2005-2006 Boys Basketball  Week-9, Top-10 Poll A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith (2-10-2006)

VALPARAISO (2-10-2006)  The boys season goes underground while the girls state playoffs dominate notice.  Valparaiso stands as the top-rated team as they have been all season and the Vikings, who have won 77 of their last 88 games, are the only true state finals contender in NW Indiana.  I have a feeling that Valparaiso, which has just three games in the final 20 days of the month of February, needs that time to heal up all of its players.  Valparaiso has just gone through three back-to-back two-game weekends.  That's something that prepares you for the sectional but you don't want to do it in the final weeks unless you have a lot of depth.

It's a weak year in South Bend, but the Elkhart area teams to watch are Mishawaka (15-2), Penn (14-2) and Memorial (15-2), which has won eight games in a row.  But all three of those big winning teams are in the same Class 4A Sectional 4, along with Concord (8-7) and two sub. 500 squads in Elkhart Central and Goshen.  The draw will be crucial in the most difficult sectional in the northern half of the state.

Meanwhile,  giants walk the earth Saturday night (2-11-2006) in Evanston, Illinois as Class AA No. 1 Glenbrook North (20-1) steps up to take the challenge of Class 4A No. 1 Lawrence North (17-0) on the floor of Welsh-Ryan Arena at Northwestern University.  USA No. 16 Glenbrook is led by 6-foot-5 Duke recruit John Schuyer while USA No. 5 Lawrence North is anchored by 7-foot-1 Greg Oden, the nation's top player.  Not only is Lawrence North the undisputed No. 1 team in Indiana, they have assembled the No. 1 schedule state-wide.

North has beaten seven Top-20 teams in three states and they still have Bloomington South (15-3), Pike (13-2) and Glenbrook North (20-1) yet to play.  This is the schedule that Valparaiso would like to play next year when they will be nationally ranked, except they are handcuffed by the 14-game Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) double round robin.

Boys games move to Thursday nights this week due to the girls state playoffs.  Route 2 rivals Lowell and Boone Grove meet for the first time in over 10 years.

1.) 4A Valparaiso (16-1)

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

VALPARAISO -   Valparaiso blew out Chesterton and topped Highland behind 42 points from Scott Martin.  Valpo lost a 14-point lead and fell 55-53 to Munster and some asked, what's wrong.  A few numbers.  Valparaiso has won 16 games by 10 points or more, the No. 1 total state-wide.  The Vikings' average margin of victory is 21 points a game and they have played 15 Class 4A schools.  Barring an injury to 6-foot-8 juniors Rob Hummel and Scott Martin, the Vikings will enter the state tournament in March as the favorite.  The correct question is, was Munster's win over Valparaiso a fluke?  Valpo did lead by 14 and they missed an uncontested layup at the end.  Coach Bob Punter will realize that he's been wrong all these years.  The loss to Munster makes everyone speak of Valpo in a skeptical sense instead of prematurely installing them in the state finals.  Any coach would admit the former is a much better atmosphere than the latter.  Valpo still eyes the challenge of Merrillville (12-5) on Feb. 17.

 2.) 4A  Munster (16-3)

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

MUNSTER -   Munster now carries the heavy hype burden and they coasted through a 58-46 win at Hobart last week.  It may have showed Wednesday night in a 64-60 loss to Gary West Side.  Munster has Lew Wallace (1-13) and Portage (2-14) down the stretch so they're going to have to crank up the practices to stay in any type of condition for the tough East Chicago Sectional.  The Mustangs aren't No. 1  because of the schedule they've played and the many more close games they've had than Valpo.  And, let's be honest, nobody truthfully thinks the Mustangs are better than Valparaiso.  But they don't have to be.  Munster just has to be better than East Chicago (12-4) and Gary West Side.  And since they've already lost to both, that will be enough of a task.

The Mustangs, who had question marks to start the season, keep hearing and reading how good they are.  But the truth is, that's been said for four years now and the questions about defense and athleticism vs. the sectional field are still there.  The Mustangs will end the season with a lot of wins but so did the Seattle Seahawks.  Munster has five players who average nine or more points (after 18 games), but balanced scoring is something coaches like.  The truth is, balance usually doesn't win in the state tournament.  A pair of big scorers and a solid defense do.  As well as they have played, Munster does not have either.  West Side and EC have laid down the challenge, and even though the Mustangs will finish at 19-3, Munster has to wonder whether they can handle both of them in the same week.

