2005-2006 Boys Basketball  Week-6, Top-10 Poll A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith (1-18-2006)

VALPARAISO (1-18-2006)  As the snow flies and we descend into the 'dog days' of the high school basketball season, the love of the game is tested.  Teams have to grind out wins.  One Friday's victor is the next week's victim.  All three major leagues are a little short on talent in 2006 with tradition-rich teams like Lake Central (4-8), Portage (1-10), LaPorte (4-10), Hammond (5-5), Gary Roosevelt (6-7), Bishop Noll (4-9) and Gary West Side (5-7) all living on the poor side of town.  

Looking better are Valparaiso (11-0) and satellite countries Boone Grove (8-2) and Hebron (9-2).  In the long run, the fact that most area teams will be better next year is a blessing because 'King Kong' in the person of undefeated USA No. 1 Lawrence North (12-0) will have graduated it's state championship players.

If NW Indiana want to know how the other half lives, they should check out ESPN II (Com Cast Cable Channel 38) Thursday night when (Indianapolis) North Central (11-2) tries to even the score with Lawrence North (13-0) in a nationally televised game from the south side of Indianapolis.  Lawrence North beat North Central 78-55 last Saturday night in front of 5,000 fans in the championship game of the 16-team Marion County tournament.

North Central, with Eric Gordon, the nation's top junior player, will try again to beat Lawrence North with Greg Oden, the USA's top senior. North led North Central just 55-50 after three quarters and got blown away in the final period.

NW Indiana, with the possible exception of Valparaiso, would appear to be so far behind Indianapolis this season that we're going to need MapQuest to find Conseco Fieldhouse.  I'm hoping that the fact that no team has come within 14 points of Valparaiso in 11 games is indicative of the budding greatness of the green and white and not the almost stunning mediocrity of everybody else in the 2006 campaign.  

We're going to have to hire some of those Republican lobbyists the government is indicting to pay our way down to Indy because some of the pretenders in Lake County have as much a chance of going to the finals as Peanut Tillman did of covering Steve Smith last Sunday.  But after watching the Chicago Bears luck their way to an 11-5 record before being dismissed, I'd hesitate to say that anything is impossible.

The focus this week is the Porter County Conference tournament, which features the matchup of Hebron and Boone Grove Thursday night in the quarterfinals.

1.) 4A Valparaiso (11-0)

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

VALPARAISO - The Vikings are in a coasting mode with games against LaPorte (4-10) and Calumet (1-11) coming up.  Here's where that 'love of the game' thing has to kick in.  There's no reason for the Vikings to get excited about their next two foes but they have to keep playing the lesson of the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears is that you can't horse around for three weeks and come back anything like you were.  Valpo needs to ratchet up the practices this month before they face Munster on Jan. 28, because the workouts are going to be tougher than the games.

2.) 4A  Munster (11-2)

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

MUNSTER -  Munster routed Lowell 80-37 Saturday (1-14-2006) to get back on track after two losses.  The Mustangs actually don't have any problems.  Both of the games they lost were to top opponents in games they led significantly in the fourth quarter.  You can cite that as a problem if you just want something to worry about.  But Munster arguably has been the best team on the floor 13 times.  The loss to Andrean was clearly somewhat of a final minute fluke.  But the ponies have to go hard for two long cold months to get where they want to be.  Have you seen their schedule?  Munster begins a six-game road trip (that includes Gary West Side and Valparaiso) at arch rival Highland on Jan. 27.

3.) 4A  East Chicago (8-4)

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

EAST CHICAGO -  EC got blown out 66-46 by Merrillville last week.  All year long the question here has been defense.  You won't win allowing 60 points a game in high school basketball like EC has through 11 games. That dog won't hunt.  The Cardinals started back down Glory Road Tuesday night (1-17-2006) with a 60-50 win over Hammond as 6-5 David Bell scored a season-best 19 points.  Bell is a huge X-factor.  He can do things athletically that 95% of the other boys can't.  He needs to put the ball on the floor and make any defender pay for trying to guard him one on one.  The Cardinals have to be somewhat strong-minded about not letting the game slow.  Don't lose the Merrillville game tape.  EC may need it come March.

4.) 3A Andrean (11-4)

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

MERRILLVILLE -  The 59ers played defense like the Chicago Bears in a 78-61 loss at home against Chesterton Tuesday night (1-17-2006).  Here's another game which shows the strength of the two leagues.  Those in denial still say that the Lake Athletic Conference can play with the Duneland Athletic Conference.  Zack Novak and Curt Bradford both scored 30 points on Andrean and two players can't score 30 on you in a 32-minute game.  There may be some changes here.  Four of the 59ers last six foes have scored 70 points or more.  Coach Mark Horvath might have to insert a defensive style player to give his lineup a different mix.  6-8 Luke Harangody scored 27 against Chesterton, but offense isn't the problem.  There's only seven games left.  Time is running out and potential regional foe Plymouth (10-2) is still winning, allowing 43 points a game.

