2004-2005 Boys Basketball  Week-6 Renegade Poll A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith (1-5-2005)

(1-5-2005) The lack of an undefeated team in NW Indiana mean that the top teams are playing good competition, something that will benefit everyone down the line. Andrean's loss to a .500 (at the time) Brebeuf team is ominous about the overall strength of NW Indiana in 2005 as is East Chicago's loss to a .500 Marion team.

The Mishawaka (8-0) team that defeated Chesterton in overtime is still undefeated as is the Arlington (8-0) team that beat East Chicago. There is a noticeable lack of NW Indiana teams in holiday tournaments and that does not help a squad develop. Class 4A does not appear strong in the northern part of Indiana but Class 3A is well-stocked with Northridge (7-2), Plymouth (7-1) and Tippecanoe Valley (8-1). In the middle of the state, 4A is a monster with Pike (8-1), defending state champ Lawrence North (10-1), top-ranked Arlington (8-0) in Indianapolis plus traditional superpowers Lafayette Jefferson (7-2) Muncie Central (9-1), Muncie South (8-1) and Anderson (7-0).

1.) Merrillville (5-2)

MERRILLVILLE – It is inevitable that Merrillville takes over the top spot. The Pirates are a bounce and a tip away from being 7-0. They have two overtime losses to LaPorte 63-58 and Andrean 64-61 and Merrillville is better than both of those teams. It is significant that this team is undefeated in regulation time. The Pirates have beaten Valparaiso, Chesterton, Crown Point and Michigan City by eight points or more and they should have beaten Valpo by much more than 64-56 Tuesday night (Jan. 4). Guard Josh Mayo (14 ppg.) is a strong floor leader and the Pirates are more athletic in the backcourt than most teams outside of Gary and East Chicago. You wish they could shoot the ball better and 6-2 junior forward Greg Hill (12 ppg.) is still inconsistent but the Pirates are the clear cut favorite in the 14-game Duneland Athletic Conference double-round robin.

2.) East Chicago (5-4)

EAST CHICAGO – EC is still here because of the independent schedule. Three of their four losses are by 10 points or less and the other is by 12 to top-ranked Arlington. EC lost 54-50 to Marion of the North Central Conference last week (Dec. 30). East Chicago is the only NW Indiana team that truly knows where they stand against the state's top teams because they have played them.

A telling test comes Saturday when the Cardinals host a much younger but taller Munster (7-2) team, a squad that has not played one game outside Lake and Porter County all season.

This will be a measuring stick for both teams.

3.) Valparaiso (7-2)

VALPARAISO – Valpo was shut down by Chesterton (Dec. 28) and Merrillville (Jan. 4) 64-56. It was time for them to lose a couple.

6-5 Scott Martin (11.4 ppg.) has been the big newcomer and he scored 20 against Merrillville. 6-6 Jon Hummel, also a sophomore, is an impressive all-court player. I know that 7-2 isn't a bad record but give this team some time. They can field a front line of 6-5, 6-6 and 5-8 without being slow and the backcourt is capable.

This is a mid-season slump and it will end. I'm not sure they can defeat Merrillville this season because they don't match up that well. But you better beat Valparaiso now because this team is destined to rule the Duneland Athletic Conference some day soon.

4.) Gary West Side (7-3)

GARY – West Side will be 9-3 when they play at East Chicago on Jan. 27. They dominate Gary competition but they won't see any Gary schools in the post-season so that does not matter. The 'Side' was not great in the Gary Holiday tournament but they have to be getting bored facing Lew Wallace (West is 3-0 against LW this year) all the time. West has yet another game to play with Wallace, which has a poorer concept of defense than the Chicago Bears.

There simply aren't many tests left on the West Side schedule. One will be the game with Munster on Feb. 9.

5.) Andrean (8-1)

MERRILLVILLE – Andrean lost 65-62 at Brebeuf (5-4) and that's all good. No team needs to be undefeated because it adds undue focus to and gets in the way of their motivation and improvement. 6-7 Luke Harangody scored 22 in the semifinals of the Brebeuf Jesuit Classic, a 74-61 win over Marquette University. Harangody then scored 27 in the 65-62 loss. It is unlikely that the 59ers can go to Munster (7-2) and repeat their earlier 60-57 victory on Dec. 18. But that early win over Merrillville (5-2) is looking better all the time.

It's too bad LC and Crown Point won't play them.

6.) Crown Point (4-4)

CROWN POINT – Okay, so they lost to Merrillville again, 67-53 on Dec. 29. What is that? 2 wins and 31 losses in the last 18 years. So what else is new? The Bulldogs bounced back to beat Gavit and Portage 56-47 Tuesday (Jan. 4) to return to the .500 mark. The Bulldogs need a win over Chesterton (4-5) Friday (Jan. 6) but it's a tall order on the road. This is still a high quality team and the close losses to Lake Central and Michigan City obscure that. Look for sophomore wing Matt Ernest to start making an impact but the front line of Sam Henderson, Ryan Brown and Brian Maloney has to shine every night in a big and tall DAC.

CP starts five seniors who still have a lot to prove and they have a winning streak in them. Just keep Merrillville away from the 'Dog' house.

