Games of the Week: Week 4
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The 2022-23 high school basketball season is off to an outstanding start especially following some high-powered games last week. Check out all of our coverage from the Forum Tipoff Classic last weekend with some high-leveled performances. This week, our top…
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Continue ReadingThe 2022-23 high school basketball season is off to an outstanding start especially following some high-powered games last week. Check out all of our coverage from the Forum Tipoff Classic last weekend with some high-leveled performances. This week, our top 10 games feature several elite matchups, with a lot of talent being showcased. Let’s take a look at my top ten upcoming games across the state listed in order that they will be played.
#2 Loogootee @ South Knox – Tuesday at 7:30
In a small school matchup, 1A #2 Loogootee takes on unbeaten 2A South Knox. Loogootee is 4-2 with their losses coming to 1A #1 Evansville Christian and 3A #2 North Daviess. South Knox is 4-0 with a couple of good wins against Sullivan, Evansville Harrison, and Southridge. Loogootee is led by their 2023 forward Peyton Bledsoe Peyton Bledsoe 6'4" | SF Loogootee | 2023 State IN . South Knox is led by Dakota Candler and Dylan Maeder who were both in double figures in the overtime win over Southridge. This will be a fun game to watch between probably the third and fourth best teams in the area behind just North Daviess and Linton-Stockton.
Tipton @ Maconaquah – Tuesday at 7:30
Tipton comes into this game at 5-0 having dominated every game this season. Maconaquah sits at just 1-3, but they have a couple of very narrow losses. Maconaquah was one of Tipton’s seven losses last season in a high-paced back and forth basketball game. Tipton is led by their young, do-it-all guard duo of 2024 Nolan Swan Nolan Swan 5'10" | PG Tipton | 2024 State IN and 2025 Grady Carpenter Grady Carpenter 6'5" | PG Tipton | 2025 State IN . Swan is averaging 17.6 points, 4.4 assists, 4.4 steals, and 3.6 rebounds. Carpenter is averaging 15.6 points, 9.4 assists, and 7.6 rebounds. Maconaquah is led by their two-headed monster of 20-point scorers with Bauer Maple (2023) at 28.3 points per game and Josiah Ball Josiah Ball 6'5" | SF Maconaquah | 2025 State IN (2025) at 21.0 points per game. This game will be an absolute battle between four players who do it all for their respective teams.
Brebeuf Jesuit @ #6 University – Friday at 7:30
Brebeuf Jesuit comes into this one at 3-1 with their lone loss coming to #2 Indianapolis Cathedral. University is unbeaten at 4-0 including a good win over Greenwood Christian. University has only ever beaten Brebeuf Jesuit once back in 2006, but this year may give them their best chance of all. Brebeuf is a balanced squad with a ton of talent. Merrick Macaluso Merrick Macaluso 6'3" | SG Brebeuf Jesuit | 2023 IN (2023), Reis Butcher Reis Butcher 6'4" | SF Brebeuf Jesuit | 2024 State IN (2024), and Evan Haywood (2024) are all averaging double figures on the season. University is led by their trio of Andre Ozlowski Andre Ozlowski 6'5" | SF University | 2023 State IN (2023), Sabien Cain (2024), and Bryce Gray (2024). This game will be loaded with athleticism and should be really fun to watch.
Danville @ Lebanon – Friday at 7:30
Danville comes in at 4-1 with several easy wins and an overtime loss to Bethesda Christian. Lebanon sits at 5-1 with their first loss coming on Saturday against 4A #7 Kokomo. 2025 guard Jace Scrafton Jace Scrafton 6'4" | SG Danville | 2025 State IN leads Danville at 16.5 points per game. 2024 wing Caden Collins does it all for the Warriors with 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, and 2024 big man Evan Lawrence dominates the paint with 10.5 points and 8.0 rebounds. Lebanon is led by their trio of senior guards with Jake Burns, Korbyn Sloggett Korbyn Sloggett 6'0" | SG Lebanon | 2023 State IN , and Kayden Sloggett Kayden Sloggett 6'0" | SG Lebanon | 2023 IN who are all averaging double figures. This could be our preview of the Sectional 25 championship game in March.
#5 Noblesville @ #9 Westfield – Friday at 7:30
Another Sectional matchup on this list comes from Sectional 8 with two top-10 teams in 4A. Noblesville comes in at 4-0 with three close wins over Fishers, Anderson, and Carmel. The Millers had lost 15 consecutive games to Carmel before winning on Friday on a buzzer beater three from Cooper Bean Cooper Bean 6'4" | SG Noblesville | 2023 State IN . Westfield is 3-1 including a win over Kokomo to start the year, and their one loss came in overtime to Zionsville. The Millers are led by Bean, Luke Almodovar Luke Almodovar 6'2" | SG Noblesville | 2023 State IN , Preston Roberts Preston Roberts 6'5" | SF Noblesville | 2023 State IN , and Aaron Fine Aaron Fine 6'3" | PG Noblesville | 2024 State IN . Westfield is led by 2023 post Alex Romack Alex Romack 6'6" | PF Westfield | 2023 State IN with 17.0 points and 9.0 rebounds and 2024 guard Trey Buchanan Trey Buchanan 6'0" | PG Westfield | 2024 State IN at 12.8 points per game.
