 |
2003-2004 Girls Basketball'Renegade' Poll: Week 5A USA-365.com Special Report(12-17-2003) |
|
|
2003-2004 Girls Basketball'Renegade' Poll: Week 5A USA-365.com Special Report(12-17-2003) |
|
Crown
Point's five-day span where they beat Boone and LC but lost to Valpo speaks to
the balance in the region. Any of 4 teams could actually be No. 1. As the season
moves on, the bigger, stronger teams come to the forefront.
1. Gary West Side (3-1)
West
Side was too strong for Adams 73-47 last week. Ashley Gates scored a career-high
17 last week and 5-11 SOPH Erica Simpson scored a career-high 15. 0nly 4 games
so far. Everyone else has played 8 or more. When you think about who is No. 1,
think about what team breaks their press.
2. East Chicago (8-0)
Dee
Dee Jernigan, a 5-10 guard, averages 17 ppg. in the last 3 games. Kelly Watts
(12.6), a 5-10 wing, has hit for 10 or more MORE in all 8 games. But they hit
5-20 FTs in the 64-38 win against Thornton last week and just 11-25 against Lew
Wallace in a 63-42 victory. A varsity team simply cannot shoot like that.
3. MERRILLVILLE (6-1)
There
is an impression M-Ville is not playing well but the numbers do not show that.
The 62-37 win over Michigan City Tuesday (12-16) was easy. The Pirates are
trying to find balance on offense and time is on their side. They have 2 weeks
off over the holidays to look at what they've done and get better.
4. Valparaiso (9-1)
There is also a feeling that Valpo is not playing at a peak and, again, results are not showing that. Cassie Kerns (13.5 ppg.) was 1 of 4 in double figures during a 58-34 rout of CROWN POINT Tuesday (12-16). VHS is on a 6-game winning streak and they've won the last 3 by 15 0r more.
5. LAKE CENTRAL (6-3)
LC had 4 players with 10 or more in the 60-53 win over Chesterton. LC was 21-40 from the field and 12-15 from the line. The Indians led CP by 10 in the 4th quarter but lost 53-51 last week.
You still can't explain this inside-out team. CP rallied to beat LC and overwhelmed Boone 48-35. CP has lost to Chesterton (5-2), Warsaw (6-1) and Valpo (9-1). They are on line for a good year, but there's no indication they can beat the top teams yet. Warsaw coach Will Weinhorst won his 400th game Wednesday night. CP's Tom May is at 397-140 with CP hosting MC Friday night.
7. Chesterton (5-2)
Chesterton has lost 2 of 3 and the 60-53 loss to Lake Central is a disappointment. 6-foot center Stephanie Boyle (14.5 ppg.) put together back-to-back 20 point games, but the Trojans couldn't pull off home win chances against Merrillville (6-1) and LC (5-3). It's a long league season. They don't seem to be playing badly at all.
8. Highland (9-3)
The 4-game sweep of the LAC tourney was impressive. The shooting is still poor but the tall, aggressive defense is too strong for most teams. The 26-point loss to Valparaiso (9-1) doesn't look bad. The Trojans beat Wheeler 43-38 last month and 39-22 this month.
Still a very talented team in an area that has few. Katie Giannini scored a season-high 13 in the 59ers' 59-38 victory over Kankakee Valley. They need a sweep in the 4-team, Wheeler tournament Dec. 26-27 and they could get it.
Boone is right on line despite a 13-point loss to CP. Karissa Walter (17.5 ppg.) scored 23 with a career-high 3 three-pt. goals in Tuesday's 61-46 win at Kouts. Boone must find outside shooting. Walter scored 23 with 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 8 steals. Freshman 5-5 guard Cortney Flanigan (8.8 ppg.) is averaging 13.4 over the last 3 games. Boone must win the South County Tournament in Hebron Dec. 22-23 against the arch-rival Hawks.
Could
be good.....
Wheeler (8-3)
Becca (13.8 ppg.,) and Alyse Bruszeweski (10.5) almost played on an LAC championship team. The BearCats won 3 0f 4. The guard play is a worry after Highland shut them down. NEXT up is Hammond, Hobart and Andrean in the Cats own holiday Tournament. Wheeler's boys and girls are not finding the LAC Blue division to be any tougher than the Porter County Conference where they came from..
Coming up.......
BIG 8 SHOOTOUT at McCUTCHE0N
Jan.
21 Lafayette Jeff vs. Gary West Side, 4:00 pm
Jan. 22 Chesterton vs. Floyd Central, 4:00 pm
Jan. 23 Harrison (West Lafayette) vs. Homestead, 5:30 pm
Jan. 24 Cambridge City at McCutcheon, 5:30 pm