Boys Top-10 Poll

Northwest Indiana

(2-26-2003)

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

1. East Chicago (14-5)

East Chicago Thanksgiving Tournament
11-29-2: 70-53 Lew Wallace (9-8)
11-30-2: 58-60 (OT) Gary Roosevelt (18-1) title

12-5-2: 62-63 (OT) (South Bend) Clay (10-9)
12-6-2: 72-81 at (South Bend) Riley (17-2)
12-13-2: 64-35 Michigan City (7-10)
12-13-2: 60-55 at Crown Point (9-9)
12-20-2:   66-64 at Lake Central (12-7)
12-21-2:   75-71 at (Indianapolis) Arlington (12-7)
1-4-3:    56-53 Mount Carroll, Ill. (16-8)
1-10-3:   58-46 (Indianapolis) Manual (2-15)
1-11-3:    69-53 Mishawaka (8-13)
1-18-3:   57-58 Elkhart Central (17-3)
1-21-3: 73-56 at Hammond (6-12)
1-24-3: 61-62 at Gary Roosevelt   (18-1)
1-30-3: 66-58 Gary West Side (7-12)
2-5-3:   49-47 at Wirt (9-8)
2-12-3: 88-59 (Indy) Broad Ripple (3-14)
2-13-3: 88-75 Lew Wallace (8-9)
2-20-3: 49-42 Merrillville (9-10)

EC's resume is complete, with wins over Lake Central, Merrillville and all the Gary schools except Roosevelt, who they should've beaten. The moment of truth is here. EC plays 5th-ranked Munster (20-1) Tuesday night at the Gary West Side Sectional.

2. Gary Roosevelt (18-1)

East Chicago Thanksgiving Tournament
11-29-2: 63-40 Portage (7-12)
11-30-2: 60-58 (OT) East Chicago (14-5) title

12-2-2: 69-59 Valparaiso (16-3)
12-12-2: 91-73 at Lew Wallace (8-9)
12-18-2: 67-65 at Andrean (9-10)
12-21-2: 67-57 Merrillville (9-10)

Gary Holiday Tournament
12-27-2: 71-67 West Side (7-12)
12-28-2: 83-72 Lew Wallace (8-9) title
1-11-3: 37-45 (Chicago) Morgan Park (12-13)
1-16-3: 64-58 Gary West Side (7-12)
1-18-3: 77-65 (Michigan) Buena Vista
1-24-3: 62-61 East Chicago (14-5)
1-25-3: 81-63 at (South Bend) Washington (8-12)
1-31-3: 55-48 Wirt (9-8)
2-5-3: 100-66 Hammond (7-12)
2-12-3: 50-38 at Bishop Noll (11-10)
2-13-3: 63-62 Lake Central (12-7)
2-20-3: 53-41 at Crown Point (9-10)

Why are Roosevelt's games so close? Still, they've beaten Valpo, EC, CP, Wirt and Merrillville. All the heavy hitters except Musnter, who they can't play. I think the bye helps them. They don't need three sectional games. I think Velt will beat Griffith at the Calumet Sectional. Their problem may be the next night when they'll have to calm down and win again.

3. Munster (20-1)

11-29-2: 66-37 at Highland (12-8)
11-30-2: 53-50 at Merrillville (9-10)
12-2-2:    73-49 Andrean (9-10)
12-6-2:   76-61 Frankfort (12-7) at the Hammond Civic Center
12-13:    60-47 Hammond (7-12)
12-14:    78-58 Lake Central (12-7)
12-21-2: 57-55 at Chesterton (15-5)

Highland Holiday Tournament
12-27-2:   68-55 Crown Point (9-10)
12-28-2:    52-43 at Highland (13-8) title
1-4-3:       66-60 Portage (7-12)
1-11-3:      70-56 Lowell (10-11)
1-18-3;     86-49 at Calumet (3-16)
1-24-3: 66-28 Gavit (1-18)
1-28-3: 62-47 at Hammond (7-12)
2-1-3: 46-53 at Griffith (17-3)
2-2-3: 82-59 Crown Point (9-10)
2-9-3:   72-47 Hobart (5-14)

Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) Tournament
2-13-3:   54-52 Andrean (9-10)
2-18-3:    61-35 Morton (10-8) quarterfinals
2-20-3:    56-41 Highland (12-7) semifinals
2-21-3:    47-40 Griffith (17-3) title

A school-record 20 wins for Munster. The patient style they used to beat Griffith is what they'll need against East Chicago. the Mustangs versatility will be useless against an even more versatile EC squad. This team is at a crossroads.