7.) Munster (7-2)

MUNSTER - Munster posted a nice win over Chesterton 63-48 after Chesterton had stopped Valparaiso. The Mustangs had been allowing high point totals until the second half, when they held the Trojans to 23 points. Jeff Mariner sank five three-point baskets as Munster rallied to win. Munster has scored 63 or more points six times in nine game. The Mustangs were 4-of-10 from the line against Chesterton but that's probably a fluke. They were 19 of 27 against Lake Central in a 69-64 win a week earlier.

Wins over Clark (3-3), Whiting (0-6) and Calumet (2-7) are just warmups. They beat Hammond (6-4), Lake Central (4-5) and Noll (3-6) but how good are those teams? It's hard to tell whether the Mustangs can win the sectional. But I don't need to know yet. It's still very early in the year.

8.) Chesterton (4-5)

CHESTERTON – Chesterton beat Valparaiso (7-2) but lost to Munster (7-2) and at LaPorte (4-5). The Trojans have three 'must win' but tough games with Crown Point (4-4), Michigan City (4-4) and Hobart (5-3).

The Trojans have lost to LC (4-5), Merrillville (5-2), LaPorte (6-3), Munster (7-2) and Mishawaka (8-0).

You've got to like that win over the Vikings, the first Chesterton win over Valpo in four years. Casey Martin (9.6 ppg.) scored a season-best 15 and they need more games like that from him. This is another very talented but young DAC team playing a schedule that hides their true worth.

9.) LaPorte (6-4)

LaPORTE – LaPorte lost in the final round of the holiday 'Super Hoops” tournament 57-46 to East Central (6-4), but they bounced back Tuesday night with a home win, 63-60 over Chesterton. You've got to want to buy LaPorte season tickets. After 10 games, the Slicers were 6-0 at home and 0-4 away from home. Road games at Merrillville (5-2) and Plymouth (9-1), with state leading scorer Kyle Benge, make the second half of the season spicy. But LaPorte could go 10-0 at home. You can't say their fan following (second to none in NW Indiana) doesn't make a difference.

10.) Lake Central (5-4)

ST. JOHN – LC's 73-70 win at Michigan City continues a season of last second success. I don't know how they're doing it but miraculous wins over Crown Point, Chesterton (73-68 in OT), West Side (74-73) and Portage (66-58 in 2 OTs) keep LC afloat at the half way mark.

Seniors Jon Maida, Dave Hoffmaster and Brett Summers always seem to have a little something left at the end.

Losses are to Merrillville (5-2), Valparaiso (7-2), East Chicago (5-4) and Munster (7-2). Another case of, 'tough team. tougher schedule'.

OUTSIDERS...

Outsider No. 1 - Boone Grove (5-1)

PORTER TOWNSHIP - Boone has been idle since they won the South County tournament on Dec. 23. 6-4 Danny Borys (21.5 ppg,) leads Porter County in scoring. The Wolves needed practice time because the schedule heats up with a PCC game Friday (Jan. 7) at Hanover Central and a rivalry game 24 hours later (Jan. 8) against Wheeler (6-3).

Boone still has DAC friends Portage, Chesterton and Merrillville still to play plus North Judson (6-1) and the PCC tournament. Hope they got a lot of rest over the holidays.

Outsider No. 2 - Kouts (6-1)

KOUTS - They lost to Boone in the PCC tournament and then took two weeks off like Boone. The 'Gang of Four', John Lauer (15.1 ppg.), Jake Schoon (15.0 ppg.) Jake Birky (9.3 ppg.) and point guard Johnny Selman (12.3 ppg.) keep the offense from being shut down.

Foul shooting (120-164, 73.1%) continues to be very good. They have a big test on the road at North Judson (6-1) Friday, but the PCC tournament is winnable for them.

Outsider No. 3 - North Judson (6-1)

NORTH JUDSON - They will come off a 16-day layoff to host Kouts on Friday, Jan. 7. That's a bit too long. If Hanover begins a holiday tournament when their new gym opens this fall, North Judson should be in it. Give Judson credit for scheduling Bishop Noll, a potential regional opponent, on Feb. 25.

6-5 junior Joel Kerns (15.0 ppg.) scored 12 in the 48-47 OT loss to John Glenn (4-2) and 6-4 Adam Richie (14.7) added 13. A post-based team, Judson allows only 41 points per game but 90-of-134 (67.1%) from the foul line probably needs to improve with this type of squad.

Outsider No. 4 - Hobart (5-3)

HOBART - Hobart's been on the outside so long, they don't know what the inside looks like. But a sweep of the Wheeler Invitational including a 48-46 win over the host school hints that may change soon. Senior point guard Josh Hughes (6.1 ppg.) scored 10 in the 61-60 upset of Hammond and 10 in the 48-46 upset of Wheeler.

Hobart, which carries a three-game winning streak to Gavit (0-7) Friday night, has not won four consecutive games in eight years. Who is Michael Brown? The sophomore guard has 20 three-point goals in eight games and 10 in his last three games.

I don't think the Brickies are better than Michigan City, but Hobart wasn't supposed to be better than Hammond either.

Copyright © 2004 USA-365.com and Meyer Multimedia Services, a division of Meyer Broadcasting Corp.  All rights reserved.
Revised: January 05, 2005 .