We kick into gear with the first boys basketball power poll of the regular season. After our preseason top 10, we let things percolate on the boys side for a couple of weeks. And boy, do we have some changes.
Each week, Bounce will do his best to rank the top 10 teams in the area.
Let’s get after it.
No. 1 – Blackhawk Christian Braves
Records: 2-0
Previous rank: 6
Why #1?: Coach Matt Roth’s squad vaults up to the top spot after a pair of wins over two teams with high aspirations this season- North Side and New Haven. Kellen Pickett has been a revelation through two games with the sophomore averaging 18 points.
The Braves hit the road for the first time this weekend at Lafayette Central Catholic, with a game at South Side looming next week.
Why not higher?: It doesn’t get better.
Best win: North Side
No. 2 – Homestead Spartans
Records: 2-0, 0-0 SAC
Previous rank: 3
Why #2?: The “will he or won’t he” regarding Grant Leeper and his decision on whether to play basketball or not was in the mind of OTH when it ranked the Spartans No. 3 in the preseason. With Leeper in the fold, Sparty may be the best team in the SAC.
While Leeper has been steady, it has been the scoring ability of junior Will Jamison that has really been a surprise for Homestead. At this point, we shouldn’t be shocked when a guy comes out of nowehere to be the next big contributor for Coach Chris Johnson’s squad, yet here we are.
A doubleheader this weekend will be telling for Homestead with a home matchup against Bishop Dwenger followed by a road test at New Haven.
Why not higher?: Small sample size.
Best win: Warsaw
No. 3 – Wayne Generals
Records: 2-0, 0-0 SAC
Previous rank: 5
Why #3?: At 2-0, the Generals are off to a solid start. In fact, it is the first year since 2015 in which Wayne has won its first two games.
Both of the dubs have been impressive – road wins at Leo and Culver Academy. This is still a young squad, although senior Monte Smith Jr. currently leads the squad in scoring.
Considering this team only won four games a season ago, this is a fine start.
Why not higher?: Top three is pretty solid for a team that has promise but has a lot still to prove.
Best win: Culver Academy
No. 4 – North Side Legends
Records: 1-2, 0-0 SAC
Previous rank: 1
Why #4?: It hasn’t been an overly impressive first two weeks for North Side, which began the year No. 1 in our rankings. Cathedral is arguably the best team in the state, but a 48-point loss by the Legends to open the season against the Fighting Irish was a disaster.
The Legends got their first win by knocking off DeKalb. We will see if that’s the start of a run.
Why not higher?: Two losses.
Best win: DeKalb
No. 5 – Concordia Lutheran Cadets
Records: 2-1; 0-0 SAC
Previous rank: 4
Why #5?: The Cadets will begin their home slate at a revamped ‘Cage’ this Friday against Carroll in a battle of a pair of SAC upstarts. The growing pains of a young lineup appears to be paying dividends this year as juniors Cole Hayworth and Ajani Washington are two of the squad’s leading scorers.
Why not higher?: A lopsided loss to NorthWood is one of a number of defeats to top teams suffered by SAC squads early this year.
Best win: Leo
No. 6 – Carroll Chargers
Records: 2-0, 0-0 SAC
Previous rank: 9
Why #6?: The Chargers have the most impressive win out of anyone in the top six – a narrow victory over Norwell to open the season.
Even more crazy, Carroll has already matched his win total from all of last year.
There is no question that the Chargers are improved in Year 2 under Coach Ryan Abbott. Just how much better? We will find out this weekend with a showdown on the road at Concordia Lutheran followed by a road trip to Columbias City.
Why not higher?: Still a bit early to vault Carroll into the top 5. It can surely make the case with two dubs this weekend.
Best win: Norwell
No. 7 – Norwell Knights
Records: 3-1, 0-0 NE8
Previous rank: 2
Why #7?: Despite a precipitous drop from the No. 2 spot, Norwell will be just fine going forward. It is impossible to predict the opening game of the season, and the Knights have followed up the Carroll loss with a trio of routs.
Luke McBride recently moved to No. 3 in the all-time scoring list for Norwell, quite the accomplishment for the senior.
Why not higher?: This could be too much of a freefall for Norwell when Bounce revisits it later. We just don’t know how good (or bad) or a loss that was to Carroll.
Best win: Oak Hill
No. 8 – Warsaw Tigers
Records: 2-1, 0-0 NLC
Previous rank: N/R
Why #8?: The Tigers struggled on the road at Homestead, but own victories over Columbia City and Huntington North. Jaxson Gould has been an offensive force early this season.
Why not higher?: A road game at North Side this weekend could see the Tigers rise higher with a victory.
Best win: Columbia City
No. 9 – Columbia City Eagles
Records: 3-1, 0-0 NE8
Previous rank: No. 7
Why #9?: Since dropping a late-November game to Warsaw, the Eagles have bounced back with dominant wins over Canterbury and Churubusco. The victory over ‘Busco was particularly impressive, a 91-38 rout.
Columbia City has an impressive one-two punch at guard with senior Andrew Hetrick and sophomore Stratton Fuller. The duo combined for 48 points in the win over Churubusco.
Columbia City visits Carroll on Saturday.
Why not higher?: The three wins for Columbia City have come against teams that are a combined 2-8.
Best win: Canterbury
No. 10 – West Noble Chargers
Records: 4-0, 0-0 NECC
Previous rank: No. 10
Why #10?: Austin Cripe and company have owned the early part of the season to the tune of four victories – including a rout of Concord on Wednesday night.
Bounce is already excited about seeing West Noble take on Blackhawk Christian at Trine University on December 30. Opportunities for West Noble to prove itself against some of the top squads around are limited. That showdown will be telling.
Why not higher?: Lack of victories over top opponents.
Best win: Wawasee
In the Conversation
Bishop Luers (2-1)
Snider (1-0)
Bishop Dwenger (0-1)
Leo (2-3)
New Haven (1-2)
Prairie Heights (4-0)
Central Noble (2-0)
Westview (2-1)
Woodlan (4-1)
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