Boys Top-10 Poll

Northwest Indiana

(1-30-2003)

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

1. East Chicago (9-5)

East Chicago Thanksgiving Tournament
11-29-2002: 70-53 Lew Wallace (7-8)
11-30-2002: 58-60 (OT) Gary Roosevelt (13-1)

12-5-2002: 62-63 (OT) (South Bend) Clay (8-6)
12-6-2002: 72-81 at (South Bend) Riley (12-2)
12-13-2002: 64-35 Michigan City (3-8)
12-13-2002: 60-55 at Crown Point (8-6)
12-20-2002:  66-64 at Lake Central (7-5)
12-21-2002:  75-71 at (Indianapolis) Arlington (6-4)
1-4-2003:  56-53 Mount Carroll, IL (11-1)

1-10-2003: 58-46 (Indianapolis) Manual (1-8)
1-11-2003: 69-53 Mishawaka (6-6)

1-18-2003: 57-58 Elkhart Central (10-2)

1-21-2003: 73-56 at Hammond (3-8)
1-24-2003: 61-62 at Gary Roosevelt (13-1)

No way Roosevelt's a better team that East Chicago. Scorekeeping shenanigans at Elkhart stole that game from EC. Rodney Wash had 26 points and 14 rebounds against the highly-touted Roosevelt front line. EC has lost three games by one point and another game by two points.

2. Gary Roosevelt (13-1)

East Chicago Thanksgiving Tournament
11-29-2002: 63-40 Portage (4-9)
11-30-2002: 60-58 (OT) East Chicago (9-5) title

12-2-2002: 69-59 Valparaiso (10-3)
12-12-2002: 91-73 at Lew Wallace (7-7)
12-18-2002: 67-65 at Andrean (8-7)
12-21-2002: 67-57 Merrillville (8-6)

Gary Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 71-67 West Side (3-8)
12-28-2002: 83-72 Lew Wallace (7-8)

1-11-2003: 37-45 (Chicago) Morgan Park (5-11)

1-16-2003: 64-58 Gary West Side (3-8)
1-18-2003: 77-65 (Michigan) Buena Vista

1-24-2003: 62-61 East Chicago (9-5)
1-25-2003: 81-63 at (South Bend) Washington (5-8)

Roosevelt has been shaky against local teams, a bad sign. 6-7 NaQuan Jackson is averaging 16.3 in his last three games. Robert Jenkins, a 5-9 sophomore, had back-to-back games of 15 against East Chicago and 22 against Washington. If you're looking for an explanation of the loss to sub-.500 Morgan Park, you won't find it here.

3. Munster (14-0)

11-29-2002: 66-37 at Highland (8-6)
11-30-2002: 53-50 at Merrillville (8-6)
12-2-2002:  73-49 Andrean (8-7)
12-6-2002:  76-61 Frankfort (8-5) at the Hammond Civic Center
12-13-2002:  60-47 Hammond (3-9)
12-14-2002:  78-58 Lake Central (8-5)
12-21-2002: 57-55 at Chesterton (11-2)

Highland Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 68-55 Crown Point (8-6)
12-28-2002: 52-43 at Highland (8-6)

1-4-2003: 66-60 Portage (4-9)

1-11-2003: 70-56 Lowell (6-7)

1-18-2003: 86-49 at Calumet (2-13)

1-24-2003: 66-28 Gavit (0-14)
1-28-2003: 62-47 at Hammond (3-9)

It's hard to get excited about Munster when they haven't played a good team since the first of the year. Playing Gavit, Calumet and Hammond is a setback. Weekend games with Griffith (12-1) and Crown Point (8-6) are tests but the Mustangs will enter the playoffs not having played a state championship caliber schedule. Check out the Sagarin ratings. Munster is 2nd in the state 4A polls but they aren't a top-20 team on the computer.

4. MERRILLVILLE (8-6)

11-29-2002: 64-49 Highland (8-6)
11-30-2002: 50-53 Munster (14-0)
12-14-2002: 61-58 Andrean (8-7)
12-20-2002: 66-52 at Michigan City (3-8)
12-21-2002: 57-67 at Gary Roosevelt (13-1)

Hamilton Tournament
12-27-2002: 41-62 at Hamilton Southeastern (11-2)
12-28-2002: 58-50 Franklin (1-9)

1-3-2003: 66-78 at Frankfort (8-5)
1-4-2003: 44-47 at Griffith (12-1)

1-11-2003: 53-43 Crown Point (8-6)

1-17-2003: 76-70 at LaPorte (8-5)
1-18-2003: 65-64 at Lake Central (8-6)

1-24-2003: 30-52 (South Bend ) Adams (11-3)
1-25-2003: 62-52 Hobart (5-7)

Point guard Josh Mayo (broken finger) will miss a couple of more games and Merrillville is vulnerable without him. JV guard Tristan Dawson scored 13 points including 6-of-8 from the line against Hobart. Few teams could bring up their JV point guard and win. The surprise losses by CP and Valparaiso give Merrillville a 'yellow brick road' to the DAC title. The Pirates have a two-game lead on everybody except LaPorte and they've already beaten LaPorte.