4. LaPorte (14-5)

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

Michigan City Holiday Tournament
12-27-2: 60-71 Valparaiso (12-3)
12-28-2: 78-67 Michigan City (6-10) 3rd place

1-3-3: 71-74 at Clay (11-10)
1-4-3: 56-57 Lake Central (12-6)
1-11-3: 83-77 (OT) at Portage (7-12)
1-17-3: 70-76 Merrillville (9-9)
1-18-3:   90-50 Elkhart Memorial (1-16)
1-25-3:   78-60 Valparaiso (14-3)
1-31-3: 73-49 Michigan City (6-10)
2-1-3:   73-57 at Plymouth (6-13)
2-7-3:   82-51 at Crown Point (9-9)
2-13-3: 68-63 at Chesterton (13-5)
2-16-3: 86-56 Kankakee Valley (2-15)
2-20-3: 80-47 at (SB) St. Joseph's (5-14)

The preseason to win the DAC is the DAC champ. The Slicers are DAC champs for the first time in 12 years. LaPorte is averaging 75 points per game. The only fear is that they've peaked too soon as EC's girls did.

5. Valparaiso (16-3)

11-27-2: 73-36 at Boone Grove (8-10)
12-3-2: 59-69 at Gary Roosevelt (17-1)
12-14-2: 84-56 Elkhart Memorial (1-16)
12-20-2: 55-44 at Chesterton (15-5)
12-21-2: 69-57 (SB) Clay (10-9)

Michigan City Holiday Tournament
12-27-2: 71-60 LaPorte (14-5)
12-28-2: 78-57 Michigan City (7-12)

1-4-3: 46-44 at Penn (13-7)
1-10-3: 74-46 at Kankakee Valley (3-17)
1-11-3: 58-51 Michigan City (7-12)
1-17-3: 50-56 at Crown Point (9-10)
1-18-3: 52-38 Morgan Township (12-7)
1-25-3: 60-78 at LaPorte (14-5)
1-31-3: 58-49 at Hobart (5-14)
2-6-3: 67-66 (2 OTs) Portage (7-12)
2-8-3: 70-53 Lafayette Jefferson (15-4)
2-13-3: 61-59 at Merrillville (9-10)
2-20-3: 57-40 at South Central (10-10)
2-21-3: 52-49 Lake Central (12-7)

Valparaiso didn't really want to draw Merrillville again but the balanced attack of Brian McMillan (11.1 ppg.), Mike Hills (11.2 ppg.) and Quantrell Blake (10.6 ppg.) is as ready as they're going to be. The 16 victories is overachieving.

6. MERRILLVILLE (9-10)

11-29-2: 64-49 Highland (12-7)
11-30-2: 50-53 Munster (20-1)
12-14-2; 61-58 Andrean (9-10)
12-20-2: 66-52 at Michigan City (7-12)
12-21-2: 57-67 at Gary Roosevelt (18-1)

Hamilton Tournament
12-27-2: 41-62 at Hamilton Southeastern (17-2)
12-28-2: 58-50 Franklin (2-17)

1-3-3:    66-78 at Frankfort (11-7)
1-4-3:    44-47 at Griffith (17-3)
1-11-3:   53-43 Crown Point (9-10)
1-17-3: 76-70 at LaPorte (14-5)
1-18-3:   65-64 at Lake Central (12-7)
1-24-3: 30-52 (South Bend ) Adams (15-6)
1-25-3: 62-52 Hobart (6-13)
1-31-3: 62-74 at Portage (7-12)
2-1-3:   64-43 Boone Grove (8-10)
2-7-3:   60-63 Chesterton (14-5)
2-13-3: 59-61 Valparaiso (16-3)
2-20-3: 41-48 at East Chicago (14-5)

Merrillville has lost three in a row, all close games to winning teams. But the Pirates aren't playing poorly. Their draw is very tough, leading off with host Valparaiso. But Merrillville has plenty of ability and, now that they are healthy, they have as good a chance as anyone next week.

