2005-2006 Boys Basketball  Week-11, Top-10 Poll A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith (2-26-2006)

VALPARAISO (2-26-2006)  As the sectional pairings are announced for the 96th Indiana state tournament, the chances of NW Indiana advancing a squad to the state finals looks a little more distant.  Powers Gary West Side (12-9) and Munster (18-4) meet on opening quarterfinal night while Valparaiso (17-2) and Merrillville (14-5) meet next Friday.  The earlier you have these climactic meetings, obviously, the easier it is for an upset to occur later.

I still don't understand why the top two teams in a six or seven team sectional (you can determine it through computer rankings) can't get a bye.  The idea isn't to help them win.  It's to avoid the top two teams meeting on opening night.

I still do not understand why the tournaments can't play on alternate nights (Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 1A and 3A, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for 2A and 4A) to allow the players to watch other schools, doubling your attendance.  That concept will come some day.  And everyone will think the tournament suddenly got more popular.

Another point to the state tournament is that we no longer need to play two games in the same day at the regional. That format is a throwback to the times when everybody traveled by donkey and wagon train and basketball fans had to take 10 pounds of trial mix to survive the day.   We have cars now and it is not a hardship to drive 20 miles home after the game and come back the next night.  In fact, that's something you would want to do.

The argument that it's hard on fans and parents to attend a Friday night regional semifinal goes against the entire century long structure of the regular season when teams fight to play on Friday night.  You play on Friday night all season and then you change up and tip off a crucial Saturday regional semifinal at 9:00 a.m. CST.

I believe that a Friday night regional double-header starting at 6:30 p.m. is no hardship for any school geographically. Then, simply have the winners return the next Saturday night at 5:00 p.m. for the title game.

The early start allows kids and parents to travel in the daylight but also allows parents the entire day Saturday for other pursuits.  I think the 'daylight' Saturday game is crucial for safety in case of a snow or ice storm.  It allows time to clear the roads which you do not have in the early a.m. regional semifinals.

This move, which is not something I just thought of, nor is it a new proposal, would also pick up the crowds at the regional championship game because local Saturday morning newspapers and radio would help the IHSAA promote the regional title game at no cost.

Bottom line, kids shouldn't be asked to play two playoff games in the same day.  It's cruel and unusual punishment.  That's a format created by adults for kids.  To pay twice in the same day indicates you just want to get the games over with while players and parents are not always the highest priority.

The midday semistate championship games work well and draw well.  We should do the same thing at the regional level.  One of the real problems with the IHSAA, which is more deeply connected with athletics than players, parents or fans, is that they do not listen to the one group more into the games than they are, the coaches.  Why does there have to be a coaches association separate from the IHSAA?  Why are decisions made by principals and athletics directors without coaches in the discussion room?  You may like the 4-class tournament and the 3-point shot but the approval of those changes came into IHSAA law came after input from principals and athletic directors, some of whom were coaches, some of whom were not.

The 3-point shot would never have been approved if coaches had 1/3 of the votes.  To have ADs, principals and former high school officials make changes for coaches and players is a fundamental flaw in the IHSAA.

I will have to fess up on one thing.  I remember saying that Lawrence North would not complete an insanely difficult regular season schedule undefeated.  Final score Friday:  Lawrence North (21-0) 46, Terre Haute North 32.  Lawrence North vs. Indianapolis Arlington (16-5) will be televised state wide on Comcast cable Channel 4 Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. (CST), from Indianapolis Tech high school.

1.) 4A Valparaiso (18-2)

22-3 (2005), 22-3 (2004), 17-4 (2003)

VALPARAISO -   Valparaiso lost 57-51 to Merrillville and then drew Merrillville as a semifinal opponent at next week's Chesterton Class 4A sectional.  The Vikings, who smoked out Michigan City 66-44 Friday to end the regular season, clearly had trouble with Merrillville's quickness and I'm sure 'Viking boot camp' has begun out at Valpo high.  Forget the Munster game, (Valpo led that one by 14), Merrillville stands between Valparaiso and the state finals.  The Vikings have to do a better job defensively against Merrillville's tricky Darryl Evans, who scored 19 against them with four steals Friday.  Few guards have done anything on the perimeter against Valpo all year.

Understand that Valparaiso is not going to approach the Friday, March 3 game the way they did the last two.  All of a sudden, Merrillville's season will be on the line and the stakes will be equal.  The Vikings obviously want to slow the pace down and get 6-8 Rob Hummel (12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists) and Scott Martin (20.3 points, 8.2 rebounds) close to the basket against the smaller Pirates.  But that's the plan and both sides know it.  Hummel was not well against Merrillville, but that's an excuse.  Valpo knows they must peak on opening night of the playoffs and it's difficult to do that and still have a long state tournament run.

