And now we head to big stretches of the season. The girls are preparing not just for some conference tournaments, but also the end of the regular season sooner than later.
My competently invisible traveling trophies stayed put last week. Blackhawk Christian played out of area and Carroll kept theirs with wins over East Noble and Snider.
LAST WEEK: 17-7
2020-21 RECORD: 90-32
GIRLS
LAKELAND AT ANGOLA, MONDAY
This is one that could be a good example of the shift in tide in the NECC in Lakeland’s favor. Or, hear me out, it could be a emphasis that Angola isn’t done yet heading into next week’s NECC Tournament. Angola’s lethargic start against Woodlan was a warning sign. The way they woke up was eye opening though. The Hornets are still very deadly and far from out of the conference conversation while the Lakers are out to prove this is their year. Game of the week vibes for this one on a Monday. BOUNCE PICKS LAKELAND
CARROLL AT NORWELL, TUESDAY
Arguably the top to girls teams in the area square off in this one and it won’t be for the faint of heart. Norwell packs more of a punch at the top of their lineup, but the Chargers can go deeper with offensive threats. Expect the pace in this one to be insane. Its a bit of a toss up but it’s also in The Castle. BOUNCE PICKS NORWELL
GARRETT AT FAIRFIELD, TUESDAY
A key NECC contest in a week of those. Fairfield isn’t at the conference darling level they were earlier this season, but just another team that is a big threat to the teams ahead of them in the standings. Garrett comes into this one back in the swing with wins last week and we will see how well they are clicking in this one. BOUNCE PICKS GARRETT
JAY COUNTY AT CONCORDIA LUTHERAN, TUESDAY
The Patriots have played really inspired basketball this season and nobody is running away from them. Don’t expect Concordia to be a team that can sneak away either. This game is ultra close, but Chanteese Craig is probably going to be too much down the stretch. BOUNCE PICKS CONCORDIA LUTHERAN
SOUTH ADAMS AT BELLMONT, WEDNESDAY
A good battle between the two Adams County teams that are coming off quarantine breaks, both with some quality games in last week. Expect South Adams to be firing, but Bellmont is still just too much better at this stage. BOUNCE PICKS BELLMONT
WEST NOBLE AT ANGOLA, WEDNESDAY
Did we say that this was a big week for the NECC? Meant it. Here you go: all roads still lead through Angola. This is West Noble’s turn and the Chargers are playing very well. The question lingers around NECC circles, has their level of competition been as high as some other teams. Expect a shootout, but something tells me the old guard has this one and throws a wrench into the NECC race. BOUNCE PICKS ANGOLA
BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN AT WOODLAN, THURSDAY
The Braves have taken a step back after their quick winning start to the season. A trip to visit Woodlan is not an easy way to find their way back. Woodlan is coming off a week where they beat Adams Central and, for a half, had Angola’s number. The Warrior defense is really tough no matter what their record says. BOUNCE PICKS WOODLAN
CENTRAL NOBLE AT GARRETT, FRIDAY
The Cougars are another team not quite out of the conference race, but they need a win on Friday night. Every game, Central Noble’s depth looks better. But when the train whistle blows, is their depth as good as Garrett’s? Not many teams are. BOUNCE PICKS GARRETT
SNIDER AT NORTHROP, FRIDAY
Just a quick fun one on Friday as these two scrappy teams with solid guard play do battle. Expect this one to have a torrid pace. Could come down to who’s guards get more comfortable first. BOUNCE PICKS SNIDER
BOYS
SNIDER AT NEW HAVEN, TUESDAY
The up and down play of New Haven can be attributed to a couple of things: the energy of the other team and their own foul trouble, which has been costly at times. If New Haven stays out of foul trouble, they are a team that has the size to be a real issue for Snider. But can they consistently defend the shooting turned dribble drive of the Panthers and someone like Aidan Lambert? BOUNCE PICKS SNIDER
HERITAGE AT DEKALB, TUESDAY
Two underrated teams gets to go at it here in what will likely be an under the radar game. Heritage is improving all of the time and have shown they can score a lot of points. The Barons want to push more consistency too, but their depth is improving. BOUNCE PICKS DEKALB
MARION AT BISHOP LUERS, TUESDAY
It is always interesting when James Blackmon returns to his former stomping grounds. This game features two of the state’s cleanest scorers in Jalen Blackmon and Naylon Thompson and expect them to go tick for tack when it comes to scoring the basketball. Close one, does home court help? BOUNCE PICKS Bishop Luers
SOUTH ADAMS AT LAKEWOOD PARK, TUESDAY
Now that the Starfires are in a rhythm, this is the perfect time to test themselves against a very athletic opponent. Trey Schoch and James Arnold have proven to be one of the best duos in the ACAC, but who tries to matchup with Caedmon Bontrager? Or do you not worry about what he does and try to shut down the rest of the Panthers? Carter Harman is going to be key here because Lakewood Park cannot just rely on Bontrager against a deep and aggressive South Adams team. BOUNCE PICKS SOUTH ADAMS
BLUFFTON AT CENTRAL NOBLE, WEDNESDAY
The Cougars know they need to get some tests in before the NECC Tournament and Bluffton can provide that at the top of their game. The Tigers can play aggressive and make the Cougars work for their baskets. That is a thing about Central Noble this year: can they out tough the opposing team? BOUNCE PICKS CENTRAL NOBLE
BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN AT WAYNE, THURSDAY
Don’t get out and run. How do you do that if you are Wayne, a team that succeeds more in chaos than any other way. You just can’t run with the Braves and Wayne’s only shot at an upset here means finding a pace or tempo that Blackhawk is less comfortable in. BOUNCE PICKS BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN
SOUTH SIDE AT HOMESTEAD, FRIDAY
This isn’t as much about how this game goes, but which Spartan is going to step up big. Of their top three scorers, Grant Simmons’ 32 last week was the worst of their season highs. Simmons, Luke Goode and Fletcher Loyer shoot almost 43 percent from three point range and over 86 percent from the foul line. Yikes. BOUNCE PICKS HOMESTEAD
WAYNE AT NORTH SIDE, FRIDAY
Wayne can learn a lot from their game earlier this week and apply it here. Wayne will see a Blackhawk Christian team this week that doesn’t make mistakes and they have to mimic it on Friday night. North Side plays really good basketball, but they make some poorly timed mistakes, as does Wayne. That has been what has kept both of these teams from really getting over the hump so far. Who can play most intelligently? BOUNCE PICKS NORTH SIDE
BLUFFTON AT WOODLAN, SATURDAY
This kind of has become a rivalry lately. But with a rematch lingering on Tuesday in the ACAC Tournament, what do we see here? Everything. Both teams are still in the conference title argument and this game goes a long way in helping to figure out a champion. Last season, Bluffton beat Woodlan right before the ACAC Tournament to help secure a regular season title. The Warriors won the tournament though. I’m not saying anything last year mirrors this year in any way, but…BOUNCE PICKS WOODLAN
COLUMBIA CITY AT CARROLL, SATURDAY
A real stiff test for Columbia City, who has struggled to put some pieces together athletically behind Mason Baker as of late. These former conference foes always have solid games, but the Chargers are far more athletic right now. BOUNCE PICKS CARROLL
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