Each week, Bounce will pick the results of a handful of the best girls games and handful of the best boys games in the area.
If you are here looking for picks for Saturday’s Champions of Character Classic at Grace College on the boys side, stay tuned because Bounce will be previewing that entire single day shootout later in the week.
But, coming off my best week of picks this season it will only go up from here, right?
LAST WEEK: 11-4
OVERALL: 23-15
GIRLS
Woodlan at Norwell, Tuesday
Norwell is riding high and they welcome in a Woodlan team who is looking to gain some footing again after last week’s struggles. Norwell just beat the best team in the area and in the state. So is Norwell the best team in the area? Well, that is for a different column to discuss. BOUNCE PICKS NORWELL
Columbia City at Warsaw, Tuesday
So how does Columbia City respond from their first loss? This isn’t an easy bounce back game and gets harder by being in Warsaw. The Tigers are tough and Brooke Zartman had a stellar week last week. They are very similar to the Eagles in depth and energy, but does experience in big games play the biggest role? Something tells me Addison Baxter isn’t letting her group lose twice in a row. BOUNCE PICKS COLUMBIA CITY
Lakewood Park at Eastside, Tuesday
Two of the teams on the fringe of the top 10 in the area with an important game in DeKalb County. Eastside is a very balanced force but the Panthers can be more balanced. Nobody has yet convinced me that Ava McGrade isn’t the best player on the court most nights. BOUNCE PICKS LAKEWOOD PARK
Bishop Luers at Homestead, Friday
If the Knights want to be taken seriously in the SAC, this is a must win game. The history of Luers and Homestead is an intriguing one and both coaches know it. Right now, Myah Epps is playing as consistently as any player in the area. BOUNCE PICKS HOMESTEAD
Whitko at Lewis Cass, Saturday
Whitko is off to a 7-2 start, the best start since 2016 and that was a very different world for Whitko. Lewis Cass sits at 8-1 on the season including a 71-5 win on opening night. This is a major game for Whitko, who could make a monster statement even though they are considered to be playing a better schedule against Cass. Adriyanna Phillips is averaging a team best 12.8 points on 42 percent shooting for the Wildcats and I feel like they’ve earned the benefit of doubt. BOUNCE PICKS WHITKO
East Noble at Columbia City, Saturday
East Noble’s start to their season has been impressive but now they’ve run into the toughest part of their season, including last week’s losses to Northrop and Bellmont. The Knights aren’t THERE yet, but they still are worth noting as they head to the jungle that is Columbia City. BOUNCE PICKS COLUMBIA CITY
BOYS
East Noble at Snider, Tuesday
East Noble proved me wrong out of the gate this season and I haven’t forgotten that. While Snider hasn’t been on my game pick list, they have kind of proven me wrong thus far too. Very hungry teams, very motivated young coaches. Is a 10-day lull between games too much for East Noble when Snider has been very active and very competitive? BOUNCE PICKS EAST NOBLE
Bellmont at New Haven, Friday
A game that could have major NE8 implications. New Haven is and will be just 1-4 heading into this game, but they’ve been clearly in 3 of their 4 losses so the record is just a record. The question is depth. While Bellmont has shown balance in their 4-1 start, New Haven needs some more help. The defining part of predicting this game so early: New Haven fell to Woodlan, the boys of Decatur beat Woodlan rather convincingly just days later. BOUNCE PICKS BELLMONT
Columbia City at East Noble, Friday
The Eagles picked up a marquee win last Friday. With both of these teams considered in the NE8 race early with their play, this one could come up crucial. Reversing course on my Tuesday pick, sorry Kendallville. BOUNCE PICKS COLUMBIA CITY
Adams Central at Woodlan, Friday
This will be the second of Adams Central’s three games this week. Why is that relevant? Because the Flying Jets have yet to play a single game this season. Its not an easy week for them either, especially when you point out that this could easily be a game that determines the ACAC and its their second game of the year. Woodlan struggled last week in ways, edging Angola and getting topped at Leo. We expect AC to be a lot like last season and I’m not confident that Woodlan has anyone to handle Isaac Schultz. BOUNCE PICKS ADAMS CENTRAL
Bishop Luers at Homestead, Friday
Just like the girls side, this is a must win for both teams because of how tight the SAC could be. Homestead has been a real breath of fresh air as we rarely see Spartan teams with such little experience, yet this group is thriving. The Spartans though have to be considered the underdogs here because of how well Luers adapts to different styles of play and with what Dereon and Drelyn Truesdale are doing right now. BOUNCE PICKS BISHOP LUERS
Wayne at Carroll, Friday
The big one in the SAC. Who takes early claim to the SAC lead. Both have losses overall but it hasn’t changed the excitement of this game. I’m excited at least about it. Both teams have multiple high level scorers and just a week ago, I actually thought I had an idea who was winning this game but then Saturday gave me a bit of pause. In football season, Blitz would probably predict a tie in a game this close. Me, I won’t cop out. It’s a tough pick, its a close game and if the team I don’t pick wins, they are giving me hell on social media that’s for sure no matter what team that is. BOUNCE PICKS CARROLL
Fremont at Angola, Saturday
A great battle between two rival schools in the NECC. Fremont has won the last two in this series and Angola won the five before that. Angola sits at 1-5 after a big win over a Garrett team who played with them early last week, but a record doesn’t mean much in a rivalry game. Two of my favorite underrated coaches in the area square off in this one with great basketball minds in Josh Stuckey and Brandon Appleton and, of course, if you see Twitter battles from the school’s barstools, you know what the other argument is for this game. BOUNCE PICKS FREMONT
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