2.) 4A Munster (19-3)

16-8 (2005), 20-2 (2004), 21-2 (2003)

MUNSTER -   Munster didn't get any breaks drawing Gary West Side on opening night.  The 'Side' is more athletic than the Mustangs, but with the twisted East Chicago Sectional format, Munster will be on their home floor where they have lost only one time all year.  Munster, which washed away Lew Wallace Friday night to end the regular season, is 76-16 in the last four years but it's all over if they cannot  break down the suspect defense of West Side Tuesday evening.  The Mustangs put the spank on Wirt 65-42 last Friday (2-17-2006), stomping them in a 10-0 second quarter.  Jeff Mariner hit five three-point baskets against the Troopers.  I don't like Munster's chances. They got the worst possible draw.  West Side, then certainly East Chicago.  Then Highland or Lake Central.  It's too much to ask.  The schedule has been formidable.  Munster's three losses are by a combined total of eight points.  But two of the teams that have beaten them are West Side and East Chicago, the two teams they will almost certainly see next week.  This is a very tall hill for Munster to climb.

3.) 4A Merrillville (17-3)

18-4 (2005), 9-12 (2004), 15-11 (2003)

MERRILLVILLE -   The Pirates closed the season with 12 consecutive wins after they rallied to beat Valpo 58-51 and dropped the puck on Portage 78-59 Friday night.  Darryl Evans scored 19 against Valpo and 25 more against Hobart the next night in a 64-46 rout of the Brickies.  Merrillville hit 16 of 24 from the line against Valpo and 30 of 37 from the line against Hobart.  They spread the floor, slash to the basket and create fouls.  I'm not sure they're unhappy with an opening match against Valparaiso (17-2).  Speed teams slow the more they play.  I'd bet the Pirates quietly like their chances with a week off and a neutral site to take on the Vikings for a third time.  The top three teams in the poll here all have the same problem.  They have to play a major opponent in front of a sellout crowd on opening night of the four week tournament.  I do not remember many teams doing that and going on to reach the state finals.  I don't think Merrillville can reach the state finals, but obviously they most certainly can beat Valparaiso.

4.) 4A East Chicago (16-4)

13-8 (2005), 13-10 (2004), 18-6 (2003)

EAST CHICAGO -   EC got 31 from E'Twan Moore and crushed Michigan City 60-48 last Friday.  Then they got 19 from 6-5 senior David Bell and horsewhipped Bishop Noll 68-28.  The cards finished the regular season with a 9-game winning streak after bombing short-handed Andrean 69-50 Friday night.  The Cardinals did not get a bye or a home game at the EC sectional but they did draw Lowell (6-14), a team that is  probably not capable of beating them.  Certainly, the Cardinals are at a disadvantage looking at three games to win the sectional.  But they have already defeated Munster and will have confidence they can do it again in a semifinal game.  East Chicago's speed is also their biggest asset and the Lowell game Tuesday (Feb. 28) can do nothing but tire them out.  But the freaky and wide ranging schedule that EC has traveled should play into their hands now as they suddenly only have to win home games.  EC has to win four times in nine days to take Sectional one and the odds are against them.

5)  4A Gary West Side (12-8)

19-5 (2005), 12-7 (2004), 7-12 (2003)  23-4 (2002)

GARY -  West Side surely blasted Hammond Friday night to close the 20-game run at 12-8 after a 1-4 start.  This is the region's wild card.  West Side hasn't played well through 75% of the season, but they closed out the schedule with a 5-game winning streak.  Nobody really matches up with 6-foot-8 Jamil Tucker but Tucker sometimes settles for outside shots and playoff games are rarely won by three point shots.  The Cougars got a terrible draw.  They have to beat Munster at Munster AND East Chicago at East Chicago just to get a chance to win the sectional.  But they are not a team you can fall behind and you cannot press West Side full court.  The odds are against West Side winning three games next week.  But you can't overlook them.

6.) 4A Chesterton (12-8)

9-12 (2005), 13-8 (2004), 16-6 (2003)

CHESTERTON -   The Trojans bombed Crown Point 58-36 Friday night to end the regular season, but that's deceptive.  CP knows that the Bulldogs will almost certainly face a rematch at Chesterton on March 3 in the Sectional 2 semifinals.  The Trojans hope to have 7-foot center Evan Schmidt back in the lineup for the state tournament, but it's unlikely he'll be able to go three times in five nights at the sectional.  This team has a very good starting lineup around 6-5 sophomore forward Zack Novak (18.7 points, 7.9 rebounds) and they have the home floor for sectional play, a big deal against teams that have to travel 20-30 miles three times.  There's not a lot of speed here and Schmidt probably slows them up.  But here's the team that figures to benefit most from Valpo drawing Merrillville in the first game.

7.)  3A Andrean (15-7)

21-3 (2005), 15-7 (2004), 11-12 (2003)

MERRILLVILLE -   Andrean got wiped out 69-50 Friday night by East Chicago, but 6-8 Luke Harangody (21.5 points, 11.1 rebounds) did not play with a slight knee problem.  That is worrisome when Andrean is looking at three sectional games in five days.  Anthony Johnson scored 23 in the loss to EC, but that opener with Wirt (11-8) is a major problem.  Several 59ers will be playing their first state tournament game and the pressure will be on.  Actually, playing without Harangody (if he's not hurt seriously) may be a blessing because it prompted Johnson to post a season-best total, something the 59ers will need to see again in the next week.  The final regular season game can be very deceptive because you don't know who's playing figuratively and literally.

