1. Valparaiso (16-7)

11-13-2002:  36-41 at East Chicago (20-1)
11-16-2002:   28-45  at Carmel (13-9)
11-16-2002:  29-41  Jefferson (17-5) at Carmel
11-23-2002:  49-37 Penn  (15-9)
11-30-2002:  48-38 at Plymouth (12-9)
12-5-2002:  34-25 Chesterton (12-10)
12-6-2002:  44-47 at (South Bend) Adams (14-9)
12-10-2002:   49-25  Andrean (15-9)
12-13-2002: 41-27 at Michigan City (5-13)
12-21-2002:  44-41 Crown Point (12-8)

Warsaw Holiday Tournament
12-28-2002:  40-50 Warsaw (21-2)
12-28-2002:  42-48  (South Bend) St. Joseph's (21-2)
1-10-2003:  66-31 at LaPorte (5-16)
1-14-2003:  62-26 Munster (5-19)
1-18-2003:  62-29 Hobart  (9-12)
1-24-2003:   65-43 at Portage (11-10)
1-25-2003:  68-35 at Elkhart Central (0-20)
1-28-2003:  37-33 Lake Central (14-7)
2-1-2003:    46-53 Merrillville (12-8)
2-4-2003:  49-31 Kankakee Valley (7-14)

Portage (4A) Sectional
2-11-2003:  47-40 Crown Point (12-9)
2-14-2003:  52-39 Chesterton (12-10)
2-15-2003:  55-44 Merrillville (15-8)

Valparaiso worked through three tough foes at the sectional and they get the regional at home. Cassie Kerns got the best of Merrillville freshman Brittany Moore in their rematch Saturday night.  Sometimes you over-analyze things. Valpo is the champion of the toughest conference and the winner of the toughest big school sectional. Of course, they're number one.

2. LAKE CENTRAL  (13-8)

11-16-2002:  49-40 Jefferson (17-5) at Carmel
11-16-2002:  30-61 at Carmel (13-9)
11-22-2002:  48-38 Chesterton (12-10)
11-27-2002:  84-49 Portage (11-10)
11-30-2002:  35-63 at No. 1 Kokomo (22-0)
12-3-2002:  75-29  Munster (5-17)
12-10-2002:  84-39  Kankakee Valley (7-14)
12-14-2002:  61-42 at Lowell (11-12)
12-17-2002:  58-43 Andrean (15-8)
12-20-2002:  53-38 Lebanon (12-11)

Center Grove Tournament
1-4-2003:  54-57  Center Grove (14-7)
1-4-2003:  38-27 Leo (5-15)

1-11-2003:  69-56   Hobart (9-12)
1-17-2003:   51-60 at Merrillville (15-8)
1-18-2003:  41-31  McCutcheon (14-10)
1-22-2003:   45-41  Highland (21-2)
1-28-2003:  33-37  at Valparaiso (16-7)
2-1-2003:   74-82  (South Bend) Riley (21-3)
2-4-2003:   58-55  Crown Point (12-9)
2-8-2003:  39-50 at East Chicago (20-1)

East Chicago (4A) Sectional
2-11-2003:  41-45 at East Chicago (20-1)

Lake Central played 17 winning teams and they didn't get overwhelmed by anyone. They had the best starting lineup in the region and 3/5s of it returns next year.  LC played as strong a schedule as anyone in this region.

11-20-2002:  63-60 (OT) Chesterton (12-10)
11-27-2002:  46-29 at Hobart  (9-12)
12-6-2002:  74-37  Gavit (10-11)
12-12-2002:  70-27 Munster (5-18)
12-14-2002:  85-72 (Chicago) Marshall (24-2)
12-14-2002:  54-37 at (SB) Adams  (13-8)
12-17-2002:  59-21 Morton (7-14)
12-21-2002:  54-71 at (SB) Riley (21-3)

Gary Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002:  80-16 Gary Roosevelt (0-13)
12-28-2002:  70-42 Horace Mann (11-8)

