Girls Basketball

Northwest Indiana Top-10

(12-31-2002)

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

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)

No one else has played a schedule this strong and the Indians are still undefeated in the five county northwest Indiana area. Another major confrontation is on tap at Center Grove (8-1) on Jan. 4.

2. Gary West Side (9-1)

11-20-2002:     63-60 (OT) Chesterton (6-4)
11-27-2002:    46-29 at Hobart (7-5)
12-6-2002:      74-37 Gavit (4-6)
12-12-2002:    70-27 Munster (2-11)
12-14-2002:    85-72 (Chicago) Marshall (10-2)
12-14-2002 :   54-37 at (SB) Adams (9-3)
12-17-2002:    59-21 Morton (4-5)
12-21-2002:    54-71 at (SB) Riley (8-2)

Gary Holiday Tournament

12-27-2002: 80-16 Gary Roosevelt (0-8)
12-28-2002: 70-42 Horace Mann (7-4)

At mid-season, West Side still looks to be having a big year, even by their standards. Routs of Roosevelt and Horace Mann are just girls having fun in the neighborhood. But Marshall hasn't lost since West Side routed them and beat the top-ranked small school in Illinois by 18 on Dec. 28. Jefferson (7-2) will be a significant hurdle at the McCutcheon tourney this weekend.

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)

The Trojans must come off a two-week break and beat Crown Point (7-5) and Penn (5-4) in a 24-hour span on Jan. 3-4.. The possibility of a 20-0 season is still alive although it hasn't been announced who Highland plays at the Chicagoland Classic in mid-January.

Remember the free throws: 100-188, 53.1 percent.

4. East Chicago (10-0)

11-13-2002:   41-36 Valparaiso (6-6)
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 (5-6)
12-3-2002: 100-18 Gary Roosevelt (0-8)
12-10-2002: 70-37 Hammond (6-4)
12-14-2002: 58-54 at (Harvey, Ill. ) Thornton (7-2)

LaPorte Holiday Tournament

12-28-2002: 38-19 Michigan City (2-7)
12-28-2002: 42-39 (South Bend) Adams (9-3)

Another good win over Adams but I'm still not buying East Chicago as a top team. The offense went south last week but freshman Jernita Moore scored 14 against Adams. The Cardinals were just 20 of 34 (58.7 percent) from the foul line at the LaPorte tourney. I'm still waiting for the Jan. 9 game at Gary West Side (9-1).

5. Valparaiso (6-6)

11-13-2002: 36-41 at East Chicago (10-0)
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 (7-5)
12-13-2002: 41-27 at Michigan City (2-6)

Warsaw Holiday Tournament

12-28-2002: 40-50 Warsaw (9-1)
12-28-2002: 42-48 (South Bend) St. Joseph's (7-2)

Valparaiso is still a top team but I thought they'd beat St. Joseph's This is not a strong year in this area. Whenever 'region' teams play somebody from outside, they get beat. Freshman Erica Humes has averaged 11.0 ppg. over her last three games. 6-2 Lindsey Humes had 14 rebounds against St. Joe's 6-3 Allison Lindborg.

6. CROWN POINT (7-5)

11-15-2002: 74-19 Hebron (1-9)
11-16-2002: 40-47 at Andrean (7-5)
11-22-2002: 55-30 Kankakee Valley (5-6)
11-23-2002: 52-30 at Munster (2-11)
11-29-2002: 42-46 Warsaw (9-1)
12-3-2002: 53-34 Lowell (6-6)
12-6-2002: 47-28 at Portage (7-5)
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 (6-6)

Crown Point Holiday Tournament
12-28-2002: 40-41 (Allen Co. ) Carroll (10-2)
12-28-2002: 32-40 Martinsville (5-8)

Crown Point still lacks confidence on offense and the expectations for them may have been too high, too soon. With no one averaging in double figures, they don't look good going to defense-oriented Highland this week. But it's still six weeks before the playoffs so they have time.

