2006-2007 Boys Basketball  Week-12, Top-10 Poll A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith (02-21-2007)

VALPARAISO (02-21-2007) - Heavy snow last week cost some teams a game this season.  Most games from Indianapolis north to the top of the state were postponed both Tuesday and Wednesday night (Feb. 13-14) and some schools weren't open Thursday either.  There were only 7 days left in the year.  It was fortunate that this was a week off for many teams due to last week's girls sectionals.  Many teams played on Thursday, Feb. 8 and then were off until Friday, Feb. 16.  Indiana basketball again was fortunate.  One year, the Indiana state girls playoffs are going to get blown up by a major snowstorm.

How?  Drop 20 inches of snow (Whiting had 16 this week) on half the state on sectional semifinal Friday and what happens?  You have just lost the semifinals and finals at 64 sites.  The semifinals then go to Monday and the finals to Tuesday night with the four team regionals slated for that Saturday.  If another storm hits or you can't play Monday or Tuesday, you are out of luck.  You cannot push the girls state tournament back because the boys tourney is stacked up behind it.

That's a flaw in the tourney setup.  The boys sectional championships are played the night of the girls state finals.  That's a poor marketing idea to begin with.  The two tourneys should be totally separate and there's a way to do it.  Push the boys basketball season back two weeks.  Not only does that take the boys tournament out of any possible conflict with the girls tourney, but it also handles the 'gender equity' problem.  If you begin the girls season in Mid-November and do not begin the boys season until two weeks after the football finals, then you have only six weeks when the boys and girls are playing regular season games simultaneously.  Two of those weeks are holiday weeks in late December when you can play any day.

Fans won't have to choose which games to attend because the girls season will end a month before the boys season does.  The state tournament will be held in March weather, much better for travel.  No boys basketball games will ever be postponed by football because the seasons won't overlap.

What about spring sports?  There are only 16 teams in the semistate under the present format and all boys spring sports are outdoors and are limited by weather anyway in late March and the first week of April.  Nobody cares if baseball and track is postponed in early April when they shouldn't be playing anyway.  Baseball should go to the end of June, but that's another issue for another day.

Instead of coming up with some Mickey Mouse alternating Tuesday, Friday, Saturday date format, simply start the girls basketball season the week after volleyball ends and hold the boys back until Mid-December.  That's five or six Friday nights the girls can play before the boys take the court.  Your gender equity problem is solved.  You have allowed for major snowstorms and the girls and boys can watch each other play like the good old days.  That's a factor that adults never, ever consider.  What's wrong with this plan?

The state tourney draw changes everything. Teams should be rejuvenated in the final days.
      
NUMBERS GAME:  Class 3A Western (15-3) was 31 of 51 from the floor in an 82-66 victory over McCutcheon, the first time anyone had scored 80 points on McCutcheon in four years.  Westville is 14-2 but they may have played the single worst schedule in the top half of the state.  The only winning teams Westville has played are Oregon-Davis, Argos, Marquette and Calumet and they are 2-2 against those schools.  You can't get credit for beating 4-12 teams and you shouldn't want it.

John Glenn (15-4) has held 11 teams to 37 points or less.  Lowell (8-9) had their game with Whiting (1-17) postponed and then canceled on consecutive nights this week.  Why does it matter?  Lowell has not had a winning record since 1993.  With Crown Point (11-8) and Wheeler (14-4) left and a loaded sectional at East Chicago, Lowell would now have to win the sectional to finish above .500.

Muncie Central (17-2) is 84-14 in the last four seasons.  East Chicago (17-3) ended the regular season Friday night (Feb. 16) against Bishop Noll and they got a quarterfinal bye at the EC sectional,  so they have 14 days off before the sectional semifinals.  And Hanover Central, playing without leading scorer Jordan Rizo, had four players foul out and still beat Kouts 68-67 on a three-point shot with one second left by Matt Kozlowski.  Kouts has lost three consecutive overtime games at home.  I have never heard of anything like that.

