2006-2007 Girls Basketball  Week-4 Poll A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith (12-7-2006)

MICHIGAN CITY, IN - (12-07-2006)  - There's still no form to chart in local girls basketball as the undefeated teams all await tests.  Michigan City (4-0) is off to the expected good start, but they won't see a team that can beat them until the Dec. 12 game against Merrillville.

2A powers Boone Grove and Wheeler get their tests this weekend.  Wheeler's going to have to beat a deeper and more athletic Hammond high team just to get to the finals of the Lake Athletic Conference tourney.  Boone Grove will take on big neighbor Crown Point late Saturday night.

This is the final year of the LAC tournament and that's a good thing.  Any tournament that matches 4A Munster and 1A Lake Station is a joke and everybody knows it.  Munster led Lake Station 32-0 at the half Tuesday night (12-5-2006) and won 52-13.  Mismatches are not legitimate competition and LAC folks have padded their records and looked the other way for years while Lake Station got slaughtered and their athletic program was crushed.  The end of the LAC is a get-out-of-jail-free card for Lake Station, which can now schedule equals instead of slave masters.  Schools like Calumet and Whiting were competitive in one or two sports, but they can now balance their schedules with non-conference teams that reflect the level of each particular sport.  The key for all leagues is to leave room for non-conference games.

NW Indiana schools pay lip service to tough schedules.  Most small schools like Wheeler and Boone sit next to giant schools like Valparaiso and Merrillville, which they do not or can not schedule.  All 4A teams in this are know that South Bend Washington has a first-team all-America player for the next three years.  Other than LaPorte and Michigan City (sectional rivals), nobody has called them and nobody will.  When South Bend St. Joseph's is 114-22 in the last six years, but the only area teams that play them are Andrean, East Chicago and Gary West Side, you know that nobody else wants to play them.

Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) schools are handcuffed by the ridiculous 14-game league season which leaves only six non-league games.  Crown Point used to play Plymouth and they have taken on Wawasee and Ben Davis.  CP used to host a four-team tournament with downstate powers.  That went out the window with the 14-game 'double round robin'.  Valparaiso had to drop out of the power-packed Warsaw Holiday Tournament for the same reason.  In fairness to the Boone Groves and Wheelers, maybe they'd play Valparaiso if Valpo had more than six non-conference dates.  And Boone did add 4A Highland to the schedule this season, much to their credit.  But its not enough.  East Chicago is an independent and they had two D-1 players the last four years.  Nobody called and asked for a game because they didn't want to get their feelings hurt.

The logic small schools use to explain semi-tough schedules is that if they schedule tough teams when they're strong, they'll get killed when they go into a down cycle.  That's true, but that's where you decide what level of program you want.  Everybody in the state knows that 2A Heritage Christian of Indianapolis is a basketball serial killer.  They play 15 4A schools and they whip most of them like they were slow thoroughbreds at the Kentucky Derby.  How come 2A Heritage Christian doesn't worry about what 4A Carmel and 4A Pike will do to them if they go into a 'down' cycle and have a less talented team four years from now?   How come they simply schedule the best teams possible every year?

You must assume you can be competitive EVERY YEAR.  You must schedule tough teams EVERY YEAR.  That's called credibility and that's what hurts Northwest Indiana basketball.  You qualify for the state tournament whether you are 20-0 or 0-20, so during the regular season, it does not matter who you beat.  It matters who you play.  Everybody knows where the good teams are and it only takes a phone call to get it on.  Don't brag unless you've played the best, because your talk is cheap until you've passed the test.

1.   (4A) Michigan City (4-0)
2006 (14-11),  2005 (6-15),  2004 (6-16)

MICHIGAN CITY:  MC is coasting.  They edged away from Portage 53-40, but again, it was unimpressive.  The Wolves sank just 12 of 25 from the line and they got just 10 from 6-2 center Emma Tucker.  Tucker grabbed 18 rebounds, but you don't have to be Pete Rose to bet that many of the rebounds Tucker got were her own missed shots.  Lead guard Takenya Nixon was just 7-of-13 from the foul line and that's no good against tough teams.  Unless they get highly overconfident, MC won't stumble against Chesterton (2-6) and New Prairie (1-6) this weekend.  A road trip next Tuesday to Merrillville (5-1) will tell some tales.

2.   (3A) ANDREAN (5-2)
2006 (15-8),  2005 (9-13),  2004 (7-14)

MERRILLVILLE:  The 59ers blasted Calumet 70-34 behind 20 from Val Tyburski and 17 from Kelleigh McCrea.  Tuesday night (12-5-2006) McCrea, a very athletic 5-9 guard, raked up 23 points as Andrean coasted by Clark 66-28 in a typical LAC tourney mismatch.  Andrean should have beaten Merrillville and they should be 6-1.  But then the Chicago Bears should be 6-5, so luck eventually evens out for you.  The Niners were hoping to survive the slow down game of Griffith (4-2) Thursday in the LAC quarterfinals.  Truthfully, Andrean is better against a slowdown team like Griffith than they would be against Hammond, even though Griffith beat Hammond.  You can feel Andrean's confidence building, but the next time they win the LAC tournament will be the first.