3.) 4A East Chicago (12-4)

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

EAST CHICAGO -   EC is in hibernation due to a 10-day layoff and the Feb. 9 game with Lew Wallace (1-13) may not be much of a roadblock.  The Cardinals may come down to how 6-5 high jumper David Bell plays in the final two months.  Many locally know that Bell started on the Gary West Side team that won the sectional and regional titles in 2005 and that type of experience is invaluable now.  It makes little difference how many points he scores.  He is perfect for EC's up-tempo attack and defense.  Bell could be the defensive stopper who eliminates players like Jamil Tucker of West Side or Michael Bizoukis of Munster.   EC isn't big inside so they have to win games on the perimeter.  E'Twan Moore (22 ppg.) will score plenty, but Bell epitomizes what they must do with athleticism, depth and experience.  EC has defeated every possible sectional foe except Lowell (5-10).  Still, I don't like their pace for the state tournament.  The game slows down and EC will have trouble with that.

4.) 4A Merrillville (12-3)

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

MERRILLVILLE -   The Pirates are fun to watch, maybe too much fun.  They won over Crown Point for the 16th time in a row last week 62-60 with a fourth quarter rally.  Truthfully, with the Bulldogs inexperience, Merrillville should beat CP by 10 or more.  The fact that they have struggled with the Bulldogs twice makes a third meeting in the Chesterton Sectional something to look forward to... for Crown Point.  Even Janet Gretzky wouldn't bet that Merrillville beats CP a third time this year.  The Pirates basically play one forward (Greg Hill) and four guards and their quickness is very entertaining.  Players like Anthony Anderson are difficult to deal with defensively.  High-flying Darryl Evans really can't miss any more dunks because when he blows a jam, coach Jim East has to bench him and the Pirates need him out there.  Freshman center Greg Smith is the 6-foot-6 post man the Pirates need, but he's not really ready to play much on the varsity.  This team need to be in the underdog role and they will be when they host Valparaiso (15-1) on Feb. 17.  But the Pirates need to buckle down for Chesterton (10-6) this Thursday (2-9-2006) night.

5.) 4A Chesterton (10-6)

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

CHESTERTON -   A 26-point loss to Valparaiso put the chill in Chesterton, but they'll get a third shot at the Vikings in March.  Top scorer Zack Novak (18 ppg.) was held to just 14 points, but he was going against 6-8 Rob Hummel.  The six losses are to Crown Point (6-10), Mishawaka (15-2), Merrillville (12-3), Valparaiso (16-1), and in overtime to Munster (16-2) and the combined record there is 65-17.  The Trojans have a tough assignment Thursday night at Merrillville, but Trojans Novak and Curt Bradford match up better here than they do against Valparaiso.  Chesterton looks like a casualty of the DAC.  They are better than Highland or Andrean and probably as good as Munster.  But because of where they play, they will have to lift their play considerably to win the 4A Sectional on their home floor.  No conclusive word on the physical condition of injured 7-foot junior Evan Schmidt, who's return would help with that heavy lifting.

6.) 3A Andrean (14-5)

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

MERRILLVILLE -   Andrean beat Lowell and Penn 58-50, breaking Penn's six game winning streak.  Luke Harangody (23.5 ppg.) sat out the Lowell game and played against Penn, scoring 20.  The 59ers also now have forward Chris Kaba (11.9 ppg.) and guard Anthony Johnson (8.9 ppg,.) as other options.  Harangody is 104-of-127 (81.9%) from the foul line and Kaba is 53 of 64 (82.8%).  The team is over 70% and you can win with that.  Here's this week's Plymouth update: The Pilgrims are 12-4 and apparently have regained the services of three suspended players.  These updates are brought to you by "LOGIC."  Everybody knows that Andrean and Plymouth are always on a collision course.

7.) 4A Gary West Side (9-8)

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

GARY -  West Side picked up their first quality win of the season with a 64-60 triumph over Munster.  Jamil Tucker scored 24 as the Cougars rallied late to take out the LAC champions.  This has to give West Side the feeling that they can win the sectional again.  The Cougars host Andrean (14-5) on Feb. 14 and we'll know more after that 'valentines' date.  Again, with the 6-foot-8 Tucker (19 ppg.), the 'Side' always has a chance in any game.  But West Side lost to Highland and beat Munster.  What spins that logic upside down is that Munster has decisively beaten Highland twice.  The Cougars would like to think they're better than their record but the 64-60 win may have said more about Munster than it did West Side.

