Boys Top-10 Poll

Northwest Indiana

(2-13-2003)

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

1. East Chicago (12-5)

East Chicago Thanksgiving Tournament
11-29-2002: 70-53 Lew Wallace (7-8)
11-30-2002: 58-60 (OT) Gary Roosevelt (16-1) title

12-5-2002: 62-63 (OT) (South Bend) Clay (8-8)
12-6-2002: 72-81 at (South Bend) Riley (16-2)
12-13-2002: 64-35 Michigan City (4-10)
12-13-2002: 60-55 at Crown Point (8-9)
12-20-2002:  66-64 at Lake Central (11-5)
12-21-2002:  75-71 at (Indianapolis) Arlington (11-6)
1-4-2003:  56-53 Mount Carroll, IL (13-1)

1-10-2003: 58-46 (Indianapolis) Manual (1-14)
1-11-2003: 69-53 Mishawaka (7-9)

1-18-2003: 57-58 Elkhart Central (15-2)

1-21-2003: 73-56 at Hammond (6-10)
1-24-2003: 61-62 at Gary Roosevelt (16-1)

1-30-2003: 66-58 Gary West Side (5-11)
2-4-2003: 49-47 at Wirt (6-8)

2-8-2003: 88-59 (Indy) Broad Ripple (3-12)

Little change here. The Cardinals coasted by Broad Ripple, a much-needed blowout win. I still say that with four losses by two points or less, there's no difference between EC and Roosevelt and EC has a more controlled team.

2. Gary Roosevelt (16-1)

East Chicago Thanksgiving Tournament
11-29-2002: 63-40 Portage (6-10)
11-30-2002: 60-58 (OT) East Chicago (12-5) title

12-2-2002: 69-59 Valparaiso (13-3)
12-12-2002: 91-73 at Lew Wallace (7-8)
12-18-2002: 67-65 at Andrean (8-9)
12-21-2002: 67-57 Merrillville (9-7)

Gary Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 71-67 West Side (5-11)
12-28-2002: 83-72 Lew Wallace (7-8)

1-11-2003: 37-45 (Chicago) Morgan Park (8-16)

1-16-2003: 64-58 Gary West Side (5-11)
1-18-2003: 77-65 (Michigan) Buena Vista

1-24-2003: 62-61 East Chicago (12-5)
1-25-2003: 81-63 at (South Bend) Washington (6-11)

1-31-2003: 55-48 Wirt (6-8)
2-4-2003: 100-66 Hammond (5-10)

2-7-2003: 50-38 at Bishop Noll (10-8)

Very strong. The state Class 3A No. 1. But the schedule isn't as strong as they'd hoped. The Panthers were shaky at Noll before outscoring the Warriors 16-0 in the fourth quarter. Roosevelt needs a couple of nice wins over Lake Central and Crown Point.

3. Munster (16-1)

11-29-2002: 66-37 at Highland (10-6)
11-30-2002: 53-50 at Merrillville (9-8)
12-2-2002:  73-49 Andrean (8-9)
12-6-2002:  76-61 Frankfort (10-6) at the Hammond Civic Center
12-13-2002:  60-47 Hammond (6-10)
12-14-2002:  78-58 Lake Central (12-5)
12-21-2002: 57-55 at Chesterton (13-3)

Highland Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 68-55 Crown Point (8-9)
12-28-2002: 52-43 at Highland (10-6) title

1-4-2003: 66-60 Portage (7-10)

1-11-2003: 70-56 Lowell (8-8)

1-18-2003: 86-49 at Calumet (2-14)

1-24-2003: 66-28 Gavit (0-17)
1-28-2003: 62-47 at Hammond (6-10)

2-1-2003: 46-53 at Griffith (15-1)
2-2-2003: 82-59 Crown Point (8-9)

2-8-2003: 72-47 Hobart (5-12)

Another almost idle week with Hobart on a losing streak. Munster has improved since the loss to Griffith to the point where they're the favorites in the LAC tournament next week.

5. MERRILLVILLE (9-8)

11-29-2002: 64-49 Highland (10-6)
11-30-2002: 50-53 Munster (16-1)
12-14-2002: 61-58 Andrean (8-9)
12-20-2002: 66-52 at Michigan City (5-10)
12-21-2002: 57-67 at Gary Roosevelt (16-1)

Hamilton Tournament
12-27-2002: 41-62 at Hamilton Southeastern (15-2)
12-28-2002: 58-50 Franklin (1-14)

1-3-2003: 66-78 at Frankfort (10-5)
1-4-2003: 44-47 at Griffith (15-1)

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

1-17-2003: 76-70 at LaPorte (12-5)
1-18-2003: 65-64 at Lake Central (12-6)

1-24-2003: 30-52 (South Bend ) Adams (13-4)
1-25-2003: 62-52 Hobart (5-12)

1-31-2003: 62-74 at Portage (7-10)
2-1-2003: 64-43 Boone Grove (6-8)

2-7-2003: 60-63 Chesterton (13-3)

Incredible loss to Chesterton after leading by 17 in the fourth quarter. I still think the Pirates are the better team. Josh Mayo returned after four games of (injured finger) and scored 11. Igor Ristevski has broken a slump with 32 in his last two games. You can't logically put Chesterton ahead of Merrillville after seeing the two meet.

