2007-2008 Boys Basketball  Week-10, Top-10 Poll A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith (02-26-2008)

EAST CHICAGO (2-26-2008) Some teams are very happy and some are a little worried as the draw was announced for the 98th Indiana high school basketball tournament.  The biggest smiles are in East Chicago, where the defending 4A champion drew the only first round bye in Class 4A Sectional 1.  That's a major break because it moves the Cardinals to within just two wins of returning to the regional level, while most teams (including all eight teams in 4A Sectional 2, need three wins.

Two very happy teams are Boone Grove and Hebron in the new six-team 2A Sectional 34.  Culver will host and Culver is a nice place.  They're a little short on parking, but the gym is large.  But 'nice' doesn't change the fact that Culver, Indiana is approximately 40 miles from Boone Grove and it's a trip you simply don't want to make down two-lane roads in sparsely- populated areas on a dark, cold winter night, especially a school night.

The quarterfinal bye Boone and Hebron got means they can stay home on quarterfinal Tuesday and they don't have to visit Marshall County until Friday.

But the happiest people have to be the folks at Hanover Central, the perpetual underdog that hasn't won a boys basketball sectional since 1986 and has NEVER hosted a sectional boys tourney.  Until now.  The first ever Class 2A Hanover Central Sectional is next week and Hanover is very, very happy.  In a five-team sectional, HC got a quarterfinal bye and they face River Forest (3-16) in the semifinals.  That almost guarantees that the host Wildcats (8-9) will be in the title game against Bishop Noll (16-3) or Wheeler (15-4).  That means a big Saturday crowd, the underdog role and a lot of excitement at a school that has always been somewhat left out of the basketball state tourney.

Outside Northwest Indiana, two teams -- 4A New Albany (22-0) and 2A Bluffton (21-0) did finish the regular season undefeated, which usually means they'll quickly be eliminated once the state tourney begins.

The big player in Lafayette is Jefferson (20-1), led by the guard line of 5-10 junior Brandon Williams (17.5 ppg.) and 6-1 sophomore Jesse Berry (15.9 ppg.), winners of 15 in a row.  This is a high speed team that averages 77 points a game, and while it's a long way off, a semistate game between Jefferson or Marion (18-4), and anyone from Northwest Indiana would be a season highlight.

Here's an unvarnished view of what I think will happen to Northwest Indiana's best teams.  Everybody can't win.  Some teams were luckier than others.  But this is what will occur.  Don't take it personally.  And if you're wondering if there's anything more you can do to get ready for the playoffs... Boys, go practice some more free throws.

1.  (4A) East Chicago (17-3)
2007 (22-3), 2006 (19-5), 2005 (13-8), 2004 (13-10)

EAST CHICAGO:  The Cardinals scored a solid 61-53 win over giant New Trier (17-8) of Winnetka, Illinois and a blowout over little 1A Bowman Academy.  EC ended the season with 6-foot-5 center Kawaan Short playing very well.  The Cards averaged 81 points a game and had three 100-point games.  Guards Derrel Conner and Bryce Walker combined for 40 in the blowout of Bowman.  EC was 17 of 20 from the line which is significant.  As the season ended early (on Feb. 19), EC had losses only to Warren Central (16-5), North Central (13-7) and Crown Point (14-5), all good teams, although all three losses were surprises.  The teams EC should have lost to:  Lawrence North and New Trier, they defeated.  With a first round bye here, life is good.  Looks like they'll see Munster (14-5) in the EC Sectional semifinals Friday after a 9-day layoff, which is of some concern.  The Cardinals are the clear-cut favorite in 4A Sectional One.  It's theirs to lose.   But they don't play enough defense to return to the state finals and everybody knows it.

