Games of the Week: Week 8
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The 2022-23 high school basketball season continues after the new year from some great matchups. This week, our top 10 games feature several elite matchups, with a lot of talent being showcased. We will not be able any of the…
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Continue ReadingThe 2022-23 high school basketball season continues after the new year from some great matchups. This week, our top 10 games feature several elite matchups, with a lot of talent being showcased. We will not be able any of the Marion County Tournament matchups besides for the first round in this list as those matchups are not set yet. Let’s take a look at my top ten upcoming games across the state listed in order that they will be played.
2A #1 Fort Wayne Blackhawk @ Homestead – Tuesday at 7:30
The battle of two of the top teams in Fort Wayne takes place on Tuesday night with 12-1 Fort Wayne Blackhawk at 11-1 Homestead. Fort Wayne Blackhawk comes in at 4-0 against 4A teams this season as their lone loss came at 3A #3 North Daviess. The Braves are led by their senior duo of Gage Sefton Gage Sefton 6'4" | SG Blackhawk Christian | 2023 State IN and Josh Furst Josh Furst 6'6" | C Blackhawk Christian | 2023 State IN . Sefton, a Grace commit, comes in averaging 17.0 points and 6.3 assists, and Furst has added a team-high 18.2 points and 8.5 rebounds. Sophomore Kellen Pickett Kellen Pickett 6'9" | PF Blackhawk Christian | 2025 State #108 Nation IN has also chipped in 13.6 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 40% from three. Homestead’s lone loss come to Munster in the Homestead Holiday Tournament. The Spartans are led by senior guard Kyron Kaopuiki Kyron Kaopuiki 6'3" | SG Homestead | 2023 State IN with 18.4 points per game. Junior Will Jamison Will Jamison 6'0" | PG Homestead | 2024 State IN and senior Grant Leeper Grant Leeper 6'7" | C Homestead | 2023 State IN are also averaging double figures with 17.4 and 10.0 points per game.
4A #2 Indianapolis Cathedral @ 4A #7 Carmel – Wednesday at 7:30
This matchup features two of the top 4A teams in the state with Indianapolis Cathedral and Carmel. Cathedral sits at 8-2 and is coming off a loss to Chicago Simeon, one of the top teams in the nation. Jaron Tibbs Jaron Tibbs 6'4" | SF Cathedral | 2023 State IN leads the Fighting Irish with 19.6 points on 49% shooting from three. Xavier Booker Xavier Booker 6'11" | PF Cathedral | 2023 State #4 Nation IN has added 13.9 points and 9.7 rebounds this season, and Jake Davis Jake Davis 6'6" | SF Cathedral | 2023 State IN has done it all with 11.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. Carmel sits at 8-4 with three one-possession losses on the road to Noblesville, Kokomo, and Center Grove. The Greyhounds are led by Belmont commit Sam Orme Sam Orme 6'9" | SF Carmel | 2023 State #196 Nation IN . They have also gotten good minutes from senior Jared Bonds Jared Bonds 6'5" | PF Carmel | 2023 State IN , Spencer White Spencer White 6'5" | SF Carmel | 2023 State IN , and Clay Richards Clay Richards 6'5" | SF Carmel | 2023 IN .
1A #1 Bloomfield @ 2A #2 Linton-Stockton – Friday at 7:30
Bloomfield comes in at 11-2 with losses to North Central (Indianapolis) and Linton-Stockton in the Wabash Valley Classic finals. The Cardinals picked up a big win over 1A #4 Evansville Christian last week, and they look to keep it this week. The Cardinals are led by senior post player Peter Combs Peter Combs 6'6" | PF Bloomfield | 2023 State IN . Linton-Stockton comes in at 12-1 with their one loss coming to Cooper in Kentucky. The Miners are led by UCF commit Joey Hart Joey Hart 6'5" | SG Linton-Stockton | 2023 State #214 Nation IN as well as senior Logan Webb Logan Webb 6'3" | SG Linton-Stockton | 2023 State IN and junior Braden Walters Braden Walters 6'6" | PF Terre Haute North | 2024 State IN .
4A #10 Harrison (WL) @ Kokomo – Friday at 7:30
Harrison (WL) has cracked the top-10 with an 11-0 start to the season including a Warsaw Holiday Tournament title. The Raiders are led by Marian commit Ben Henderson Ben Henderson 6'3" | SG Harrison | 2023 State IN with 21.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Senior Chris Lucas Chris Lucas 5'10" | PG Harrison | 2023 State IN has also chipped in with 10.1 points and 4.3 assists. Kokomo sits at 9-4 on the season with their losses coming to some of the top teams in 4A including Zionsville, Ben Davis, Westfield, and Brownsburg. The Wildkats are led by one of the best players in the nation in the 2024 class with Flory Bidunga Flory Bidunga 6'9" | C Kokomo | 2024 State #7 Nation IN . Bidunga is averaging 19.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 4.7 blocks while shooting 82% from the floor.