1.  (4A) Valparaiso (19-2)
2006 (21-3), 2005 (22-3), 2004 (22-3)

VALPARAISO:  Valparaiso has been on a roll since the upset loss at Crown Point (11-8). They stopped Lake Central 47-43, LC had won 9-out-of-11 games including a 95-63 win over East Chicago.  Valpo has lost only to CP and Cathedral (19-2).  Scott Martin (22.7 ppg.) and Rob Hummel (16.0 ppg.) still score too many of the points, but the Valpo defense really controlled LC.  The Vikings are not an offensive powerhouse.  They'll win by stopping you.  Valpo won a slow-down game 40-28 over Merrillville Friday and the Vikings would like to draw Crown Point, the only region team to beat them, immediately in the state tournament.  This is clearly the No. 1 team and they have been all season.  Rob Hummel hurt his ankle last week and his condition is not truthfully known.

2.  (4A) East Chicago (17-3)
2006 (19-5), 2005 (13-8), 2004 (13-10)

EAST CHICAGO:  The Cardinals are still giving up too many points (58.8 per game), but they beat Lake Forest Academy Saturday with 22 from Angel Garcia, the 6-foot-11 wing.  Garcia added 25 more in a 71-55 win over defense-challenged Bishop Noll (8-11).  E'Twaun Moore (23.8 ppg.) is still the region's dominant player.  And it's time for the Angel Garcia cheering section, which includes most local media, to admit that Garcia's legal team has blundered in his case.  The IHSAA is bearing down on the case of Garcia, who flunked out of Lake Forest and came to Indiana so he could play ball.  The IHSAA is talking about making Garcia pay legal fees and he has no money.  Hopefully, his lawyers can pay the fees for him.  Even if he wins, the case will go on.  Remember that the IHSAA said that Garcia was ineligible from the time he last played in Illinois for one year.  That time would have been up on Feb. 23.  But since Garcia's legal masterminds took his weak case to court, Feb. 23 will come and go with Garcia's eligibility and financial future, still in doubt.  The transfer student is a junior and he has eligibility next year that the IHSAA can and actually should take away.  Unless you believe that there was no bilingual education in the entire Chicago area (that was the stated reason for Garcia coming to East Chicago), you have to admit that Garcia came to Indiana so he could be eligible to play ball.  No problem.  But he should abide by the rules.  And his lawyers should consider more moral causes like ambulance chasing.  Don't forget that Garcia would have been eligible free and clear on Feb. 23 if the expensive pressed suits had stayed out of it.  Any problems the boy has from this point on are on his publicity-savvy lawyers.  EC is on the home court in the sectional and they only have to win twice.  They have no excuses.

3.  (4A) Munster (18-3)
2006 (20-4), 2005 (16-8), 2004 (20-2)

MUNSTER:  The Ponies slipped by Gary West Side 53-52 and the win showed how close West Side and Munster are.  They're waiting for the draw.  Michael Bizoukas (14.9 ppg.) scored 15 as the Mustangs held on at the end.  The Ponies then beat Wirt 48-42 in a typical Wirt slowdown.  Munster is doing all the right things for about the sixth year in a row.  But I can't tell if it's going to matter at all.  Every year they get the big buildup locally and they defense a large percentage of it.  But I can't tell you if they are even going to get to the sectional final.  This team is 95-19 in five years.  When's it going to pay off?  It's hard not to feel for two teams, Munster and Wheeler, who just never seem to get a break at regional time.  Munster needs a bye and they didn't get it.  Gary West Side is not a team you want to play on opening night of any tournament.

4.  (4A) Gary West Side (13-6)
2006 (7-14), 2005 (19-5), 2004 (12-7)

GARY:  Gary West Side lost by one on the road at Munster and they should look at that very positively because the rematch will be in East Chicago.  Freshman Xavier Jones scored 20.  He is the future lead guard at the Side and the future may be soon.  But the Cougars took an old back yard, break off a switch whipping from three-time defending state champ Lawrence North 55-33 late Friday.  They won't win a 4th straight title, but rumors of Lawrence North's demise are slightly exaggerated.  The Andrean match up was apparently canceled so the 'Side' only gets 19 games.  The Cougars probably needed a good draw to get out of the EC Sectional and they didn't get it.  To play at Munster in a sectional quarterfinal is not good.  They'll have to beat Munster, Lake Central and East Chicago to win the sectional and they can't do that.

