Boys Top-10 Poll

Northwest Indiana

(1-12-2003)

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

1. East Chicago (8-3)

East Chicago Thanksgiving Tournament
11-29-2002: 70-53 Lew Wallace (7-5)
11-30-2002: 58-60 (OT) Gary Roosevelt (8-1)

12-5-2002: 62-63 (OT) (South Bend) Clay (6-6)
12-6-2002: 72-81 at (South Bend) Riley (10-1)
12-13-2002: 64-35 Michigan City (2-6)
12-13-2002: 60-55 at Crown Point (7-4)
12-20-2002:  66-64 at Lake Central (6-4)
12-21-2002:  75-71 at (Indianapolis) Arlington (5-4)
1-4-2003:  56-53 Mount Carroll, IL (11-1)

1-10-2003: 58-46 (Indianapolis) Manual (1-7)
1-11-2003: 69-53 Mishawaka (6-6)

Two of the losses are in overtime. Only Riley has beaten them in regulation time. This team is very consistent. 6-4 Willie Frazier scored two points in the season opener against Lew Wallace. Since then, he has scored at least 10 in 10 games in a row. They do not play Munster but they get a rematch with Roosevelt on Jan. 24.

2. Gary Roosevelt (8-1)

East Chicago Thanksgiving Tournament
11-29-2002: 63-40 Portage (2-8)
11-30-2002: 60-58 (OT) East Chicago (8-3) title

12-2-2002: 69-59 Valparaiso (8-1)
12-12-2002: 91-73 at Lew Wallace (6-5)
12-18-2002: 67-65 at Andrean (5-6)
12-21-2002: 67-57 Merrillville (5-5)

Gary Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 71-67 West Side (3-6)
12-28-2002: 83-72 Lew Wallace (7-5)

1-11-2003: 37-45 (Chicago) Morgan Park (4-9)

Roosevelt went to sleep and lost to one of the worst teams in Chicago's Public League. This is an embarrassing loss but being on a Friday night against an obscure Chicago team, few have heard about it. The Panthers should be able to bounce back.

3. Munster (11-0)

11-29-2002: 66-37 at Highland (4-4)
11-30-2002: 53-50 at Merrillville (5-5)
12-2-2002:  73-49 Andrean (4-5)
12-6-2002:  76-61 Frankfort (5-4) at the Hammond Civic Center
12-13-2002:  60-47 Hammond (3-6)
12-14-2002:  78-58 Lake Central (6-4)
12-21-2002: 57-55 at Chesterton (7-2)

Highland Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 68-55 Crown Point (7-4)
12-28-2002: 52-43 at Highland (4-4)

1-4-2003: 66-60 Portage (2-8)

1-11-2003: 70-56 Lowell (3-6)

They only led Lowell by four with six minutes left. This team does not play hard and they are fortunate to be in the weak Lake Athletic Conference. The Mustangs did have five players in double figures against the Devils including sixth man Adam Del Rio.
This team could very easily go 21-0 and lose to East Chicago or Lake Central at the Sectional. They appear to be coasting.

4. MERRILLVILLE (5-5)

11-29-2002: 64-49 Highland (4-4)
11-30-2002: 50-53 Munster (11-0)
12-14-2002: 61-58 Andrean (4-6)
12-20-2002: 66-52 at Michigan City (2-7)
12-21-2002: 57-67 at Gary Roosevelt (8-1)

Hamilton Tournament
12-27-2002: 41-62 at Hamilton Southeastern (8-2)
12-28-2002: 58-50 Franklin (1-7)

1-3-2003: 66-78 at Frankfort (5-4)
1-4-2003: 44-47 at Griffith (7-1)

1-11-2003: 53-43 Crown Point (7-4)

A big win over Crown Point after trailing by 11. CP came in averaging 70 points per game. The Pirates will run people to death with the four corner attack. Josh Mayo is an all-area point guard. This is a very difficult weekend at LaPorte and at Lake Central. Merrillville could have trouble against the leapers of LaPorte and the size of LC.

5. CROWN POINT (7-4)

11-27-2002: 74-46 at Gavit (0-9)
11-30-2002: 85-86 Lake Central (6-4)
12-5-2002: 76-41 at Clark (3-5)
12-6-2002: 56-54 (West Lafayette) Harrison (4-4)
12-13-2002: 59-40 at Griffith (7-1)
12-14-2002: 55-60 East Chicago (8-3)
12-20-2002: 79-68 Portage (2-8)

Highland Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 55-68 Munster (11-0)
12-28-2002: 69-33 Kankakee Valley (2-7)

1-3-2003: 92-43 Calumet (2-9)

1-11-2003: 43-53 at Merrillville (5-5)

I'm going to ignore the 10-point loss at Merrillville because Crown Point almost never beats Merrillville. They have an immediate chance for redemption Friday (Jan. 17) against Valparaiso. Kyle Robbins has not yet come back to form after a concussion last month. It'll be tough to win at Adams Saturday night.