5. LaPorte (8-5)

11-27-2002: 80-96 at (South Bend) Riley (11-2)
12-4-2002: 81-42 New Prairie (10-5)
12-14-2002: 61-50 Elkhart Central (12-2)
12-20-2002: 78-44 Hobart (5-8)
12-21-2002: 95-68 South Central (6-6)

Michigan City Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 60-71 Valparaiso (10-3)
12-28-2002: 78-67 Michigan City (3-9) 3rd place

1-3-2003: 71-74 at S.B. Clay (8-6)
1-4-2003: 56-57 Lake Central (8-6)

1-11-2003: 83-77 (OT) at Portage (4-9)

1-17-2003: 70-76 Merrillville (8-6)
1-18-2003: 90-50 Elkhart Memorial (0-13)

1-25-2003: 78-60 Valparaiso (10-3)

A good example of the nature of basketball. The same LaPorte teams that lost by 11 to Valpo in December beat them by 18 in January. 6-3 senior Andy Tanksley scored 29 against Memorial and 22 against Valpo. 6-4 senior Eric Gerding has 51 points (17.0 ppg.) in his last three games. This is a team to watch. Remember, they don't have to go through the Valparaiso Sectional (Valpo, CP, Merrillville, Hobart, Chesterton, Portage) graveyard.

6. CROWN POINT (8-6)

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

Highland Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 55-68 Munster (14-0)
12-28-2002: 69-33 Kankakee Valley (3-9)

1-3-2003: 92-43 Calumet (2-13)

1-11-2003: 43-53 at Merrillville (8-6)

1-17-2003: 56-50 Valparaiso (10-3)
1-18-2003: 46-70 at (SB) Adams (11-3)

1-25-2003: 57-59 at Michigan City (3-8)

Tough road trip for CP. They've got two more this weekend at Chesterton (11-2) and Munster (14-0). Odd are they'll be .500 on Sunday morning but the Bulldogs (86 three-point baskets) always have a shooter's chance. The Bulldogs have beaten Chesterton three years in a row but they can't be too confident right now. Senior Brian Sparks (15.4 ppg.) scored 25 at Michigan City. CP has allowed 55 points a game which is a little high.

7. Lake Central (8-5)

11-27-2002:  75-41 Lowell (6-7)
11-30-2002:  86-85 at Crown Point (8-6)
12-6-2002:  87-70 Kankakee Valley (3-9)
12-13-2002:  74-47 at Portage (4-9)
12-14-2002:  58-78 at Munster (14-0)
12-20-2002:  64-66 East Chicago (9-5)

Benton Central Holiday Tournament
12-28-2002: 49-57 Carmel (6-6)
12-28-2002: 70-58 Logansport (3-10) 3rd place

1-4-2003: 57-56 at LaPorte (8-5)

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

1-16-2003: 73-28 Gavit (0-14)
1-18-2003: 64-65 Merrillville (8-6)

1-24-2003: 94-43 Calumet (3-12)

LC outscored Calumet 22-0 in the third quarter which, unfortunately, says more about Calumet than it does about LC. Adam Summers (11.1 ppg. over last 4 games) and Brett Summers (16.7 ppg. over last 4 games) have become a top brother tandem for LC. I have a feeling this team would like a rematch with Munster.

8. Valparaiso (10-3)

11-27-2002: 73-36 at Boone Grove (4-5)
12-3-2002: 59-69 at Gary Roosevelt (10-1)
12-14-2002: 84-56 Elkhart Memorial (0-12)
12-20-2002: 55-44 at Chesterton (9-2)
12-21-2002: 69-57 (SB) Clay (7-6)

Michigan City Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 71-60 LaPorte (7-5)
12-28-2002: 56-50 Portage (4-9)

1-4-2003: 46-44 at Penn (6-6)

1-10-2003: 74-46 at Kankakee Valley (2-9)
1-11-2003: 58-51 Michigan City (2-8)

1-17-2003: 50-56 at Crown Point (8-5)
1-18-2003: 52-38 Morgan Township (6-5)

1-25-2003: 60-78 at LaPorte (8-5)

Valparaiso got ambushed at LaPorte, a tough place to play. The Vikings led going into the fourth quarter before the Slicers scored 38 points. Mike Hills, who has 35 three-point baskets, is in a major slump with just 14 points total in Valpo's last three games. The Vikings can't win league games without Hills in double figures.

