Boys Top-10 Poll

Northwest Indiana

(2-20-2003)

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

1. East Chicago (13-5)

East Chicago Thanksgiving Tournament
11-29-2002: 70-53 Lew Wallace (9-8)
11-30-2002: 58-60 (OT) Gary Roosevelt (17-1) 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 (7-10)
12-13-2002: 60-55 at Crown Point (9-9)
12-20-2002:  66-64 at Lake Central (12-6)
12-21-2002:  75-71 at (Indianapolis) Arlington (11-7)
1-4-2003:  56-53 Mount Carroll, IL (16-8)

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

1-18-2003: 57-58 Elkhart Central (15-3)

1-21-2003: 73-56 at Hammond (6-10)
1-24-2003: 61-62 at Gary Roosevelt (17-1)

1-30-2003: 66-58 Gary West Side (5-11)
2-4-2003: 49-47 at Wirt (7-8)

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

2-13-2003: 88-75 Lew Wallace (7-9)

A career-high 29 for Rodney Wash and a career-high 25 for Willie Frazier against East Chicago. The Cardinals have played the schedule to go deep into the state tournament.

2. Gary Roosevelt (17-1)

East Chicago Thanksgiving Tournament
11-29-2002: 63-40 Portage (6-12)
11-30-2002: 60-58 (OT) East Chicago (13-5) title

12-2-2002: 69-59 Valparaiso (14-3)
12-12-2002: 91-73 at Lew Wallace (7-9)
12-18-2002: 67-65 at Andrean (8-10)
12-21-2002: 67-57 Merrillville (9-9)

Gary Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 71-67 West Side (5-11)
12-28-2002: 83-72 Lew Wallace (7-9)

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

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 (13-5)
1-25-2003: 81-63 at (South Bend) Washington (6-11)

1-31-2003: 55-48 Wirt (7-8)
2-4-2003: 100-66 Hammond (7-12)

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

2-13-3: 63-62 Lake Central (11-6)

They were lucky to beat LC. What happens to Roosevelt so they can't play four strong quarters? 20-of-25 from the line is a good Velt sign. 53-of-70 in the last three games is even better. the draw comes out next week and they want Griffith.

3. Munster (16-1)

11-29-2002: 66-37 at Highland (12-7)
11-30-2002: 53-50 at Merrillville (9-9)
12-2-2002:  73-49 Andrean (8-10)
12-6-2002:  76-61 Frankfort (11-7) at the Hammond Civic Center
12-13-2002:  60-47 Hammond (7-12)
12-14-2002:  78-58 Lake Central (12-6)
12-21-2002: 57-55 at Chesterton (13-3)

Highland Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 68-55 Crown Point (9-9)
12-28-2002: 52-43 at Highland (12-7) title

1-4-2003: 66-60 Portage (7-12)

1-11-2003: 70-56 Lowell (10-9)

1-18-2003: 86-49 at Calumet (2-16)

1-24-2003: 66-28 Gavit (1-18)
1-28-2003: 62-47 at Hammond (7-12)

2-1-2003: 46-53 at Griffith (16-1)
2-2-2003: 82-59 Crown Point (9-9)

2-8-2003: 72-47 Hobart (5-13)

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.

4. LaPorte (13-5)

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 (5-13)
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.

5. Valparaiso (13-3)

11-27-2002: 73-36 at Boone Grove (7-9)
12-3-2002: 59-69 at Gary Roosevelt (17-1)
12-14-2002: 84-56 Elkhart Memorial (1-16)
12-20-2002: 55-44 at Chesterton (13-5)
12-21-2002: 69-57 (SB) Clay (10-9)

Michigan City Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 71-60 LaPorte (13-5)
12-28-2002: 56-50 Portage (7-10)

1-4-2003: 46-44 at Penn (11-7)

1-10-2003: 74-46 at Kankakee Valley (2-15)
1-11-2003: 58-51 Michigan City (7-10)

1-17-2003: 50-56 at Crown Point (9-9)
1-18-2003: 52-38 Morgan Township (10-7)

1-25-2003: 60-78 at LaPorte (13-5)

1-31-2003: 58-49 at Hobart (5-13)

2-6-2003: 67-66 (2 OTs) Portage (7-10)
2-8-2003: 70-53 Lafayette Jefferson (15-3)

2-13-2003: 61-59 at Merrillville (9-9)

The Vikings needed some breaks to beat Merrillville but the W-L record here is amazing for a team with no experience starting the year. The Vikings end up second in the DAC with Mike Hills (11.9 ppg.), Brian McMillan (11.1 ppg.) and Quantrell Blake (11.1 ppg.) leading the way.

