Here we go, boys basketball season is officially underway with games getting going this week before Thanksgiving on Thursday, including some of those typical Thanksgiving Eve games we are so used to launching the season with.
Last week’s games were missing two picks with both Noblesville at Homestead and Woodlan and Lakewood Park cancelled.
Homestead girls retain the Bounce Traveling Trophy with their win over Concordia Lutheran last week. They will defend it against Huntington North this week. This week, the boys traveling trophy will come back into play. Unlike the girls, my boys Traveling Trophy moved around last season and ended up with Huntington North when they beat Carroll. The Vikings will defend that crown on Wednesday against OTH #1 Homestead.
For the first time this season, I will be picking five girls games and five boys games in my regular picks. What you will not find today is South Side at Leo boys, coming this Saturday night, which will be highlighted later this week as the Outside the Huddle Game of the Weekend.
Last week: 8-1
Season total: 22-8
GIRLS
Homestead at Huntington North, Tuesday
Huntington North has had a strong start to their season and these games against upper level SAC teams are only going to make them stronger in the long run for this season and beyond. That said, we may be underestimating just how good Homestead is. Their blowout of Concordia was intense and the Spartans are a machine right now. Bounce picks Homestead
Lakeland at Central Noble, Tuesday
Lakeland has really struggled and Central Noble seems like they are starting to get their feet under them winning three straight. The Lakers will embarking on a four game road streak here and, save for Bailey Hartsough, are not putting up a lot of points. The Lakers need this one, but the Cougars are stronger right now. Bounce picks Central Noble
Norwell at Concordia Lutheran, Tuesday
A week ago, I would probably expect more from this game, but Concordia’s first loss of the season was such a shock to the system and Norwell has become battle tested very quickly. The worry for the Knights here is their offense can lend itself to getting to the basket to score from 5 feet in and if Chanteese Craig is on her game, that is tough. Breann Barger’s presence has been important lately and that trend continues for Norwell. Bounce picks Norwell
Columbia City at Bishop Luers, Friday
We haven’t talked much about the Eagles since their collapse in the opening game. They’ve lost just once since but put up a heck of a fight against a very good Marion. This game has all the makings of another really tight one. Bishop Luers has played high level basketball all season and will raise the bar for the Eagles. Few players are having the year that Lydia Reimbold is. Bounce picks Bishop Luers
South Side vs. West Lafayette Harrison, Saturday
This is a very stiff test for the Archers at 2:30 on Saturday afternoon as they take the trip to Hoosier Gym. Senior Sydney Jacobsen is one of the best players in the state so far this season for Harrison (4-0), shooting 47 percent from the field, averaging 20.7 points, 6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 6.7 steals per game this season. These games at Hoosier Gym are all always cool, but this is going to be a serious Saturday for the Archers. Bounce picks Harrison
BOYS
Central Noble at Canterbury, Tuesday
Are the Cougars as good as we all think? They will get the chance to work some things out against a Cavalier team really searching for an identity early in the season. Canterbury has many pieces back just like Central Noble, but are they as cohesive as the Cougars? Maybe. Do they have a Connor Essegian? Nope. Bounce picks Central Noble
Homestead at Huntington North, Wednesday
One of those great games we get every “opening night” even if it isn’t opening night anymore. The Vikings aren’t the same either. Homestead has every chance to dominate this one because they have tremendous length from guys who mostly can shoot too. Spartan showcase night none. Bounce picks Homestead
Norwell at Concordia Lutheran, Wednesday
A year ago, a sickness ridden Will Geiger put on one of the guttiest performances Bounce has ever seen in a home win over Concordia and the Cadets don’t have as much proven talent this time around. Concordia will really need to find some immediate help at the rim to deal with Geiger. Bounce picks Norwell
Woodlan at New Haven, Wednesday
This is where you will find Bounce on the night before Thanksgiving as two of my predicted conference champions face off opening night. Woodlan has depth, maybe better than New Haven. But the Bulldogs have a ton of speed and that is something that we’ve thought all preseason is really going to separate them. Does home court make a difference between these two EACS schools who are kind of rivals without actually being rivals? Bounce picks New Haven
Snider at Merrillville, Saturday
Keon Thompson, a 6-foot-2 guard who averaged over 21 points per game, is the type of playing that could give Snider issues last season. So how good are the Panthers at defending a player like him this year? Michael Eley looked better than he has defensively in their scrimmage and adding the surprising length and speed of Elijah Wimby is going to be helpful. This could be a fun scrap. Bounce picks Snider
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