5.) 4A  Merrillville (9-3)

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

MERRILLVILLE -  The Pirates crushed LaPorte 61-49 and East Chicago 66-46 last week to run their win streak to four games.   5-9 guard Darryl Evans scored 22 points both nights as the speed of Merrillville limited offensive chances.  EC star E-Twan Moore was held to 21 points.  Here's the question.   I'm just not sure whether the Pirates record is a product of their excellence or the result of lack of quality opposition.  The Pirates have four games, Lake Central, Michigan City and Chesterton  where they must earn the right to play Valparaiso (11-0) for the DAC title next month.  Let's see how they do night after night in the dark part of January.

6.) 4A  Chesterton (8-5)

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

CHESTERTON -  Here is NW Indiana's team to watch.  The Trojans smoked out Andrean 78-61 Tuesday night (1-17-2006) despite the fact that 6-7 center Chris Saylor didn't play.  The schedule this team plays has benefited them.  The five losses are to Crown Point (6-5), Mishawaka (11-2), Merrillville (8-3), Valparaiso (11-0), and in overtime to Munster (11-2).  I'll repeat what I said after they lost to Crown Point this month.  This team should be in everyone's top-10.  6-5 forward Zack Novak was 12-of-12 from the line in a 32-point game against Andrean and 6-1 guard Curt Bradford sank five long range shots and totaled 31.  If 7-foot junior Evan Schmidt comes back this season, the Trojans will be a major player as they host the 4A sectional that undefeated Valparaiso must win.  The Trojans have Portage (1-11) and  Lake Central (4-8) coming up before they meet Valpo (11-0).  Chesterton also has PCC power Boone Grove (8-2) left on Feb. 21.

7.) 4A Highland (9-3)

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

HIGHLAND -   Highland turned back another sub-.500 foe in Griffith 66-35 last Friday, a solid win.  The Trojans are still looking for some tough games and they won't have to look far.  Andrean (11-4), Morton (8-4) and Munster (11-2) are up next.  The truth can't hide.  Other than a one-point neutral court overtime win over Wheeler (9-4), Highland has not defeated anyone with a winning record.

8.)  4A Gary West Side (6-7)

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

GARY -  West Side turned back Roosevelt 63-54 Tuesday (1-17-2006) despite an incredible 39 turnovers.  I don't know what's wrong here, but time is running out.  West Side beat Wirt 86-81 last Friday.  These performances are as weak as 'Master P' on 'Dancing with the Stars.'  Jamil Tucker scored 30, but that's not the point.  You have to balance the schedule against the talent and the performance and the Side does not have any quality wins at all.  The only winning team the Cougars have beaten is (Indianapolis) Howe (6-5).  Some day soon, they'll have to beat somebody good.  East Chicago (Jan. 26), Munster and Andrean are coming.

9.) 2A Wheeler (9-3)

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

VALPARAISO -   Wheeler can't lose 63-54 to Clark (7-3).  The Bearcats, buoyed by a 13-point win over Boone Grove (8-2) the week before, failed big time in this test.  The Cats need offense other than center Nate Kasper.  This team has a soft schedule the rest of the way and they will have to lift their game in practice.  There is every possibility that Wheeler can go 17-3.  Morton (7-2) and North Judson (7-3) are the only winning teams left on the schedule.  Don't get me wrong.  I still like this team.  But the loss to Clark raised questions that can't be answered by blowing out Marquette (2-7) and Lake Station (1-8).

10.) 4A  Crown Point (6-5)

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

CROWN POINT -  It's debatable that CP is better than LC, but I think they are despite the fact that they've blown two leads and lost to LC (4-8)  twice.  CP, with six sophomores in their top-10, are still a hair ahead of LC off of wins over Morton (7-3) and Chesterton (8-5).  The only quality team LC has beaten is Crown Point.

On the outside looking in...

11.) 2A  Boone Grove (8-2)

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

PORTER TOWNSHIP  -  The future is now for Boone as 6-3 forward Will Mitchell rejoined the team in game 11 and scored 13 in a 53-50 win over South Central (7-3).  Boone now becomes a tall team (for the PCC) with 6-4 Jon Shurr and 6-3 Bryce Palleson.  6-1 wide body David Mastey got valuable playing time and now plays an integral role.  The showdown is set for Thursday night against Hebron (9-2) in the quarterfinals of the 83rd PCC tournament.

12.) 4A  Hebron (9-2)

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

HEBRON -  The Hawks geared up for that PCC tournament matchup with rival Boone (8-2) Thursday night (1-19-2006) at Boone.  The Hawks, with six seniors, have lost only to Boone and Wheeler and this is the second of three meetings between these two arch rivals. There are some down teams in the PCC this season but when the leagues two biggest rivals are 1-2 in the standings, it's hard to say it's a bad year.

13.) 1A  Oregon-Davis (11-2)

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

HAMLET -  O-D is on a five game winning streak and they're sailing along as expected.  The Bobcats have defeated South Central (8-3), Washington Township (8-3)  and Class 3A Knox (5-5).  The brothers Johnston, 6-3 Brandon and 6-1 David Johnston have been consistent.  The losses are to Triton (6-5) and Glenn (8-3) and O-D should win every game the rest of the way if they beat Bremen (7-4) in the semifinals of the Bi-County tournament Thursday night.  This is a junior-dominated team, so it may be another season before they reach peak potential.

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Revised: January 21, 2006 .