Southport @ Bloomington North – Friday at 7:30
This 4A matchup features a pair of underrated teams who could be taking home a Sectional title in March. Southport currently sits at 3-2 with narrow losses to 4A #1 Ben Davis and Crown Point. The Cardinals picked up a pair of nice road wins over Lawrence North and Bloomington South. Bloomington North also sits at 3-2 after a narrow loss to Center Grove and a loss to Fishers at the Forum Tipoff Classic. Southport is a team with a ton of athleticism up and down the bench, and they are highlighted by their senior trio of Anthony Dancler Anthony Dancler 6'2" | SG Southport | 2023 State IN , Nickens Lemba Nickens Lemba 6'6" | PF Southport | 2023 State IN , and Keyon Garrett-Miller Keyon Garrett-Miller 6'1" | PG Southport | 2023 State IN . Bloomington North is led by Vanderbilt commit JaQualon Roberts JaQualon Roberts 6'8" | PF Bloomington North | 2023 State IN who is averaging 22.6 points and 9.6 rebounds. He will be the key for the Cougars to come out on top in this one.
Anderson @ Indianapolis Pike – Saturday at 7:30
Anderson comes in at 4-1 on the season with a couple of big wins over Indianapolis Tech and Pendleton Heights. Their lone loss came on Saturday at Noblesville by just 4 points. Pike has had a tough and confusing start to the season. The Red Devils fell to 4A #1 Ben Davis by four before rolling past Perry Meridian. However, after looking like a solid contender, the Red Devils went to Brownsburg on Friday and lost by 33 points. 2023 forward Ahmere Carson Ahmere Carson 6'2" | PG Anderson | 2023 State IN leads Anderson at 21.0 points per game as he does it all for the Indians. Jaquan Ingram Jaquan Ingram 6'3" | SG Anderson | 2023 State IN (2023), Jaylen Murphy Jaylen Murphy 6'7" | C Anderson | 2023 IN (2023), and Damien King Damien King 6'4" | SF Anderson | 2025 State IN (2025) are also averaging double figures. Pike is led by group of smaller guards led by Devon Woods Devon Woods 5'10" | PG Pike | 2023 State IN (2023) at 13.0 points per game and Cam Caskey (2024) at 11.0 points per game.
#1 Ben Davis @ #4 Brownsburg – Saturday at 7:30
Another week and another top-level matchup in 4A involving Ben Davis. The Giants have played a tough schedule and have not stumbled in their 7-0 start with wins over Fishers, Kokomo, and Cathedral among others. Brownsburg is 6-0 and climbing after a really good road win at Chesterton. This will be a game full of Division I talent highlighted by Sheridan Sharp Sheridan Sharp 6'2" | PG Ben Davis | 2023 State IN (2023), K.J. Windham K.J. Windham 6'3" | PG Ben Davis | 2024 State #137 Nation IN (2024), and Valparaiso commit Zane Doughty Zane Doughty 6'8" | C Ben Davis | 2023 State IN for Ben Davis. For Brownsburg, it is 2024 Purdue commit Kanon Catchings Kanon Catchings 6'8" | PF Overtime Elite (GA) | 2024 #31 Nation GA and 2023 guard Elhadj Diallo Elhadj Diallo 6'2" | SG Brownsburg | 2023 State IN . The duo comes in averaging 36.5 point and 14.7 rebounds between the two of them. This will be a high-flying, athletic, must-watch matchup.
#6 Carmel @ #7 Kokomo – Saturday at 7:30
This top-10 4A matchup is one that people are going to be looking forward to. The always consistent Carmel Greyhounds taking on the Kokomo Flory Bidunga Flory Bidunga 6'9" | C Kokomo | 2024 State #7 Nation IN ‘s. Wait, Kokomo Wildkats. Easy mistake considering how good he has been. Carmel has played three consecutive games that have went to overtime or been decided on the final possesion, and they come in at 4-2 following their loss to Noblesville. Belmont commit Sam Orme Sam Orme 6'9" | SF Carmel | 2023 State #196 Nation IN leads the way for Carmel with seniors Spencer White Spencer White 6'5" | SF Carmel | 2023 State IN and Jared Bonds Jared Bonds 6'5" | PF Carmel | 2023 State IN providing second and third scoring options. Kokomo is led by Flory Bidunga Flory Bidunga 6'9" | C Kokomo | 2024 State #7 Nation IN at 21.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 4.8 blocks this year. He is one of the best 2024 players in the country for a reason. Senior wing Shayne Spear Shayne Spear 6'3" | SF Kokomo | 2023 IN also averages double figures for the Wildkats.
#4 Fort Wayne Blackhawk vs. Chesterton at Grace College – Saturday at 7:30
The final game on the list is the final game of the Champions of Character Classic at Grace College. 2A #4 Fort Wayne Blackhawk takes on defending 4A runners-up Chesterton. Blackhawk Christian is unbeaten on the season with wins over Fort Wayne North, New Haven, and Lafayette Central Catholic. Josh Furst Josh Furst 6'6" | C Blackhawk Christian | 2023 State IN and Gage Sefton Gage Sefton 6'4" | SG Blackhawk Christian | 2023 State IN are the senior leaders for this Braves team, and Kellen Pickett Kellen Pickett 6'9" | PF Blackhawk Christian | 2025 State #108 Nation IN has really stepped up as a player to watch in the 2025 class. Chesterton comes in at 3-1 after their home loss to Brownsburg, but they played the Bulldogs tight and showed that they have not lost much of a step from last season. The junior duo of Justin Sims Justin Sims 6'6" | PF Chesterton | 2024 State IN and Tyler Parrish Tyler Parrish 6'3" | SG Chesterton | 2024 State IN will be key for the Trojans with senior Owen Guest Owen Guest 6'4" | SG Chesterton | 2023 State IN providing solid scoring as well.