It has been a few weeks since Bounce put together a power poll. While there has been some movement, overall we don’t have a lot of shocking jumps or drops.
The biggest take? Once again, the lack of any real powerful teams in the SAC outside of Wayne and Bishop Luers. Can Homestead finish strong with the return of Will Jamison? Will a senior-laden North Side team find consistency down the stretch? Is there another surprise lurking?
All good questions.
NO. 1 – WAYNE GENERALS (17-3, 8-0 SAC)
Congratulations to the Generals, who clinched their second-consecutive SAC championship with a 17-point victory over South Side last Friday.
It has been a fruitful few weeks for Coach Anthony Brewer’s squad, who have won nine-straight games dating back to a home loss to Arsenal Tech in early January.
Only one regular-season contest remains for Wayne, a road matchup with Concordia Lutheran this Friday.
NO. 2 – COLUMBIA CITY EAGLES (15-6, 6-1 NE8)
For just the second time since the creation of the Northeast Eight, Columbia City is a conference champion, sharing the crown with Bellmont after a close home win over Leo last Friday.
The Eagles went 2-for-2 over the weekend with wins over the Lions and West Noble, pushing their winning streak to eight with a pair of regular-season games remaining.
The senior class has been tremendous for CC, with Matt Mulligan and Brady Hartman leading the way, as well as Aiden Denning, who is one of the most improved players in the area.
Why Not Higher?
A 20-point loss to Wayne in mid-December seems like a long time ago, but it still looms large when comparing the Eagles to the Generals. Columbia City could get another shot at Wayne in the sectional.
NO. 3 – BISHOP LUERS KNIGHTS (15-3, 5-2 SAC)
The most difficult team to rank this week was the Knights. After all, a road loss last week to South Side caught a lot of people by surprise.
But Bounce is still confident that Bishop Luers, judging by its entire body of work, is the second-best team in the SAC overall. Weird things happen in conference games. Consider that defeat to the Archers a blip on the radar, and perhaps a wake-up call for a Luers team could have its work cut out for it in a sectional that currently sees five of the six teams flaunting double-digit win totals.
The Knights will be busy over the final two weeks of the regular season, with five games in a 10-day span.
Why Not Higher?
Bishop Luers lost to Wayne at the end of January, doesn’t play Columbia City and fell to South Side last week. This is the highest spot the Knights deserve.
NO. 4 – BELLMONT BRAVES (16-3, 6-1 NE8)
The last time Bellmont could refer to itself as a league champion, the year was 2005 way back in the old Northeast Hoosier conference.
That squad also happens to be the last Braves team to capture a sectional championship. So could this team end the drought? Much like Bishop Luers, Bellmont will be busy between now and the end of the regular season, with five games on the docket, including a fun showdown with Bishop Luers on Saturday.
Why Not Higher?
The loss to Columbia City. That’s it.
NO. 5 – MANCHESTER SQUIRES (17-2, 7-0 TRC)
The Squires continue to roll, entering the week on a nine-game winning streak with recent wins over Bluffton and Peru.
There are doubts about how good this team is compared to others on this poll, but there is no mistaking the fact that junior Gavin Betten can score in bunches. He has been an absolute machine since his freshman year, having averaged a double-double at the varsity level for three-straight seasons now. Wild.
Manchester faces a trio of double-digit win squads to close out the regular season. Can they sweep ’em?
Why Not Higher?
A 30-point loss to Blackhawk Christian in mid-December is something Bounce cannot get off his mind. Actually, he must have been able to since Manchester is far above the Braves in this poll. Call me a sucker for a good winning streak.
NO. 6 – ADAMS CENTRAL FLYING JETS (16-3, 6-0 ACAC)
The Flying Jets have clinched their second-straight ACAC title with a lopsided victory over South Adams last Friday. AC followed that win up by a 19-point win at Eastside on Saturday.
Overall, the Flying Jets have won four straight and five of six in what has been another sensational season for Coach Aaron McClure’s squad. A visit to North Side on Saturday will be a good test.
Why Not Higher?
The loss to Manchester on the road in mid-January.
NO. 7 – FAIRFIELD FALCONS (12-4, 5-1 NECC)
The loss at West Noble a few weeks ago is still puzzling, but the Falcons have responded accordingly, winning five straight games since.
While most other league races have wrapped up, Fairfield is still in a battle with Lakeland regarding who is going to win the Northeast Corner Conference. Sandwiched in between two conference games is a road test against Northridge next Tuesday, a good barometer for where this Fairfield team is late in the season.
Why Not Higher?
The loss to West Noble still looms large.
NO. 8 – HOMESTEAD SPARTANS (11-10, 6-2 SAC)
Welcome back to the top 10, Homestead, which welcomed back its senior standout Will Jamison to competition.
Jamison entered the season considered by Bounce as one of the top five players in northeast Indiana, so the fact that he is back suiting up for the Spartans is a tremendous boost.
Homestead fell to Wayne last week, but it was a back-and-forth game that the Generals pulled out on the road, a testament not only to Wayne, but also the Spartans.
This is a very dangerous team that has its eyes on Wayne and Columbia City come sectional time, both of whom own regular-season dubs over Sparty.
Why Not Higher?
Double-digit losses.
NO. 9 – NORWELL KNIGHTS (11-8, 5-2 NE8)
It has been quite stressful to be a Norwell fan this year. They have had two games go into double overtime (both wins) and since the turn of the calendar to 2024 they have played in six games decided by six points of less, including a two-point victory at Huntington North last Friday.
This is a team that still has difficulty scoring at times, which could end up biting them come sectional time. But it is also a team that is comparable to the best teams in Class 3A Sectional 23, including Bellmont, which beat the Knights by six in mid-January.
Why Not Higher?
Eight losses on the year and no winning streak longer than two since the first two weeks of the season.
NO. 10 – WESTVIEW WARRIORS (14-4, 7-2 NECC)
Westview hasn’t lost to a team not named Fairfield since mid-December. That loss on Dec. 19 to Lakeland was avenged in overtime in the NECC Tournament.
Coach Chandler Prible has his team in the midst of a five-game winning streak and look the part of the playing the best basketball in the league right now outside of the Fairfield.
The key to Westview’s chances for a second-straight sectional title is a defense allowing just 42 points per game.
Why Not Higher?
An 0-2 record against teams above them in this poll. Both losses to Fairfield.
IN THE CONVERSATION
Blackhawk Christian (14-6)
Canterbury (10-8)
Central Noble (14-6)
North Side (13-7)
Warsaw (14-5)
I’m not sure if Bounce can get over the 30 point loss Manchester had to Blackhawk but they had a four game stretch without their point guard Ethan Hendrix and he is the powertrain that makes the engine go! Not sure it accounts for the 30 points but it did make a dirrerence!