7. Chesterton (15-5)

11-26-2: 78-24 at River Forest (6-13)
12-7-2:   49-47 Wheeler (17-2)
12-14-2:    73-66 at (SB) Clay (10-9)
12-20-2:    44-55   Valparaiso (16-3)
12-21-2:   55-57 Munster (20-1)

Huntington Tournament
12-28-2: 80-34 Calumet (3-15)
12-28-2: 52-45 at Huntington North (7-12) title

1-4-3: 62-57 at Mishawaka (8-10)
1-10-3: 71-65 Lake Central (12-6)
1-11-3: 73-42 at Hobart (6-13)
1-18-3: 56-50 Highland   (12-8)
1-21-3: 84-73   Andrean (9-10)
1-25-3: 73-59 at Portage (7-12)
1-31-3: 73-59 Crown Point (9-10)
2-7-3:   63-60 at Merrillville (9-10)
2-8-3:    77-84 (South Bend) Riley (17-3)
2-13-3: 63-68 LaPorte (14-5)
2-18-3: 37-46 Michigan City (7-12)
2-20-3: 62-53 at Boone Grove (8-10)
2-25-3: 78-55 Calumet (3-16)

Chesterton seems ready for the state tournament with Matt Campbell (17 ppg.), Mike Yagelski (12.8 ppg.) and Tom Radtke (12.8 ppg.) all healthy. Radtke has slumped as a scorer and he must rebound against much-shorter Portage in the Valpo sectional quarterfinals.

8. Lake Central (12-7)

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

Benton Central Holiday Tournament
12-28-2: 49-57 Carmel (12-7)
12-28-2: 70-58 Logansport (4-14) 3rd place

1-4-3:   57-56 at LaPorte (14-5)
1-11-3: 65-71 Chesterton (14-5)
1-16-3: 73-28 Gavit (1-18)
1-18-3: 64-65 Merrillville (9-10)
1-24-3: 94-43 Calumet (3-16)
1-31-3: 47-38 at Morton (11-8)
2-1-3:   56-49 at Hobart (5-14)
2-8-3:   85-50 Andrean (9-10)
2-13-3: 62-63 at Gary Roosevelt (18-1)
2-21-3: 49-52 at Valparaiso (16-3)
2-25-3: 71-43 Highland (12-8)

Sophomore Kevin Parkinson scored a career-high 16 in the rout of Highland but that won't help in the Gary sectional. LC's shooting is their strength which gives them a chance in a tough sectional.

9. Griffith (16-3)

12-5-2:   64-28 at Gavit (1-17)
12-13-2:   40-59 Crown Point (9-10)
12-16-2:   69-45 Hebron (9-9)
12-21-2:   50-45 Andrean (9-10)
12-21-2: 72-48 at Peru (3-16)
1-4-3: 47-44 Merrillville (9-10)
1-9-3: 67-41 Lake Station (1-18)
1-11-3: 52-25 at Whiting (7-12)
1-15-3: 74-54 at Wheeler (17-2)
1-18-3: 63-43 Highland (12-8)
1-24-3: 73-60 at Hobart (6-13)
1-25-3: 70-50 at Hammond (7-12)
1-28-3: 43-36 at Clark (6-11)
2-1-3:   53-46 Munster (20-1)
2-6-3:   30-33 Morton (11-8)
2-8-3:   58-33 at Lowell (10-11)

Lake Athletic Conference Tournament
2-18-3: 50-27 Gavit (1-18) quarterfinals
2-20-3: 60-54 Lowell (10-11) semifinals
2-21-3: 40-47 Munster (20-1) championship

2-25-3: 56-50 Bishop Noll (11-10)

Griffith got by Bishop Noll after the loss to Munster, which was expected. Griffith struggles mightily against anybody of quality. I can't see the Panthers getting beyond top-ranked Gary Roosevelt on March 8.