3.   (4A) Gary West Side (2-1)
2006 (16-7),  2005 (23-5),  2004 (22-3)

GARY:   Nobody really thinks Wheeler and Boone Grove could beat Gary West Side and they don't think so because they never play the Cougars.  But the Cougars play an uneven schedule which influences local pollsters to lower them.  Not here.  The Cougars have a shot blocker in the middle (6-3 Ish Sha Terry) and a senior leader (Mary Bell) in the backcourt.  Now, if they can just start playing more than one game a week.  This team won't be good until they play games in quick succession.  It's always been that way under coach Rod Fisher.  So here come three games in six days and we'll see what the Cougars have.  Give Munster (8-1) credit.  After the Mustangs delude themselves in the LAC tournament, we'll see if they can really be a sectional contender when they host West Side next Wednesday (12-13-2006).  At least the Mustangs agree to play teams like West Side.  Many won't.

4.  (3A) Hammond (6-3)
2006 (15-8),  2005 (15-7),  2004 (8-12)

HAMMOND:   Hammond lost 35-34 in overtime to Wheeler, but I think Hammond is a better team.  The Wildcats lost because they sank just 6-of-13 from the foul line.  Hammond roasted Hobart 62-44 in the first round of the LAC tournament Tuesday (12-5-2006) as 5-10 guard Sancheon White scored 18 and had five steals.  The Wildcats have to decide how badly they want to win.  Hammond needs to come out like Bobby Knight and slap folks in the face.  Their strength is full court defense and they have to turn it up like Gary West Side does.  This team is better in the half court than they were in the past, but they must use their depth.  Hammond plays Wheeler again Thursday night in the LAC quarterfinals and, if they let the Bearcats slow them into a half court game, they'll get beat again.

5.  (4A) Munster (7-1)
2006 (19-5), 2005 (17-6), 2004 (6-15)

MUNSTER:  The 62-51 win over Lake Central washes away that loss to Valpo (2-6) and Munster has a seven-game winning streak.  Here's another team that would be much easier to read if they'd take one weekend and call up South Bend Washington, Carmel or Hamilton Southeastern.  That's how you gain credibility.  Munster drew Lake Station in the first round of the LAC tournament.  I'm sure coach Beth Vesa played as much of the JV as she could and I'm not blaming Munster.  They had to show up.  But the score was 56-13 and the lead was 33-0 at the half.  That's a disgrace to both schools and an insult to the game.  It's about competition, not beat downs.  If anybody asks Munster why the LAC is breaking up, the Mustang athletic office should show them the box score from the Munster-Lake Station game and then show them the gate receipts.  Just pitiful.  I think Munster is the favorite in this LAC playoff and they clearly got the best draw.  Lake Station was a night off and it would take a major upset for Lowell to beat the Mustangs in Munster Thursday.

6.  (4A) MERRILLVILLE (5-1)
2006 (19-3),  2005 (12-10),  2004 (12-8)

MERRILLVILLE:  I'm still uneasy here because Merrillville has not defeated a team with a winning record in regulation time.  There's no way they should have had to outscore Chesterton 22-10 in the final period to win 56-46 last week.  The Pirates should be winning and they are, but they've been stumbling around like Danny DeVito.  Brittney Curry scored 13 against Chesterton and she's been in double figures four times this season.  Here comes a real test against LaPorte (5-3) this Friday.  The Pirate record is good but it may be a little deceptive and it's still early.

7.   (4A) LAKE CENTRAL (2-5)
2006 (11-10),  2005 (7-14),  2004 (11-10)

St. JOHN:  LC finally got started with a win over Valparaiso 58-45 last week.  The losses are to Michigan City (4-0), LaPorte (5-3), Munster (7-1), Carmel (6-1) and Hamilton Southeastern (8-0).  Permission to speak freely?  Many of NW Indiana's so-called good teams don't play this type of schedule, because they don't want to be 2-5 after seven games.  The Indians are still one of the top teams in the DAC and they could still win the league title.  And no, I don't think Boone Grove or Wheeler could beat them.  But they always have problems with neighbor Crown Point (4-2) and that's the team they host Friday.  LC is a sleeping giant and it is almost certain they hit a winning streak sooner or later.
 

8.  (2A) Wheeler (6-0)
2006 (14-7),  2005 (18-8),  2004 (19-4)

UNION TOWNSHIP:  Wheeler nipped Hammond 35-34 in overtime last Friday as the Bearcats faced a quality foe for the first time all season.  Wheeler has to get production out of someone other than 6-2 Becca Bruszewski (20 ppg.) and the Naccarato sisters (Lydia and Emile).  There's too many Lake Stations and North Newtons and River Forests on this schedule and I think Wheeler knows that.  It's not good in the short term that Wheeler faces a rematch with Hammond a week after they beat the Wildcats in overtime, but they need to see as  many 3A and 4A teams as they can.  The goal is to reach the state finals and this is the best team they've had in the last three years.  It's safe to say that 35 points won't win many games, but the Bearcats have to be patient enough to slow the pace and they appear to have gotten that done.

