2005-2006 Boys Basketball  Week-5, Top-10 Poll A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith (1-12-2006)

VALPARAISO (1-12-2006)  Munster's two losses over the weekend left Valparaiso boys (10-0) and South Central's girls (14-0) as the only two undefeated basketball teams in the six county area (Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke, Jasper, Newton) county area we call NW Indiana.  The value of going undefeated in a regular season that precedes a single-elimination championship tournament is evidenced by the number of undefeated state champions there have been.  There simply aren't very many.  It's not about trying to lose a game.  It's about the emphasis you, the people around you and your opponents put on you being unbeaten.

The Indiana prep basketball season is a three month endurance test and when local yokels build up relatively meaningless contests as 'the game of the year,' it hurts the teams involved.  Who won last week's matchup of Andrean (9-3) and Munster (10-0)?  The team that forgets about it first.  There is a theory that the only thing that can beat Lawrence North in their quest for a third consecutive state title is too many 'events' during the year that might overshadow, or drain the team's emotion for the upcoming playoffs.

(This theory hasn't been proven positive yet as No. 1 Lawrence North smoked out No. 3 Pike 73-60 Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the Marion County Tournament in Indianapolis.)

This week's big moments include the North Central Conference showdown between Class 4A No. 2 Anderson (10-0) and No. 8 Muncie Central (8-2).  No. 1 Lawrence North should get another look at No. 6 North Central (10-1) in the Marion County tournament final.  Watch the Friday (1-13-2006) Northern Lakes Conference battle between Concord (6-4) and 3A No. 6 Plymouth (9-1) for a reading on how strong both sides are.  And nobody's state ranked, but the kids will get out the face paint and the weird costumes one more time as the 83rd Porter County Conference (PCC) Tournament begins (for the boys) next Wednesday night at Boone Grove high school.

It's not a peak year in NW Indiana high school basketball by any stretch of the imagination.  But let's get a status report on the prime time teams.

1.) 4A Valparaiso (10-0)

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

VALPARAISO - The Vikings are very solid and they turned back Michigan City 59-40 last Friday (1-6-6) to complete the first half of the season undefeated.  Watching Valpo is a clinic on spacing and passing the ball. You have to pick up the pace and make it a full court game to beat them. In Valpo's favor is that they play a low maintenance season. As much as we fans love big games, Valpo's schedule is very steady with no long road trips and no more practice week-interrupting Tuesday night games.  Hard to believe a 4A team without a big shot-blocking center can hold teams under 40 points a game but the's what Valpo has done.  They have only had their full lineup for four games and they can use some one game weeks to rest players.  The only fear is that weak foes like Portage (0-9) this Friday and Calumet (1-9) on Jan. 21 can dumb down their competitive zeal.  6-8 Scott Martin(19 ppg.) is 58 of 86 from the field (.674) and 6-4 Paul Coburn is 21 of 36 (.583). 6-8 Rob Hummel is 23 of 26 (.884) from the line and 13 of 24 from three-point range.  The next three foes for VHS are under .500 so this is the calm before the storm that includes Merrillville, Highland and Munster in the final four weeks.  The 'storm' may be harder on those three towns than it is on Valpo, the way things are going.

STATUS:  In 4A, the focus of all eyes.  And they could be still on the rise.

2.) 4A Munster (10-2)

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

MUNSTER -  Munster lost two close games over the weekend 54-53 to Andrean and 63-60 to East Chicago.  Those are top teams.  Munster was somewhat unlucky in the Andrean game where a player slipping on the floor led to the winning basket for the 59ers (10-3).  I find it hard to put too much significance into one mid-season weekend in January and anybody who thinks Munster was a top team seven days ago should still think so.  Dan Crisman is 25 of 30 (.833) from the line and Michael Bizoukas averages 7.1 assists a game.  True, they lost a 10-point fourth quarter lead at Andean and a seven point fourth quarter edge against EC.  I don't like the Mustangs' emphasis on three-point shots that was evident against Andrean.  The Mustangs can handle the ball well enough to lengthen their possessions and help out their defense.

STATUS:  Quality is not in doubt.  Knocked down, but certainly not out.