McCutcheon Shootout Tournament
1-3-2003:  55-64  (Lafayette) Jefferson (17-5)
1-4-2003:  55-31 (West Lafayette) Harrison (11-9)
1-4-2003:  40-30 Chesterton (11-9) 5th place

1-9-2003:  43-45  East Chicago (20-1)
1-13-2003:  86-54 at Wirt (11-10) 
1-16-2003:  75-26 Gary Roosevelt (0-13)
1-22-2003:  74-43  Lew Wallace (4-8)
1-28-2003:  81-36 Kankakee Valley (7-14)
1-29-2003: 50-38 at Horace Mann (10-8)
2-3-2003:  55-52 McCutcheon (14-10)

East Chicago Sectional
2-14-2003:  56-22  Lowell (11-12)
2-15-2003:  37-31 at East Chicago (20-1)

West Side was ready for the sectional but they take on two distinct challenges at Valpo. A taller, slower team and a quick team with two scorers.  West Side has played well against Marshall and East Chicago and Belinda Drake is a top lead guard. But the EC-Marshal athletic ability is not what they'll face this week.  It will be virtually impossible for the Cougars to get through both foes.

4. Highland  (21-2)

11-22-2002:  56-40 Munster (6-17)
11-23-2002:  56-43  at Portage  (11-10)
11-29-2002:  54-39 at Merrillville (14-9)
12-5-2002:  46-24 at Lowell (11-12)
12-6-2002:  44-40 South Bend Riley (21-3) at the Hammond Civic Center
12-10-2002:  55-25 Hobart (9-12)
12-13-2002:  54-43  at Griffith (14-8)
12-20-2002:  64-24 Gavit (10-11)
12-21-2002:  42-20 Andrean (15-9)
1-3-2003:  47-39 Crown Point (12-9)
1-4-2003:  46-38 at Penn (15-7)   
1-9-2003:  58-15 Bishop Noll (7-14)
1-15-2003:  43-36 Chesterton (11-10)
1-20-2003:  55-60  (Elmhurst, Ill) York (22-1)
1-22-2003:  41-45 at Lake Central  (13-8)
1-25-2003:  27-56 at Munster (6-17)
2-1-2003:  58-44 (Lafayette) Jefferson (17-5)

LAC Tournament
2-4-2003:  62-21 Bishop Noll  (7-15)
2-6-2003:  48-28  Andrean (15-9)
2-7-2003:  65-23  Munster (6-18)

Highland (3A) Sectional
2-11-2003:  73-30  Gavit (10-11)
2-14-2003:  57-23 Bishop Noll (7-15)
2-15-2003:  73-24 Hammond   (13-8)

Highland has had a string of very easy home games and they have to lift their level of play radically this week. Northwestern (22-1) and Tippecanoe Valley (21-2) have waited a year for a rematch with the Trojans, who eliminated both schools at the regional level last year.   TV has lost only to Warsaw (21-2) and Rochester (21-2).  Highland has beaten just nine shots with winning records.

5. Merrillville  (14-9)

11-16-2002:  62-67 (2 OTs) at Wheeler (16-7)
11-22-2002:  62-45 Logansport (4-15)
11-27-2002:  41-56 at East Chicago (20-1)
11-29-2002:  39-54 Highland (21-2)
12-7-2003:  53-29 Michigan City (4-12)
12-13-2002:  44-50 at Crown Point (12-8)
12-14-2002:  54-65 at Benton Central (15-3)
12-17-2002:  51-39  Munster  (4-16)
12-21-2002:  66-46  LaPorte  (4-15)
12-28-2002:  45-27 Lowell (11-9)

(SB) Riley  Tournament
1-2-2003:  53-36 Elkhart Central (0-18)
1-3-2003:  52-71 at (SB) Riley  (17-3)
1-3-2003:  56-54 (OT) Rochester (17-2) 5th place
1-7-2003:  42-23 at Griffith (12-7)
1-10-2003:  41-39 at Hobart (9-11)
1-17-2003:  60-51 Lake Central (13-6)
1-18-2003:  48-43 Portage (10-9)
1-28-2003:  65-46 at Andrean (13-7)
2-1-2003:  53-46 at Valparaiso  (12-7)
2-8-2003:  53-46 at Morton  (6-15)