9. Chesterton (11-2)

11-26-2002: 78-24 at River Forest (3-9)
12-7-2002: 49-47 Wheeler (10-2)
12-14-2002: 73-66 at (SB) Clay (8-6)
12-20-2002: 44-55 Valparaiso (10-3)
12-21-2002: 55-57 Munster (14-0)

Huntington Tournament
12-28-2002: 80-34 Calumet (3-12)
12-28-2002: 52-45 at Huntington North (5-7)

1-4-2003: 62-57 at Mishawaka (7-7)
1-10-2003: 71-65 Lake Central (8-5)
1-11-2003: 73-42 at Hobart (5-8)

1-18-2003: 56-50 Highland (8-6)

1-21-2003: 84-73 Andrean (8-7)
1-25-2003: 73-59 at Portage (4-9)

Chesterton hasn't done much despite 11 wins. They need to beat Crown Point this week. 6-4 Mike Yagelski (12.3 ppg.) has averaged 20.6 ppg. in his last three games. The breakthrough scoring star of the season is 6-2 Matt Campbell (17.2 ppg.) Chesterton has trailed after one quarter only twice (Mishawaka and Munster) all season.

10. Griffith (12-1)

12-5-2002:  64-28 at Gavit (0-14)
12-13-2002:  40-59 Crown Point (8-6)
12-16-2002:  69-45 Hebron (5-7)
12-21-2002:  50-45 Andrean (8-7)
12-21-2002: 72-48 at Peru (2-11)
1-4-2003: 47-44 Merrillville (8-6)
1-9-2003: 67-41 Lake Station (1-13)
1-11-2003: 52-25 Whiting (3-9)
1-15-2003: 74-54 at Wheeler (10-2)
1-18-2003: 63-43 Highland (8-6)

1-24-2003: 73-60 at Hobart (5-8)
1-25-2003: 70-50 at Hammond (3-9)
1-28-2003: 43-36 at Clark (4-8)

Griffith needs to beat Munster (14-0) Friday more than Munster needs to beat Griffith. The Panthers have played just four winning teams all season and that seven point win over Clark is not impressive. Griffith is 37 of 44 from the line in their last three games which means they're ready for close games. Cliff Wilson has scored 62 points (20.6) in his last three games. 6-10 Noll transfer Kenny Harris has scored 61 (20.3 ppg.) but remember, he still isn't eligible for the rest of the year. The Panthers may have to forfeit all these wins.

SMALL SCHOOLS

1. Wheeler (10-2)

11-29-2002: 87-54 River Forest (3-7)
12-3-2002: 104-38 Lake Station (1-11)
12-5-2002: 47-49 at Chesterton (9-2)
12-13-2002: 59-54 at Morgan Township (6-5)
12-14-2002: 79-47 at Marquette (3-10)
12-20-2002: 70-50 LaCrosse (8-4)

Wheeler BearCat Invitational Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 75-24 Lake Station (1-13)
12-28-2002: 59-48 Hobart (5-8) title

1-14-2003: 54-74 Griffith (12-1)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-22-2003: 70-48 LaCrosse (8-4) quarterfinals
1-23-2003: 63-59 Kouts (13-1) semifinals
1-14-2003: 98-67 Hanover Central (9-4) title

This team was very strong in the PCC tournament with an incredible 18-point rally against top-ranked (1A) Kouts in the semifinals. Todd Schafer (29.3 ppg.) scored 36 in the finals but it was guard Cordale Micou (11.6) who led the rally against Kouts. 6-7 Matt McDonald (14.0 ppg. - 3 games) joined the team and grabbed 11 rebounds against Kouts. The BearCats must beware of a rematch with Kouts next month but the sectional and regional are winnable.

2. Kouts (13-1)

11-27-2002: 87-39 at West Central (4-8)
11-29-2002: 63-50 at Hebron (5-5)
12-6-2002: 72-55 North Newton (7-6)
12-13-2002: 63-58 at South Central (6-6)
12-14-2002: 101-72 Kankakee Valley (3-9)
12-20-2002: 76-46 Westville (7-6)

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2002: 65-58 Morgan Township (7-6)
12-28-2002: 70-57 Hebron (5-7)

1-10-2003: 60-45 North Judson (1-11)
1-11-2003: 88-53 Oregon-Davis (0-15)

1-17-2003: 80-65 at Washington Township (6-7)
1-18-2003: 67-64 Rensselaer (8-5)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-22-2003: 40-36 Washington Township (6-7)
1-23-2003: 59-63 Wheeler (10-2) semifinals

Ricky Hise (23.8) scored 24 with 10-of-13 shooting from the floor, but Kouts will never forget the day they couldn't hold an 18-point lead against 10th-ranked Wheeler. Kouts only got to the foul line four times in that game, something that did not go unnoticed. Adam Pendowski (16.8 ppg.) scored just 16 points in the two tournament games.