6. Valparaiso (9-1)

11-27-2002: 73-36 at Boone Grove (4-4)
12-3-2002: 59-69 at Gary Roosevelt (8-1)
12-14-2002: 84-56 Elkhart Memorial (0-9)
12-20-2002: 55-44 at Chesterton (7-2)
12-21-2002: 69-57 (SB) Clay (6-6)

Michigan City Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 71-60 LaPorte (6-5)
12-28-2002: 78-57 Michigan City (2-7)

1-4-2003: 46-44 at Penn (5-5)

1-10-2003: 74-46 Kankakee Valley (2-7)
1-11-2003: 58-51 Michigan City (2-7)

Valparaiso doesn't need to play Michigan City any more. It's time to bring on real competition. The loss of 6-11 Bill Van Senus (broken arm) may hurt against the bigger DAC teams.

7. Lake Central (6-4)

11-27-2002:   75-41   Lowell (3-6)
11-30-2002:   86-85 at Crown Point (7-4)
12-6-2002:     87-70 Kankakee Valley (2-8)
12-13-2002:     74-47 at Portage (2-8)
12-14-2002:   58-78 at Munster (11-0)
12-20-2002:   64-66 East Chicago (8-3)

Benton Central Holiday Tournament
12-28-2002: 49-57 Carmel (5-6)
12-28-2002: 70-58 Logansport (2-9)

1-4-2003: 57-56 at LaPorte (6-4)

1-11-2003: 65-71 Chesterton (7-2)

Chesterton made 26 of 40 (65.0 percent) from the field and that's more than good shooting, that's bad defense. 6-5 senior Brett Summers has averaged 18.6 ppg. in his last three games. LC is only 17 of 35 from the line in their last two games, though, and that's not nearly good enough.

8. LaPorte (6-4)

11-27-2002: 80-96 at (South Bend) Riley (9-1)
12-4-2002: 81-42 New Prairie (5-4)
12-14-2002: 61-50 Elkhart Central (8-2)
12-20-2002: 78-44 Hobart (3-4)
12-21-2002: 95-68 South Central (5-5)

Michigan City Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 60-71 Valparaiso (9-1)
12-28-2002: 78-67 Michigan City (2-7)

1-3-2003: 71-74 at Clay (6-6)
1-4-2003: 56-57 Lake Central (6-4)

1-11-2003: 83-77 (OT) at Portage (2-8)

LaPorte needs to beat Merrillville Friday in LaPorte. they are bigger and stronger and they should win at home. Throw out the two-loss weekend and LaPorte's had a good year. But a lot rides on Friday's game.

9. Griffith (7-1)

12-5-2002:   64-28 at Gavit (0-9)
12-13-2002:   40-59 Crown Point (7-4)
12-16-2002:   69-45 Hebron (4-5)
12-21-2002:   50-45 Andrean (4-6)
12-21-2002: 72-48 at Peru (1-5)
1-4-2003: 47-44 Merrillville (5-5)
1-9-2003: 67-41 Lake Station (1-9)
1-11-2003: 52-25 Whiting (1-7)

This team is still waiting on a permanent Kenny Harris decision. Playing Whiting and Lake Station kills any development you may be trying to make. Some like them but some people liked the Jets, too. Griffith hasn't defeated a team with a winning record and that's the bottom line.

10. Chesterton (7-2)

11-26-2002: 78-24 at River Forest (2-7)
12-7-2002: 49-47 Wheeler (7-1)
12-14-2002: 73-66 at (SB) Clay (6-6)
12-20-2002: 44-55 Valparaiso (9-1)
12-21-2002: 55-57 Munster (11-0)

Huntington Tournament
12-28-2002: 80-34 Calumet (2-9)
12-28-2002: 52-45 at Huntington North (4-5)

1-4-2003: 62-57 at Mishawaka (6-6)
1-10-2003: 71-65 Lake Central (6-4)
1-11-2003: 73-42 at Hobart (4-5)

The only two losses are to Valpo and Merrillville. How can anybody hit 26 of 40 shots? Chesterton did against LC. Tom Radtke (14.8) causes a lot of problems and 6-2 guard Matt Campbell has scored in double figures eight times in nine games and has five 20-point games. They could be 11-2 when they host Crown Point on Jan. 31.

