Girls Basketball

Northwest Indiana Top-10

(1-15-2003)

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

1. LAKE CENTRAL (10-3)

11-16-2002: 49-40 Jefferson (12-3) at Carmel
11-16-2002: 30-61 at Carmel (10-3)
11-22-2002: 48-38 Chesterton (9-8)
11-27-2002: 84-49 Portage (8-6)
11-30-2002: 35-63 at No. 1 Kokomo (13-0)
12-3-2002: 75-29 Munster (2-13)
12-10-2002: 84-39 Kankakee Valley (5-9)
12-14-2002: 61-42 at Lowell (8-7)
12-17-2002: 58-43 Andrean (8-5)
12-20-2002: 53-38 Lebanon (5-5

Center Grove Tournament
1-4-2003: 54-57 Center Grove (11-1)
1-4-2003: 38-27 Leo (4-8)

1-11-2003: 69-56 Hobart (7-8)

Note that LC still has not lost to anyone in northwest Indiana. Jamie VanderZanden has averaged 15.7 in her last three games. LC is 52 of 70 (74.2 percent) from the line in the last three games. They'll host Highland on Jan. 22.

2. Gary West Side (11-3)

11-20-2002:  63-60 (OT) Chesterton (9-8)
11-27-2002:  46-29 at Hobart (7-8)
12-6-2002:  74-37 Gavit (7-7)
12-12-2002:  70-27 Munster (2-13)
12-14-2002:  85-72 (Chicago) Marshall (16-2)
12-14-2002:  54-37 at (SB) Adams (12-3)
12-17-2002:   59-21 Morton (5-8)
12-21-2002:  54-71 at (SB) Riley (13-3)

Gary Holiday Tournament

12-27-2002: 80-16 Gary Roosevelt (0-9)
12-28-2002: 70-42 Horace Mann (7-6)

McCutcheon Shootout Tournament

1-3-2003: 55-64 Jefferson (11-3)
1-4-2003: 55-31 (West Lafayette) (11-3)
1-4-2003: 40-30 Chesterton (9-8) 5th place

1-9-2003: 43-45 East Chicago (12-0)
1-14-2003: 86-54 at Wirt (7-7)

I still think West Side is a better team than East Chicago. The Cougars eased up with a nine-point lead and EC rallied, as they did against Riley. West Side should win all their remaining games and enter the state tournament at 18-3.

3. Highland (12-0)

11-22-2002: 56-40 Munster (2-13)
11-23-2002: 56-43 at Portage (8-6)
11-29-2002: 54-39 at Merrillville (9-6)
12-5-2002:  46-24 at Lowell (8-7)
12-6-2002:  44-40 South Bend Riley (12-3) at the Hammond Civic Center
12-10-2002:  55-25 Hobart (7-8)
12-13-2002:  54-43 at Griffith (11-4)
12-20-2002:  64-24 Gavit (7-7)
12-21-2002:  42-20 Andrean (8-5)

1-3-2003: 39-47 Crown Point (9-6)
1-4-2003: 46-38 at Penn (7-6)

1-9-2003: 58-15 Bishop Noll (4-10)

Highland will play York (16-1), from Elmhurst, Ill in the Jan. 20 Chicagoland Classic. How good are they. It's hard to know. Have they faced any ranked teams? Not yet. The Trojans haven't beaten any really bad teams but they haven't beaten any really good ones either.

4. Valparaiso (8-6)

11-13-2002: 36-41 at East Chicago (12-0)
11-16-2002: 28-45 at Carmel (10-4)
11-16-2002: 29-41 Jefferson (12-3) at Carmel
11-23-2002: 49-37 Penn (5-5)
11-30-2002: 48-38 at Plymouth (6-5)
12-5-2002: 34-25 Chesterton (9-8)
12-6-2002: 44-47 at (South Bend) Adams (11-3)
12-10-2002: 49-25 Andrean (8-5)
12-13-2002: 41-27 at Michigan City (4-10)

12-21-2002: 44-41 Crown Point (8-6)

Warsaw Holiday Tournament

12-28-2002: 40-50 Warsaw (12-1)
12-28-2002: 42-48 (South Bend) St. Joseph's (10-2)

1-10-2003: 66-31 at LaPorte (3-10
1-14-2003: 62-26 Munster (2-13)

Valpo's 8-6 but they've won 8-of-their-last-11with the three losses to big winners. Valpo has made just 23 of their last 39 (58.9 percent) free throws. 6-2 forward Lindsey Humes has averaged 13.0 ppg. over her last three games and she grabbed 14 rebounds against a tall South Bend St. Joseph's team. The big game for Valpo now appears to be the Feb. 1 game against fast-rising Merrillville.

