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2004-2005 Girls Basketball Poll:Week Eleven A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith(1-27-2005) |
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2004-2005 Girls Basketball Poll:Week Eleven A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith(1-27-2005) |
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CROWN
POINT, IN - (1-27-2005)
As the regular season comes to an end, the
top four teams at the start of the year (Valparaiso, East Chicago, Gary West
Side, Boone Grove and Crown Point) have all had good seasons, but all still have
questions. Oddly, the only meetings between the five
had Boone and Valpo beating Crown Point and East Chicago topping West Side. The
season was a little disappointing because the elite teams did not go
head-to-head. Acknowledging that Boone is a 2A school
having a peak year, there should be a four-team tournament involving the other
four major powers. In this area, a double-header matching Crown Point (or
Highland) against Gary West Side plus Valpo against East Chicago would be about
as good as it can get.
Outside NW Indiana, St. Joseph's (17-1) still seems dominant in 3A but 4A No. 11 Washington was beaten by arch-rival Riley (13-5) in South Bend. In 1A, Argos (13-4) has excelled against a small school schedule while Canterbury (13-4) has lost just 64-52 to 2A No.1 Harding and 58-55 in overtime to 4A Lafayette Jefferson (9-9).
The intrigue locally is in 2A where Winamac (17-1) and North Judson (16-2) could see Bone Grove at the regional level but Judson, with an 11-game winning streak, stands between Boone Grove (19-0) and an undefeated season on Feb. 4.
1.) 4A East Chicago (18-3)
EAST CHICAGO - EC is in the middle of a 12-day layoff before they see Highland (16-3) on Feb. 4.
They did everything they could do schedule-wise, playing 22 games and facing three No.1-ranked teams in Evansville Memorial (13-3), South Bend St. Joseph's and Hamilton Southeastern (16-1). The Cardinals played 10 Illinois squads and lost only to Class AA No.2 (Chicago) Whitney Young (14-1) in overtime. EC playing 10 out-of-state teams says something that is not flattering about Indiana basketball.
EC has also played AA No. 7 (Orland Park, Ill.) Sandburg (20-3) and Class A No, 10 John Hope (13-9) of Chicago. I wish people who looked at NW Indiana teams would not dismiss games against Illinois squads.
But EC does not need a 12-day layoff. That is a blueprint for disaster. The Cardinals will start next year as the No. 1 team statewide and they need to correct that flaw in the schedule. Endless practice with tired players is of little value three months into the season.
2.) 4A Valparaiso (17-1)
VALPARAISO – Valpo played without 6-3 forward Cassie Kerns (16 ppg.) and still ran over Lake Central 58-42, in what may have been their strongest game of the season. There was a school of thought that Valpo would not be able to beat a good team without Kerns. While LC (6-12) is not having a god year, they are competitive. Junior Erica Humes scored 19 and wing Lauren Prow added 13. Valpo is 18 of 22 from the line in the last two games.
With the appropriate accolades for winning without her, Kerns needs to be healthy Friday night when the VHS girls welcome long time rival Crown Point (14-4) if Valo is to triumph.
3.) 4A Gary West Side (15-3)
GARY – The Cougars lost a Saturday game with St. Joseph's (17-1) to a late January snowstorm. It's too late to reschedule it. But they beat Westinghouse 76-55 and rolled past Roosevelt 68-35. On Tuesday night (Jan. 24), the Cougars blasted Gavit with a 30-4 first quarter, wining 72-19. The Side will be 17-3 when they play at McCutcheon on Feb. 4.
Shanee Butler scored 11, but they need her to add outside shooting in the playoffs. I believe that West Side wants to draw East Chicago right off the bat when the state tournament begins in two weeks.
Considering the free throw disparity (40-21 for EC) in the first meeting, I would think that West Side still believes they can beat EC.
PORTER TOWNSHIP – Boone was challenged only by Morgan Township in the PCC tournament, beating South Central 61-37, Morgan 64-57 and 1A No. 10 Washington Township 57-41. Karissa Walter averaged 19.2 per game in the three tourney games as Boone won a record 8th PCC girls crown. The wins were nice but Boone needed more of a challenge than they got.
