2003-2004 Girls Basketball  'Renegade' Poll: Week 6 A USA-365.com Special Report (12-24-2003)

The loss by East Chicago indicates where we are. No one has emerged as a great team and everybody has taken a loss. Front runners ran with East Chicago and may stay there because they don't know anything about Fenwick. In NW Indiana, media has a tendency to define teams by games against other 'region' teams. That's why they are consistently fooled.

1.  Gary West Side (4-1)

West Side buried Munster 72-43 behind a fullcourt press that made it 27-5 at the quarter. The Cougars eliminate much of the competition early with defensive pressure. A good zone defense may stop them, but East Chicago doesn't have that. The bulk of the Cougars schedule is still ahead. West Side at East Chicago is Jan. 8.

The Cardinals needed a loss and they got a good one. If you must get beat (and championship teams need to) you want a nonconference defeat against a great team. Fenwick, the Class AA two time state finalist, buried EC 67-46 in the final game of the multi-state EC Classic last week. The Cardinals were very lame against Fenwick's half court trap and EC was poor (13 of 27) from the foul line. But Fenwick (9-1) is the best team EC will see in Indiana this year.   Everybody needs to be humbled. Again, EC vs. West Side is Jan. 8.

3.  MERRILLVILLE (8-1)

Merrillville coasted past Lake Central 50-32 last Friday (Dec. 19) and they had good balance. No one had more than 10 shots. Brittany Moore got 12 rebounds. Julie DeMuth (16) and Marshay Jolly (10) both scored in double figures. The Pirates will deal with the full court pressure and three-point shooting of Crown Point on the road on Jan. 2.

4. Valparaiso (10-1)

Valparaiso's 7th consecutive win was a coast past LaPorte 55-22. 6-3 Cassie Kerns (13.7 ppg.) scored 16. Valpo has beaten LaPorte 25 times in a row. Guard Katie Ramirez scored a career-high 11 against LaPorte and soph forward Erica Humes, a 6-1 forward, scored a career-high 14 in a 58-34 win over Crown Point. Against the top 3 teams, they have a questionable backcourt.

5.  LAKE CENTRAL  (5-4)

LC got their shot against powerful Merrillville and got smoked 50-32. LC shot 11 of 38 against the larger Pirates and no one scored in double figures. Hitting 8 of 16 from the line only made it worse. The bottom six teams in the DAC are a combined 0-11 against Merrillville and Valparaiso. LC will play in the powerful Center Grove tournament on Jan. 3.

6.  CROWN POINT (8-3)

Crown Point went to the holiday break one game behind first place Merrillville in the DAC and they host Merrillville on Jan. 2.  Kaitlyn Sertich (17) led 3 players in double figures in a 58-38 win over LaPorte.  Blayre Reeves grabbed 10 rebounds.  CP continued to have trouble with big teams in the 24-point loss to Valparaiso earlier last week.  Until their two six foot freshman are ready, they have little to no chance other than a delay offense stall against Valpo and Merrillville.

7.  Chesterton (6-2)

Stephanie Boyle (14.5 ppg.) scored 12 in a 46-42 win over Portage and she's the key to the Trojans having a chance against Merrillville on Jan. 7. Boyle scored 24 and Cassie Pellar added a career-high 16 in a loss to Lake Central earlier in the week. Catherine Campbell (8.9) added 6 assists against Portage.

8.  ANDREAN (3-5)

Andrean should sweep the four game Wheeler tournament and then they play Bishop Luers and Lafayette Catholic on Jan 2-3.  After two easy wins over Kankakee Valley, it's time the 59ers go on a win streak.  Everyone is healthy and on hand.  On Jan. 4, they should be back at .500.

9.  Boone Grove (10-1)

The Wolves are showing improvement against a weak schedule. Senior Rachel Jenkins (9.1) missed three games with injury but whe'll be back after the first of the year. Freshman guard Courtney Flanigan (8.5) is a much-need outside shooter.   Becky Keller (10.4 ppg.) is a good compliment to point guard Karissa Walter (17.3 ppg.), who is strong and steady. The bench is developing but the problem remains the schedule. Boone has a key stretch with Wheeler (9-3) and North Newton (5-3) on Jan 3-6. 

10. Highland (10-3)

Highland needs competition and they just don't get much in the Lake Athletic Conference. The Trojans coasted past Munster 49-33 despite 11 of 25 from the foul line and 18 of 45 from the field.  Highland is a solid defensive team but there are no outstanding teams on the schedule until the season finale on Feb. 6 at East Chicago (9-1). They have the same problem Boone has. Highland must play in the 4A playoffs and its hard to see how they can get better against the schedule they play.

Could be good.....                    

Wheeler (9-3)

The Bearcats led 45-6 at the half against Gavit and won 90-33. Senior Maggie Schulz hit for 17, a career high and freshman Becca Bruszewski (14.9 ppg.) scored a career-high 27. Junior Allison Roper (12.8) is an athletic player, if not a true guard. All credit to coach Tim Powers for repeatedly getting this team to the winner's circle without a true point guard. But here's another team that needs to upgrade the opposition's bench. During the regular season, it's not about who you beat. It's about who you play.

Holiday Tournaments....... 

MOMENCE (IL) TOURNAMENT

Dec. 26: Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (Ill.) 58, HANOVER CENTRAL 44
Dec. 26: South Newton 55, Peotone (Ill.) 37
Dec. 27: HANOVER CENTRAL 68, Peotone (Ill.) 38 (consolation)
Dec. 27:  Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (Ill.) 67, South Newton 41 (semifinal)
Dec. 27 HANOVER CENTRAL 62, Paxton-Buckley-Loda (Ill.) 45 (fifth place)
Dec. 27 South Newton 68, Momence (Ill.) 65 (third place)

WARSAW TOURNAMENT

Dec. 23:  Warsaw 80, South Bend St. Joseph's 69 1st round

Dec. 23:  Perry Meridian 73, Fort Wayne Snider 49 1st round

Dec. 23:  South Bend St. Joseph's 59, Fort Wayne Snider 51 consolation

Dec. 23:  Warsaw 66, Perry Meridian 54 championship

COLUMBIA CITY SHOOTOUT

Dec. 26:  Columbia City 51, Munster 49 1st round

Dec. 26:  McCutcheon 58, South Bend Adams 41 1st round

Dec. 26:  McCutcheon 53, Munster 33 2nd round

Dec. 26:  Columbia City 55, South Bend Adams 45 2nd round

Coming Up......

CHICAGOLAND CLASSIC at Willowbrook, IL
Jan. 16 Kokomo vs. Fenwick (Ill.), 8:00 pm -  1st round
Jan. 16 Warsaw vs. Neuqua Valley (Ill.), 9:30 pm - 1st round
Jan. 17 Niles North (Ill.) vs. Kokomo, 10:30 am - 2nd round
Jan. 17 New Trier (Ill.) vs. Warsaw, 12:00 pm - 2nd round
Jan. 17 Hamilton Southeastern vs. Loyola Academy, 6:30 pm - 2nd round
Jan. 17 Heritage Christian vs. St. Ignatius (Ill.), 6:00 pm - 2nd round
Jan. 19 Fenwick (Ill.) vs. Heritage Christian, 2:30 pm - 3rd round
Jan. 19 East Chicago Central vs. Fremd (Ill.), 2:30 pm -  3rd round

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