2.  (4A) Chesterton (18-2)
2007 (16-7), 2006 (14-9), 2005 (9-12), 2004 (13-8)

CHESTERTON:  Chesterton rolled over Boone Grove 83-42, breaking a two-game losing streak.  But the moment of truth is here as the Trojans drew Merrillville (16-4) in the 4A Michigan City Sectional quarterfinals Tuesday night (2-26-2008).  Seniors Zack Novak (27.4 ppg.) and Jack Haupt (12.1 ppg,) and junior guard Tommy Peller (11.1 ppg.) will welcome back point guard Jordan Lewis (off suspension) after the season finale with Crown Point (14-5).  Novak, Haupt and Peller combined for 52 points against Boone.  To ask them to plug in the point guard after four games off and win three times in five days on the road is too much to ask.  Chesterton, which beat Crown Point on 'Senior Night' 55-41 behind 23 from Novak, is definitely a sectional contender at Michigan City, but you can't make them the favorite under the circumstances.  The showdown between East Chicago and Chesterton is still a possibility, but don't buy a ticket yet.  The return of shooter Austin Bower helps, and if there hadn't been the suspension for Lewis, I'd pick them to go to the state finals.

3.  (4A) Merrillville (16-4)
2007 (13-9), 2006 (17-4), 2005 (18-4), 2004 (9-12)

MERRILLVILLE:  The Pirates rolled towards the playoffs with easy wins over Hobart and Portage, but they drew Chesterton in the 4A Michigan City Sectional quarterfinals on Feb. 26.  So the moment of truth has arrived.  Aireus Stephenson has come on in recent weeks and 6-foot-7 center Ryan Smith had four 10-point, 10-rebound-plus games the last month.  The Pirates beat Portage 65-44 to end the regular season, shooting 23 of 40 from the field and 17 of 25 from the line, very good numbers.  Merrillville has the depth to play three times effectively in the sectional tournament, but I don't think they have the consistent offense to get by Chesterton and Crown Point (2 teams they split the season series with) back-to-back.  Here's another contender, but not the sectional favorite.  Merrillville is probably the team best suited to play East Chicago, but they probably won't get that chance.

4.  (4A) CROWN POINT (14-6)
2007 (12-9), 2006 (9-13), 2005 (13-9), 2004 (6-16)

CROWN POINT:  Crown Point rolled over Portage and Lowell.  They are 7-0 with 6-foot-8 center Jake Burkholder installed at center between 6-foot-6 Aleks Alavanja and 6-foot-3 Zach Cecich.  CP didn't want to draw Michigan City (10-10), a team that matches up very well with the Bulldogs.  With 6-foot-5 Derrick Garletts and three quality guards off the bench, CP has a nine-player rotation.  What scares you is that they are facing a quicker team in MC and they are facing them on the home floor in a mid-week game.  Senior guard Stephen Albrecht (18.7 ppg.) is 40% of the offense, but there has been a spike from senior guard Ben Derks and center Jake Burkholder lately.  Burkholder is 41 of 65 from the floor (63%).  They got a bad draw, but it's hard to ignore seven wins in a row, the last five by 10 points or more.  The season-finale at Chesterton is insignificant to CP and the 54-41 loss won't hurt them.  I'm just guessing, but I believe they didn't do everything they could to beat the Trojans with a rematch looming a week later.  The Bulldogs, who like to push the pace on offense are, oddly, a touch slow defensively.  They're going to have to change defenses a lot, but they have a lot of different lineups.  But they don't have to face both Chesterton (18-2) and Merrillville (16-4), and with a nine man rotation including seven seniors, here's the 4A Sectional 2 favorite.

5.  (4A) Gary West Side (16-4)
2007 (14-7), 2006 (7-14), 2005 (19-5), 2004 (12-7)

GARY:  The Cougars won every game down the stretch to roll into the post-season.  The only non-overtime losses all year for the 'Side' are East Chicago (17-3) and powerhouse Farragut (20-7) of Chicago.  The reason you don't pick West Side to win the sectional is because they don't have that big center that EC (Kawaan Short) and Lake Central (Eric Summers) have.  Also, 6-foot-3 wing guard DeShawn Clay has had a quiet season.  He needs to have a loud week at EC.  Powerful 6-foot-3 soph guard Xavier Jones won't be dominated by anyone LC, Munster or East Chicago has and 6-foot-5 Gerald Campbell (18.6 ppg.) will be very effective here if he can stay in the game.  The 'Side' has beaten Lake Central and Lowell, the team they figure to face in the semifinals.  But do you like them to go to East Chicago and beat the defending state champions on their home floor?  It's like asking a Purdue team to win at Indiana.  It's just not likely and both sides know it.

