Busy week for HS hoops - or not
I’m afraid this article must start with an alert: The following information may be fiction.
As exciting as it is to look ahead to the high school basketball games scheduled for the end of this week, it is frustrating for players and fans alike not knowing if the games will actually take place. Unfortunately, COVID is still wreaking havoc with athletic schedules for the time being. Hopefully soon, that will not be the case. Four of the six games involving local teams Tuesday were played. If that percentage holds true today through Saturday, eight of the following contests are or will be postponed/canceled. On the bright side, 16 of them should take place! Here are capsule previews for all of the previously scheduled games.
Thurs. thrillers Bethany Christian @ Oregon-davis (girls)
O- D ( 3- 3) showed off its balanced scoring (four in double figures) in Tuesday’s win over Rochester and wraps up the week with back-toback games Thursday and Friday. Tonight has the Lady Bobcats hosting the Lady Bruins (4-3), who won big (73-19) on Tuesday night to go over the .500 mark after seven games. O-D added BC to its schedule last year, and won, 86-47, last December. This time around should be high-scoring, but probably a lot closer.
Triton @ Elkhart Christian Academy (girls)
This is the fifth of six straight road games - in eight days - for the Lady Trojans. ECA (0-6) should not be as strong as last night’s opponent (Tippecanoe Valley).
Rochester @ Argos (girls) This will be Game 2 of a five-game homestand for Argos (0-6) and the first of back-to-back games this week. Rochester ( 3- 3) is coming off a 67-56 loss to Oregon-davis on Tuesday. The Lady Zebras won this match-up a year ago, 44-35. Rochester is coached by, Brian Jennings, the younger brother of Argos head coach Scott Jennings.
Frantic Friday
Plymouth @ Mishawaka Marian (boys)
Marian had to cancel its girls game Tuesday, but as of now, this one is still on. Plymouth’s ( 0- 3) contest at Winamac Tuesday was canceled at the last minute as well due to COVID so this will be the Pilgrims’ only game this week. The Knights (2-1) are ranked No. 9 in Class 3A. These two programs have not met since the 2013 sectionals (Plymouth winning by two).
Bremen @ New Prairie (boys, girls)
This is a girls/ boys Northern Indiana Conference doubleheader. Girls varsity tips at 6, followed by the boys varsity game around 8. The Lady Lions (3-2, 1-1 NIC) have now won three straight after their Senior Night victory over Mishawaka Tuesday. New Prairie’s girls team is much-improved this year. After winning just four games all season last year, the Lady Cougars are already there at 4-6, including wins over SB Saint Joseph (who
defeated Bremen) and SB Adams. On the boys side, Bremen (2-0, 0-0 NIC) will have its biggest test yet - literally and figuratively - as the Cougars’ roster has five players listed at 6-3 or taller, with 6-7 senior Mike Ekovich the tallest. NP (3-1, 1-1 NIC) lost its first game Tuesday (76-60 to Penn).
Zionsville @ Culver Academy (boys)
After playing its season opener Wednesday, Culver Academy has its second of three games this week when it hosts Zionsville (1-2) in a battle of Eagles. The Academy only lost four games last year, one being at Zionsville. Although Zionsville already has two losses this year, they were to Class 4A No. 2 Carmel and No. 10 Westfield.
Laville @ Winamac (boys)
After a long wait, Laville was finally going to play its season opener Friday, but Winamac canceled all athletic activities late Tuesday so the Lancers will now have to wait until Dec. 15 to take the court for the first time.
Triton @ Pioneer (boys) This is the Hoosier North Athletic Conference opener for the Trojans (1-1) and the third straight road game (of four) to start the season. The Trojans are looking to avenge last year’s 16-point loss to Pioneer (0-2).
Covenant Christian @ Culver (boys)
Culver (2-2) has already topped last year’s win total, but the school has halted all athletic events through Dec. 19 so this game is a casualty of that.
Oregon-davis @ Knox (girls)
O-D ends its three-game week with the short trip over to Knox (7-0) to face the undefeated Class 3A Lady Redskins. Knox has not played since last Saturday. They defeated O-D by 15 last December, but O-D leads the series 11-6 over the past 15 years.
Glenn @ SB Riley (girls)
Glenn ( 3- 2) takes the court for the first time since Nov. 17 when it travels to South Bend Riley for a Northern Indiana Conference tilt. Riley won this match-up last year, 65-41, but look for a much closer one this time - and maybe with a different winner.
Laville @ Winamac (girls)
This was supposed to be the first of two games this week for Laville, but Winamac suspended all athletic events as of Tuesday so this one will not take place until Jan. 4 (hopefully).
Culver Academy @ Argos (girls)
After a Thursday game, Argos is back at home Friday to host unbeaten CGA (6-0). The Lady Eagles’ much anticipated game at No. 4 Marian Tuesday was canceled at the last minute due to COVID.
Saturday showdowns
Plymouth @ Warsaw (girls)
Plymouth ( 3- 4 overall before Wed. game at
Chesterton, 0-1 NLC) has its second Northern Lakes Conference game of the season Saturday at rival Warsaw (7-2 before Wed. game, 1-0 NLC). The Lady Tigers’ only two losses were to Class 4A’s No. 1 Penn and No. 6 Fishers. This is the fourth of 11 straight away games for Plymouth. Warsaw won last year by 12.
Culver Academy @ Laporte (boys)
Culver Academy has a quick turnaround after its Friday night contest with a 3:30 p.m (ET) tip at Laporte (0-2). This is the only game all week for the Kyle Benge-coached Slicers so they will be well prepared for this first- time ever meeting with the Eagles. Both teams are in Sectional 3 so this might be the first of two meetings this season.
Tippecanoe Valley @
Glenn (boys)
After a two-and-a-half week break from game action, Glenn ( 1- 0) will play its second game of the season Saturday night when it hosts Tippecanoe Valley ( 0- 2) at North Liberty Elementary School.
Argos @ Boone Grove (boys)
Argos’ (2-1) only game this week was supposed to be a road test at Jimtown, but that game was canceled. In its place though, will be an away game at Boone Grove with a 3:30 p.m. tip-off. Boone Grove (0-0) is supposed to play its season opener on Friday night.
Knox @ Culver (boys) The Hoosier North Athletic Conference opener for the Cavaliers has been postponed to a later date.
Trinity @ Oregon-davis (boys)
The only game this week for the O-D (1-0) boys is its home opener against Trinity (1-2). Tip-off is 4:30 p.m. ET.
Logansport @ Laville (girls)
Unfortunately, this one has also been postponed, leaving LV with a blank slate of games until Dec. 22.
Triton @ Caston (girls) The last of six straight road games in 10 days for
Triton ends at Caston. The Lady Comets are much improved over last year, standing at 6-2 heading into tonight’s game at North Judson. The Lady Trojans have won the last 12 meetings with Caston, but last year it was by just one point, 38-37.
SB Riley @ CGA (girls)
The second game of back-to-back contests has CGA hosting South Bend Riley (2-3). After this one, the Lady Eagles will not play again until its Winter Classic on Jan. 16. CGA has won eight of the last nine meetings with Riley, the last one a 51-47 victory two years ago.
Knox @ Culver (girls) This HNAC game has been postponed to a later date.