3.) 4A East Chicago (7-3)

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

EAST CHICAGO - EC finished the first half of the season with the 63-60 win over Munster, a potential sectional rival.  Junior wing E-Twan Moore (24.8 ppg.) scored 28 points and helped the Cardinals pull out a tough road game.  Don't kid yourself that losses to Indianapolis powers Arlington and North Central plus a losing trip to Fort Wayne Snider didn't help EC win at Munster.  The Cardinals will not be challenged in an up tempo game (unless it's by West Side) the rest of the year because they like that style too well.  New coach Pete Trgovich has his side in most every game against a wide-ranging independent slate.  Look for Merrillville to try to make it more of a half court game Saturday (1-14-2006) night.

STATUS:  Playing more like EC under PT.  But what will the post-season payoff be?

4.) 3A Andrean (10-3)

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

MERRILLVILLE -  I play down the 54-53 win over Munster (10-2) Friday (1-6-2006) because it took a miracle 10-point rally and a somewhat lucky Munster turnover to give the 59ers the victory.  It's time for Andrean to not read the papers or the web sites about how good they are or aren't.  The final nine games, though they will be hyped loudly locally, are just for fun.  It was a little unsettling to see Andrean celebrating the win over Munster like they'd won something.  They really haven't.  West Side, Penn, Highland and East Chicago are all quality foes, but the 59ers need to stay healthy and get ready for Roosevelt (6-6), Wirt (5-3) and Wallace (1-9).  None of the final nine games change the mission and nobody cares if they win the regular season LAC title.  Believe me, coach Mark Horvath is scouting Plymouth (9-1) and West Lafayette (7-3) and Benton Central (7-3).  The Niners know what's coming.

STATUS:  Niners know where they want to be.  They can't fold like USC.

5.) 4A Merrillville (7-3)

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

MERRILLVILLE - The Pirates have lost to Valparaiso (10-0), Munster (10-2) and Andrean (10-3) so the record at mid-season is almost exactly what it should be.  The Duneland Conference double-round robin hurts Merrillville, which is a pressure defense team. That style is negated somewhat the more times you play the same team.   By the time the playoffs come, teams will be seeing Merrillville for a third time and the Pirates may have to adjust.  Darryl Evans (15.1 ppg.) is 49 of 82 from the field (.597 FGA) but a few of those are the high percentage (read: dunk) shots.  Greg Hill made 28 of his first 33 (.848) free throws.  Merrillville's 56-54 win at Highland (8-3) was a good road triumph in a game that was close all the way.  The Pirates' lack of size will hurt them in a 'big' sectional, but Merrillville's solid man-to-man defense will win three out of every four.  A challenge comes up Saturday against East Chicago and 6-3 E-Twan Moore (22 ppg.).

STATUS:  Teams that beat them are all good.  They've won every game they should.

6.) 4A Highland (9-3)

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

HIGHLAND -  Highland slipped by Lake Central 48-42 after a 56-54 overtime loss to Merrillville and the Trojans are still looking for that big win that they thought was the OT triumph over West Side (4-5).  The Trojans didn't need to beat Merrillville, a team that is not a sectional foe.  They can take pride in a close battle with a team that is probably superior athletically.  Too hard on them?  Andrew Helmer (15.8 ppg.) always gives them a chance to win.  He's 52 of 63 from the foul line.  Right now, they are a victim of their LAC schedule.  Hidden by their 9-3 record is the fact that Highland has not defeated any team with a winning record other than 2A Wheeler 55-54 in overtime.  

STATUS:  Highland still a winning team. But over the last three years, what did that mean?

7.) 4A Gary West Side (4-5)

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

GARY -  West Side lost to Detroit's Pershing high school 57-49 to drop below the .500 mark, but there is still not much reason for concern.  The Cougars plays Wirt, Roosevelt and Lew Wallace in the next 10 days and if the schedule they've played has prepared them, then all three will be wins.  It's hard to know exactly what's happened to the Cougars since they play so much outside of NW Indiana, but the last eight regular season games are all in Lake County and the Cougars should pile up some wins.  West Side has more talent than this ranking, but they need to start playing regularly and getting ready for the playoffs.