3. Morgan Township (7-6)

11-29-2002:   48-66 at Knox (10-5)
12-6-2002:    68-56 North Judson (1-11)
12-13-2002:    54-59 Wheeler (10-2)
12-14-2002: 63-50 Culver Military (3-8)
12-17-2002: 51-42 Whiting (3-9)
12-21-2002: 48-57 at Hebron (5-7)

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2002: 58-65 at Kouts (13-1)
12-28-2002: 69-58 Boone Grove (4-6) 3rd place

1-11-2003: 73-47 Marquette (3-10)

1-17-2003: 70-60 at LaCrosse (8-4)
1-18-2003: 38-52 at Valparaiso (10-3)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-23-2003: 66-48 at Boone Grove (4-6) quarterfinals
1-25-2003: 59-60 Hanover Central (9-4) semifinals

Matty Bush (22.1 ppg.), Cory Molchan (13.6 ppg.) and Nate McGinley (10.1 ppg.), couldn't hold off Hanover Central in the semifinals but this is a coming team. Morgan hasn't played a home game in a month. This team only uses seven players but they're a big threat in the 1A tournament.

4. HANOVER CENTRAL (9-4)

11-27-2002:  60-34 at Lake Station (1-13)
11-29-2002:  49-38 Elmwood Park, Ill. (7-6)
12-6-2002:  46-40 Hebron (5-7)
12-14-2002:  56-62 at Washington Township (6-7)
12-21-2002:  59-45 at Kankakee Valley (3-9)
12-28-2002: 41-40 Gavit (0-14)
1-3-2003:  44-48 Lowell (6-7)

1-7-2003: 62-546 Whiting (3-9)
1-11-2003: 54-58 Boone Grove (4-6)

1-15-3: 48-42 at Beecher, Ill, (4-10)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-23-2003: 77-70 (OT) Hebron (5-5) quarterfinals
1-25-2003: 60-59 Morgan Township (7-6) semifinals
1-25-2003: 67-98 Wheeler (10-2) title

Here's another team clearly on the rise. Getting to the PCC finals was great experience and it also means they'll play 21 regular season games. If you lose in the PCC quarterfinals, you only play 19 games. I don't know where Aleks Case has come from but he hit five three point baskets in the PCC tourney after averaging about three points per game all season. Jeff Johnson (13.0 ppg.) hit 14 three-point shots in three games and he is among the area's leaders with 36 three-point shots in 13 games. Hanover will go to 10-4 if they beat Morgan Township Friday and that would be HC's best start in 17 years.

5. HEBRON (5-7)

11-27-2002: 50-63 Kouts (13-1)
12-5-2002: 40-48 at Hanover Central (9-4)
12-13-2002: 63-61 LaCrosse (8-4)
12-17-2002: 45-69 at Griffith (11-1)
12-20-2002: 57-48 Morgan Township (7-6)

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2002: 58-55 Boone Grove (4-6) semifinals
12-28-2002: 57-70 at Kouts (13-1) title

1-11-2003: 48-42 at River Forest (5-10)
1-18-2003: 81-60 Hammond (3-9)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-22-2003: 70-77 (OT) Hanover Central (9-4) quarterfinals

All five losses to winning teams. Two to Kouts. Senior Ryan Ragland (19.8) is a good an all-around player as there is northwest Indiana. Actually, Hanover was lucky to beat Hebron in the PCC tournament. Hebron has a very strong JV team. They beat Griffith and Hammond at the JV level. Look out for sectional play where those kids come up to bolster the varsity. Until then, they lack depth.

NOTES: The word is that Wheeler's Todd Schafer wants to walk on at Indiana University even though he has other Division I offers. Morgan Township's Nate McGinley was very impressive at the PCC tournament with his leaping, slam-dunking and shot-blocking.

Gavit's 42-34 loss to Whiting on Jan. 28 may have been their only chance at a win. To show the strength of the LAC, Bishop Noll's 84-56 victory over Calumet moved them to 10-7, 6-2 in the league play, despite the transfer losses of Kenny Harris to Griffith and Mel Brown to East Chicago.