6. MERRILLVILLE (9-9)

11-29-2002: 64-49 Highland (12-7)
11-30-2002: 50-53 Munster (19-1)
12-14-2002: 61-58 Andrean (9-10)
12-20-2002: 66-52 at Michigan City (7-10)
12-21-2002: 57-67 at Gary Roosevelt (17-1)

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

1-3-2003: 66-78 at Frankfort (11-7)
1-4-2003: 44-47 at Griffith (17-2)

1-11-2003: 53-43 Crown Point (9-9)

1-17-2003: 76-70 at LaPorte (13-5)
1-18-2003: 65-64 at Lake Central (12-6)

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

1-31-2003: 62-74 at Portage (7-12)
2-1-2003: 64-43 Boone Grove (6-8)

2-7-2003: 60-63 Chesterton (13-5)

2-13-2003: 59-61 Valparaiso (14-3)

Another loss after leading in the late going. The Pirates have blown big leads and lost three of their last four games. This team is still very skilled. To have teams like Highland and Wheeler rated ahead of Merrillville is ridiculous.

7. Chesterton (13-5)

11-26-2002: 78-24 at River Forest (5-11)
12-7-2002: 49-47 Wheeler (16-2)
12-14-2002: 73-66 at (SB) Clay (10-9)
12-20-2002: 44-55 Valparaiso (14-3)
12-21-2002: 55-57 Munster (19-1)

Huntington Tournament
12-28-2002: 80-34 Calumet (3-15)
12-28-2002: 52-45 at Huntington North (7-10) title

1-4-2003: 62-57 at Mishawaka (8-10)
1-10-2003: 71-65 Lake Central (12-6)
1-11-2003: 73-42 at Hobart (5-13)

1-18-2003: 56-50 Highland (12-7)

1-21-2003: 84-73 Andrean (9-10)
1-25-2003: 73-59 at Portage (7-12)

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

2-7-2003: 63-60 at Merrillville (9-9)
2-8-2003: 77-84 (South Bend) Riley (17-2)

2-13-2003: 63-68 LaPorte ( 13-5)
2-18-2003: 37-46 Michigan City (7-10)

Chesterton has hit the skids and only 37 points against Michigan City is a shock. Matt Campbell (17.9 ppg.), Tom Radtke (13.3 ppg) and Mike Yagelski (13.1 ppg.) haven't gone south scoring-wise but this is not time for an extended losing streak.

8. Lake Central (11-6)

11-27-2002:  75-41 Lowell (10-9)
11-30-2002:  86-85 at Crown Point (9-9)
12-6-2002:  87-70 Kankakee Valley (2-15)
12-13-2002:  74-47 at Portage (7-12)
12-14-2002:  58-78 at Munster (19-1)
12-20-2002:  64-66 East Chicago (13-5)

Benton Central Holiday Tournament
12-28-2002: 49-57 Carmel (10-7)
12-28-2002: 70-58 Logansport (4-14) 3rd place

1-4-2003: 57-56 at LaPorte (13-5)

1-11-2003: 65-71 Chesterton (13-5)

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

1-24-2003: 94-43 Calumet (3-14)

1-31-2003: 47-38 at Morton (10-8)

2-1-2003: 56-49 at Hobart (5-13)

2-8-2003: 85-50 Andrean (9-10)

2-13-2003: 62-63 at Gary Roosevelt (17-1)

Lake Central played well enough to win at Gary Roosevelt. This team is on the move and it wouldn't be a surprise if they sweep their last three games.

9. Griffith (15-2)

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

1-24-2003: 73-60 at Hobart (5-13)
1-25-2003: 70-50 at Hammond (6-12)
1-28-2003: 43-36 at Clark (5-11)

2-1-2003: 53-46 Munster (19-1)

2-5-2003: 30-33 Morton (10-8)
2-8-2003: 58-33 at Lowell (10-9)

2-18-2003: 50-27 Gavit (1-17)

Griffith is fighting a weak schedule. When the inside-outside offense of Kenny Harris and Cliff Wilson is on, they are a ball of fire. Improved play off the bench adds quickness but they need to beat Munster. The Panthers still need a confidence booster. They can't be struggling to beat Lowell if they're going to beat Gary Roosevelt at the sectional.