6.  (4A) Michigan City (11-9)
2007 (8-13), 2006 (9-12), 2005 (6-16), 2004 (2-19)

MICHIGAN CITY:  The Wolves are the true spoiler.  They have no real chance to win sectional and regional titles.  Come on.  Here's a team that hasn't won three straight games all year.  How can they possibly win the sectional?  Even on their home floor.  But they should have defeated CP twice and they split with Merrillville.  Everyone is worried about Michigan City and coach Bob Buscher.  The Wolves' chances are much less against a  team like Chesterton, but the home court is valuable in a sectional this geographically wide.  Guard Stephen Ward (11.2) and center Jarrod Jones (14.5 ppg.) are college players and they have to play like it during sectional week.  The draw means they have to win three times in four days, and I know this seems impossible, but Michigan City has not won more than three games in a row in seven years.  The Wolves actually have allowed more points on average than they have scored this season, but they have the best chance to eliminate Crown Point, which is vulnerable in that first game Wednesday.

7. Munster (15-5)
21-4 (2007), 20-4 (2006), 16-8 (2005), 20-2 (2004)

MUNSTER:  I'm not sure the wild horses are playing as well as they were two weeks ago, but you can't argue with 12 wins in a row.  A 53-43 win over Calumet Tuesday night (2-19-2008) was a little shaky.  Munster was only 10-of-21 from the line and that's no good at all.  They did bounce back with 17 of 25 from the line in the 71-50 walk over Lew Wallace to end the year.  Munster's blessing of good balance becomes a curse in close playoff games when you need one or two players to force the issue offensively.  I don't know who those players would be on the Mustangs.  This is not a hugely talented team when you compare them with other 4A squads.  It's amazing they are 15-5 against their schedule without one truly outstanding offensive player and that is a testament to their coaching.  Their hope is that EC, not having played Munster this season, will not take them seriously and will not be ready after a nine-game layoff.  But more things have to happen for Munster to beat EC than for Mike Huckabee to become president and a 13-game winning streak is a burden to carry into the post-season.  Munster has a systemic problem.  They play in a 3A league and then try to win a 4A Sectional.  That dog usually won't hunt.

8.  (2A) Bishop Noll (16-4)
2007 (9-13), 2006 (6-15), 2005 (8-14), 2004 (15-10)

HAMMOND:  Noll lost to East Chicago (17-3) after having a 10-point halftime lead.  It was a game that displayed the Warriors' strength and weakness.  They have the athletic and offensive ability to stay with anyone they'll see, but they cannot slow the game and still play effectively.  In a five-team sectional, you've got to be very unlucky to face three quality opponents, but that's what Noll did.  Senior Jason Chorba (20.4 ppg., 9.4 rebounds.) is the kind of offensive player you need on the floor at the end of games.  He scored 32 in the 94-82 season-ending win over Andrean.  They open the 2A Hanover Central Sectional on a week night with Lake Station (10-10).  Noll will then see Wheeler (16-5) and Hanover Central (10-10).  How do you draw three .500 or better teams in a five-team sectional???  You might as well ask them to join forces into an all-star team and play them all at once.  Do you know how far it is from the north end of Hammond to Cedar Lake?  And Noll has to make the trip three times?  Despite the fact that they are allergic to defense at times, I have thought Noll would win this sectional all season.  With this draw, I have major doubts about whether they will take Hanover Central seriously in the Sectional 33 championship game.

9.  (3A) Wirt (13-7)
2007 (14-9), 2006 (12-9), 2005 (9-12), 2004 (6-15)

GARY:  Wirt has to adopt the 'we-can-turn-it on anytime we want' theory, because they sure haven't turned it on to this point.  Beating Morton (3-16) and Howe Military (4-16) is like winning the Guam primary.  The Troopers did beat Hammond High (11-7) 63-53 on Feb. 13, but they lack the quality victories that would indicate they can go to Plymouth and beat the state champs next month and that's what it's all about.  Wirt is 3-5 in games decided by five points or less.  It's playoff time and there's no half-stepping.  The Troopers, who walked over Gavit 67-51 to end the regular season Friday (2-22-2008) did not get a good draw at all.  They need to beat Hammond (11-7), Lew Wallace (12-8) and Clark (13-7) in a five day span.  It doesn't seem likely they can do it, but somebody has to.  Wallace is too erratic and it's a down year in Hammond overall.  It's win or go home.  Bet on Wirt to win the 3A Gary Sectional.