SMALL SCHOOLS

1. Wheeler (7-1)

11-29-2002: 87-54 River Forest (2-6)
12-3-2002: 104-38 Lake Station (1-7)
12-5-2002: 47-49 at Chesterton (6-2)
12-13-2002: 59-54 at Morgan Township (4-4)
12-14-2002: 79-47 at Marquette (2-6)
12-20-2002: 70-50 LaCrosse (5-2)

Wheeler BearCat Invitational Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 75-24 Lake Station (1-7)
12-28-2002: 59-48 Hobart (4-3) title

No games last week but Griffith (76-1) and Boone Grove (4-4) are tests this week. Todd Schafer (30.0 ppg.) is the state's leading scorer this week. They have to play Kouts eventually. It's a home game on Feb. 7.

2. Kouts (10-0)

11-27-2002: 87-39 at West Central (4-6)
11-29-2002: 63-50 at Hebron (4-5)
12-6-2002: 72-55 North Newton (5-5)
12-13-2002: 63-58 at South Central (4-5)
12-14-2002: 101-72 Kankakee Valley (2-7)
12-20-2002: 76-46 Westville (4-6)

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2002: 65-58 Morgan Township (5-4)
12-28-2002: 70-57 Hebron (4-5)

1-10-2003: 60-45 North Judson (1-7)
1-11-2003: 88-53 Oregon-Davis (0-11)

Ricky Hise (28 ppg.) made seven three-pointers and scored 33 against North Judson before scoring 28 more against Oregon-Davis. The schedule is hurting them. I don't know if they'll be ready for Wheeler in the semifinals of the PCC tournament. This weekend is telling. If they beat Washington Township (5-5) and Rensselaer (7-3) in 24 hours, they are ready for the tournament.

3. Morgan Township (5-4)

11-29-2002:   48-66 at Knox (6-3)
12-6-2002:    68-56 North Judson (1-4)
12-13-2002:    54-59 Wheeler (7-1)
12-14-2002: 63-50 Culver Military (2-6)
12-17-2002: 51-42 Whiting (1-6)
12-21-2002: 48-57 at Hebron (3-4)

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2002: 58-65 at Kouts (8-0)
12-28-2002: 69-58 Boone Grove (3-4)

1-11-2003: 73-47 Marquette (1-8)

Matty Bush (23.6 ppg,), a 6-3 junior, still hasn't been stopped.

4. BOONE GROVE (4-4)

11-27-2002: 36-73 at Valparaiso (9-1)
12-5-2002: 61-36 Washington Township (4-4)
12-13-2002: 63-36 River Forest (2-6)
12-20-2002: 58-62 (OT) at Kankakee Valley (2-7)
12-21-2002: 59-49 at Knox (4-3)

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2002: 55-58 Hebron (4-4)
12-28-2002: 58-69 Morgan Township (5-4)

1-11-2003: 58-54 at Hanover Central (6-3)

Marcus Banning's season-high 14 boosted the Wolves past Hanover. Boone's defense held the Cats without a three-point goal for the first time this year. The loss to Valpo doesn't look so bad now. It's all on the line Friday against Wheeler (7-1).

5. HANOVER CENTRAL (6-3)

11-27-2002:  60-34 at Lake Station (1-7)
11-29-2002:  49-38 Elmwood Park, Ill. (5-4)
12-6-2002:  46-40 Hebron (4-4)
12-14-2002:  56-62 at Washington Township (4-4)
12-21-2002:  59-45 at Kankakee Valley (2-7)
12-28-2002: 41-40 Gavit (0-9)
1-3-2003:  44-48 Lowell (3-6)

1-7-2003: 62-546 Whiting (1-7)
1-11-2003: 54-58 Boone Grove (4-4)

This doesn't sound like that bad a game but the Cats couldn't finish. 11 of 13 from the foul line is an improvement and 14 points and five rebounds from Eddie Roberts is a big positive.

BOYS NOTES: In the PCC tournament, Hanover drew Hebron and Boone plays Washington Township. In the other half of the bracket, Wheeler plays LaCrosse and Kouts meets at Morgan Township.

Kenny Harris' hearing on his eligibility has been pushed back again. It will not be the 17th of January.

Merrillville's stretch of 27 wins in 29 games against Crown Point gets the acid test next year where CP plays the Pirates twice in league play.

Tippecanoe Valley, a possible 3A regional foe for Lake County teams, won their showdown game with 1A Argos last week 75-59 as 6-4 senior Trey Eaton scored 38 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and blocked five shots. TV is now 11-0, Argos, a 1A regional foe of teams like Kouts and Morgan Township, is 9-1.