STATUS:  The Side can't find the winning groove.  Time for them to bust a move.

8.) 4A Chesterton (6-5)

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

CHESTERTON -  The five losses are to Crown Point (6-4), Mishawaka (10-2), Merrillville (6-3), Valparaiso (10-0), and in overtime to Munster (10-2).  This team should be in everyone's top-10.  A 20-point win over Hobart was impressive.  Zack Novak (17.4 ppg., 8.9 rpg) was 42 of his first 49 (.857) from the line and Curt Bradford is 23 of 45 (. 425) from three-point range.  If 7-foot junior Evan Schmidt comes back this season (and it is said he will), the Trojans will have a starting lineup that is second to none in NW Indiana.  But the same rules apply here as they do for Highland.  These Trojans also only have one win over a winning team, and that's Michigan City (6-4).  Chesterton has a tough schedule with five road games in the next 28 days.

STATUS:  The next four weeks might not be sweet with five of seven on the street.

9.) 2A Wheeler (9-3)

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

VALPARAISO - Wheeler turned back arch rival Boone Grove 49-36 in a preview of a probable 2A Sectional battle.  The size of the Bearcats inside was troublesome for Boone and those two play in a five-team sectional with sub-.500 Lake Station, Bishop Noll and Hanover Central.  The Bearcats' combination of speed and size is the best in 2A in Northwest Indiana.  Nate Kasper is 50 of 85 (.588) from the floor and Nate Pitt is 31 of 40 (.775) from the foul line.  Plus, no one can be hungrier.  Remember, Wheeler is the Chicago Cubs. They have NEVER won a sectional basketball tournament and Wheeler high goes back almost to the start of the Indiana state tournament almost 90 years ago.

STATUS:  Situation under control, but nowhere near the final goal.

10.) 4A  Crown Point (6-4)

11-10 (2005), 14-6 (2004), 14-8 (2003)

CROWN POINT -  They have hinted at this all year, and despite injuries and illness, have stayed over .500 early.  But the real strength is a large sophomore class that is gaining experience.  The only victories over winning teams are an early triumph over 3A Morton (6-2) and the 51-48 win over Chesterton last week.  The Bulldogs will probably finish right at the .500 mark as the second half of their schedule is a little tougher than the first 10 games.  Danny Bouchee is 32 of 40 from the foul line (80%) and Stephen Albrecht is 20 of 25 (80%).  Aleks Alvanja is 30 of 47 from the field (.638).  This is an unusually high percentage shooting team.  I don't think CP is better than Chesterton yet, but would they beat 1A power Hebron (8-2)?  Probably.  Would they beat 2A PCC leader Boone Grove (6-2)?  We'll find out on Jan. 28.  Would they beat Michigan City (6-4)?  We'll find out Jan. 20.  The answers here will be readily available very soon.

STATUS:  Proven good enough for the regular season, but what about the post-season?

On the outside looking in...

11.) 2A Boone Grove (6-2)

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

PORTER TOWNSHIP - Boone lost to Wheeler last weekend, but they can make up for it in a double-header home weekend against South Central and Portage.  I'm surprised that Bryce Palleson is averaging 16 points a game, but this is always a well-coached team.  Boone gets 6-3 ace defender Will Mitchell back for the PCC tournament and they'll showdown with arch-rival Hebron Tuesday night.  You wish there were more good teams than this but there just aren't.

12.) 1A Hebron (8-2)

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

HEBRON - They wouldn't beat any of the top-10, but they have been strong almost every time out and they'll look to avenge an earlier loss when they take on arch-rival Boone Friday night.  There's good balance here.  Ace shooter Caleb Biggs is just 16 of 59 (.271) shooting 3-pointers, but that percentage will rise.  Senior Andy Stalbaum is 32 of 46 (.695) from the field and Ryne Marshall is 47 of 87 (.540).  Eric Luchene averages 7.1 rebounds per game and Ryan Guzorek averages 3.5 steals.

83rd annual Porter County Conference (PCC) tournament

1-21-2006 (Sat) 83rd PCC Championship game - 8 p.m.

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