1A #5 Loogootee @ Barr-Reeve – Friday at 7:30
This Sectional 63 matchup features two of the perennial favorites to take home the Sectional crown. Loogootee sits at 9-4 with all losses coming to some of the favorites to bring home state titles with North Daviess, Brownstown Central, and Evansville Christian twice. Loogootee is led by senior forward Peyton Bledsoe Peyton Bledsoe 6'4" | SF Loogootee | 2023 State IN . Barr-Reeve is 7-5 on the season in a down year. Braydon Knepp leads the Vikings with 12.7 points per game. Sophomore Seth Wagler Seth Wagler 6'1" | PG Barr-Reeve | 2025 IN has also added 9.8 points and 7.2 rebounds. The last eight regular season meetings between these two teams have been decided by single digits with the Vikings winning six of those eight games.
Zionsville @ Noblesville – Friday at 7:30
Zionsville visits Noblesville in a competitive Sectional 8 battle. Zionsville comes in at 7-4, but they have won seven of nine after losing their first two games of the season. Penn State commit Logan Imes Logan Imes 6'4" | PG Zionsville | 2023 State #202 Nation IN is averaging 13.6 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Eagles this season. Charlotte commit Nick Richart Nick Richart 6'9" | PF Zionsville | 2023 State IN has also been big in the paint with 11.6 points and 7.8 rebounds. Sophomore Drew Snively Drew Snively 6'4" | SG Zionsville | 2025 State IN has provided good minutes averaging over 8 points per game. Noblesville comes in at 8-3 with their three losses coming by a total of nine points. The Millers fell to Lawrence Central and Pike in two of their last three games. Luke Almodovar Luke Almodovar 6'2" | SG Noblesville | 2023 State IN leads the Millers with 17.2 points per game this season. Junior Aaron Fine Aaron Fine 6'3" | PG Noblesville | 2024 State IN is also averaging double figures with 13.7.
Wabash @ Manchester – Friday at 7:30
This 2A North battle features a pair of nine-win teams. These two teams played to a 55-47 win for Wabash in the Wabash County Holiday Tournament after Christmas. Wabash sits at 9-3 with losses to Oak Hill, Marion, and Southwood by a total of 12 points. Wabash is led by a trio of juniors with Izaac Wright, Trevor Daughtry, and Grant Ford. Wright sits at 18.8 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 48% from three this season. Daughtry is averaging 15.2 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.3 rebounds, and Ford adds 11.7 points per game on 38% from three. Manchester sits at 9-2 with losses to Oak Hill and Wabash. The Squires are led by sophomore Gavin Betten who sits at 21.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game.
Portage @ Lake Central – Friday at 8:00
This 4A matchup from a pair of the top teams in The Region features 8-4 Portage and 9-2 Lake Central. Portage fell to Munster in the season opener and was swept in the Warsaw Holiday Tournament by Warsaw, South Bend Washington, and Harrison (WL). Portage is led by a pair of sophomores in Michael Wellman and Garrett Clark Garrett Clark 6'4" | SG Portage | 2025 State IN at 13.6 and 12.3 points per game. Junior Jaelyn Johnson Jaelyn Johnson 6'5" | PF Portage | 2024 State IN is also averaging 12.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Lake Central is 9-2 on the season with losses to a pair of top 10 teams with South Bend Washington and Harrison (WL). Lake Central is led by senior Brandon Escobedo Brandon Escobedo 6'4" | PF Lake Central | 2023 State IN with 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Jake Smith Jake Smith 6'6" | PF Lake Central | 2024 State IN and Mitchell Milausnic are each averaging 10 points per game for the Indians.
1A #1 Bloomfield @ South Knox – Saturday at 7:30
Bloomfield comes in at 11-2 with losses to North Central (Indianapolis) and Linton-Stockton in the Wabash Valley Classic finals. The Cardinals picked up a big win over 1A #4 Evansville Christian last week, and they look to keep it this week. The Cardinals are led by senior post player Peter Combs Peter Combs 6'6" | PF Bloomfield | 2023 State IN . South Knox sits at 7-4, and they have lost three of their last four to North Daviess, Brownstown Central, and Bedford North Lawrence. The Spartans are led by sophomore Sam Singleton Sam Singleton 6'6" | SF South Knox | 2025 State IN .
Jeffersonville @ 2A #7 Providence – Saturday at 7:30
Jeffersonville sits at 6-4 on the season with all four losses coming to Indianapolis teams including Cathedral, Pike, Warren Central, and North Central. The Red Devils are led by a trio of sophomores including Tre Singleton Tre Singleton 6'7" | PF Jeffersonville | 2025 State #225 Nation IN , Michael Cooper Michael Cooper 6'2" | PG Jeffersonville | 2025 State IN , and PJ Douglas. Singleton is averaging 14.3 points and 10.1 rebounds this season. Cooper and Douglas are sitting at 14.0 and 12.3 points per game. Senior Conner Lyons is also averaging doule figures with 11.1 points per game. Providence is 7-3 with their last two losses coming by three points to Scottsburg and Evansville Memorial. The Pioneers have yet to be healthy this season as they have been dealing with injuries throughout including senior Casey Kaelin Casey Kaelin 6'2" | SG Providence | 2023 State IN . Providence is also led by Jaden Johnson Jaden Johnson 5'10" | PG Providence | 2023 IN , Grant Seebold Grant Seebold 6'4" | SF Providence | 2023 IN , and Quentin Hesse.