10. CROWN POINT (9-9)

11-27-2002: 74-46 at Gavit (1-17)
11-30-2002: 85-86 Lake Central (12-6)
12-5-2002: 76-41 at Clark (5-11)
12-6-2002: 56-54 (West Lafayette) Harrison (10-7)
12-13-2002: 59-40 at Griffith (17-2)
12-14-2002: 55-60 East Chicago (13-5)
12-20-2002: 79-68 Portage (7-12)

Highland Holiday Tournament
12-27-2002: 55-68 Munster (19-1)
12-28-2002: 69-33 Kankakee Valley (2-16)

1-3-2003: 92-43 Calumet (3-15)

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

1-17-2003: 56-50 Valparaiso (14-3)
1-18-2003: 46-70 at (SB) Adams (13-5)

1-25-2003: 57-59 at Michigan City (7-10)

1-31-2003: 59-73 at Chesterton (13-5)
2-1-2003: 59-83 at Munster (19-1)

2-7-2003: 51-82 LaPorte (13-5)

2-13-2003: 54-43 at Hobart (5-13)

CP is regrouping after an 0-4 road trip dropped them to .500. Chad Pruzin has 13 3-pointers in his last three games. CP has 116 3-pointers in 18 games. All the shooters are still there and you can't write them off.

SMALL SCHOOLS

1. Wheeler (16-2)

11-29-2002: 87-54 River Forest (5-12)
12-3-2002: 104-38 Lake Station (1-17)
12-5-2002: 47-49 at Chesterton (13-5)
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 (5-13) title

1-14-2003: 54-74 Griffith (16-3)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-22-2003: 70-48 LaCrosse (10-7) quarterfinals
1-23-2003: 63-59 Kouts (14-3) semifinals
1-14-2003: 98-67 Hanover Central (12-6) title

1-31-2003: 63-53 at Hebron (8-8)
2-1-2003: 85-46 North Judson (3-15)

2-8-2003: 72-53 Kouts (14-3)

2-13-2003: 85-56 Hanover Central (12-6)
2-18-2003: 74-66 Portage (6-12)

Wheeler wins the PCC and then rolls over another DAC foe. Todd Schafer (30.5 ppg.) and the Bearcats could go undefeated in PCC play for the first time in 19 years if they win at Washington Township next week. Schafer is the first player ever in Porter County to score 30 or more, six games in a row. Since Matt McDonald (14.5 ppg.) has become eligible, Wheeler is undefeated.

2. Morgan Township (10-7)

11-29-2002:  48-66 at Knox (14-4)
12-6-2002:  68-56 North Judson (3-15)
12-13-2002:  54-59 Wheeler (16-2)
12-14-2002: 63-50 Culver Military (3-13)
12-17-2002: 51-42 Whiting (6-11)
12-21-2002: 48-57 at Hebron (8-8)

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2002: 58-65 at Kouts (14-3)
12-28-2002: 69-58 Boone Grove (7-9) 3rd place

1-11-2003: 73-47 Marquette (3-16)

1-17-2003: 70-60 at LaCrosse (10-6)
1-18-2003: 38-52 at Valparaiso (14-3)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-23-2003: 66-48 at Boone Grove (7-9) quarterfinals
1-25-2003: 59-60 Hanover Central (12-6) semifinals

1-31-2003: 78-60 at Hanover Central (12-6)
2-1-2003: 70-57 South Central (10-7)

2-8-2003: 52-49 Boone Grove (7-9)

Matty Bush (22.1 ppg.) and Cory Molchan (14.9 ppg.) continue to supply the points and Nate McGinley (10.0 ppg.) is still coming. Morgan almost certainly will sweep their final three games.