5.  (4A) CROWN POINT (11-8)
2006 (9-13), 2005 (13-9), 2004 (6-16)

CROWN POINT:  Crown Point's 66-61 win at LaPorte was a step forward for the Bulldogs as they overcame a 12-point deficit on the road.  Figure this one out for me.  EC beat CP by 27.  LC beat EC by 32.  But CP beat LC by 17.  I don't get it.  CP lost a 12-point fourth quarter lead and fell 71-69 at Portage.  Not that big an upset.  Portage has missed its two leading scorers (Albert Evans and Chris Moss) all season and they were back Friday.  Never put too much weight on one game.  CP has beaten Valparaiso (19-2) and Chesterton (13-5), while losing to Portage (4-15) and Morton (9-9).  Which one of those results tells the truth about them?  Stephen Albrecht (18.8 ppg.) is having a fine year, but 6-foot-2 center Zach Cecich (14.4 ppg.) is having an even better one with 6.2 rebounds and a 69% shooting percentage.  Kyle Hanaway (6.8 ppg.) is averaging 7.6 assists per game.  The Bulldogs have won 11 of their last 15 games but that EC game was one of those 15.  The loss Friday isn't the worst thing that could happen to CP.  Maybe everyone will stop talking about a sectional showdown with Valparaiso and recall that CP only has two seniors.  Kyle Hanaway had 13 assists in a 68-44 win over Lowell.  CP didn't get a good draw.  If CP has to beat Chesterton, Merrillville and Valparaiso in 5 days, they have not shown that they are ready to do that.

6.  (3A) Gary Roosevelt (13-5)
2006 (11-12), 2005 (10-11), 2004 (11-13)

GARY:   Roosevelt blasted Morton 71-54 and I think they're the top 3A team in NW Indiana, but they still need to beat somebody good.  The Panthers outran Lew Wallace 81-74 with James Scott scoring 19.  The Panthers' five losses are to Chesterton (13-5), West Side (12-6) twice, Wirt (8-8) and East Chicago (17-3), but where's the big fish?  They'll go to the sectional with some doubt unless they take out Lake Central (11-7) on the final day of the season.  Since they are an active team, they don't need three sectional games.  I don't like their foul shooting, just 25 of 44 against Wallace.  Roosevelt will take anybody in the sectional draw, but they needed a bye because they play a very tiring, physical style.  There are a lot of 'land mines' here including KV in the sectional opener.  Not a good draw, but Roosevelt is the Sectional 18 favorite.

7.  (4A) Chesterton (14-5)
2006 (14-9), 2005 (9-12), 2004 (13-8)

CHESTERTON:  The Trojans bounced back from two double digit losses with a 64-55 win over Merrillville.  Zack Novak (20.1 ppg.) scored 30 on the Pirates.  The Trojans stopped LaPorte Friday (2-16-2007) 60-51 in a game that featured 53 foul shots.  Chesterton' 6-foot-7 junior Jack Haupt (9.3 ppg.) gives the Trojans a strong front line.  A lot is gong to depend on soph guard Tommy Pellar.  Good competition down the stretch.  The Trojans hit the road for the final week at Boone Grove and Crown Point and they clearly needed a bye in the first round.  I don't think they can win three games in five days because this, like Crown Point, is a largely junior team.  They drew CP and that's not good.  Let's be honest.  If anyone beats Valparaiso (assuming they are healthy) in Sectional 2 there should be an investigation.

8.  (4A) Lake Central (11-8)
2006 (7-14), 2005 (11-10), 2004 (17-6)

ST.  JOHN:   I can't explain this.  Zac Fuhrman scored 24 against Portage and then 49 against East Chicago.  Zac Fuhrman.  Okay, he's a nice player, but 49??  Gilbert Arenas only scores 49 once a month.  Fuhrman was 7-of-20 Friday against Michigan City.  Remember, teams are never as good as their best win and never as bad as their worst loss.  This team also lost to Crown Point by 17 and is 0-2 against Merrillville (8-7).  Beating EC by 32 has to be a fluke.  Isn't it?  LC had won three in a row by 16 points or more until a 57-53 win over Michigan City Friday (2-16-2007).  The real question is:  Can they beat East Chicago, Gary West Side and Highland all in five days next month?  A sobering thought, but I like their chances.  Here's the thinking man's sectional choice in Sectional one.

9.  (4A) Merrillville (10-9)
2006 (17-4), 2005 (18-4), 2004 (9-12)

MERRILLVILLE:  The Pirates lost 64-55 to Chesterton, but Chesterton is a better team right now.  Merrillville has an unusually tough schedule down the stretch with four games in the final 10 days, including Hobart (9-8) and Calumet (12-6).  The Pirates are still developing, as the 40-28 loss to Valpo Friday showed.  But time is running out.  I think the heavy final schedule is good for them because they have a lot of first year varsity players and they need more tough games.  Merrillville needs a bye and they didn't get it.  This team has size and speed.  I don't think they'll go quietly.  But if Rob Hummel isn't hurt for Valpo, that door is closed.

