jennings County vs. North Harrison - Thursday @ 12:00 in Batesville</strong></p> <p>Jennings County and North Harrison, two of the teams to watch in 3A this season, will battle it out in the Batesville Holiday Tournament. Jennings County is 5-2, and they have lost both of their games on the road against 4A opponents, Columbus North and Seymour. North Harrison is 4-1 with their one loss coming in double overtime to Brownstown Central. The matchup to watch here will be [player_tooltip player_id="1063986" first="Carson" last="McNulty"] and [player_tooltip player_id="870295" first="Logan" last="McIntire"] in the backcourt.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Indianapolis Metropolitan vs. New Palestine - Tuesday @ 7:00 in Lebanon</strong></p> <p>Indianapolis Metropolitan comes in at 1-3, but their three losses are to two 4A teams in Lafayette Jeff and #3 Fishers and a 2A team in #1 Linton-Stockton. New Palestine is 4-2 coming off of a big overtime win over Franklin Central. The duo of [player_tooltip player_id="1267650" first="Omari" last="Ferguson"] and David Merriweather is going to be tough to stop, but New Palestine will try to keep up with their duo of [player_tooltip player_id="958409" first="Steele" last="Brasfield"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1295323" first="Ian" last="Stephens"].</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Eastside @ West Noble - Thursday @ 7:30</strong></p> <p>Eastside comes in as one of the last unbeaten teams left in the state, and they have won over three 3A/4A teams (DeKalb, Heritage, Lakeland). [player_tooltip player_id="870276" first="Gabe" last="Trevino"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1158635" first="Austin" last="Cripe"] come in leading their teams, and their point guard matchup will be the one to watch here. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Columbus North vs. Crown Point - Tuesday @ 12:45 in Noblesville</strong></p> <p>The Noblesville tournament features several top teams including Lawrence Central and Noblesville, but the opening round matchup between Crown Point and Columbus North is the best one to start. Crown Point comes in at 6-1 with their lone loss coming to unbeaten Penn. The duo of AJ Lux and [player_tooltip player_id="870293" first="Drew" last="Adzia"] will battle with [player_tooltip player_id="1063983" first="Sam" last="King"] and [player_tooltip player_id="935735" first="Cooper" last="Horn"] who are scoring half of the Bulldogs points this season.</p>