3. Kouts (14-3)

11-27-2002: 87-39 at West Central (4-12)
11-29-2002: 63-50 at Hebron (8-8)
12-6-2002: 72-55 North Newton (7-9)
12-13-2002: 63-58 at South Central (10-7)
12-14-2002: 101-72 Kankakee Valley (3-15)
12-20-2002: 76-46 Westville (8-10)

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2002: 65-58 Morgan Township (10-7)
12-28-2002: 70-57 Hebron (8-8)

1-10-2003: 60-45 North Judson (2-14)
1-11-2003: 88-53 Oregon-Davis (1-16)

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 (8-9)
1-23-2003: 59-63 Wheeler (16-2) semifinals

2-1-2003: 62-67 at Boone Grove (7-9)

2-8-2003: 53-72 at Wheeler (16-2)

2-13-2003: 64-63 Morgan Township (10-7)

Kouts desperately needed the win over Morgan. Ricky Hise (24.2 ppg.) and Adam Pendowski (16.4 ppg.) still seem capable of fueling a long run in the Post-season. In 151 games with Morgan, Kouts is 77-74.

4. HANOVER CENTRAL (12-6)

11-27-2002:  60-34 at Lake Station (1-16)
11-29-2002:  49-38 Elmwood Park, Ill. (12-15)
12-6-2002:  46-40 Hebron (8-8)
12-14-2002:  56-62 at Washington Township (8-9)
12-21-2002:  59-45 at Kankakee Valley (3-15)
12-28-2002: 41-40 Gavit (1-17)
1-3-2003:  44-48 Lowell (10-9)

1-7-2003: 62-546 Whiting (6-12)
1-11-2003: 54-58 Boone Grove (7-9)

1-15-3: 48-42 at Beecher, Ill, (12-14)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-23-2003: 77-70 (OT) Hebron (8-8) quarterfinals
1-25-2003: 60-59 Morgan Township (10-7) semifinals
1-25-2003: 67-98 Wheeler (16-2) title

1-31-2003: 60-78 Morgan Township (10-7)
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)

2-13-2003: 56-85 at Wheeler (16-2)

Wheeler has beaten Hanover eight times in a row and that has to stop if the Cats are to survive sectional play. Jeff Johnson (13.9 ppg.) has run his three-point total to 53, tops in the PCC. Hanover needs an upset at Kouts to close the regular season with 15 victories.

5. HEBRON (8-8)

11-27-2002: 50-63 Kouts (14-3)
12-5-2002: 40-48 at Hanover Central (12-6)
12-13-2002: 63-61 LaCrosse (10-7)
12-17-2002: 45-69 at Griffith (16-2)
12-20-2002: 57-48 Morgan Township (10-7)

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2002: 58-55 Boone Grove (7-9) semifinals
12-28-2002: 57-70 at Kouts (14-3) title

1-11-2003: 48-42 at River Forest (6-12)
1-18-2003: 81-60 Hammond (6-12)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-22-2003: 70-77 (OT) Hanover Central (12-6) quarterfinals

1-31-2003: 53-63 Wheeler (16-2)
2-1-2003: 80-51 Kankakee Valley (2-15)

2-7-2003: 55-42 Washington Township (8-9)

2-12-2003: 53-56 (OT) at Boone Grove (7-9)
2-13-2003: 40-63 at Knox (14-4)
2-19-2003: 45-40 at Marquette (3-16)

Hebron will sweep their final three games. Junior Ryan Brindley (15.0 ppg.) and senior Ryan Ragland (18.9 ppg.) continue to score. This is another team that takes off with a good draw next week. The loss to Boone reversed an earlier win in the PCC tourney. That is the longest running series in this part of the state. In 180 meetings, Hebron has beaten Boone 107 times.

NOTES: Lowell had a very strong run in the LAC tournament coming within six points of upsetting Griffith. Oregon-Davis broke a three-year losing streak with a 59-50 win over Marquette. O-D had lost 56 games in a row. The longest losing streak presently in Indiana is held by North White, who has lost 42 in a row.

There is an outside chance that all eight teams in the Porter County Conference (PCC) could finish at .500 or better, an unprecedented freak of nature.

Going into the final 10 days of the season, Kouts, Wheeler and Hanover have clinched winning records and LaCrosse (10-6) cannot possibly finish below .500. Morgan (10-7) has only to beat Oregon-Davis (1-17) to clinch a winning season.

Hebron is 8-8 with Whiting (6-11), South Central (10-7) and North Newton (7-9) left. Washington Township is 8-9 and has Wheeler (16-2) and Morgan (10-7) still to play while Boone (7-9) with Chesterton (13-5), LaCrosse and Lake Central (12-6) still to go.

This is the same league where five teams finished in a five-way tie for first last year.