5. CROWN POINT (9-6)

11-15-2002: 74-19 Hebron (4-11)
11-16-2002: 40-47 at Andrean (8-5)
11-22-2002: 55-30 Kankakee Valley (5-9)
11-23-2002: 52-30 at Munster (2-13)
11-29-2002: 42-46 Warsaw (12-1)
12-3-2002: 53-34 Lowell (8-7)
12-6-2002: 47-28 at Portage (8-6)
12-13-2002: 50-43 Merrillville (9-6)
12-14-2002: 54-49 at Boone Grove (13-3)
12-21-2002: 41-44 at Valparaiso (8-6)

Crown Point Holiday Tournament
12-28-2002: 40-41 (Allen Co. ) Carroll (12-4)
12-28-2002: 32-40 Martinsville (6-10)

1-4-2003: 39-47 at Highland (12-0)
1-4-2003: 62-22 at Hanover Central (5-9)

1-11-2003: 46-44 Michigan City (4-10)

Crown Point is probably two games behind where you thought they'd be at this point of the year. As hard as it is to grasp, they still seem to be a new team coming together. Interesting matches with Chesterton (9-8) and Hobart (7-9) are coming up but the Lady Bulldogs need a big win, perhaps over defending 3A state champ Bishop Luers (14-3) on Jan. 25.

6. East Chicago (12-0)

11-13-2002:   41-36 Valparaiso (8-6)
11-16-2002:   65-52 (SB) Clay   (9-5)
11-20-2002:   45-42 (SB) Riley (13-3)
11-22-2002:   39-27 at Maine West (Palatine, Ill.) (11-5)
11-27-2002:   56-41 Merrillville (9-6)
12-3-2002: 100-18 Gary Roosevelt (0-8)
12-10-2002: 70-37 Hammond (8-4)
12-14-2002: 58-54 at (Harvey, Ill. ) Thornton (11-8)

LaPorte Holiday Tournament

12-28-2002: 38-19 Michigan City (4-10)
12-28-2002: 42-39 (South Bend) Adams (12-3)

1-9-2003: 45-43 Gary West Side (12-3)
1-11-2003: 57-30 Bishop Noll (4-11)

East Chicago has rallied to beat EC and Gary West Side but there are still questions. Good teams don't fall far behind and rally for miraculous (read: lucky) wins. The Cardinals have a rematch with Adams (12-3) on Saturday. Understand that while EC is 3rd in the state in the AP poll, they are 24th in the Sagarin (computer) rankings and no northwest Indiana team is ranked above them. The 'region' is a very weak area of the state this year.

7. Chesterton (9-8)

11-16-2002: 57-39 Munster (2-13)
11-20-2002: 60-63 (OT) Gary West Side (12-3)
11-22-2002: 38-48 Lake Central (10-3)
11-27-2002: 46-42 at New Prairie (5-5)
12-3-2002:    50-22 at Bishop Noll (4-11)
12-6-2002:    25-34 at Valparaiso (8-6)
12-10-2002;   37-59 at (South Bend) St. Joseph's (10-2)
12-13-2002:   43-29 Hobart (7-8)
12-14-2002:   55-70 at (South Bend ) Riley (12-3)
12-18-2002: 66-38 Wheeler (10-5)
12-21-2002: 53-50 at Michigan City (4-10)

McCutcheon Shootout
1-3-2003: 36-48 McCutcheon (7-5)
1-4-2003: 32-18 Caimbridge City (8-5)
1-4-2003: 30-40 Gary West Side (11-2)

1-10-2003: 49-40 Portage (8-6)
1-11-2003: 48-36 Jefferson (11-3)

Chesterton looked good against Jefferson in a 12-point win on Jan. 11, their first significant victory of the season. Catherine (Cat) Campbell hit five three-point baskets against Jeff. The Trojans shoot about 35 percent from the field, though and you can only go so far like that.

8. ANDREAN (8-5)

11-16-2002: 47-40 Crown Point (9-6)
11-23-2002: 56-43 at Lowell (8-7)
12-2-2002: 43-56 at Hobart (7-8)
12-6-2002: 42-32 at Munster (2-13)
12-10-2002: 25-49 at Valparaiso (8-6)
12-12-2002: 38-31 at Bishop Noll (4-8)
12-14-2002: 61-47 Whiting (5-7)
12-17-2002: 43-58 Lake Central (8-2)

12-20-2002: 69-22 Hammond (6-4)
12-21-2002: 20-42 at Highland (11-0)

Columbia City Holiday Tournament
12-28-2002: 28-45 McCutcheon (5-4)
12-28-2002: 56-40 Lafayette Catholic (1-11)

1-10-2003: 54-30 at Morton (5-8)

Junior Kim McCloskey has been in double figures nine times in 13 games but Andrean needs more scoring from everybody. Andrean has not lost a game in which they've scored 45 points. Andrean has a pivotal weekend against Portage (8-6) and Griffith (11-4).

