56th Bi-county will be different than the rest
It looks like the 56th annual Bi-county basketball tournament will commence, albeit with a few minor tweaks due to coronavirus protocols.
The longtime tourney begins Monday night at four different sites with girl/boy doubleheaders. From there, the schedule changes from years past. For one, there will not be any JV contests. Secondly, the girls semifinals and consolation games will be played on a Wednesday, while the boys’ will remain in their usual Friday slot. The W/F games will be played at either Bremen, Culver, Triton or Laville. Whether they are a semi or consolation will depend on how those schools did in the opener. (eg. if the Bremen girls wins Monday, their game Wed will be a semifinal and Culver’s a consolation, etc.).
Another change has the two championship games spread out during the day
Handicapping the boys bracket
Triton at Laville might be the best opener on the boys side. LV won easily in the Bi-co meeting last year, but the Trojans won by one in the second meeting last February and are off to a great start this year. Bremen and Culver met twice last year as well, with the Lions winning handily each time. Oregon-davis is much improved, but will have its hands full against Glenn, who is off to its best start in years. Nic-tested New Prairie had its way
with Argos in the tourney last year and will be a tough out for the Dragons.
What’s happening on the girls side?
I’m guaranteeing Argos’ girls reach the semifinals. That was easy to write because New Prairie’s girls team had to pull out of Monday’s opener because of COVID issues, advancing the Lady Dragons where they will meet the winner of the Bremen/culver game. The Lady Lions will come in with a .500 record at best, but will be favored against a young Lady Cavaliers squad. Glenn and O-D just played three days ago with the Lady Falcons coming out on top, 53-48. The rematch could be the most entertaining of the girls openers. Triton and Laville played each other back on Dec. 2 with the Lady Trojans coming out on top by nine after not playing for a month. That was about the same winning margin they had when they played in the Bi-co a year ago. The Lady Lancers are the mystery team. When they play Monday night, it will be just their third game since that meeting at Triton.
Bi-co history
Glenn is the defending boys champ and has the most titles (15). Bremen is second with 12 and Argos a distant third with five. Argos head coach Gordon Mosson has the most titles as a coach (10), all while at Glenn. Former Dragons coach Phil Weybright is second with five.
This will be the 44th year of the girls tourney. Bremen is the defending champ and has the most titles (12). Glenn is second with nine and Oregon-davis has seven. O-D’S head coach Terry Minix is tied with former Bremen coach Marty Huber with the most titles (7) won by a coach.