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2003-2004
Boys Basketball
Renegade Poll - Week 4A USA-365.com Special Report(12-25-2003) |
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1. Valparaiso (5-2)
You
have to judge teams on how good you think they are. None of the top teams are
undefeated anymore. Valpo was shorthanded (lead guard Brent Kimmell (14.6) was
ill) when they faced LC and they lost by one, 53-52 at LaPorte. Shooter Jon Moon
(11.2) continues to be effective but they need more consistent play from 6-8
Brian McMillan (11.1 ppg.). This is the region's top shooting team and they are
fundamentally sound. A winning streak is imminent.
2. Lake Central (6-1)
The
loss on the road to Munster should be taken in context. LC made 7 of 22 from
3-point range and when you have a 6-10 center, you shouldn't be taking 22
three-point shots. Center Scott VanDer Meer got only six points and, more
telling, just five shots. Remember, it takes a senior transfer a long time to
get accustomed to his new team. Munster committed only four fouls against LC,
but the story was that LC was influenced from going inside. That won't happen
again. LC still has the best starting lineup in the region.
The
59ers beat Morton and led Wheeler 63-59 with 1:02 left before two traveling
calls and seven Cordale Micou points gave Wheeler the home upset win. Andrean is
still a top team. 6-7 Luke Harangody (22.5 ppg.) and 6-6 David Carson
(19.0 ppg.) still dominate inside. The guard play must improve.
4. LaPorte (6-1)
LaPorte
buried Michigan City 71-41 after a one-point win over Valparaiso. 6-7 center
Todd Dermody had 18 points and 11 rebounds against the smaller Wolves. Who is
Dusty Kling and how did he hit six three-pointers against Michigan City? LaPorte
can move into the state rankings with four wins in the 'Super Hoops"
Classic starting this weekend.
5. Gary Roosevelt (2-2)
Roosevelt
needs three wins in the Gary Holiday tournament very badly. Robert Jenkins, a
5-9 guard, scored 29 in a run-and-gun 90-87 win over Lew Wallace. The Velt will
tire of seeing Wallace. They'll meet again in the Gary Holiday tournament and
again in the sectional at the end of the year.
6. Munster (7-1)
Munster
needed the win over Lake Central because they truthfully hadn't done much so
far. Strong 16 of 21 foul shooting and a good zone defense cut off Lake
Central's height advantage. Munster's 6-8 sophomore Scott Rutkowksi scored 11
while LC's Scott VanDer Meer (12.2) was held to six. The Mustangs schedule has
been questionable, but it gets real after the first of the year with games
against Chesterton (5-1) East Chicago (4-3) and Andrean (4-2) in a 7-day span.
7. East Chicago (4-3)
EC
lost to Indianapolis Arlington 72-67 over the weekend. The Cardinals get lost in
the independent schedule and the moment of truth is at hand. The North Central
Tournament is this weekend (Dec. 26-27) and Munster and Merrillville await in
the first half of January.
8. Wheeler (8-0)
Wheeler
rose up in the Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) tournament and beat Munster and
Andrean before surviving in the final 45-43 against Bishop Noll. That was
Wheeler's first-ever win over either the 59ers or Bishop Noll, which is now a
sectional rival. Some perspective must be inserted here.
Six of the wins were decided by six points or less so the BearCats could just as
easily be 2-6. This is not a top-5 team region wide. Not with only six players
in the rotation.
6-2 guard Cordale Micou (18.8) will fulfill his
potential as a 20 ppg scorer. He scored a career-high 26 in the 70-64 upset of
Munster (7-1). 6-3 Steve Wilson (12.8 ppg.) is consistent.
Wheeler could easily go 20-0. They will be favored in every game the rest of the
season. The remainder of their schedule is not strong. If the 8 wins
encourages them to work harder, it is a plus. If they start thinking about 'all
we've accomplished', then they wont win the sectional.
9. Chesterton (5-1)
After
getting dominated 65-47 by Lake Central, the
Trojans were strong in the expected 67-55 win over Portage. Casey Martin sank
6-of-6 from the field for 17 points and 10 rebounds. Matt Campbell (17.8 ppg.)
scored a season-high 25 against Portage. Soph 6-2 guard Curt Bradford tallied 14
for a career-high. Chesterton has a big game from a confidence standpoint Dec.
30 against Valparaiso.
10. Highland (5-1)
Highland
lost to Noll 64-58 in OT in the LAC semifinals, but they did beat Griffith 54-49
in the meaningless third place game. Andrew Helmer scored a career-high 18
against Noll. The Trojans have not defeated a wining team yet, but they have the
potential to do so. Potential confronts reality when Highland faces a tall order
at Lake Central on Jan. 3.
Others to watch......
MERRILLVILLE (1-6)
The
Pirates lost 55-42 to LC (6-1) after falling behind 17-6 at the quarter. All six
of the teams that have beaten Merrillville have winning records and are in this
top 10. Lets hold off on judging the Pirates, who are now without 6-2 forward
Lavell Cook, last year's leading scorer (knee injury) and this year's leading
scorer Josh Mayo (broken toe). Both could be back for for three games in
eight days against Crown Point, Valparaiso and Portage. But what if they
aren't?
Bishop
Noll (5-4)
Division
I point guard Gary Patterson (23 points in a 64-58 win over Highland) almost
dribbled the Warriors to the LAC tourney title but a 45-43 loss to Wheeler
denied them. 6-4 forward Vince Johnson (8 rebounds against Wheeler) is just
rounding into form and guard Sam Watts (season-high 18 against Wheeler) is very
athletic. The Warriors don't have a lot of depth but the LAC is not a tough
league and 2A is not an overwhelming playoff class.
BOYS HOLIDAY NOTES: Wheeler plays Hanover Central (3-2) Friday
night (Dec. 26) at 8 p.m. in the semifinals of the Wheeler Holiday Tournament.
Wirt (3-4) lost the Culver Military Academy Tournament title game 46-42 to
Greenwood. LaPorte is one of the few teams that leads Valparaiso in the all-time
series. LaPorte's win gave them a 70-66 edge. After getting wiped out 57-7 by
Warren Central in the 5A state football title game, Penn was 4-0 going into this
week's Northern Indiana Conference (NIC) tournament.
GARY
HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
Dec.
26 Gary Roosevelt vs. Lew Wallace, 6:00 pm - quarterfinal
Dec. 26 Gary Wirt vs. Gary Mann, 8:00 pm - quarterfinal
Dec. 27 Milwaukee BayView (Wis.) vs. Winner Game 1, 10:00 am semifinal
Dec. 27 Gary West vs. Winner Game 2, 12:00 noon
semifinal
Dec. 27 Third place game, 4:00 pm
Dec. 27 Championship game - 8:00 pm
NORTH
CENTRAL TOURNAMENT
Dec.
26 North Central (Indianapolis) vs. East Chicago - 1st round
Dec. 26 Indianapolis Chatard vs. Toledo Start (Ohio) - 1st round
Dec. 27 Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 2:00 pm - consolation
Dec. 27 Championship game - 8:00 pm