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2003-2004
Boys Basketball
Renegade Poll - Week 7A USA-365.com Special Report(1-14-2004) |
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Wheeler passed the final two serious tests
in 2A. They do not have a serious game left the rest of the year in the weak
Lake Conference Blue Division. Serious injuries have weakened Andrean, Kouts and
Morgan Township while the Duneland Conference teams continue to beat each other
up. All the Gary teams are on the slide while two Hammond teams (Noll and
Hammond) are having a good year.
1. Valparaiso (8-2)
The
Vikings rolled over Merrillville 81-36 and Michigan City 77-50 to stay at the
top. The 45-point victory is the largest for Valpo in 10 years. Brent Kimmell
(16.4 ppg.), 6-8 senior Brian McMillan (12.9 ppg.) and Jon Moon (12.2 (ppg.) are
formidable. Valpo was 37 of 47 from the line in two games to go to 139 of 196
(70.9%) from the line after 10 games with 83 three-point goals. Those are
sectional and regional championship numbers. VHS has won 25 of their last 31
games.
2. Lake Central (9-2)
Lake
Central split last week including a 59-56 loss to LaPorte (9-2). Junior Brett
Summers was 9-of-13 with 7 three-point baskets and 25 points, but LaPorte was
quicker and more physical. LC is in a down period. A win, a loss and
a tie (62-59 over Highland in OT) in the last three games. I still think they're
learning how to play together and they need to get 6-10 Scott VanDer Meer fully
invested in the offense.
3. LaPorte (10-2)
An
upset loss 66-57 to Chesterton and a win on the road at Lake Central. It's hard
to figure LaPorte. They played with 6-2 guard Kevin Brandy in the loss and
without him in the win. Guard Jon Burger broke his hand against Center Grove on
Jan. 1 and didn't play in either game. So the flaw on LaPorte is depth and that
can be a killer for an up-tempo team. Still, Todd Dermody proved that he can
score (19 points) against a truly big man (LC's 6-10 Scott Van Der Meer). Jerome
Vann is out of control at times but his athletic ability is intimidating. And I
ask again... who is Dusty Kling!!!
The 6-2 senior had 22 against LC and has 24 three-pointers in his last 8 games
after just four in his first four. Great? I don't know. But they're worth the
price of admission. A major weekend (Jan. 16-17) against Merrillville and
Plymouth.
4. Munster (10-1)
The
Mustangs strength is consistency. Not ever great but not often mediocre, the
Mustangs didn't set any world defensive records in the 82-80 win over
Andrean. But they were better in the 59-50 win over East Chicago. Josh Martin,
Dustin Bothwell and Pete Trgovich have all scored in double figures in Munster's
last three games. Munster's next confrontation is against Bishop Noll (8-5) on
Jan. 23.
Sophomore
6-7 forward Ty Harangody (20.1 pg.) is out for the year with a back injury
and that limits what's possible here. The 59ers stayed close in a 82-78 loss to
Munster (10-1) but sometimes a major loss takes a while to set in. David Carson
(21.3) gives the 59ers the post player to stay strong in 3A, especially with
Roosevelt's problems. But the fear of being totally dominated on the baseline is
no longer there. Career-highs for 6-3 wing Frank Provenzano (26) and guard
Bernie Talian (19) but they have to keep it up.
6. East Chicago (5-5)
East
Chicago has lost four of five games, but northwest Indiana folks may not know
that the four losses are to teams (North Central, Arlington, LC and Munster)
with a combined record of 40-5. The Cardinals have more of their super-tough
independent schedule this month playing rivals Munster (Jan. 17), Hammond (Jan.
20) and Roosevelt (Jan. 23). The record will swing back into the black soon.
7. Gary Roosevelt (5-4)
Same
boat here as East Chicago. Three losses in four games. But the winners were
(Milwaukee) Bayview (7-0), South Bend Washington (7-3) and Mishawaka (9-2). The
Velt stays local this month with Noll, East Chicago, West Side and and Wirt. But
this uneven schedule is why they've tripped up in the state tournament in the
last 10 years.
8. Wheeler (11-1)
The
Bearcats beat Lowell (6-3) by 20 points and edged Boone Grove 53-48. Cordale
Mica (18.4 ppg.) has scored in double figures in all 12 games this year. 6-3
center Steve Wilson (12.8 ppg.) held his ground against the much taller Boone
Grove forwards. Wheeler and Boone have met 125 times and Wheeler has won only
53. They need to make it 54 next month. With Morgan shorthanded, there is no
formidable opposition on the remainder of the Wheeler schedule.
9. Chesterton (7-3)
It
took a big time rally, but the Trojans beat Crown Point 53-51. All three Trojan
losses were on the road after 10 games. Matt Campbell (19.5 ppg.) and Casey
Martin (11.8 ppg.) usually carry the scoring, but 6-2 senior Josh Malone scored
the final eight points at CP. The Trojans sank 21 of 22 against CP and are now
127 of 165 from the line (72.1 %) for the year. Martin had just nine points but
10 rebounds. 7-3 is certainly above where they thought they'd be after 10 games.
10. Highland (8-2)
Highland
coasted past Calumet 68-50 as 6-6 Gary Simkus scored 21. Foul shooting (20 of
39) was the only downer. Andrean, Munster, Roosevelt, West Side are still to
come. This is the calm before the storm. Remember Hammond (5-4). They beat you
twice and that's why you're not here.
Others to watch......
Hammond (5-4)
Wins
over Hobart, Wheeler, KV and Lowell have them on the more and Jere Taylor, a 5-7
guard, has score d in double figures in every game. But 5-4 is 5-4. When do they
play Bishop Noll (Jan. 17). When do they play East Chicago (Jan. 20).
Those are monster neighborhood games for the purple boys. The Cats are a good
team but lets see more wins. C'mon. 5-4.
Coming Up......
BOYS JANUARY NOTES: Nate McGinley (15.5) had knee surgery and will be out until February for Morgan Township. That makes Boone Grove, which opens with Hanover Central on Jan. 21, the favorite in the 81st PCC tournament next week. Kouts guard John Lauer (19.6 ppg.) has a stress fracture in his foot and may also be out until February.
PORTER COUNTY CONFERENCE
Tournament
at Boone Grove - Wed. Jan. 21
Washington
Township vs. Morgan Township (7-1) 5:30 p.m.
LaCrosse (7-2) vs. Hebron (2-6) 7 p.m.
at Boone Grove - Thursday,
Jan. 22
HANOVER CENTRAL (4-6) vs. South
Central (0-8)
BOONE GROVE (5-4) vs. Kouts (6-3)
at Boone Grove - Saturday,
Jan. 24
WT or MT vs. LaCrosse or Hebron -
10 a.m.
HC or SC vs. BOONE or Kouts - 12 noon
PCC Championship - 8 p.m.