7. ANDREAN (7-5)

11-16-2002: 47-40 Crown Point (7-5)
11-23-2002: 56-43 at Lowell (6-6)
12-2-2002: 43-56 at Hobart (7-5)
12-6-2002: 42-32 at Munster (2-11)
12-10-2002: 25-49 at Valparaiso (6-6)
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 (9-0)

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

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)

The Trojans come off a 13-day layoff in the McCutcheon tournament this Saturday. Even if that does not go well (and it probably won't), Chesterton is an improving team.

9. Hobart (7-5)

11-12-2002: 41-49 Griffith (7-2)
11-16-2002: 38-58 South Bend St. Joseph's (7-2)
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 (9-1)
12-3-2002: 53-43 Andrean (7-5)
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 (5-6)

Wheeler Tournament
12-20-2002: 54-54 North Newton (9-2)
12-21-2002: 33-30 Wheeler (8-5)

The Brickies have played a much stronger schedule than Griffith or Boone Grove and have won three in a row over decent competition since the 14-point loss to Chesterton.

10. Portage (6-5)

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 (2-11)

Twin Lakes Tournament

12-27-2002: 34-71 Evansville Memorial (9-2)
12-28-2002: 51-41 Western (5-8)
12-28-2002: 37-46 North Newton (9-2)

The losses to North Newton and Memorial, while good squads, does not bode well for the future. I don't know if you can lose by 37 points and regain your confidence.

SMALL SCHOOLS

1. North Judson (7-3)

11-23-2002: 87-73 over Twin Lakes (4-7)
11-29-2002: 71-67 at Bremen (6-5)
11-29-2002: 82-40 at Kouts (2-8)
12-3-2002: 55-43 at North White (5-8)
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 (5-5)
12-17-2002: 63-71 at New Prairie (5-5)
12-21-2002: 63-56 Triton (8-3)

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

No one has really handled Tippecanoe Valley but the independent schedule helps North Judson considerably. The question is, 'Who in 2A could beat them? There may not be an answer.

2. BOONE GROVE (9-2)

11-12-2002: 58-28 at River Forest (3-7)
11-15-2002: 45-34 at Calumet (6-5)
11-16-2002: 71-47 at Hebron (1-9)
11-23-2002: 62-55 at Knox (2-9)
11-26-2002: 89-34 LaCrosse (1-9)
12-2-2002: 57-67 at Kankakee Valley (5-6)
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 (7-5)
12-17-2002: 82-33 at Kouts (2-8)
12-19-2002: 85-42 at Morgan Township (2-8)

Boone has had a lot of time off but the South County Tournament will ease them back into action. A long-awaited game comes up Tuesday when the Wolves travel to North Newton (9-2), a sectional rival.

3. North Newton (9-2)

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)

Twin Lakes Tournament

12-27-2002: 38-55 Mooresville (11-1)
12-28-2002: 49-41 Logansport (2-11)
12-28-2002: 46-37 Portage (6-5)

The Spartans were supposed to lose to Moorersville but the win over Portage is a plus. North Newton was 40-of-58 (68.9 percent) from the foul line in the three games at Twin Lakes. Kassie Koselke averaged 14.5 ppg.) during the three games.

4. Washington Township (9-4)

11-16-2002: 46-52 at Portage (7-5)
11-20-2002: 52-61 Calumet (6-5)
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 (5-7)
12-6-2002: 54-49 West Central (4-4)
12-10-2002: 58-35 LaCrosse (2-9)
12-12-2002: 63-72 at Boone Grove (9-2)
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 (2-9)

Wins over South Central and LaCrosse don't mean much this year but total games do. WT has only seven regular season games left for the final six weeks. I don't know why teams lighten up on their schedules in the second half of the year.

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)

Oregon-Davis has 10 games left and with their style of play, that's a good thing. Fast break teams get better the more they play and O-D plays up-tempo more than anybody outside of Gary.

JANUARY NOTES: The Lady Bulldog Shootout drew a very small crowd for the championship without Crown Point playing. Momence (11-0) won the Momence Holiday Tournament. Merrillville rolled over Lowell 45-27 in a game that went largely unreported Saturday night. Lake Station lost 38-7 to Morton last week and their JV lost 38-5. Both the Eagles' varsity and JV are winless.