10. CROWN POINT (9-9)

11-27-2: 74-46 at Gavit (1-18)
11-30-2: 85-86 Lake Central (12-7)
12-5-2: 76-41 at Clark (5-14)
12-6-2: 56-54 (West Lafayette) Harrison (11-7)
12-13-2: 59-40 at Griffith (17-2)
12-14-2: 55-60 East Chicago (14-5)
12-20-2: 79-68 Portage (7-12)

Highland Holiday Tournament
12-27-2: 55-68 Munster (20-1)
12-28-2: 69-33 Kankakee Valley (3-17)

1-3-3:      92-43 Calumet (3-17)
1-11-3:   43-53 at Merrillville (9-10)
1-17-3:    56-50 Valparaiso (16-3)
1-18-3:    46-70 at (SB) Adams (13-6)
1-25-3:    57-59 at Michigan City (7-12)
1-31-3:    59-73 at Chesterton (13-6)
2-1-3:     59-83 at Munster (20-1)
2-7-3:     51-82 LaPorte (14-5)
2-13-3:    54-43 at Hobart (6-13)
2-21-3:   41-53 Gary Roosevelt (18-1)

I would again forget the record here. Crown Point was competitive with top-ranked Roosevelt which was important for them. CP got a bye and a Hobart team they haven't lost to in a decade. The Bulldogs can key on one game at the Valparaiso Sectional. They are in very good shape for a state tournament run.

SMALL SCHOOLS

1. Wheeler (17-2)

11-29-2: 87-54 River Forest (5-12)
12-3-2: 104-38 Lake Station (1-17)
12-5-2: 47-49 at Chesterton (14-5)
12-13-2: 59-54 at Morgan Township (11-7)
12-14-2: 79-47 at Marquette (3-17)
12-20-2: 70-50 LaCrosse (10-8)

Wheeler BearCat Invitational Holiday Tournament
12-27-2: 75-24 Lake Station (3-16)
12-28-2: 59-48 Hobart (6-13) title

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

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-22-3:   70-48 LaCrosse (10-8) quarterfinals
1-25-3:   63-59 Kouts (16-3) semifinals
1-25-3:   98-67 Hanover Central (12-7) title

1-31-3: 63-53 at Hebron (9-9)
2-1-3: 85-46 North Judson (3-16)
2-7-3: 72-53 Kouts (16-3)
2-13-3: 85-56 Hanover Central (12-6)
2-18-3: 74-66 Portage (6-13)
2-2-13: 90-59 at Washington Township (8-10)
2-25-3: 55-41 at Lowell (10-11)

Todd Schafer (30.5) was held to a season-low 14 by Lowell but it didn't matter as the BearCats won the 11th straight time. Matt McDonald scored a a career-high 20 against Portage. The Cats then drew Lake Station in the Boone (2A) sectional. Life is good.

2. Morgan Township (12-7)

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

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2: 58-65 at Kouts (14-3)
12-28-2: 69-58 Boone Grove (7-9) 3rd place

1-11-3: 73-47 at Marquette (3-16)
1-17-3: 70-60 at LaCrosse (10-6)
1-18-3: 38-52 at Valparaiso (14-3)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-23-3: 66-48 at Boone Grove (7-9) quarterfinals
1-25-3: 59-60 Hanover Central (12-6) semifinals

1-31-3: 78-60 at Hanover Central (12-6)
2-1-3: 70-57 South Central (10-10)
2-7-3: 52-49 Boone Grove (8-10)
2-13-3: 63-64 at Kouts (16-3)
2-20-3: 85-33 Oregon-Davis (1-19)
2-21-3: 51-47 at Westville (8-11)

Matty Bush (22.7 ppg.) and Cory Molchan (14.8 ppg.) are leading MT down the stretch in a streak of games they should win. The Cherokee's Brian Melton scored a career-high 18 against Oregon-Davis. Morgan drew Hebron in the sectional and that's a problem.