9.  (2A) BOONE GROVE (6-0)
2006  (14-11)   2005 (21-2)  2004 (17-5)

PORTER TOWNSHIP:   Boone has had a week off and that's not good.  The schedule here will be addressed as to why they play five games in 10 days to start the year and then get a week off in December.  Boone now has to gear back up to tackle Washington Township Thursday and neighbor Crown Point Saturday.  They can't let CP slow them into a half court game Saturday night.  Boone has tournaments coming up and they need to simulate a tournament atmosphere.  If Boone wins Thursday and CP wins Friday (vs. LC), that tournament atmosphere could be in the building Saturday.  Boone needs to go all-West Side on people, too.  This team can press people full court and, if they have the will to do it, that's where they'll have an edge over CP and Wheeler.

10.  (4A) LaPorte (5-3)
2006  (8-14),  2005 (8-13),  2004 (4-17)

LaPORTE:  The Slicers had a see-saw weekend.  They rallied from a seven point deficit to beat Crown Point 47-39 Friday night, but they lost an eight point fourth quarter lead and lost to Clay 48-46.  The Slicers are playing a difficult schedule with Washington (6-1) and Clay (6-1) plus the 14-game DAC slate.  The fact that Crown Point led them by seven after three quarters is a cause for concern.  But unlike West Side, this appears to be a team that does not flourish under a heavy schedule of games.  I still think LaPorte's a little slow, as well.

ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.....

11.  (4A) CROWN POINT (4-2)
2006  (11-11),  2005 (9-13),  2004 (7-14)

CROWN POINT:  The Lady Bulldogs led 37-30 after three quarters, but lost at LaPorte, a major setback.  It's not that they were favored to win, but the win would have upgraded their season considerably.  The defense has continued to be effective, but CP is so ineffective on offense sometimes that you wonder if they can get it rolling in the next 15 games.  Obviously, there is a great concern for a future which has Lake Central, Boone Grove and Valparaiso in a 5-day span.

12.  (4A) Valparaiso (2-6)
2006 (13-8),  2005 (21-2),  2004 (23-3)

VALPARAISO:  The Vikings blasted Highland by 18 Saturday and they are still a player in the post-season.  This teams' handcuff is its youth and they are officially now on the 15-game plan.  We'll check back with them after 15 games and see how they've progressed.  Any team that can just smack down Munster (7-1) and Highland (5-4) obviously has quality, but any team that is 2-6 needs to be out of the spotlight for awhile.
 

13.  (2A) North Judson (4-3)
2006  (19-3),  2005 (22-4),  2004 (12-9)

NORTH JUDSON:  The Judds took a 62-26 whipping at powerhouse Plymouth Saturday but it's not that bad.  The Jays have lost to Plymouth (6-1), Twin Lakes (6-2) and Kouts (6-0). Plymouth can do that to people.  The Jays laid some smack down on Oregon-Davis (6-3) in a 60-52 victory Tuesday.  Nobody in 2A is forgetting about North Judson.
 

GAME OF THE WEEK:

(4A) Crown Point (4-2) at (2A) No. 11 Boone Grove (6-0),  WWLO (89.1) FM
Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006  6:00 p.m.  -  JV

PORTER TOWNSHIP (12-9-2006) - This is a nice match up of neighbors with strong programs.  This is such a great game for Boone Grove because they aren't supposed to beat CP. They get a free shot.  But oddly, this year, Crown Point is in the underdog role as Boone almost certainly will come in at 7-0 with a victory over Washington Township.  Crown Point's 5-10 sophomore guard Daniela Tarailo will get the task of getting in the way of 5-foot-6 senior all-state candidate Cortney Flanigan (19.5 ppg.).  CP wants to press full court, but Flanigan welcomes that and Boone has good wing shooters like Jessica Dowdy (10 3-point goals).  CP can counter with superior size up from with 6-foot-1 Anjellica Rospond (8.6 ppg.) and 6-0 center Courtney Perry (8.1 ppg.).

Boone freshman center Kelly Dobson (7.6 ppg.) and veteran junior forward Kristyn Kessler (6.0 ppg.) will face their biggest test of the season and the Wolves have just as much depth as CP does.

Boone Grove can't let this become a half court game.  CP almost slowed LaPorte into the poor house last week before the Slicers' full court press rallied LaPorte to victory in the fourth quarter.  Boone got whipped like they stole something 67-43 last year in Crown Point and that subject will come up in practice at Boone Friday.  The game two years ago at Boone was a classic, a very physical contest won by Boone in overtime 57-52.  CP needs a confidence-builder and to sweep Lake Central (Friday night) and Boone Grove (Saturday) over the weekend would get that job done.

This is annually the most intriguing match up nobody sees, because it has been scheduled on the same night as the championship game of the Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) tournament.  But the crowd is a hodgepodge of big and small school folks as many of CP's DAC foes and a few of Boone's PCC pals find a way to Route 2 to watch this one.

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Revised: December 07, 2006 .