4. LaPorte (11-5)

11-27-2002: 80-96 at (South Bend) Riley (14-2)
12-4-2002: 81-42 New Prairie (11-6)
12-14-2002: 61-50 Elkhart Central (15-2)
12-20-2002: 78-44 Hobart (5-12)
12-21-2002: 95-68 South Central (9-7)

Michigan City Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 60-71 Valparaiso (12-3)
12-28-2002: 78-67 Michigan City (6-10) 3rd place

1-3-2003: 71-74 at S.B. Clay (8-6)
1-4-2003: 56-57 Lake Central (12-6)

1-11-2003: 83-77 (OT) at Portage (6-10)

1-17-2003: 70-76 Merrillville (9-8)
1-18-2003: 90-50 Elkhart Memorial (1-14)

1-25-2003: 78-60 Valparaiso (12-3)

1-31-2003: 73-49 Michigan City (6-10)
2-1-2003: 73-57 at Plymouth (4-11)

2-7-2003: 82-51 at Crown Point (8-9)

This might be the DAC's best team. They have the best total group of players and Eric Gerding (23.0 ppg. - last 3 games) is the DAC's top scorer. Plymouth and CP are below . 500 but those two road wins are impressive.

6. Valparaiso (13-3)

11-27-2002: 73-36 at Boone Grove (6-8)
12-3-2002: 59-69 at Gary Roosevelt (16-1)
12-14-2002: 84-56 Elkhart Memorial (1-14)
12-20-2002: 55-44 at Chesterton (13-3)
12-21-2002: 69-57 (SB) Clay (8-8)

Michigan City Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 71-60 LaPorte (12-5)
12-28-2002: 56-50 Portage (7-10)

1-4-2003: 46-44 at Penn (9-6)

1-10-2003: 74-46 at Kankakee Valley (2-14)
1-11-2003: 58-51 Michigan City (5-10)

1-17-2003: 50-56 at Crown Point (8-9)
1-18-2003: 52-38 Morgan Township (10-6)

1-25-2003: 60-78 at LaPorte (12-5)

1-31-2003: 58-49 at Hobart (5-12)

2-6-2003: 67-66 (2 OTs) Portage (7-10)
2-8-2003: 70-53 Lafayette Jefferson (14-3)

The Vikings had a very big weekend. The narrow win over Portage was the Vikings' seventh straight over the Indians. Jefferson has been the top team in Lafayette most of the year. Shooter Mike Hills scored 31 over the weekend to break his slump. Quantrell Blake (FGs: 6 of 6, FTs: 7 of 7) had a rare perfect shooting game against Jeff, scoring 20. VHS foul shooting (129-178 - last 9 games - 72.4 %) has been state class.

7. Chesterton (13-3)

11-26-2002: 78-24 at River Forest (4-11)
12-7-2002: 49-47 Wheeler (13-2)
12-14-2002: 73-66 at (SB) Clay (9-9)
12-20-2002: 44-55 Valparaiso (13-3)
12-21-2002: 55-57 Munster (15-1)

Huntington Tournament
12-28-2002: 80-34 Calumet (3-13)
12-28-2002: 52-45 at Huntington North (7-8) title

1-4-2003: 62-57 at Mishawaka (7-9)
1-10-2003: 71-65 Lake Central (11-5)
1-11-2003: 73-42 at Hobart (5-12)

1-18-2003: 56-50 Highland (10-6)

1-21-2003: 84-73 Andrean (8-9)
1-25-2003: 73-59 at Portage (7-10)

1-31-2003: 73-59 Crown Point (8-9)

2-7-2003: 63-60 at Merrillville (9-8)
2-8-2003: 77-84 (South Bend) Riley (16-2)

Chesterton didn't play that well this week. They were fortunate to win at Merrillville and they lost to a very strong Riley team. Matt Campbell (17.8 ppg.) scored 45 in two weekend games. Mike Yagelski (13.4 ppg.) scored 33 in the two games. Tom Radtke ((13.1 ppg.) sank a season high 19 Saturday against Riley's 6-9 Brandon Dixon. Big game for DAC title Thursday against LaPorte.