10.  (3A) Clark (13-7)
2007 (21-5), 2006 (16-7), 2005 (8-13), 2004 (12-9)

HAMMOND:  Clark will enter the post-season with a five-game win streak.  They beat Hanover Central (10-10) in a late season matchup with four players in double figures, including 6-foot-6 Nick Curosh (12.3 points, 10.6 rebounds per game) sinking 18.  Here's a senior-dominated team that, like Wirt, may have been coasting through the regular season hoping to turn it on for the March run.  They were rewarded with a quarterfinal bye at the 3A Gary Sectional and a matchup with Gavit, a team they've already beaten twice.  On paper, they have an advance for sectional week, but they have not faced Wirt this year and the Troopers won't be rattled by Clark's speed.  What's odd here is that Clark and Wirt are BOTH defending sectional champs.  The sectionals have been realigned this year.  Obviously, Clark has a chance.  But I think they lose a close sectional title match up to Wirt.

On the outside looking in...

(2A) Boone Grove  (11-9)
2007 (11-12), 2006 (19-6), 2005 (18-7), 2004 (13-9)

PORTER TOWNSHIP:  Boone Grove was slowed in a big-time 83-42 loss to DAC champion Chesterton (17-2).  Wayland Roach (13.3 ppg.) and Mike Eleftheri (10.2 ppg.) won't have to worry about a quarterfinal game at the new 2A Culver Sectional, which is a major break.  Boone can't be too comfortable with a semifinal matchup on Feb. 29 against Hebron (7-12), especially after a 10-day layoff.  But the Wolves are the only team with a winning record in Sectional 34 and, as we've said all year, they've played, by far, the toughest schedule.  But it's Boone sophomores against Hebron's seniors and that will not be an easy matchup.  This is one of the pivotal games on opening night because Jimtown (16-4), Boone (12-8), Wheeler (16-5), Westview (20-1) and Noll (16-4) have the best resumes of all potential 2A Northern semistate hopefuls.  Look at the brackets.  They all could be out by Saturday night.  I can see Boone in the 2A Semistate on March 15 or I can see them out losing to the arch-rival Hawks.  With a team as young as Boone (7 sophs) you just don't know.

(3A) Lew Wallace (12-9)
2007 (5-17), 2006 (4-17), 2005 (5-17), 2004 (9-12)

GARY:  Wallace roasted Roosevelt 73-53 last week and they faced Munster to end the year.  You have to separate the story from the reality.  Wallace having a winning season after seven consecutive losing campaigns is a great story.  But it doesn't mean they'll win the sectional and take regional glory.  The game slows down in the post-season and that will hurt teams like Wallace, Noll and East Chicago.  Wallace has lost six of their last eight.  They have good, but not great, talent.  The Hornets, who sank only 14 of 26 free throws in a 21-point loss at Munster Friday, are a year away.

(2A) Wheeler (16-5)
2007 (17-6), 2006 (19-6), 2005 (16-5), 2004 (20-5)

UNION TOWNSHIP:  This is Wheeler's seventh winning season in a row and their record gets lost because their competition isn't strong.  The Bearcats have the top sophomore duo in NW Indiana with 6-foot-4 guard Petar Todorovic (14.6 ppg.) and 6-foot-5 forward Andrew Rudakas (18.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg).  Rudakas scored 22 in the season-ending 58-52 win over 4A Wheeler.  The cats sank eight three-point baskets.  This is a finesse team, which is vulnerable to quick defensive pressure, but they pass and shoot very well.  They will have a week before a probable matchup with Bishop Noll in the 2A Hanover Central Sectional.  Distance shooting teams like Wheeler usually struggle in the post-season in gyms where they have never played.  Wheeler has a bright future, but like Lew Wallace, I don't think the future arrives this week.