(SB) Riley  Sectional Tournament
2-14-2003:  66-54 Portage (10-12)
2-15-2003:  44-55 Valparaiso (16-7)

Merrillville had as good a year as you can expect. The Pirates went exactly as far as they should have. With Marshay Jolly and center Brittany Moore plus guard Brittany Usery and Melissa Boron and Jessica Gallinati, this team is well set for 2004.

6. CROWN POINT (12-9)

11-15-2002:  74-19 Hebron (8-14)
11-16-2002:  40-47 at Andrean (15-9)
11-22-2002:  55-30 Kankakee Valley (7-14)
11-23-2002:  52-30 at Munster (6-17)
11-29-2002:  42-46 Warsaw (21-2
12-3-2002:  53-34 Lowell (11-12)
12-6-2002:  47-28  at Portage (10-12)
12-13-2002:  50-43 Merrillville (14-8)
12-14-2002:  54-49 at Boone Grove (20-4)
12-21-2002:  41-44 at Valparaiso (16-7)

Crown Point Holiday Tournament
12-28-2002:  40-41 (Allen Co. ) Carroll (21-3)
12-28-2002:  32-40 Martinsville (7-15)    3rd place

1-4-2003:  39-47 at Highland (21-2)
1-4-2003:  62-22 at Hanover Central (7-13)
1-11-2003   46-44  Michigan City (5-16)
1-18-2003:  42-30 Chesterton (12-10)
1-24-2003:  68-32  at LaPorte (5-17)
1-25-2003:  41-43 Bishop Luers (17-5)
2-1-2003:   42-22 Hobart (9-12)
2-4-2003:  55-58 at Lake Central (13-8)

Portage (4A) Sectional
2-11-2003:  40-47 Valparaiso (16-7)

Crown Point never got past Valparaiso.  The Lady Bulldogs lost nine games by 10 points or less.  Cassie Pruzin will be voted DAC MVP.  They return four starters for next year but, let's be honest, Valparaiso and Merrillville return all five starters next season.  The Lady Bulldogs need improved front court play in the DAC of the future.

7. East Chicago (20-1)

11-13-2002:   41-36 Valparaiso  (16-7)
11-16-2002:   65-52 (SB) Clay   (12-11)  
11-20-2002:   45-42 (SB) Riley  (21-3) 
11-22-2002:   39-27 at Maine West (Palatine, Ill.) (19-7)
11-27-2002:   56-41 Merrillville (14-8)
12-3-2002:  100-18 Gary Roosevelt (0-13)
12-10-2002:  70-37  Hammond (13-8)
12-14-2002:  58-54 at (Harvey, Ill. ) Thornton (15-11)

LaPorte Holiday Tournament
12-28-2002:  38-19 at Michigan City (5-16)
12-28-2002:  42-39 at (South Bend) Adams (14-7)

1-9-2003:  45-43 at Gary West Side  (16-3)
1-11-2003:  57-30 Bishop Noll (6-13)
1-16-2003:  54-30 Morton (7-14)
1-18-2003:  46-40 South Bend Adams (13-7)
1-20-2003:  53-36 (Chicago) Simeon (8-14) at South Suburban College
1-21-2003:  47-43 at Hobart (9-12)
1-25-2003:  43-32 Arsenal Tech   (10-11)
2-1-2003:  58-33 at Calumet (15-7)
2-6-2003:  50-39 Lake Central (13-8)

East Chicago (4A) Sectional
2-11-2003:  45-41  Lake Central (13-8)
2-14-2003:  54-38 Munster (6-17)
2-15-2003:  31-37 Gary West Side (19-4)

This was a team that won a lot of games but never truly won anything. Many young teams peak at midseason and EC clearly did.  They have the potential to be No. 1 in the state but they have to play with a lot more discipline than they showed late in the season.  EC also needs to forget the South Bend City schools which will be down the next couple of years and try to add CP, Highland and Penn to their schedule because those are the teams they'll see in the playoffs. 