3. Kouts (16-3)

11-27-2:   87-39 at West Central (4-12)
11-29-2:   63-50 at Hebron (9-9)
12-6-2: 72-55 North Newton (10-9)
12-13-2: 63-58 at South Central (10-10)
12-14-2: 101-72 Kankakee Valley (2-17)
12-20-2: 76-46 Westville   (8-11)

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2: 65-58 Morgan Township (12-7)
12-28-2: 70-57 Hebron (9-9)

1-10-3: 60-45 at North Judson (2-16)
1-11-3: 88-53 Oregon-Davis (1-19)
1-17-3: 80-65 at Washington Township (8-10)
1-18-3: 67-64 Rensselaer (11-8)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-22-3:   40-36 Washington Township (8-10)
1-23-3: 59-63 Wheeler (18-2)   semifinals

2-1-3: 62-67 at Boone Grove (8-10)
2-8-3: 53-72 at Wheeler (18-2)
2-13-3: 64-63 Morgan Township (12-7)
2-20-3: 84-70 at Hanover Central (12-8)
2-25-3:   108-59 North White (0-20)

Ricky Hise scored a school-record 50 against North White. Kouts got a tough draw starting with LaCrosse (10-8) in the sectional quarterfinals. They've got to win five times (over winning teams) just to get to the semistate.

4. HANOVER CENTRAL (12-8)

11-27-2:   60-34 at Lake Station (1-16)
11-29-2:   49-38 Elmwood Park, Ill. (12-15)
12-6-2:    46-40 Hebron (9-9)
12-14-2:   56-62 at Washington Township (8-10)
12-21-2:   59-45 at Kankakee Valley (3-17)
12-28-2: 41-40 Gavit (1-17)
1-3-3:     44-48 Lowell (10-11)
1-7-3:   62-546 Whiting (7-12)
1-11-3: 54-58 Boone Grove (8-10)
1-15-3: 48-42 at Beecher, Ill, (12-14)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-23-3: 77-70 (OT) Hebron (9-9) quarterfinals
1-25-3: 60-59 Morgan Township (12-7) semifinals
1-25-3: 67-98 Wheeler (18-2) title

1-31-3: 60-78 Morgan Township (12-7)
2-1-3:    61-58 at North Newton (10-9)
2-4-3:    64-62 Clark (6-12)
2-7-3:   84-77 LaCrosse (10-8)
2-13-3: 56-85 at Wheeler (18-2)
2-21-3: 70-84 at Kouts (16-3)
2-25-3: 64-67 (OT) Morton (11-8)

Aleks Case hit a career-high five three-pointers against Morton. HC sank 11 three-point goals. The Cats played well against Morton. They are vulnerable to a slowdown but there's a lot of depth for a sectional run. They can't overlook North Newton in the Boone Sectional opener.

5. HEBRON (9-9)

11-27-2: 50-63 Kouts (16-3)
12-5-2: 40-48 at Hanover Central (12-8)
12-13-2: 63-61 LaCrosse (10-8)
12-17-3: 45-69 at Griffith (18-2)
12-20-2: 57-48 Morgan Township (12-7)

South County Tournament (at Kouts)
12-27-2: 58-55 Boone Grove (8-10) semifinals
12-28-2: 57-70 at Kouts (164-3) title

1-11-3: 48-42 at River Forest (6-13)
1-18-3: 81-60 Hammond (6-13)

Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament
1-22-3: 70-77 (OT) Hanover Central (12-8) quarterfinals

1-31-3: 53-63 Wheeler (18-2)
2-1-3: 80-51 at Kankakee Valley (3-17)
2-7-2: 55-42 Washington Township (8-10)
2-12-3: 53-56 (OT) at Boone Grove (8-10
2-13-3: 40-63 at Knox (16-4)
2-19-3: 45-40 at Marquette (3-16)
2-21-3: 64-63 (OT) South Central (10-10)
2-25-3: 39-44 at Whiting (7-12)

Hebron gets shocked at Whiting after the news that they drew tough Morgan Township in the sectional. That's a bad sign. It look like Hebron may go out early unless they can regain some confidence in the final game against North Newton.

HOOP NOTES: The blind draw zapped northwest Indiana high school basketball again as powerful East Chicago drew 20-game winner Munster in the opening game of the 4A Gary Sectional. Also, No.1 Roosevelt drew Griffith (18-2) in the semifinals of the Calumet Sectional.

The title games at Gary and Calumet will be very anticlimactic.

No. 1 4A Pike had their first close game of the season, beating No. 2 Lawrence North 74-67 in overtime.

Class 2A No. 1 Cass drew a first round bye at their own sectional. Former superpower Marion is 2-17 this season.

WYIN-TV channel 56 will carry one sectional championship game while Com Cast Cable Channel 3 may carry the Griffith-Roosevelt game Friday night (March 7) from Calumet.