It is a week where it is hard to not look ahead. The girls conference races are all but wrapped up and the are the main focus heading into the postseason while the boys still do battle.
My competently invisible traveling trophies stayed put as the Carroll girls downed South Side and Angola, two of the better teams in the area. The Homestead boys had a record night last Friday while defending their crown against North Side. Remember, this is the last week for the girls trophy to move this season because it is NOT defended in the playoffs.
Here are my picks for some nice boys games and the final week of the girls basketball regular season.
LAST WEEK: 11-5
2020-21 RECORD: 125-46
GIRLS
CONCORDIA AT SOUTH SIDE, MONDAY
This could be a really fun one and I am looking most forward to the Lamyia Woodson/Chanteese Craig battle inside as two of the very best true post players in the area. It also marks CC Calloway’s first game against her former home and with how well the Cadet wings have played lately, Calloway needs to have her best game of the season here. BOUNCE PICKS SOUTH SIDE
NORWELL AT JAY COUNTY, MONDAY
So we already went over this last week but the game got moved. So here we are again: Two big juggernauts clashing is always a good time and these two are queens of their own dominions. The home court helps here even though it’s not a terrible road trip to take for Norwell. They are both conference champs and this is more for bragging rights. Thus far it has been hard for Jay County to get over the hump against the best of the best in the area. BOUNCE PICKS NORWELL
COLUMBIA CITY AT NORTHROP, TUESDAY
Postseason momentum needed as both teams have lofty Sectional play ahead. Northrop is getting the best TiAuna White lately and this Northrop team is playing really good basketball, even after Saturday’s narrow loss to Elkhart. BOUNCE PICKS NORTHROP
BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN AT CENTRAL NOBLE, TUESDAY
Have I mentioned Sectional momentum? They both have very hard first round matchups so they both need a quality win here. Central Noble has been one of the best teams in the area over the past seven days, I don’t see that changing. BOUNCE PICKS CENTRAL NOBLE
WEST NOBLE AT EAST NOBLE, TUESDAY
The county rivalry game looked far closer at the beginning of the season. The Knights have treaded water while West Noble has been at the top of the NECC class. It should still be closer than you’d guess because both want Noble County bragging rights. Expect the Knights to play their best, but this isn’t their night. BOUNCE PICKS WEST NOBLE
ANGOLA AT BELLMONT, WEDNESDAY
If there is one team you don’t want to have to play at this time of the year, it is the Hornets. A team that has one of the best seniors in the area and a bunch of freshmen who have learned how to pull their weight and then some is a very dangerously balanced group. BOUNCE PICKS ANGOLA
SOUTH SIDE AT HOMESTEAD, THURSDAY
It is hard to even digest that these two teams are going to be playing with nothing at all on the line, let alone this late in the season. They’d love to matching up nine days after this for a Sectional title, but don’t expect either of these teams to hold back because the rivalry is still really real. BOUNCE PICKS HOMESTEAD
WOODLAN AT PRAIRIE HEIGHTS, THURSDAY
With a tough Sectional full of quality post play and high scoring shooters, this is a great matchup for Woodlan because they have that to slow agains the Panthers. It is a smaller scale look at what next week looks like so a nice challenge for the Warrior defense. BOUNCE PICKS WOODLAN
CARROLL AT SNIDER, FRIDAY
They could face for a Sectional title, but like with South and Homestead, don’t expect these teams to show anything less than their full hand. Carroll will likely be looking to close out a perfect SAC campaign and Snider really wants to get postseason momentum of the biggest kind. BOUNCE PICKS CARROLL
BOYS
LEO AT NORTH SIDE, MONDAY
This is another really good SAC test for a Leo team who has been as good against the SAC as any team in the SAC has this season. They are facing a unique challenge in North Side, who either plays young or at a high level. Which Legends do they get? I’m not sure that North has anything inside for either DJ Allen or Zack Troyer. BOUNCE PICKS LEO
SNIDER AT CHURUBUSCO, TUESDAY
This game was all Busco for 31 minutes last year and things changed quickly. Don’t think that has left Busco’s mind. This is a big week for both teams and believe it or not, I think they both need this win for momentum. Snider’s kryptonite has been lack of post play. This is a bad night to not have that. BOUNCE PICKS CHURUBUSCO
DEKALB AT SNIDER, WEDNESDAY
One night later, Snider is back and it is always a treat to see Jeremy Rauch coach against his former team. What did Snider learn a night before? Because while Connor Penrod is not Landen Jordan, he is very talented and a tough draw inside. Cole Richmond too is playing some great basketball for DeKalb but he can’t match up with both Aidan Lambert and Karson Jenkins. BOUNCE PICKS SNIDER
WHITKO AT PRAIRIE HEIGHTS, WEDNESDAY
We haven’t talked much about Whitko, but this is a team who has played very well. At 9-3 overall, Whitko has won five straight. Brett Sickafoose is arguably the most underrated player in the area. BOUNCE PICKS WHITKO
BLUFFTON AT JAY COUNTY, FRIDAY
This could be the game that dictates the ACAC. They were supposed to play in the semi finals of the conference tournament but it didn’t get to happen after Jay County’s withdraw. We finally get to see it and if Bluffton can play balanced like they did last week, the Patriots will struggle. BOUNCE PICKS BLUFFTON
CARROLL AT SNIDER, FRIDAY
The Chargers need to get through this one to keep SAC hopes alive, but Snider has long been known as a team that can play spoiler. Snider has to find a variety of defenses to throw at the Chargers and keep them off balance. Snider needs to run Carroll off the line and Carroll needs to let Snider stand and shoot, provided they aren’t hitting. Either way, don’t force your way out of this game. BOUNCE PICKS CARROLL
CHURUBUSCO AT CENTRAL NOBLE, FRIDAY
A rematch of the NECC Tournament rivalry game won by the Cougars and Connor Essegian’s phenomenal game. Who can’t be excited to see this rematch? These are two high level teams and their rivalry is always intense and emotional. Round two of a possible three and picking a winner is a crapshoot. I don’t think Essegian goes for 40-plus again, but I’ll give home court the nod. BOUNCE PICKS CENTRAL NOBLE
EASTSIDE AT WESTVIEW, FRIDAY
The clock is ticking for anyone to stop Westview from winning the conference title. Changes in their lineup have not really slowed them yet with Luke and Lyndon Miller stepping up. This is a Warrior team capable of having a lot of different guys be top scorers. Eastside is a formidable defensive unit that won’t make this one easy. BOUNCE PICKS WESTVIEW
BELLMONT AT LEO, SATURDAY
As it stands, this is the game for first place in the Northeast 8. That seems funny to say as Bellmont was never. projected to be in this place. They are scrappy for sure and Tyler James is going to be a hard guard for anyone. As long as Leo doesn’t shoot themselves out of this one, it probably isn’t close. Spoiler: Leo really doesn’t shoot many threes this season. BOUNCE PICKS LEO
DEKALB AT HUNTINGTON NORTH, SATURDAY
This is just a fun one in the NE8 with two teams that are strong, but not great at this point. Just expect a quality, gritty game here and there is no other sell. BOUNCE PICKS DEKALB
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