8.) 4A Highland (14-4)

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

HIGHLAND -   Highland should keep in mind that they have only lost to Munster (twice), Merrillville and East Chicago and the Trojans have three scoring choices in Andrew Helmer (14.1 ppg.), JD Fabian (10.7 ppg.) and Derek Moser (10.4 ppg.).  But this is Munster without a true lead guard like Michael Bizoukas.  There is a problem with having your top scorer be your lead guard.  You can be very easy to predict in key situations.  Highland is 74 of 237 (31%) from 3-point range and that's good enough to upset some superior teams if they can rebound effectively.  But they aren't as good as Gary West Side and Munster and all three know it.

9.) 2A Wheeler (14-4)

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

VALPARAISO -  Wheeler beat Morgan Township 46-25 but Morgan is 2-13.  Wheeler will play 22 games and finish at 18-4, but if they draw Boone Grove, all the pressure will be on Wheeler.  The Bearcats' losses are to 3As Clark and Morton plus small 4A Highland and Hobart.  They are unbeaten against the 1A and 2A foes they play.  Wheeler is very much like Munster.  They have done almost all they can do during the regular season and they must confront a history of early knockouts at sectional time.  Wheeler would do well to draw Boone Grove (13-3) in the sectional opener and confront them head on.

10.) 2A Boone Grove (13-4)

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

PORTER TOWNSHIP -   Boone Grove was upset 57-56 in overtime by North Judson.  The Jays will be a formidable regional rival for whoever comes out of 2A Sectional 33 and Boone should hope they see Judson again.  Boone's losses are to South Central (12-4), Wheeler (14-4), North Judson (9-6) and Valparaiso (16-1) so obviously, they have quality.  Boone Grove is looking forward to a match at arch-rival Hebron (11-3), a team they have already defeated twice, next Tuesday night, Feb. 14.  A 3-game sweep over Hebron and another sectional title would make it a satisfying season for the Wolves.

On the outside looking in...

11.) 1A Hebron (11-3)

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

HEBRON -  Hebron is still waiting on the Feb. 14 game with Boone Grove (13-4), a game they probably can use to springboard into the state tournament next month.  The Feb. 18 game with South Central (12-4) lines up a possible regional foe.  The Hawks host the sectional and this is a year they've been peaking for.  It's a good year in Class 1A in the north.  I don't know how far you can project Hebron, but from day one I've liked the makeup of this team.  Then again, I liked the makeup of the Indianapolis Colts, too.

12.) 1A  Oregon-Davis (16-3)

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

HAMLET -  Oregon-Davis spanked Westville for the second time this season, winning 64-48 last Saturday.  Again, this is the school that lost 56 games in a row from 2000 to 2003.  Now, they are on track for a school-record number of wins.  Again, these Starke County boys, who have two sub- .500 teams left on the schedule (they are Starke County neighbors of North Judson and Knox) are about to become a traditional old-school Hoosier story.  Oregon-Davis has 200 kids and it's in the middle of nowhere.  Clearly the Bobcats have no playoff experience plus South Central (12-4) in their way in Sectional 50.  But get ready to learn about Oregon-Davis high school as the Bobcats are a sectional title away from their 15 minutes of fame.

13.) 3A Wirt (8-6)

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

GARY -   Wirt nipped Hammond high to go to 8-6 on the season.  The Troopers are still a blind spot for NW Indiana media despite wins over Hammond, Morton and Clark.  Here's a shocker.  According to the Sagarin ratings, Wirt has played the 40th toughest schedule (Including 7 Class 4A teams) in the state out of almost 400 teams.  That is the highest ranking for any team in the six-county area (Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper and Starke) we call NW Indiana.  None of the four dozen teams in NW Indiana has played a tougher schedule than Wirt and still, they are looking at a 12-7 finish.  The Troopers reportedly play in one of the most dilapidated schools in NW Indiana.  They don't get more than a couple of home game.  Wirt plays their final seven games on the road and five games are left, including weekend dates at Howe Military Friday (2-10-2006) and at Kankakee Valley Saturday afternoon.  No one has heard of them except for Andrean.  I'd bet cash money the 59ers are scouting almost every game Wirt plays now.

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Revised: February 11, 2006 .