The Wolves try to go 20-0 for the first time ever when they play injury-weakened Hanover Central (10-7) Thursday night (Jan. 27). Boone appears to be healthy and happy and they will find out exactly where they stand on Thursday, Feb. 4 when they travel down Route 10 to play at North Judson. It's time for the Wolves to gear up into playoff mode. They truly have not accomplished anything yet.
They need to get into a 'Basketball Boot Camp' mode and get ready for four weeks of playoffs. There are no excuses in a single-elimination tournament and the Wolves do not need a first round sectional quarterfinal bye. Boone has a rare opportunity with eight skilled players that will not come around again for a few years.
I wonder how many Boone people will be in Rensselaer Tuesday, Feb. 2 when Judson (15-2) plays at Rensselaer (12-6)?
CROWN POINT – Crown Point looked good bombing Michigan City 73-37 and not as good beating LaPorte 54-49. CP has lost to Valparaiso (17-1), Boone (19-0), Chesterton (9-9) and Merrillville (10-7). CP will be an underdog Friday against Valparaiso, the team that has eliminated them in the last three state tournaments. An upset would be a mixed blessing because there could be a tournament rematch in two weeks. It's more important for CP to play well Friday (Jan. 28) against Valpo than it is to win.
5-10 senior Jill Weiand grabbed 11 rebounds against LaPorte and is playing her best ball of the year and Cassie Pruzin had 24 points, seven assists and five steals against LaPorte. But CP players other than Weiand and Pruzin are going to have to hit 15-20 foot shots to beat Valparaiso. The Lady Bulldogs are overmatched up front but with an ace lead guard a team always has a chance.
6.) 4A Merrillville (10-7)
MERRILLVILLE – You can make an argument (although I don't) that this team is better than Crown Point and Boone Grove. They beat CP decisively and to compare the schedules of Merrillville and Boone Grove is like comparing Tom Brady with Marsha Brady. Merrillville edged Chesterton 42-38 Tuesday (Jan. 25) behind 14 points and 12 rebounds from Brittney Moore plus 11 points and six steals from Melissa Borom. I can't explain the 40-35 loss to LaPorte, although the Slicers have not been beaten badly all year, despite a 6-12 record.
It's important for the Pirates to beat Michigan City, Lowell (11-6) and Crown Point (14-4) down the stretch. I don't sense a lot of unshakable confidence here, but a six-game win streak could carry them through the first round of the playoffs.
7.) 4A Highland (16-3)
HIGHLAND – The Trojans coasted by Wheeler 48-30 and actually made 13 of 20 from the foul line -- much better than their 49% season mark. The Trojans will be challenged down the stretch with games at Griffith (12-6), Lowell (11-5) and a home game with East Chicago (18-3). These are physical games that should prepare the Trojans for the sectional. Highland's losses are to West Side (16-3), Valparaiso (17-1) and Hobart (12-7).
A 19-3 record would be nice, but they don't need to beat East Chicago three days before the state tournament starts. Better to beat them 3 days after the state tournament starts.
8.) 4A Munster (14-5)
MUNSTER – Munster coasted by Morton 63-26 with Jackie Yerga scoring 19 points. The Lady Ponies could go 17-5 if they can escape on the artificial floor at Lowell (11-5) Saturday night. That game has some symbolic meaning because Lowell eliminated Munster on the fake floor (Lowell is undergoing a renovation) last year.
The biggest thing that will happen the rest of the way for Munster is Sunday's state tournament draw. They have as much chance of winning three games in five days here as Michael Vick does of giving passing lessons. But a bye and anybody other than EC or West Side in the first round and the Mustangs could be riding in mid February.
9.) 2A North Judson (15-2)
NORTH JUDSON – Could they beat Lake Central? Possibly. Could they beat Hobart? Maybe. They have won seven in a row and lost only to 3A powers Plymouth (12-2) and Twin Lakes (9-3).
Wins over 3As Tippecanoe Valley, New Prairie, Kankakee Valley and John Glenn. The Jays area a small, three-point shooting team with 50 three-point goals in 13 games. Judson usually plays seven or eight players so they have some depth.