8. Lake Central (11-5)

11-27-2002:  75-41 Lowell (8-8)
11-30-2002:  86-85 at Crown Point (8-9)
12-6-2002:  87-70 Kankakee Valley (2-14)
12-13-2002:  74-47 at Portage (7-10)
12-14-2002:  58-78 at Munster (16-1)
12-20-2002:  64-66 East Chicago (12-5)

Benton Central Holiday Tournament
12-28-2002: 49-57 Carmel (9-7)
12-28-2002: 70-58 Logansport (3-14) 3rd place

1-4-2003: 57-56 at LaPorte (12-5)

1-11-2003: 65-71 Chesterton (13-3)

1-16-2003: 73-28 Gavit (0-17)
1-18-2003: 64-65 Merrillville (9-8)

1-24-2003: 94-43 Calumet (3-13)

1-31-2003: 47-38 at Morton (9-7)

2-1-2003: 56-49 at Hobart (5-12)

2-8-2003: 85-50 Andrean (8-9)

Lake Central has rolled over four teams that are sub. 500 and the last one, over rival Andrean, a wild, foul-filled contest. That may get LC ready for Gary Roosevelt (Feb. 13) in what will be a telling game. LC has three difficult road games remaining.

9. Griffith (14-2)

12-5-2002:  64-28 at Gavit (0-17)
12-13-2002:  40-59 Crown Point (8-9)
12-16-2002:  69-45 Hebron (7-6)
12-21-2002:  50-45 Andrean (8-9)
12-21-2002: 72-48 at Peru (2-13)
1-4-2003: 47-44 Merrillville (9-8)
1-9-2003: 67-41 Lake Station (1-16)
1-11-2003: 52-25 Whiting (6-9)
1-15-2003: 74-54 at Wheeler (13-2)
1-18-2003: 63-43 Highland (10-6)

1-24-2003: 73-60 at Hobart (5-12)
1-25-2003: 70-50 at Hammond (6-10)
1-28-2003: 43-36 at Clark (5-10)

2-1-2003: 53-46 Munster (16-1)

2-5-2003: 30-33 Morton (9-7)
2-8-2003: 58-33 at Lowell (8-8)

Griffith' is the region's most overrated team. When the inside-outside offense of Kenny Harris and Cliff Wilson is on, they can stay with most teams. But they are a slow team overall. Harris scored 31 Saturday night at Lowell. They'll eye an LAC rematch with Munster.

10. CROWN POINT (8-9)

11-27-2002: 74-46 at Gavit (0-17)
11-30-2002: 85-86 Lake Central (11-5)
12-5-2002: 76-41 at Clark (5-10)
12-6-2002: 56-54 (West Lafayette) Harrison (8-7)
12-13-2002: 59-40 at Griffith (16-1)
12-14-2002: 55-60 East Chicago (12-5)
12-20-2002: 79-68 Portage (7-10)

Highland Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 55-68 Munster (15-1)
12-28-2002: 69-33 Kankakee Valley (2-14)

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

1-11-2003: 43-53 at Merrillville (9-8)

1-17-2003: 56-50 Valparaiso (13-3)
1-18-2003: 46-70 at (SB) Adams (13-4)

1-25-2003: 57-59 at Michigan City (6-10)

1-31-2003: 59-73 at Chesterton (13-2)
2-1-2003: 59-83 at Munster (16-1)

2-7-2003: 51-82 LaPorte (11-5)

CP's 5th straight loss was LaPorte's 5th straight win, but the Bulldogs should break the streak at Hobart Thursday (Feb. 13). CP's problem is a loss of confidence and some panic defensively against good shooting teams. It still comes down to what they do against Merrillville and Valparaiso at Sectional time and that's still three weeks away.

SMALL SCHOOLS

1. Wheeler (12-2)

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

Wheeler BearCat Invitational Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 75-24 Lake Station (1-16)
12-28-2002: 59-48 Hobart (5-12) title

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

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-22-2003: 70-48 LaCrosse (9-6) quarterfinals
1-23-2003: 63-59 Kouts (13-3) semifinals
1-14-2003: 98-67 Hanover Central (12-5) title

1-31-2003: 63-53 at Hebron (7-6)
2-1-2003: 85-46 North Judson (1-14)

2-8-2003: 72-53 Kouts (13-3)

Wheeler took a major step towards the PCC regular season title with the 72-53 win over Kouts. 6-7 Andrean-transfer Matt McDonald (14.7 ppg.) was a key in that game with 18 points. Todd Schafer (30.2 ppg.) scored 33 against Kouts. Wheeler could go 19-2.

