1. LAKE CENTRAL  (8-2)

11-16-2002:  49-40 Jefferson (7-2)  at Carmel
11-16-2002:  30-61 at Carmel (9-3)
11-22-2002:  48-38 Chesterton (6-5)
11-27-2002:  84-49 Portage (6-3)
11-30-2002:  35-63 at No. 1 Kokomo (9-0)
12-3-2002:  75-29  Munster (1-10)
12-10-2002:  84-39  Kankakee Valley (3-6)
12-14-2002: 61-42 at Lowell (6-5)
12-17-2002: 58-43 Andrean (5-4)
12-20-2002:  53-38 Lebanon (5-5)

This is a strength of schedule pick. Plus, note that all eight LC wins are by nine points or more and they are undefeated in Lake County.  The win over rival Andrean is always a big deal to LC.

11-20-2002:     63-60 (OT) Chesterton (6-4)
11-27-2002:    46-29 at Hobart  (7-5)
12-6-2002:      74-37  Gavit (3-6)
12-12-2002:    70-27 Munster (1-10)
12-14-2002:    85-72 (Chicago) Marshall (6-2)
12-14-2002 :   54-37 at (SB) Adams  (8-2)
12-17-2002:    59-21 Morton (4-5)
12-21-2002:    54-71 at (SB) Riley (8-2)

The 17-point loss at Riley came after injured forwards Bernetta Grayer and Michelle Hamblin left the game with injuries with West Side trailing 52-50. The Cougars then went to the long-range shot and the missed 18-of-23 three-pointers. It's no big deal for Gary West Side to lose to Riley because the Cougars lost twice to Riley last year. I still think this is an exceptional team by West Side's standards. They have more good players than LC or Highland.


3. Highland  (9-0)

11-22-2002:  56-40 Munster (1-10)
11-23-2002:  56-43  at Portage  (5-3)
11-29-2002:  54-39 at Merrillville (4-5)
12-5-2002:     46-24 at Lowell (6-5)
12-6-2002:    44-40 South Bend Riley (8-2) at the Hammond Civic Center
12-10-2002:    55-25 Hobart (7-5)
12-13-2002:    54-43  at Griffith (7-2)
12-20-2002:    64-24 Gavit (3-6)
12-21-2002:    42-20 Andrean (6-4)

Highland is still where they should be. The toughest part of their schedule is still ahead with Lake Central, Crown Point, Penn and Jefferson.   Defensively they posted seven single digit quarters (they held Gavit and Andrean to less than 10 points in seven periods in a row) last week.  Because of their experience, they should not be fooled into thinking they're a great team because of nine wins over questionable foes.

It's hard to believe that they made only 2-of-15 free throws against Gavit. Highland foul shooting is a season-threatening problem: 100-188 = 53.1 percent.

4. Valparaiso (6-4)

11-13-2002:  36-41 at East Chicago (8-0)
11-16-2002:   28-45  at Carmel (9-4)
11-16-2002:  29-41  Jefferson (7-2) at Carmel
11-23-2002:  49-37 Penn  (5-4)
11-30-2002:  48-38 at Plymouth (6-5)
12-5-2002:  34-25 Chesterton (6-5)
12-6-2002:  44-47 at (South Bend) Adams (8-2)
12-10-2002:   49-25  Andrean (5-4)
12-13-2002: 41-27 at Michigan City (2-6)

Valparaiso played very well against a tough Crown Point team Saturday and let's be honest. With 6-3 (and she looks taller) Cassie Kerns healthy, this team doesn't lose to East Chicago.   5-11 freshman Erica Humes is a perimeter player and she will be 6-2 or 6-3.   Kerns and 6-2 Lindsay Humes are a formidable front line. Valparaiso also has five freshman at 5-10 or taller.  With Lauren Hutton leading the team, this is a team on the rise. Warsaw will probably beat them on Dec. 28 (because Warsaw is very good) but you better beat Valpo now. No one in this part of the state (other than maybe Warsaw) projects to have a better team by the end of next season.

5. CROWN POINT (7-3)

11-15-2002:  74-19 Hebron (1-9)
11-16-2002:  40-47 at Andrean (6-5)
11-22-2002:  55-30 Kankakee Valley (3-6)
11-23-2002:  52-30 at Munster (1-10)
11-29-2002:  42-46 Warsaw (8-0)
12-3-2002:  53-34 Lowell (6-5)
12-6-2002:  47-28  at Portage (6-3)
12-13-2002: 50-43 Merrillville (5-6)
12-14-2002:  54-49 at Boone Grove (9-2)
12-21-2002:  41-44 at Valparaiso (6-4)

To be honest, the 44-41 loss to Valparaiso was one of CP's best games of the year.  But with 4A No. 12 Carroll (9-1) this weekend and 3A No. 2 Highland (9-0) next weekend, this team is still a work in progress.  The loss to Warsaw doesn't look so bad but the loss to Andrean becomes more difficult to understand as time goes by.  Blayre Reeves and Jen McMullin are shooting a little better and back-up point guard Kaitlyn Sertich is gaining experience.  CP only has six games after the holiday break but four-time state champ Bishop Luers (9-1) is on the horizon.