They would compete very well in 3A and that's bad news to 2A No. 1 Winamac (13-0) and 2A No. 5 Boone Grove (15-0), who are still left on the Jays schedule. Winamac is also a sectional rival of North Judson and I'm not sure Winamac can beat North Judson twice.
10.) 2A Bishop Noll (10-7)
HAMMOND – You're going to have to ride with me on this one. Yes, the 2A Warriors are 10-7, but five of the losses are to Class 4A teams. Noll has only played five schools that are 1A or 2A. They are 5-1 against 3A schools with three more 3As to play.
Candace Bishop (15 ppg.) scored 14 as Noll smoked out Morton 55-37. Look out for 5-6 freshman Megan Jagielski who tossed in 12, including three 3s against the Governors. Jagielski also scored 10 against Clark. Another freshman guard Nina Wills, scored nine against Morton and six against Clark.
Up front, can 6-1 shot blocker Megan Diaz and 5-10 Kara Cobb hold their own on the boards in the 2A Sectional 33? This team has played the schedule to go deep into the state tournament. They have paid the cost to be the boss. If they get a good draw Sunday, Noll has a good chance to steal the 2A Wheeler sectional title whether Boone is looking ahead or not.
Outsider
No. 1
2A
Winamac (16-1)
WINAMAC – Winamac took a good loss, 50-46 to No. 10 North Judson (16-2), a non league team they will see again at the sectional. No coach would say it, but that's exactly what you want. Now you can get 'revenge' at sectional time. You can't get revenge against a team you beat two weeks ago.
Folks who scouted the game at Judson said the Chumley sisters, 5-6 Julie Chumley (11.6 ppg.) and 5-6 Jen Chumley (9.1 ppg.) settled for outside shots and that Winamac's full court press did not create the turnovers Winamac was used to. 5-10 sophomore Kara Crawford (14.1 ppg.) scored 17 and was a factor against the smaller front line.
The rematch clearly will be a close game. Winamac hosts South Newton (12-5) next Tuesday and a win virtually guarantees a 19-1 record.
The Warriors play in a 5-team sectional with Judson (16-2), Rensselaer (12-5), Rochester (5-12) and North Newton (1-15). A bye and a semifinal against North Newton is a blueprint for victory.
Outsider No. 2
1A
Washington
Township (13-5)
VALPARAISO - The Senators did not challenge Boone Grove in a 57-41 loss in the PCC championship game, a disappointment after a 4-game winning streak. WT sank just 18 of 35 free throws against Boone in an inexplicable display of inaccuracy. It was only 37-30 in the first minute of the fourth period. This is a good shooting team.
I can't explain the problems of junior Aimee Mishler (11 ppg.), an all-PCC player who was 0-for-15 from the field in a quarterfinal game against Hebron and 7-of-15 from the line against Boone Grove. The 5-5 guard might be the premier Class 1A player in this region and 6-foot center Alisha Polite could not get the ball in the low post against the quick Boone defense. She sank three, three-point shots but you can't live with 3s deep in the state tournament.
The Senators can't let this loss get them down. WT is through with Boone Grove and the Senators are 10-1 against Class 1A teams.
The draw is not as crucial for Washington as it is for teams in 5-team sectionals. The Senators should be able to win three games in five days, even though they didn't do it last week.
Outsider
No. 3
LOWELL – Still anonymous, Lowell has won nine of their last 11, and is alive and well in the final 10 days of the season.
They have played 11 games decided by 10 points or less and are 7-4 in those games. The Devils have slashed and crashed, earning over 400 free throws, an insane total for 16 games.
Julie Swisher scored 14 in a 48-20 win over Whiting. The 5-5 junior has 32 three-point baskets. Junior Ashley Cosentino is 75% from the foul line and sophomore Kelly Johnson is over 80%. Lowell is 100-of-143 (69.9%) in their last six games.
There is a concern about this team down the stretch because they will not get any breaks. In the last 10 days of the season, the Devils will play four games against winning opponents (Highland, Munster, Merrillville and Hammond). That's not the way to get ready for the state tournament with a short bench. Lowell must get a bye in the East Chicago sectional to have any chance at all because a Tuesday, Feb. 8 quarterfinal game would be Lowell's fifth game in 13 games.