8. Chesterton (13-10)

11-16-2002:  57-39 Munster  (6-17)
11-20-2002:  60-63 (OT) Gary West Side (19-3)
11-22-2002:  38-48 Lake Central (13-8)
11-27-2002:  46-42 at New Prairie (12-10)
12-3-2002:  50-22 at Bishop Noll (7-15)
12-6-2002:  25-34 at Valparaiso (16-7)
12-10-2002:  37-59 at (South Bend) St. Joseph's (20-2)
12-13-2002:  43-29 Hobart (9-12)
12-14-2002:  55-70 at (South Bend ) Riley (21-3)
12-18-2002:  66-38  Wheeler (16-7)
12-21-2002:  53-50 at Michigan City (5-16)

McCutcheon Shootout
1-3-2003:  36-48 at McCutcheon (12-10)
1-4-2003:  32-18 Cambridge City (15-7)
1-4-2003:  30-40 Gary West Side (19-3)  5th place

1-10-2003:  49-40  Portage (10-12)
1-11-2003:  48-36  Jefferson (17-5)
1-15-2003:  36-43 at Highland (21-2)
1-18-2003:  30-42 at Crown Point (12-9)
1-24-2003:  58-56 Merrillville (14-9)
1-30-2003:  48-32 at Griffith (14-8)
2-4-2003:  57-52 LaPorte (5-16)

Portage (4A) Sectional 
2-11-2003:  52-31  Hobart (9-12)
2-14-2003:  29-53  Valparaiso (16-7)

Chesterton did about what they should've done this year. Some predicted better but many hadn't seen them and didn't know.  The Trojans return seven regular players next year but it may not matter. 2004 and 2005 will be peak years in the DAC. 

9. ANDREAN (15-8)

11-16-2002:  47-40 Crown Point  (12-9)
11-23-2002:  56-43 at Lowell  (11-12)
12-2-2002:  43-56 at Hobart (9-12)
12-6-2002:  42-32 at Munster (6-17)
12-10-2002:  25-49 at Valparaiso (16-7)
12-12-2002:  38-31 at Bishop Noll (7-14)
12-14-2002:  61-47 Whiting (10-11)
12-17-2002:  43-58 Lake Central (13-8)
12-20-2002:  69-22 Hammond (13-8)
12-21-2002:  20-42 at Highland (21-2)

Columbia City Holiday Tournament
12-28-2002:  28-45  McCutcheon (14-10)
12-28-2002:  56-40 Lafayette Catholic (6-16)

1-10-2003:  54-30 at Morton (6-15)
1-17-2003:  42-51 at Portage (10-12)
1-18-2003:  46-29 Griffith (14-8)
1-23-2003:  42-35 Lowell (11-12)
1-25-2003: 45-40 at Gavit (10-11)
1-28-2003: 46-65 Merrillville (14-9)

Lake Athletic Conference Tournament
2-1-2003:  36-33 Griffith (14-8) 1st round
2-4-2003:  63-11 Lake Station (0-19)
2-7-2003:  28-48 at Highland (21-3)
2-8-2003:  52-33 Lowell (11-12)  3rd place

Calumet (3A) Sectional
2-11-2003:  62-43 Horace Mann (12-10) 
2-14-2003:  41-51 at Calumet (15-8)

Andrean overachieved this season. they had no business winning 15 games with the experience level that they started the season with.  More good players are coming. Happy days will come to Andrean basketball once again in 2004.