9. Portage (8-6)

11-12-2002: 52-46 Washington Township (11-4)
11-16-2002: 68-31 Gavit (7-7)
11-23-2002: 43-56 Highland (12-0)
11-27-2002: 49-84 at Lake Central (10-3)
11-29-2002: 72-43 Kankakee Valley (5-9)
12-6-2002: 28-47 Crown Point (9-6)
12-10-2002: 52-42 at Griffith (11-4)
12-13-2002: 46-41 at LaPorte (2-9)
12-18-2002: 45-42 Munster (2-13)

Twin Lakes Tournament

12-27-2002: 34-71 Evansville Memorial (12-3)
12-28-2002: 51-41 Western (7-9)
12-28-2002: 37-46 North Newton (11-2)

1-4-2003: 46-43 Hobart (7-6)

1-11-2003: 40-49 at Chesterton (9-8)

I don't know about Portage. After 15 games, they'd allowed more points than they'd scored. You can only go so far averaging 21 turnovers a game. There's still time for the Indians to get tighter offensively.

10. Merrillville (9-6)

11-16-2002: 62-67 (2 OTs) at Wheeler (10-5)
11-22-2002: 62-45 Logansport (3-12)
11-27-2002: 41-56 at East Chicago (12-0)
11-29-2002: 39-54 Highland (12-0)
12-7-2003: 53-29 Michigan City (4-10)
12-13-2002: 44-50 at Crown Point (9-6)
12-14-2002: 54-65 at Benton Central (12-2)
12-17-2002: 51-39 Munster (2-13)
12-21-2002: 66-46 LaPorte (2-12)
12-28-2002: 45-27 Lowell (8-7)

(SB) Riley Tournament
1-2-2003: 53-36 Elkhart Central
1-3-2003: 52-71 at (SB) Riley
1-3-2003: 56-54 (OT) Rochester (12-2)

1-7-2003: 42-23 at Griffith (11-4)
1-10-2003: 41-39 at Hobart (8-9)

Clearly a fast-rising team with 7 wins in 8 games. Don't overrate them, though. Hobart and Griffith do not have much talent. They are well-coached. Merrillville has as ton of talent and they are adjusting to a new coach. The win over Rochester was significant. Everybody they've lost to will have a winning season. Marshay Jolly has scored in double figures 13 times. But the Pirates still haven't won any 'big' games (for them) yet and you aren't a good team until you do.

SMALL SCHOOLS

1. North Judson (9-4)

11-23-2002: 87-73 over Twin Lakes (6-8)
11-29-2002: 71-67 at Bremen (7-7)
11-29-2002: 82-40 at Kouts (3-11)
12-3-2002: 55-43 at North White (5-10)
12-6-2002: 45-54 at Plymouth (7-6)
12-10-2002: 78-76 at Oregon-Davis (10-3)
12-14-2002: 67-51 West Central (6-7)
12-17-2002: 63-71 at New Prairie (6-6)
12-21-2002: 63-56 Triton (11-3)

12-28-2002: 43-38 Tippecanoe Valley (13-1)

1-4-2003: 61-50 John Glenn (8-6)

1-8-2003: 61-74 at Rochester (14-2)
1-11-2003: 73-41 at Kankakee Valley (5-9)

North Judson plays pivotal games with North Newton (11-3) Thursday (Jan. 16) night and Benton Central (12-2) Saturday.

2. BOONE GROVE (12-3)

11-12-2002: 58-28 at River Forest (5-8)
11-15-2002: 45-34 at Calumet (8-5)
11-16-2002: 71-47 at Hebron (4-11)
11-23-2002: 62-55 at Knox (4-9)
11-26-2002: 89-34 LaCrosse (4-10)
12-2-2002: 57-67 at Kankakee Valley (5-9)
12-6-2002: 79-61 at Wheeler (10-5)
12-13-2002: 72-63 Washington Township (11-4)
12-14-2002: 54-49 Crown Point (9-6)
12-17-2002: 82-33 at Kouts (3-11)
12-19-2002: 85-42 at Morgan Township (2-12)

South County Tournament (at BOONE)
1-3-2003: 61-35 Hebron (4-11)
1-4-2003: 73-31 Kouts (3-12)

1-7-2003: 60-63 at North Newton (11-3)

1-11-2003: 84-45 South Central (7-9)

Boone has played one of the softest schedules in the state to this point but they were strong at North Newton Tuesday night (Jan. 7). The Class of 2006 is improving for the Wolves.