10.  (3A) Hammond (14-8)
2006 (9-11), 2005 (16-10), 2004 (13-10)

HAMMOND:  Hammond has won seven of their last nine including a 51-40 win over Wirt last week.  The Wildcats showed something, turning back a patient Wirt squad and they edged Morton 54-48.  I don't have a lot of faith that Hammond can win three games in a row and nobody else does either.  Chris Ware is shooting almost 68% from the floor (109-161, 67.7%) and is averaging 9.1 rebounds and 2.7 blocks a game.  I know the LAC competition wasn't great this year, but those numbers are.  The Wildcats play 3 times in 5 days and they have rarely succeeded in that scenario.

On the outside looking in...

(3A) Calumet (13-7)
2006 (4-19), 2005 (4-16), 2004 (2-20)

GARY:  The Warriors nipped Hobart 56-51 Friday.  It's been a very good season for Calumet basketball.  I wouldn't want to play them first, but I wouldn't mind playing them third.  Calumet needs a win at Merrillville Tuesday night (2-20-2007).  If they want to win the sectional, they need to beat the Pirates.  Other than that, bring anybody on, even Clark, the only sectional foe the Warriors have not beaten.  The Warriors' 10-man 'wave' attack will be ready for the playoff opener.  I like Calumet's draw and I make them the favorite at the Morton sectional.

(2A) Wheeler (14-5)
2006 (19-6), 2005 (16-5), 2004 (20-5)

UNION TOWNSHIP:  The Bearcats need some help here because the end of the schedule is weak.  You like 6-foot-7 Nate Kasper who shoots almost 65% (138-215, 64.1%) from the field and almost 79% (72-92, 78.7%) from the line.  Devin Schulter (4.6 assists) moves the ball well, even though this team may not have a true lead guard.  Understand the situation.  The Bearcats have never won a sectional title in the 97 years (Wheeler high has been around all 97 yards) of the state tournament and, at this moment, the other four teams in the five-team 2A sectional are under .500.  Where is the sectional being played?  At Wheeler.  It's now or never.  With a bye and the home curt... they have no excuses.  Next year there'll be seven teams in this sectional.  Not five.  Lose next week, Wheeler, and it may be another 97 years.

(1A) Oregon-Davis (19-1)
2006 (23-4), 2005 (11-10), 2004 (4-17)

HAMLET:  O-D ran their latest winning streak to five games with a 70-44 win over Marquette and they have just been dominant all year.  The Bobcats have a good match up with Westville (15-2) Tuesday night, but they're a better team than Westville.  With six seniors in this year's class, O-D is 41-5 in the last two years.  The Bobcats have lost just 49-43 to John Glenn, a team they cannot draw in the sectional Sunday.  O-D is the defending sectional champ and in a seven-team sectional, they didn't get a bye.  But Westville (16-3) is in the opposite end of the bracket.  The girls are still playing in the semistate and should go to the state finals.  And nobody even knows where the school is.  This is the greatest year in the history of Oregon-Davis basketball.  It won't stop next week.

(2A) John Glenn (15-4)
2006 (15-7), 2005 (20-7), 2004 (16-7)

WALKERTON:  The Falcons dominate with pace.  You can't run on them and you can't press them.  This is 'throwback' basketball.  Eight passes before a shot.  Glenn has beaten everybody in the sectional except Westview, and they've beaten them all by 10 points or more.  Glenn has seven seniors and I would suspect that you have to be an experienced player to play this style.  They have a 6-foot-6 player, but they don't use him.  The Falcons spread the floor with five guards and find your weakness.  Let's see if it works on Plymouth, who plays the same way.  Glenn needs a bye because their style not only keeps them in every game, it keeps the other side in every game.  Glenn had a 13-game winning streak broken at  Plymouth (18-2) Tuesday night.  But beware, they drew the host school, Fairfield (12-6), in the quarterfinals of the 2A Fairfield Sectional.  They'll also have to beat Jimtown (16-3 ) and Westview (14-5). That's a lot to ask.

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Revised: February 21, 2007 .