10. LOWELL  (11-12)

11-15-2002: 62-72  at North Newton (18-4)
11-16-2002:  32-21  BISHOP NOLL   (6-15)
11-22-2002: 43-56 at Andrean (15-8) 
11-27-2002:  34-49 Hanover Central (7-13)
11-30-2002:  49-44 at MUNSTER  (3-16)
12-3-2002:  34-53 at Crown Point (12-9)
12-6-2002:  24-46 HIGHLAND (21-2)
12-14-2002:  42-61 Lake Central (13-8)
12-20-2002:  43-38  WHITING  (11-10)

Carroll Invitational  (Flora, Ind.)
12-21-2002: 35-24  Rossville (6-15)
12-21-2002:  40-29 Carroll (6-15)
12-28-2002:  27-45 at Merrillville  (13-9)
1-4-2003:  41-30 Kankakee Valley (7-14)
1-11-2003:  43-45 at HAMMOND (13-7)
1-14-2003:   41-28  GRIFFITH (13-9)
11-18-2003:  38-30 at Gavit (10-11)
1-23-2003:  35-42  at Andrean (15-8) 
1-28-2003:  35-37 Hobart (9-12)

Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) Tournament
2-1-2003:  46-41 Gavit (11-9)
2-4-2003:  47-44 at Whiting (10-10) quarterfinals
2-7-2003:  28-41 Munster (6-17)
2-8-2003:  33-52 Andrean (15-8) 3rd place

East Chicago (4A) Sectional
2-15-2003:  22-62 Gary West Side (19-3)

Lowell has held their last 12 foes to 45 points or less and they won 11 times. It's a miracle that, with the offensive skills this team had, that they won as much as they did. The Red Devils need to play together and work on offensive skills. They return six varsity juniors and three freshmen of note.  Despite the 3 losses to Andrean, Lowell is probably the second best returning team in the LAC next year.

SMALL SCHOOLS

1. North Newton (18-4)

11-16-2002:  72-62 Lowell (11-12)
11-21-2002:  58-44 at Frontier  (13-9)
12-3-2002:  64-39 at Covington (8-13)
12-12-2002:  73-38 at River Forest (7-14)
12-14-2002:  63-55 at Rensselaer (9-12)
12-17-2002:  79-36 at Hanover Central (7-13)
12-19-2002:  47-45 at Bishop McNamara (15-11)

Wheeler Tournament
12-20-2002:  51-54 Hobart (9-12)

Twin Lakes Tournament
12-27-2002: 38-55 Mooresville (21-2)
12-28-2002:  49-41 Logansport (4-18)
12-28-2002:  46-37 Portage (10-12)  5th place

1-7-2003:  63-60 Boone Grove (20-4)
1-9-2003:  60-47 Tri-County (7-14)
1-11-2003:  49-54 at (WL) Harrison (13-10)
1-16-2003:  64-52 North Judson (13-8)
1-21-2003: 59-37 at West Central (9-13)
1-23-2003:  60-41 South Newton (14-9)
1-28-2003:  76-57 at Twin Lakes (9-13)
2-1-2003:  58-35 Kankakee Valley (7-14)
2-4-2003:  49-35 North White (8-13)

Rensselaer (2A) Sectional
2-14-2003:  90-12 Lake Station (0-19)
2-17-3:  43-46 Boone Grove (20-4)

The long layoff and then playing winless Lake Station clearly hurt North Newton and they shot very poorly against Boone's zone. Holly Martin and Natalie Christensen return next year but the Spartans will rebuild. They will look back on this season as an opportunity missed.

2. BOONE GROVE (20-4)

11-12-2002:  58-28 at River Forest  (7-14)
11-15-2002:  45-34 at Calumet (15-8)
11-16-2002:  71-47 at Hebron (8-13)
11-23-2002:  62-55 at Knox (6-14)
11-26-2002:  89-34 LaCrosse (8-12)
12-2-2002:  57-67 at Kankakee Valley (7-14)
12-6-2002:  79-61 at Wheeler (16-7)
12-13-2002:  72-63 Washington Township (18-5)
12-14-2002:  54-49 Crown Point (12-9)
12-17-2002:  82-33 at Kouts (3-18)
12-19-2002:  85-42 at Morgan Township (3-18)

