While girls basketball wraps up its regular season this week, boys hoops still has plenty of excitement planned over the next few weeks.
With five weeks left in the regular season, teams still have plenty of time to build momentum prior to the start of the playoffs.
But who is in a good spot as of right now? Bounce’s Power Poll is the place to find out.
1. HOMESTEAD (13-1, 4-1 SAC)
WHY #1?
Ho hum, just another multiple-victory week for the Spartans as they dispatched both Columbia City and North Side.
One overlooked aspect of Homestead’s game is its defense. After holding North to 34 points last Friday, the Spartans have not surrendered 50 or more points in a game since Dec. 14 at Bishop Luers, a span of eight games.
Homestead travels to Northrop this Friday in its lone game of the week.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
No. 1 means you can’t be any higher. It’s true, check the rules.
RECORD VS. OTH TOP 10: 6-0
2. BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN (12-2)
WHY #2?
The Braves spent their Martin Luther King Jr. Day playing across the state lines in Illinois, beating a solid Chicago Orr team. Monday’s trip is just the latest in a series of games for Coach Marc Davidson’s team that is testing them as it readies for a run at a 1A title.
Blackhawk looked a tad out of sync in last week’s win over Wayne. The team is at its best when it is pounding the ball inside to Caleb Furst, which it did in the second half of an eventual 59-54 victory. Yes, the Braves can beat teams in a variety of ways, but their bread and butter is running things through the big man. Expect to see more of that tonight against Bishop Dwenger
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Blackhawk’s lone loss in the area came to Homestead. It will take on Northrop in late February
RECORD VS. OTH TOP 10: 1-1
3. NORTHROP (10-3, 5-0 SAC)
WHY #3?
Is Sydney Curry the area player of the year? You can definitely make the case for just that, with the senior continuing to put up big numbers.
Curry’s emphatic power dunk over Wayne’s Darius Alexander last Friday is probably the highlight of the year thus far. His blocks on the defensive end aren’t nearly as exciting, but are just as powerful.
One overlooked aspect of Curry’s game is his passing ability. He frequently passes out of double and triple teams for open shots for teammates. That’s maturity.
Can we fast-forward to Northrop v. Homestead on Friday?
WHY NOT HIGHER?
While the Bruins’ lone area loss is to Snider in the SAC Holiday Tournament, a team they beat barely a week later, the team has looked sluggish in other games, including a loss to a mediocre Kokomo squad.
This weekend is big not only because of the Homestead game, but also the trip to Marion one day later. Can Northrop play as well against out of conference foes as it does against SAC opponents?
RECORD VS. OTH TOP 10: 4-1
4. EAST NOBLE (11-2, 3-0 NE8)
WHY #4?
The Knights are going on nearly two months without a loss, last falling short in a game at Northridge in early December. That’s pretty impressive considering key cog Brent Cox missed a significant amount of time, but is now back.
A big showdown looms on Saturday with the Knights heading to Norwell to take on the Knights in a battle of the lone remaining undefeated teams in the Northeast 8.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Coach Ryan Eakins’ team has not played any of the top three teams in Bounce’s Power Poll. That changes when the Knights travel to Homestead on Feb. 12, provided the Spartans are still hanging around the top of this list (likely).
RECORD VS. OTH TOP 10: 3-1
5. WESTVIEW (13-4, 6-0 NECC)
WHY #5?
The Warriors have not been kind to opponents since ending their four-game losing streak, winning six straight by an average of 26 points.
Last Friday’s game against Fairfield felt like a trap game heading in, but Westview took care of business in a 24-point victory.
It is tough to see a challenge on the remaining regular-season schedule for the Warriors. Can this program win a state title in 2A? Yes, yes it can.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Westview’s schedule does not put it up against the Fort Wayne schools very much. It is very much the UCF of northeast Indiana boys hoops, they could be better than some of the teams above them on this list, we just don’t know for sure because they don’t play.
RECORD VS. OTH TOP 10: 0-1
6. SNIDER (10-4, 3-2 SAC)
WHY #6?
It was a much-needed two-victory week for the Panthers, who knocked off Canterbury and Concordia. That said, all still doesn’t seem right with Snider.
The final month of the regular season is riddled with tough matchups, both in the SAC (Carroll, South Side) and out of conference (Fishers, Blackhawk Christian, Cathedral).
Can this team hold it together and peak at the right time?
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Losses to Homestead and Northrop recently have dropped Snider in Bounce’s rankings. They could move up quickly with some victories in the coming weeks, including this Friday against Carroll.
RECORD VS. OTH TOP 10: 3-3
7. CARROLL (9-4, 4-1 SAC)
WHY #7?
David Ejah went beast mode on South Side last Friday, finishing with 26 points and 15 rebounds as the Chargers won their fourth-straight game. The senior is now averaging 15.5 points and 10 rebounds on the year and is truly playing the best basketball of his high school career.
Much like Homestead, Carroll’s defense is something that is not getting enough attention. The Chargers are surrendering just under 42 points per game. Their offense isn’t electric, but it doesn’t have to be if the defense can limit teams like that.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
While Carroll has won eight of nine, it has not beaten any of the upper-echelon teams in the area during that time. The lone loss was a defeat at the hands of Homestead.
The Chargers could march up the poll with a win over Snider on Friday.
RECORD VS. OTH TOP 10: 2-2
8. SOUTH SIDE (2-9, 1-4 SAC)
WHY #8?
The record continues to look poor thanks to the forfeit of the first four games of the season, but the Archers are a solid team. That said, the performance last Friday against Carroll left plenty to be desired.
The primary concern with South Side has been the lack of consistent scoring. While the team is averaging close to 60 points a game, it currently has just one player, JT Langston Jr., averaging double digits in points (11.1). While this does show some offensive balance, it also displays the fact that the Archers do not have much in the way of a go-to player on the offensive end. That is a concern against the upper-echelon teams in the SAC.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
See above. South Side must find someone to emerge as the primary scorer that is going to carry the team in clutch situations.
RECORD VS. OTH TOP 10: 0-4
9. HUNTINGTON NORTH (11-2, 2-1 NE8)
WHY #9?
The Vikings continue to roll, having not lost a game to an in-state program since Dec. 8 at East Noble.
Huntington North had the entire week off last week, with its Saturday game scheduled at Bellmont having been postponed. That means the Vikings should be well rested come Saturday with DeKalb coming to town.
Many are looking at Sectional 6 as Homestead and everybody else, but Huntington North may have something to say about that. The two teams opened the season against each other, with the Spartans winning by five.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Huntington North is without a win against a team ranked in this power poll. It’s true. That could change next week with a home game against Carroll.
RECORD VS. OTH TOP 10: 0-2
10. WAYNE (7-7, 2-3 SAC)
WHY #10?
Say what? Yup, despite two losses last week the Generals have moved into Bounce’s top 10.
Why?
Well, consider that of Wayne’s seven losses, two have come to out-of-area teams and the other five to teams ranked in this power poll.
So yes, Wayne is more deserving of the No. 10 spot than anyone else under consideration. Craig Young played with some serious determination in the second half of last Friday’s game against Northrop, which was encouraging considering he was rejected with authority by Sydney Curry when going up for a dunk earlier in the contest. In the past, that may have resulted in Young mentally checking out.
The Generals get Bishop Luers at home on Friday.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The aforementioned seven losses are a big reason why.
RECORD VS. OTH TOP 10: 0-5
These opinions represent those of Bounce and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Bounce on Twitter at Bounce_OTH
Be the first to comment