2. Morgan Township (10-6)

11-29-2002:   48-66 at Knox (13-4)
12-6-2002:    68-56 North Judson (2-14)
12-13-2002:    54-59 Wheeler (13-2)
12-14-2002: 63-50 Culver Military (3-11)
12-17-2002: 51-42 Whiting (6-9)
12-21-2002: 48-57 at Hebron (7-6)

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2002: 58-65 at Kouts (13-3)
12-28-2002: 69-58 Boone Grove (6-8) 3rd place

1-11-2003: 73-47 Marquette (3-13)

1-17-2003: 70-60 at LaCrosse (9-6)
1-18-2003: 38-52 at Valparaiso (13-3)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-23-2003: 66-48 at Boone Grove (6-8) quarterfinals
1-25-2003: 59-60 Hanover Central (12-5) semifinals

1-31-2003: 78-60 at Hanover Central (12-5)
2-1-2003: 70-57 South Central (9-7)

2-8-2003: 52-49 Boone Grove (6-8)

Matty Bush (22.3 ppg.) and Cory Molchan (14.7 ppg.) helped Morgan escape against Boone with a combined 39 points. That's the third Morgan victory over Boone this year. If Morgan beats Kouts Thursday (Feb. 13), they'll sweep the rest of their games.

3. Kouts (13-3)

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

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2002: 65-58 Morgan Township (9-6)
12-28-2002: 70-57 Hebron (7-6)

1-10-2003: 60-45 North Judson (2-14)
1-11-2003: 88-53 Oregon-Davis (0-15)

1-17-2003: 80-65 at Washington Township (8-8)
1-18-2003: 67-64 Rensselaer (11-5)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-22-2003: 40-36 Washington Township (8-8)
1-23-2003: 59-63 Wheeler (13-2) semifinals

2-1-2003: 62-67 at Boone Grove (6-8)

2-8-2003: 53-72 at Wheeler (13-2)

Is Kouts getting tired? Look at the point totals in the last three weeks. This is a team that averaged 70 per game all year. Match-ups with high-scoring Morgan Township (Feb. 13) and Hanover Central (Feb. 21) will tell the truth.

4. HANOVER CENTRAL (12-5)

11-27-2002:  60-34 at Lake Station (1-13)
11-29-2002:  49-38 Elmwood Park, Ill. (7-12)
12-6-2002:  46-40 Hebron (7-6)
12-14-2002:  56-62 at Washington Township (8-8)
12-21-2002:  59-45 at Kankakee Valley (3-13)
12-28-2002: 41-40 Gavit (0-17)
1-3-2003:  44-48 Lowell (8-8)

1-7-2003: 62-546 Whiting (6-11)
1-11-2003: 54-58 Boone Grove (6-8)

1-15-3: 48-42 at Beecher, Ill, (8-13)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-23-2003: 77-70 (OT) Hebron (7-5) quarterfinals
1-25-2003: 60-59 Morgan Township (9-6) semifinals
1-25-2003: 67-98 Wheeler (13-2) title

1-31-2003: 60-78 Morgan Township (9-6)
2-1-2003: 61-58 at North Newton (7-8)
2-4-2003: 62-62 Clark (5-10)

2-8-2003: 84-77 LaCrosse (9-6)

Jeff Johnson (13.5 ppg.) hit four three-pointers against LaCrosse and has an unofficial 51, equaling his total of last season. Junior Owen Goff added a career-best 14 and Eddie Roberts recorded seven rebounds and four steals. Hanover will be walking in high cotton the next two weeks on the road at Wheeler (13-2) and Kouts (13-3).

5. HEBRON (7-6)

11-27-2002: 50-63 Kouts (13-3)
12-5-2002: 40-48 at Hanover Central (12-5)
12-13-2002: 63-61 LaCrosse (9-6)
12-17-2002: 45-69 at Griffith (14-1)
12-20-2002: 57-48 Morgan Township (9-6)

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2002: 58-55 Boone Grove (6-8) semifinals
12-28-2002: 57-70 at Kouts (13-3) title

1-11-2003: 48-42 at River Forest (4-11)
1-18-2003: 81-60 Hammond (6-10)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-22-2003: 70-77 (OT) Hanover Central (12-5) quarterfinals

1-31-2003: 53-63 Wheeler (13-2)
2-1-2003: 80-51 Kankakee Valley (2-13)

2-7-2003: 55-42 Washington Township (8-8)

Hebron is better than their record. Look for them to finish over . 500. Junior Ryan Brindley (15.2 ppg.) scored a career-high 25 points against Washington Township. This might have seemed like an upset but Hebron leads the all-time series 86-21. WT never beats Hebron.

NOTES: There were 64 fouls called in Lake Central's 85-50 victory over Andrean Saturday night. Andrean was fouling intentionally at the end just to prolong the game. It was embarrassing for the 2,000 fans in attendance.

Munster is still 47 points ahead of Griffith in the computer ratings.

Merrillville's schedule is rated 40th in the state.

East Chicago's schedule is ranked 35th.

Gavit (0-17) should win their first game of the Season Thursday night against Lake Station.

Sophomore Tommy Finn is getting a lot of time at point guard for Andrean.

When Matty Bush scores four points at Kouts Thursday, he will surpass the career point total of his father, Morgan's head coach Matt Bush, who played from 1972-1974.