2003-2004 Boys Basketball  Renegade Poll - Week 1 A USA-365.com Special Report (12-4-2003)

  1. Lake Central (1-0)

Lake Central had four players in double figures in a 66-55 win over Gary West Side. The Indians were only 23 of 35 (65.7%) from the line and they'll have to do better in the DAC. New 6-10 center Scott VanDerMeer scored only 2 baskets and he'll have to do better. LC faces a major test vs. Valparaiso Friday. Are they solid enough defensively?

2. Valparaiso (2-0)

Totally dominant in 2 games, beating Boone 91-51 and Hobart 69-27. Boone and Hobart will contend for their league titles. Valpo shot a good 16 of 24 (66.6%) from the line and an incredible 63-of-113  (55.9%) from the floor. Guard Bent Kimmell 14.0 ppg.) and 6-8 Brian McMillan (9.0 ppg.) are off to good starts. Valpo has made 18 three-point goals in 2 games. They aren't in the top-10 but they'd beat Munster, who is. Valpo is 156-73 (68.1%) over the last 10 years. That's no fluke.

3. LaPorte (1-0)

6-4 senior guard Jerome Vann scored 32 points in a 99-82 win over Riley last week. I have questions about Vann as a point guard because he shoots a lot. Watch out for Airrence Shark, who scored 17 in his varsity debut. Shark is a 5-9 freshman. It is amazing that a freshman scores 17 in his debut in the DAC. That does not happen. LaPorte was a scary 29 of 44 from the foul line, though. The pressure is on LaPorte this weekend to beat CP and New Prairie (1-1), two teams they should beat.

4.  Gary Roosevelt (2-1)

Robert Jenkins (20.7 ppg.) and Tyrone Appleton (17.6 ppg.) are off to big starts and I believe they'd win a rematch with Lew Wallace (3-0). Roosevelt is 49 of 73 (67.1%) from the foul line. Good numbers. Velt is a small, running pressing team and they may have been tired against Wallace, the 2nd game in two nights. The Panthers get a rematch on Dec. 17.

5. MERRILLVILLE (0-2)

Lets hold off on judging Merrillville until after this week's game at Chesterton (2-0). The Pirates were unlucky, losing to Highland 44-42 and Munster 54-52. They do lack offense without 6-2 senior LaVell Cook (14.5 ppg.), who is injured.  Merrillville shot only 5-of-12 from the foul line in the loss at Munster. I would suggest that the Pirates are better than both Munster and Highland and I would be surprised if they lost at Chesterton Friday.

6. Chesterton (2-0)

I'm suspicious of Chesterton's wins 67-51 over Morton (0-2) and 62-47 over Mishawaka (2-1). Matt Campbell (18.5 ppg,) and Matt Maple (13.0 ppg.) are good guards and John Malone (13.0 ppg.) has emerged as a wing threat with 6 three-point goals. If Merrillville neutralizes their perimeter play, can the Trojans go inside? Nobody knows Jim East much better than former assistant Tom Pellar, now Chesterton's coach.  But will traditionally slow-starting Merrillville lose 3 in a row?

7. ANDREAN (0-1)

They have not played since the Nov. 18, 82-78 loss to Roosevelt and the 59ers probably needed that time since Andrean football lasted until Nov. 14.  This weekend's game with Bishop Noll will be telling and the news should be good for Andrean. 

8. East Chicago (2-1)

The Cardinals freshman E'Twan Moore (15.3 ppg.) is an impact player. He's 15 f 17 from the line with six rebounds a game at 6-3.   5-8 guard Tremaine Cooley is at 22 ppg. and the Cardinals are 40 of 59 (66.9%) from the line.  You have to like the way they buried West Side 72-39 and they led LW at the half 39-33.

9.  Lew Wallace (3-0)

The region's biggest surprise without question. Many of these same boys were whipped soundly by sub-.500 Lowell in the sectional semifinals last year. I'm not buying into the Hornets'  'greatness' just yet.  They are 34 of 63 (53.9) from the line, bad numbers. Marcus Rhodes (20.3) has been big time, but what happens when somebody decides NOT to run with them?

10. Gary West Side (2-3)

West Side looked awful on the opening weekend, losing to Lake Central, East Chicago and Gary Roosevelt. Since then, West Side has beaten Kenwood and Senn, two Chicago Public League teams. 6-7 point guard Jamil Tucker is big and fast but inexperienced. West Side was 27 of 43 from the line against Kenwood. They need about 10 games before we can judge all the talent they have.

Others to watch......                    

Munster (2-0)

Ranked in the top-10 but so were their football and baseball teams this year before they fell early in the sectionals. Munster, Highland and Griffith get more hype than the law allows. Munster was down 38-27 to Merrillville with 6:33 left in the game. They came back to win but Munster should not have trailed Merrillville (without Lavell Cook) at home by 11. Other than Josh Martin (21 ppg.), the Mustangs have some offensive problems. The addition of a shooter to a team that graduates inside people is not a blueprint for success. And what happens when they go against someone who has size inside?  Munster could win the LAC but still not be among the top-10 in this area.

LOWELL (2-0)

The Red Devils will go 4-0 before the LAC tournament and that is their best start in 10 years. Dustin Manis and Mike Miller are both good point guards. Jim Jeffries (20.0 ppg.) can draw the defense to him and the Devils can convert free throws (17 of 24, 70.8). The Devils  must not get carried away with early wins over weak opponents.   Gary West Side at Lowell on Jan. 31 might be the most interesting regular season game of the year.

Morgan Township (2-0)

Young Matt Bush (23 pg.) and Nate McGinley (22 ppg.) are the keys and guard Brian Melton (11.5) hits from outside. Bush, a 6-4 win and McGinley a 6-6 junior forward, are both Division I players, a rarity for a 1A school. You do need to ask why they beat Knox just 75-73 at home in overtime but this team has the firepower and its now or never. Morgan could play PCC rivals Bone Grove and Washington Township three times each. It is conceivable they could face Hebron four times.

BOYS BASKETBALL  NOTES:  In the South County tournament at Morgan Township on Dec. 29., Morgan Township faces Hebron and Kouts (2-0) plays Boone Grove. The third place and title games are the next night, Dec. 30. Kouts beat Hebron 74-57 on Nov. 28, but they won't be evening the all-time series anytime soon. The Times' Keith Nuest reports that Hebron and Kouts have played 167 times and Hebron leads 102-65.  Wheeler and Washington Township played for the 123rd time last week with Wheeler winning 56-54. Wheeler leads the series 81-42.

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