Riley tops at halfway point of season
Mother Nature finally decided to make her presence felt this week, wreaking havoc on the local high school sports schedule.
Only one boys basketball game each was played Friday and Saturday, with Penn defeating Jimtown, 35-31, Friday, and South Bend Trinity at Greenlawn knocking off Lakeland Christian, 38-29, Saturday. Some games were able to move up from Friday to Thursday, but a majority of the games were pushed back to future dates.
What kind of effect does that have on the area power rankings for this week? Here’s this week’s top 10 as we reach the halfway point of the regular season.
1. South Bend Riley Wildcats (14-3, 6-0 NIC)
Last week’s ranking: 1. Last week’s results: def. Michigan City, 6664; def. New Prairie, 71-45. This week’s schedule: Thursday at South Bend Clay
It was a good week for the Wildcats, surviving a tough road test against Michigan City before taking care of business against a struggling New Prairie team. A matchup with Penn is lurking, but Riley can’t afford to look past a pesky Clay team that’ll be looking to upset one of its city rivals.
2. Concord Minutemen (10-2, 2-1 NLC)
Last week’s ranking: 4. Last week’s results: def. Plymouth, 51-42. This week’s schedule: Tuesday vs. Elkhart, Friday vs. Warsaw
The Minutemen won its fifth straight with a road NLC victory against the Pilgrims. Friday is a huge game for both Concord and Warsaw, with both teams 2-1 in the conference and looking to keep pace with unbeatens Mishawaka and NorthWood.
3. Penn Kingsmen (8-3, 5-0 NIC)
Last week’s ranking: 2. Last week’s results: lost to Warsaw, 56-53 (OT); def. Jimtown, 35-31. This week’s
schedule: Tuesday at Northridge, Friday at Mishawaka Marian
A slight stumble against Warsaw and a sluggish performance against the Jimmies has Penn dropping a spot this week. The Kingsmen always have one of the toughest schedules in the area, and they get two good tests this week with a strong Northridge team and improving Marian squad.
4. Mishawaka Cavemen (8-3, 2-0 NLC)
Last week's ranking: 5. Last week's results: did not play (Wawasee game postponed to Feb. 17). This week's schedule: Tuesday vs. Clay, Saturday at Northridge
The bad weather this week means the Cavemen will have a 10-day break in between its last game (Jan. 6 against Elkhart) and Tuesday’s home game with Clay. A chance to pick up another marquee win – and staying undefeated in the NLC in the process – looms Saturday with a trip to Middlebury.
5. NorthWood Panthers (9-3, 3-0 NLC)
Last week's ranking: 6. Last week's results: def. Northridge, 59-57. This week's schedule: Tuesday vs. South Bend St. Joseph, Friday at Goshen
Make it 17 NLC wins in a row for the Panthers, who have overcome the championship season hangover to once again be a contender for the conference championship. Never underestimate an Aaron Wolfe-coached team, who picked up career win 290 at NorthWood with the narrow victory over Northridge.
6. Northridge Raiders (10-3, 1-2 NLC)
Last week's ranking: 3. Last week's results: lost to NorthWood, 5957. This week's schedule: Tuesday vs. Penn, Saturday vs. Mishawaka
Teams 1-6 in this power ranking feel like they can go in any order at this point. The basketball gods have been cruel to Northridge in the last two games. They lost on a buzzer beater to Warsaw, followed by a hard-fought defeat to NorthWood. Being 1-2 in the NLC with the losses being by a combined three points is painful, but also illustrates the depth and competitiveness of the conference.
7. South Bend Washington Panthers (7-3, 5-0 NIC)
Last week's ranking: 7. Last week's results: did not play (South Bend Adams game postponed to Tuesday; Valparaiso game postponed to Saturday). This week's schedule: Tuesday vs. Adams, Thursday at Jimtown, Saturday at Valparaiso
The weather turned a back-to-back situation for the Panthers into an off week. It also means they play three games this week, simulating a sectional week-type feel for a team looking to keep pace with Riley and Penn in the NIC title race.
8. Fairfield Falcons (9-3, 3-0 NECC)
Last week's ranking: 9. Last week's results: def. Churubusco, 5434; def. Fremont, 49-28; def. Westview, 58-46. This week's schedule: Monday vs. Angola (NECC Tournament title game, played at Lakeland), Friday vs. Westview
The Falcons are rolling right now. Beating its rival, Westview, in the NECC tourney semifinals has to give a huge confidence boost to Fairfield, which has won seven in a row overall heading into this week. A second victory over the Warriors this Friday would be even sweeter.
9. South Bend Saint Joseph (6-7, 2-2 NIC)
Last week's ranking: 8. Last week's results: did not play (John Glenn game postponed to Feb. 6). This week's schedule: Tuesday at NorthWood, Thursday at Elkhart
Mother Nature also gave St. Joseph a week off. It should be a fun one when they travel to Nappanee Tuesday to face a red-hot Panthers team.
10. Michigan City Wolves (7-6, 0-1 DAC)
Last week's ranking: 10. Last week's results: lost to Riley, 66-64; Valparaiso game postponed to date TBD. This week's schedule: Friday at LaPorte
The Wolves stay in the top 10 after giving Riley all they could handle. An important game against the Slicers now awaits Michigan City this week.