3. North Newton (11-3)

11-16-2002: 72-62 Lowell (7-6)
11-21-2002: 58-44 at Frontier (8-3)
12-3-2002: 64-39 at Covington (4-7)
12-12-2002: 73-38 at River Forest (3-7)
12-14-2002: 63-55 at Rensselaer (3-7)
12-17-2002: 79-36 at Hanover Central (5-7)
12-19-2002: 47-45 at Bishop McNamara (5-4)

Wheeler Tournament
12-20-2002: 51-54 Hobart (7-6)

Twin Lakes Tournament

12-27-2002: 38-55 Mooresville (13-0)
12-28-2002: 49-41 Logansport (2-11)
12-28-2002: 46-37 Portage (8-5)

1-7-2003: 63-60 Boone Grove (11-3)

1-11-2003: 49-54 at (WL) Harrison (10-6)

The Spartans can benefit from that tough schedule. The win over Boone Grove was nice (especially with just 7 players) but the only game left on the Spartans' schedule is the home game with North Judson on Jan. 16. I don't believe that North Newton has beaten North Judson in 20 years. Holly Martin scored a career-high 23 against Boone.

4. Washington Township (11-4)

11-16-2002: 46-52 at Portage (8-6)
11-20-2002: 52-61 Calumet (8-5)
11-22-2002: 68-31 at Hebron (4-11)
11-23-2002: 70-24 at (MC) Marquette (0-9)
11-27-2002: 40-42 Oregon-Davis (11-2)
11-30-2002: 53-31 at Wheeler (10-5)
12-3-2002: 57-47 at Whiting (7-7)
12-6-2002: 54-49 West Central (5-5)
12-10-2002: 58-35 LaCrosse (2-9)
12-12-2002: 63-72 at Boone Grove (12-3)
12-14-2002: 79-21 Westville (1-9)

Mid-Winter Tournament
12-27-2002: 75-63 South Central (5-8)
12-28-2002: 74-50 LaCrosse (2-12)

1-11-2003: 48-41 at Hanover Central (5-9)

Washington Township gets a big break playing Boone Grove in the quarterfinals of the Porter County Conference Tournament on Monday night.
They do not need to see Boone at the end of the tourney. They need to open with them to have maximum chance for an upset.

5. Culver (9-4)

11-15-2002: 77-55 at South Central (5-8)
11-19-2002: 63-56 Winamac (12-3)
11-23-2002: 46-58 at Tippecanoe Valley (14-1)
11-26-2002: 63-29 Argos (7-7)
12-3-2002: 52-59 at Rochester (12-2)
12-7-2002: 47-57 Bremen (7-7 )
12-11-2002: 70-60 Culver Academy (4-9)
12-14-2002: 58-45 Knox (2-9)
12-21-2002: 64-36 at Jimtown (6-8)

North White Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 45-36 West Central (6-7)
12-27-2002: 49-56 at Clinton Central (9-2)

1-3-2003: 42-36 West Central (6-7)
1-4-2003: 71-50 Caston (2-11)

1-11-2003: 53-54 New Prairie (6-6)

Culver plays Triton this week and then gets a rematch with New Prairie in the semifinals of the Bi-County tournament next week. A Culver-Oregon-Davis final would be very entertaining. Culver's 5-2 guard Stacy Stevens (26.7 ppg.) is the No. 4 scorer in the state.

JANUARY NOTES: Katie Geralds (28.2 - 16 games) of Class 3A Beech Grove is Indiana's leading scorer.

Crown Point's win over Hanover was the fourth all time in five games against HC. The date of the Cats win over CP is not known.

Valparaiso has beaten LaPorte 24 times in a row.

No. 1 Kokomo (14-0) may take their first loss next week (Jan. 17) against Neuqua Valley (Naperville, IL) in the Chicagoland Classic. Neuqua Valley (18-1) has 6-2 Candace Parker, the nation's top-ranked junior player. Kokomo also takes on Buffalo Grove (14-5) on Jan. 18.

Andrean tentatively has lost all the DAC teams on their schedule (CP, Valpo, Hobart, Portage) because of the DAC's double-round robin format that is coming next year.

Since they lost to Gary West Side, Chicago city champion Marshall has won 10 games in a row.

The 16-team Lake Athletic Conference tournament will occur in December next year and will tentatively have a 16-team, blind draw format, meaning Highland or Andrean could draw Lake Station.

Four of the AP Top-10 4A teams are Indianapolis city schools. The 'wild card' is 2A Heritage Christian (15-1), which is also an Indianapolis city school.