6. East Chicago (8-0)

11-13-2002:   41-36 Valparaiso  (6-4)
11-16-2002:   65-52 (SB) Clay   (7-3)  
11-20-2002:   45-42 (SB) Riley  (8-2) 
11-22-2002:   39-27 at Maine West (Palatine, Ill.) (9-2)
11-27-2002:   56-41 Merrillville (4-6)
12-3-2002:  100-18 Gary Roosevelt (2-6)
12-10-2002:  70-37  Hammond (6-3)
12-14-2002:  58-54 at (Harvey, Ill. ) Thornton (6-2)

Don't be fooled by wins over Maine West and Thornton. Teams over here know who the powerful Illinois schools are and you don't see anybody over here (other than West Side) dying to play Marshall (6-2), Marian Catholic (10-1), Fenwick (9-0) or Hillcrest (11-0).  East Chicago made 30 turnovers against Thornton and they played Valparaiso without 6-3 center Cassie Kerns.  This team has been good but they've been more lucky than good. We'll know when they play at Gary West Side on Jan. 9.


7. ANDREAN (5-4)

11-16-2002:  47-40 Crown Point  (7-2)
11-23-2002:  56-43 at Lowell  (3-5)
12-2-2002:   43-56  at Hobart (4-5)
12-6-2002: 42-32 at Munster (1-8)
12-10-2002:   25-49 at Valparaiso (5-4)
12-12-2002: 38-31 at Bishop Noll (4-6)
12-14-2002: 61-47 Whiting (4-4)
12-17-2002:  43-58 Lake Central (8-2)
12-21-2002:  20-42 at Highland (9-0)

Andrean simply was not ready to play Lake Central and Highland.  Remember, this is an all new team.  They have another six weeks to get ready for the state tournament where their toughest foes will be Calumet and Horace Mann.  The 59er girls may not understand it now but to take horse-whippings from powerful teams gets you ready to lay the smack on teams at your level.


8. Chesterton (6-5)

11-16-2002:  57-39 Munster  (1-10)
11-20-2002:  60-63 (OT) Gary West Side (7-1)
11-22-2002:  38-48 Lake Central (8-2)
11-27-2002:  46-42 at New Prairie (5-5)
12-3-2002:    50-22 at Bishop Noll (4-7)
12-6-2002:    25-34 at Valparaiso (6-4)
12-10-2002;   37-59 at (South Bend) St. Joseph's (6-1)
12-13-2002:   43-29 Hobart (7-5)
12-14-2002:   55-70 at (South Bend ) Riley (8-2)
12-18-2002:  66-38  Wheeler (8-5)
12-21-2002:  53-50 at Michigan City (2-6)

Note that all Chesterton losses have come to very good teams. There is still a lot of depth here and while they aren't that good an offensive team, the improvement of sophomore Stephanie Boyle at center is promising for them.  The only thing that bothers you here is that there are no significant victories here.  For a 4A school? Not one.  They can tie for second place in the DAC if they beat Crown Point next month.

9. Portage (5-3)

11-12-2002:  52-46 Washington Township (8-4)
11-16-2002:  68-31 Gavit (3-6)
11-23-2002:  43-56 Highland (9-0)
11-27-2002:  49-84  at Lake Central (8-2)
11-29-2002: 72-43 Kankakee Valley (3-6)
12-6-2002:   28-47 Crown Point (7-3)
12-10-2002:  52-42 at Griffith (7-2)
12-13-2002:  46-41 at LaPorte (2-7)
12-18-2002: 45-42 Munster (1-10)

I like them better than Chesterton but they have not (yet) played the schedule that Chesterton has. Tough tournaments at Twin Lakes and Penn are coming but they could spoil Valpo's run at the DAC title on Jan. 24.

10. Hobart (7-5)

11-12-2002:  41-49 Griffith (7-2)
11-16-2002:  38-58 South Bend St. Joseph's (6-1)
11-20-2002:  52-44 at Calumet (6-4)
11-23-2002:  47-21 at Bishop Noll (4-7)
11-27-2002:  29-46  Gary West Side (7-1)
12-3-2002:  53-43 Andrean (5-4)
12-6-2002:  52-39 LaPorte (2-7)
12-10-2002: 25-55 at Highland (9-0)
12-13-2002:  29-43 at Chesterton (6-5)
12-16-2002: 52-32 Kankakee Valley (3-6)
12-20-2002: 54-54 North Newton (8-1)
12-21-2002:  33-30 Wheeler (8-5)

Hobart isn't in many area polls and that indicates that those are not true polls. If you rate the top-10 teams regardless of record or class, Hobart has to be there. They handed 2A North Newton their first loss and they held off Wheeler, the third best PCC team. The loss to Chesterton still stings but there's no way you can rank North Judson (7-2), Calumet (6-3) or even PCC leader Boone Grove (9-2) ahead of the Brickies.

