So hey there folks, did you miss me? While I guess we will allow that big bear to continue his football season prognostications, we are actually playing real-life high school girls basketball this week.
While the schedule isn’t super deep just yet, there area a lot of fun games on the horizon for the ladies, so I wanted to step in and make some predictions too.
Once the boys start playing near the end of the month, my weekly picks will be broken up into half girls and half boys games. Each week, I will pick and predict the top 10 games – as I see them – on the area schedule. Until the boys kick things off, all 10 of these games will be on the girls side – and this week, maybe I picked 11? Also, we will usually reserve one game each Friday or Saturday as our game of the weekend for a separate preview, just not this opening week.
Lets go outdo last season, shall we?
Also each week here in the picks, I will talk about my completely imaginary Bounce Traveling Trophies. The girls trophy, which won’t be up for grabs yet this week, only travels between area teams and in my two years making picks, ONLY Homestead has ever held it.
*Unlike Blitz, we aren’t picking spreads here…just winners
2019-20 RECORD: 139-48 (.743)
WOODLAN AT NEW HAVEN, TUESDAY
New Haven is trending up and Woodlan has some question marks. As athletic as these New Haven players are around the rim, who will step uo for Woodlan and replace some of the interior presence they had? We call this another very difficult one to pick on night one of the new season and I’ll be the first to say that this could be a lot closer than most think. Play this game later this season, maybe the outcome is even different. Bounce picks Woodlan
OAK HILL AT NORWELL, WEDNESDAY
When you talk about heavy tests, Norwell has to welcome Oak Hill in knowing that it will be missing one or two of its best players in Lauren Bales and Maiah Shelton. Keep this in mind though as we talk about my favorite gym: Norwell has not lost in The Castle in 22 months, has not lost a season opener in 14 years or a season opener at home in 15 years. Survey says…Bounce picks Norwell
GARRETT AT WOODLAN, THURSDAY
If Woodlan’s test two days earlier is stiffer than expected, they should know what to expect here. Garrett is good. Period. And Woodlan just does not have the pieces in place yet to challenge that. The most intrigue here will be the enhanced style that coach Bob Lapadot says his Railroaders are working on. Bounce picks Garrett
CHURUBUSCO AT LAKEWOOD PARK, THURSDAY
A new coach and a new philosophy usually takes a long time to balance. There are so many factors that need to mesh to make this work. But there is something about the idea of coach David Goodwell being the motivator for the hard work of Mariah Hosted. Don’t forget too that Churubusco has basically their entire team back and they were hard chargers a year ago. Don’t see this transition as being as difficult as some may. Bounce picks Churubusco
BELLMONT AT GARRETT, SATURDAY
The Railroaders appear for the second time this week and this is just the kickoff of a really stellar Saturday of games. These two teams both play a great pressure style that is going to lead to some heavy back and forth. The difference at the end of the day has to be the interior, meaning that Morgan Ostrowski of Garrett is one to watch in this one. Bounce picks Garrett
COLUMBIA CITY AT CARROLL, SATURDAY
The defending NE8 champs head to face off a team that many will tell you have the capability of being upset SAC champs this season. What is Carroll’s true worth? They have the chance to make an instant statement on Saturday. Bounce picks Carroll
EASTSIDE AT ADAMS CENTRAL, SATURDAY
Two of the schools who will be near the top of their conferences makes for an interesting contest. Adams Central probably has the best player. Eastside probably has the best depth. Can the Flying Jets contain Ally King inside? This is going to be a pivotal night for Sage Hammond. This could actually be the hardest game to predict all week. Bounce picks Adams Central
BISHOP LUERS AT CENTRAL NOBLE, SATURDAY
This was a fun game last season, but now features more of a rebuilding Luers against an experienced Central Noble, the opposite of a year ago. The home team has won the last two in this series and I don’t see that changing. Bounce picks Central Noble
HOMESTEAD AT CARMEL, SATURDAY
Going to Carmel means having to contain Kate Clarke, who hit for a season high 26 points, with five three pointers made, last season against Homestead. Her length and flow make her difficult perimeter matchup. Spartan coach Rod Parker has said how much last year’s role players will have to step up defensively…and he means right now. Homestead had won the last two in this series. Bounce picks Homestead
WARSAW AT NORWELL, SATURDAY
If you don’t like this one, you don’t have a pulse. Both of these teams are going to go at it and Norwell, if they are at full strength, are a tough matchup. Look for Abby Sanner and Grace Bradtmueller to be a good battle; whoever controls the boards controls this game. Also, you may have read, but Norwell hasn’t lost in The Castle in 22 months. Bounce picks Norwell
NOBLESVILLE AT SNIDER, SATURDAY
Losses for Snider to Noblesville have been lopsided to start the last three seasons in a row and the Panthers have dropped 4 of the last 5 in the series. But something about this seems so different with coach Akilah Sims, transfer Destiny Jackson and an exciting trio of freshmen making Snider very different. But Noblesville had one of those freshmen studs last year too and Ashlynn Shade is very, very good. Snider is getting there, just not this weekend. Bounce picks Noblesville
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