8.)  4A Highland (17-5)

16-8 (2005), 16-7 (2004), 16-10 (2003)

HIGHLAND -   Highland coasted by Hobart Friday night as Andrew Helmer (14.5 points) scored a career-best 36 in his final home game.  The Trojans lost starting forward Jon Velasco to an off-the-court problem and he won't be back.  But his loss shouldn't cripple this team.   Highland beat West Side earlier this year, but probably could not beat them now.  Highland beat Andrean at mid season but could probably not have beaten them early when the 59ers were rolling.  I'm not sure Highland beat anybody who was playing well all year.  That has to change next week.

9.) 3A Wirt (12-8)

9-12 (2005),  6-15 (2004), 12-9 (2003)

GARY -   Local media is finally discovering Wirt, which has played the toughest road schedule of anyone in NW Indiana.  Wirt gets almost no home games and they have faced very tough teams like Huntington North (17-4) and Terre Haute North (14-7) as well as West Side, Munster and East Chicago.  But I don't see this team with a chance to win unless Andrean is worse off physically than it appears.  If I'm Wirt, I spread the floor and use a delay offense to shorten the game.  Andrean can't chase very well and the Troopers are too small to play them straight up.

10.) 2A Boone Grove (16-5)

19-7 (2005), 13-9 (2004), 11-12 (2003)

PORTER TOWNSHIP -   The Wolves lost to Chesterton Tuesday night, but that only left them with a 3-2 record against Class 4A schools. All five Boone losses are to teams with winning records.  What worries you here is the fact that leading scorer Bryce Palleson (15.9 points per game) and several others will be playing their first ever state playoff games.  Also, Boone is a slow team and they struggle with the full court pressure that a team like Wheeler can bring.  With that said, Boone got the best draw in all of the northern part of the state. Boone, the sectional favorite (they have won six of the eight Class 2A sectionals), drew a quarterfinal bye, a semifinal against Lake Station and home court for the sectional final game.  If they do not advance to the regional, they have absolutely no excuses.

On the outside looking in...

11.) 2A Wheeler (17-5)

16-5 (2005),  20-5 (2004),  21-3 (2003)

VALPARAISO -   Wheeler has successfully navigated the 22-game regular season and they have no major injuries.  The record is a product of NW Indiana in a bad year.  The Bearcats beat a lot of bad teams.  Wheeler beat 10 teams that were either Class 1A or sub. 500.  The Bearcats have an excellent balanced offense based on center Nate Kasper (12.6 points) and three good three-point shooters.  Wheeler must win three times in five days and they have history of failure at Boone Grove, worse than the US national hockey team at the Olympic games.  Wheeler has a lot to prove and it's time to get it done.

12.) 1A Hebron (15-4)

11-11 (2005), 10-11 (2004), 9-11 (2003)

HEBRON -   The top small school in NW Indiana when you consider they have four losses to 2A power Boone (16-5) and Wheeler (17-5). The Hawks have just the six seniors they go to war with every night, but they are good shooters and experienced players.  Here's another team with no excuses.  The Hawks have the sectional in their brand new gym against six rivals they have already defeated.  Every single one.  They are lucky to have been virtually ignored by local media and there is a chance they can slip through the sectional and the regional before anybody realizes they are having a peak year.  Hebron has lost three times to Boone Grove (16-5), an arch rival twice their size.  The Hawks are 9-0 against Class 1A schools and they should go 12-0.

13.) 1A Oregon-Davis (18-3)

8-13 (2005), 12-9 (2004), 6-14 (2003)

HAMLET -   Oregon-Davis has lost twice to John Glenn (15-5) and once to Triton (12-9), the team that defeated them to begin  the season in November.  O-D is 7-1 against sectional rivals and they'll have to defeat South Central (15-6) again.  Here is the biggest story in the state.  I repeat.  This is the school that lost 56 games in a row from 2000 to 2003.  The Bobcats beat LaVille 60-34 Tuesday to complete an 18-3 regular season, but they'll need three wins in five days to take the sectional title.  Oregon-Davis has won 16 games by 10 points or more and that is a stunning number.  But that opener against a team that stopped them is a headliner.

14.) 2A North Judson (13-7)

13-9 (2005), 8-14 (2004), 4-18 (2003)

NORTH JUDSON -   Judson has charged down the stretch beating Boone Grove, Wheeler and Bishop Noll 58-56 last Friday.  They also lost to Rochester 66-55 so the three teams I just mentioned may be about as important as the Olympic curling finals.  For Judson to beat Boone, Wheeler and Noll is a sign they are peaking.  But Rochester (15-5) faces Judson at the sectional while Boone, Wheeler and Noll are regional rivals.  The only bracket that appears strong in NW Indiana is the 2A regional bracket.  But Judson gets the regional at home and they have the No. 1 home court advantage in this part of the state.

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Revised: February 25, 2006 .