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.
It is time to kick it into gear in 2024. This is a big week of picks with conference tournaments lingering. Especially for ol’ Bounce because 2023 lended itself to being way too unpredictable.
LAST TIME: 4-7
OVERALL: 36-30
GIRLS
Eastbrook at Huntington North, Wednesday
This is a big test for the Vikings, who have won seven in a row and now meet up with the recent Grant 4 Tournament champions. Eastbrook has been mighty and one of the tougher teams on the backend of the Vikings schedule. But when you look at what Huntington North has had to face so far, they’ve kind of been build up. BOUNCE PICKS HUNTINGTON NORTH
Bluffton at Jay County, Friday
Is it for the ACAC title? Not technically, but with everyone else behind them with at least two conference losses, it is a pretty safe bet to say the winner of this wins the conference. Bluffton has lost two in a row coming into this week and needs a good showing earlier in the week at North Miami just to right some things. The Patriots, on the other hand, haven’t lost in 11 games and don’t lose in the ACAC, almost ever. Bluffton could be that team, absolutely, but home court could matter here. BOUNCE PICKS JAY COUNTY
Columbia City at Bellmont, Friday
Both teams need this one to stay alive in the NE8 race. For Columbia City, it has to hope for a three way tie or better, but Bellmont knows they have to win this for their January 13 game at rival Norwell to be as impactful as they want it to be. It’s not a “must win” for either team, but its pretty close. BOUNCE PICKS COLUMBIA CITY
Northrop at Snider, Friday
Last year, this game was glorious. Don’t expect the changing faces at either school to keep it from being that again. Get there early fans as last year, this game had Northrop High School’s gym deep. The Bruins played spoiler last year in a game that many had earmarked for Snider to take. This time, I don’t think the Panthers plan on relenting. BOUNCE PICKS SNIDER
Angola at Fremont, Saturday
The county rivalry on the girls side follows up an excellent recent boys game. A lot of youth for Fremont that has been showing out versus some real veterans with Angola who have been that youthful front before. BOUNCE PICKS FREMONT
BOYS
East Noble at Westview, Tuesday
The Knights were rolling around the holidays, but a tough loss to Central Noble could have derailed that. We will find out in this game with both teams deep in guard play putting together some fascinating matchups like say a Ryker Quake versus Luke Helmuth. The key here is what Westview looks like after not playing since December 19, a time period in which East Noble is 3-1 during. BOUNCE PICKS WESTVIEW
Whitko at Rochester, Wednesday
Whitko is a team we haven’t given enough credit to, with some nice wins and play from Kyler Krull and Sam Essegian mixed in. Rochester, who isn’t in the area, has some solid pieces, like Owen Prater, who may be a bit undersized versus Whitko’s duo, but certainly won’t hold back either. Upset special? BOUNCE PICKS ROCHESTER
North Side at Wayne, Friday
I’m feeling so SAC title situations here. North Side has been almost perfect and Wayne doesn’t have a bad loss on their schedule. Can the Legends get back from a pretty awful shooting night that led to a loss to Fairfield which them spiraled into two more losses around the holidays? Wayne looked sharp in tighter than expected games on December 29, while North has lost 3 of their last 5, but on a brutal schedule of games. BOUNCE PICKS WAYNE
Bellmont at Columbia City, Saturday
The Braves have put themselves in really good position in the NE8 and I still am not sure who Columbia City is with some ugh type losses and some eye opening wins. Which Eagles team shows up to play and do the fans of CC make this game loud like they have in some girls games this year. I’m gonna go safe, but believe me, this is far from a given. BOUNCE PICKS BELLMONT
Jay County at Adams Central, Saturday
Is this for the ACAC title? Unlike on the girls side, we won’t determine a champ this week in the conference but Jay County is an under the radar choice to give Adams Central some headaches. There is now a blueprint on how to beat AC, something I didn’t know if many teams would be able to find. Can Jay County execute? Probably. Can they out-execute? Well that is an entirely different problem. BOUNCE PICKS ADAMS CETNRAL
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Bounce you need to take a look at the clock work at the end of the Bellmont Columbia City game! 1.3 seconds ended being 3.3 you can verify it by watching it on the schools station which was broadcasting the game. The timer did not start the clock when he should have. View it for your self it is easy to see