SMALL SCHOOLS

1. North Judson  (7-2)

11-23-2002:  87-73 over Twin Lakes  (3-5)
11-29-2002:  71-67 at Bremen (4-5)
11-29-2002: 82-40 at Kouts (2-8)
12-3-2002: 55-43 at North White (5-6)
12-6-2002:  45-54 at Plymouth (6-5)
12-10-2002:  78-76 at Oregon-Davis (8-2)
12-14-2002: 67-51 West Central (4-4)
12-17-2002:  63-71 at New Prairie (5-5)
12-21-2002:  63-56  Triton (9-1) 

North Judson had a very big win over 2A Triton, a big rival at the regional level. The standards here are very high, though. Look down the line at powerful North Newton (9-1) and Boone Grove (9-2). The Judds will be challenged severely by Tippecanoe Valley (11-1) at North Judson on Dec. 28.

2. BOONE GROVE (9-2)

11-12-2002:  58-28 at River Forest  (3-5)
11-15-2002:  45-34 at Calumet (6-3)
11-16-2002:  71-47 at Hebron (1-9)
11-23-2002:  62-55 at Knox (1-8)
11-26-2002:  89-34 LaCrosse (1-8)
12-2-2002:  57-67 at Kankakee Valley (3-6)
12-6-2002:  79-61 at Wheeler (8-5)
12-13-2002:  72-63 Washington Township (8-4)
12-14-2002:  54-49 Crown Point (7-3)
12-17-2002:  82-33 at Kouts (2-8)
12-19-2002: 85-42 at Morgan Township (2-8)

What worries you is that Boone is not being challenged now while North Judson is facing monsters.  The Wolves face a rematch with Washington Township in the PCC tournament and games with North Newton (Jan. 7) and North Judson (Feb. 6) January.

Karissa Walter (17.0 ppg.) is alive and well and Jenn and Becky Keller appear to be improving from long distance.

3. North Newton (7-1)

11-16-2002:  72-62 Lowell (6-5)
11-21-2002:  58-44 at Frontier  (8-3)
12-3-2002:  64-39 at Covington (4-6)
12-12-2002:  73-38 at River Forest (3-6)
12-14-2002:   63-55 at Rensselaer (3-5)
12-17-2002:  79-36 at Hanover Central (4-4)
12-19-2002: 47-45 at Bishop McNamara (5-4)
Wheeler Tournament
12-20-2002: 51-54 Hobart (7-5)

Slow starts against RF (led only 23-19 at the half), Bishop McNamara (trailed 12-6 after one quarter) and Hanover (trailed 11-8 after one quarter) caught up to North Newton when they railed 11-7 after one quarter and lost to Hobart.  Obviously this team is talented but slow starts indicate a lack of good point guard play.

4. Washington Township (7-4)

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

Washington Township is on a much-needed break. Their schedule is very soft the rest of the way except for the PCC Tournament.  A solid offensive team that is still improving.  I wish the second half of their schedule was as tough as the first half.

5. Oregon-Davis (8-2)

11-12-2002:  70-41 at Kouts (2-8)
11-19-2002:  53-59 Bremen  (4-5)
11-23-2002:  72-28 at LaCrosse (1-7)
11-25-2002: 42-40 at Washington Township (7-4)

Northland Conference Tournament
12-4-2002: 88-48 South Central  (4-7)
12-5-2002:  60-36  River Forest (3-6)
12-6-2002:  53-40  Argos  (6-6) title

12-10-2002:  76-78 North Judson (7-2)
12-14-2002: 77-63 at Knox (1-9)
12-21-2002: 78-35 Marquette (0-9)

O-D has Triton (8-3), Culver (6-3) and John Glenn (8-3) to play but their schedule is understandably soft. When you are a school of 100 kids, you can't schedule 3A and 4A teams.  And when you're in Hamlet, IN, you can hardly find 3A and 4A teams.
The fast break style has imposed its will on almost everyone except Washington Township.

DECEMBER NOTES:  Hanover Central will face Nequa Valley's junior varsity if they reach the finals of the Momence Holiday Tournament.  Neuqua Valley's varsity is 11-0.  Hanover not only faces Momence (8-0) in the Momence quarterfinals late Friday night (8 p.m.), they play at Momence in January as well.

Carroll (9-1) vs. Crown Point (7-3) is an 11 a.m. start on Dec. 28 in Crown Point.
Crown Point's annual game with Highland will probably be one of the nonconference games that CP will drop when they are forced to play a double-round robin, 14-game conference schedule next year.  CP will also drop Bishop Luers, the four-time state champion.  They will continue to play Lowell and Boone Grove but may drop Hanover Central.  Valparaiso will drop out of the Warsaw Holiday Tournament.


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