South County Tournament (at BOONE)
1-3-2003:  61-35   Hebron (8-14)
1-4-2003:  73-31   Kouts (3-15)  title

1-7-2003:  60-63 at North Newton (18-4)
1-11-2003:  84-45 South Central (9-13)
1-15-2003:  94-14 Lake Station (0-19)

Porter County Conference  (at Morgan Township)
1-20-2003:  63-61 Washington Township (16-5)  quarterfinals
1-24-2003:  80-33 LaCrosse (8-12)  semifinals
1-25-2003:  57-55 Wheeler (16-7)  championship
1-30-2003:  66-40 Hanover Central (7-13)

Class (2A) Rensselaer Sectional
2-5-2003:  55-31 at Rensselaer (9-12)
2-16-2003:  56-50 Wheeler (16-7)
2-17-2003:  46-43 North Newton (19-4) championship

Boone wins a school-record 20th game despite shooting 30% from the floor and 45 percent from the line.  Heather Moy scored 19 in the game against North Newton.  Boone Grove defies all logic in that they can't shoot very well and struggle defensively but still win.  Boone senior AJ Puller and junior Rachel Jenkins both grabbed 11 rebounds against the Spartans.  The Wolves are injury-free and unbothered by expectations.

3. North Judson  (13-8)

11-23-2002:  87-73 over Twin Lakes (9-13)
11-29-2002:  71-67 at Bremen (16-8)
11-29-2002:  82-40 at Kouts (3-17)
12-3-2002:  55-43 at North White (8-13)
12-6-2002:  45-54 at Plymouth (12-10)
12-10-2002:  78-76 at Oregon-Davis (19-5)
12-14-2002:  67-51 West Central (9-13)
12-17-2002:  63-71 at New Prairie (13-10)
12-21-2002:  63-56  Triton (17-5) 
12-28-2002:  38-43 Tippecanoe Valley (21-2)
1-4-2003:  61-50  John Glenn (10-11)
1-8-2003:  61-74 at Rochester (21-2)
1-11-2003:  73-41 at Kankakee Valley  (7-14)
1-16-2003:  52-64 at North Newton (18-4)
1-18-2003:  47-54 Benton Central (17-5)
1-22-2003:  62-57 Winamac (16-5)
1-25-2003:  62-46 Knox  (6-14)
1-30-2003:  50-60 North Miami (14-8)
2-4-2003:  66-38 at Rensselaer (9-12)
2-8-2003:  69-46 Boone Grove (20-4)

Class (2A) North Judson sectional
2-14-2003:  38-44 LaVille (15-7)

North Judson got beat by LaVille's slowdown, something that shouldn't have happened with the level of their guard play.  Look at the rout of Boone Grove and the loss to LaVille and it doesn't make sense.  I'd bet Boone will beat LaVille.  Here's also a case where considerable strength of schedule didn't work for Judson.

4. Washington Township (16-5)

11-16-2002:  46-52 at Portage  (10-12)
11-20-2002:  52-61 Calumet  (15-7)
11-22-2002:  68-31 at Hebron  (8-13)
11-23-2002:  70-24 at (MC) Marquette  (2-19)
11-27-2002:  40-42 Oregon-Davis (19-5)
11-30-2002:  53-31 at Wheeler (16-7)
12-3-2002:  57-47 at Whiting (10-11)
12-6-2002:  54-49 West Central (9-13)
12-10-2002:  58-35 LaCrosse (8-13)
12-12-2002:  63-72 at Boone Grove (20-4)
12-14-2002:  79-21  Westville (2-18)

Mid-Winter Tournament
12-27-2002:  75-63 South Central (9-13)
12-28-2002:  74-50 LaCrosse (8-13)

1-11-2003:  48-41 at Hanover Central (7-13)
1-17-2003:  67-19 Kouts (3-17)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-20-2003:  61-63  Boone Grove (20-4)
2-1-2003:  66-58 South Central (9-13)
2-4-2003:  56-35 Morgan Township (4-17)
2-7-2003:  53-38 at River Forest (7-14)

Class 1A Washington Township Sectional
2-14-2003:  55-30 River Forest  (7-14)
2-15-2003:  52-15 Whiting (12-11)

Washington eliminated RF and Whiting for the second year in a row. Sophomore Alisha Polite scored 17 against Whiting.  When you look at their five losses, you could see WT going a long way in the state tournament.


5. Wheeler (16-7)

11-16-2002:  67-62 (2 OTs)  Merrillville (14-9)
11-19-2002:  47-19 Lake Station (0-19)
11-22-2002:  40-39 at Hanover Central (6-12)
11-25-2002:  75-29 Westville (2-18)
11-29-2003:  31-53  Washington Township (16-5)
11-30-2003:  51-26 Marquette  (2-19)
12-6-2002:  29-41 at Griffith (12-7)
12-7-2002:  61-77 Boone Grove (17-3)
12-10-2002:  64-43 at Gavit (10-11)
12-14-2002:  42-38 Hebron (8-14)
12-17-2002:  38-66  Chesterton (13-10)

Wheeler Holiday Tournament
12-20-2002:  69-25 Gary Roosevelt (0-13)
12-21-2002:  30-33 Hobart (9-12)

1-7-2003:  55-39 at LaCrosse (8-11)
1-8-2003:  61-30 at Clark (2-19)
1-10-2003:  46-27 Morgan Township (3-17)

Porter County Conference (PCC)  Tournament
1-10-2003:  73-37 at Morgan Township (3-17)   quarterfinals
1-24-2003:  46-37 Hebron (8-13)   semifinals
1-25-2003:  55-57 Boone Grove (20-4)   championship
1-30-2003:  52-37 at Whiting   (10-12) 
2-1-2003:  50-32 Kouts (3-17)

Class 2A Rensselaer Sectional
2-11-2003:  47-39 Hanover Central  (7-13)
2-17-2003:  50-56  Boone Grove (20-4)

Senior Lindsey Schiess scored a career-high 22 against Hanover and followed it up with 19 against Boone.  Wheeler led Boone by a significant margin in the last two meetings this year and lost.

TOURNAMENT NOTES:  Boone Grove ended the year 13-0 against other PCC teams.  LaVille, who faces Boone Saturday, won their first sectional title in 11 years. The Lancers have never won a regional, but neither has Boone.  Washington Township should face Oregon-Davis in the Caston (1A) Regional title game.  Morgan Township has won just 12 games in the last three years. Kouts' 3-17 season is their worst all-time.

Gary West Side, Valparaiso, Riley and Penn are the exact four teams who reached last year's Valpo (4A) regional.  Tippecanoe Valley, Highland and Northwestern are three of the four teams who reached the 3A Twin Lakes Regional last year.  The Valpo Regional Saturday will be an hour behind all other regionals because Valpo is in the Central Time zone.

Culver lost to Southwood in the sectional title game but the 5-foot-2 Culver guard Stacy Stevens scored her 2,000th point of her career, something no Lake or Porter county player has done.

Valparaiso is 28-45 all time against Merrillville and 40-11 all time against Chesterton.

The sectional games at Rensselaer were postponed Friday and Saturday even though it never snowed heavily there.  To be fair, Rensselaer is not a centrally located site for Lake Station, Hanover Central, Boone and Wheeler and the 45-minute drive is unpredictable at night in the snow.  They also knew Monday was a school holiday.

Boone sophomore Karissa Walter is the cousin of Morgan Township sophomore Nate McGinley. 

Merrillville junior Marshay Jolly is the cousin of Griffith senior Kenny Harris.  Boone's Jenn Keller is the only girl to play on both Boone's only volleyball sectional champion (Nov. 2001) and Boone's only basketball sectional champion  (Feb,. of 2003).   


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Revised: July 10, 2004 .