This week and for a couple more, Bounce will break down and predict the top and/or most relevant games in the area for girls basketball. Once the boys start playing the week of Thanksgiving, Bounce’s picks will then be split between the two with 5 (or more) girls games and 5 (or more) boys games being featured and prognosticated each Monday.
If you know how Bounce picks, you know its different than that prognosticating bear in the fall. No projected scores or spreads here. Basketball is too unpredictable for silliness like that.
LAST WEEK: 5-1 (Columbia City at Carroll moved to Jan. 8)
THIS SEASON: 5-1
GIRLS
Fremont at Lakewood Park, Tuesday
A very intriguing Class 1A battle to help open up week two of the season. In week one, Ava McGrade was – unsurprisingly – one of the best offensive threats in the area. She is a big time scorer and it gives LPCS an immediate advantage. But with Fremont’s depth in scoring, even if nobody has broken 20 individually yet, how much of a head start do they have? McGrade gets hers and this game is a good one, but…BOUNCE PICKS FREMONT
Bishop Dwenger at East Noble, Tuesday
The Saints had a solid opener and it was a good right foot to get off on considering the schedule of their second week (more on that later). East Noble also opened with a win and when we talk about depth, you can’t deny that of the Knights. While Averi Amstutz continues to lead, there are a lot of capable players on the Knights that can make teams uncomfortable. Things are going to be different at BD with Kirk Comer roaming the sidelines, but this is a tough early test. BOUNCE PICKS EAST NOBLE
Central Noble at Whitko, Tuesday
Two teams who have a lot of potential to shake things up in their respective conferences. It was a bit of a surprise to see Central Noble fall in their opener, while this will be the first contest of the year for Whitko. The Wildcats have had time to build their players up well and home court could be a swing here. BOUNCE PICKS WHITKO
Northrop at Norwell, Tuesday
Norwell opened with three games last week, picking up two wins before running into the Warsaw buzzsaw over the weekend. Northrop got a win in their first game as well, but this one is going to be a tight race of who is really the best to start the season and that very well could be a toss up. There hasn’t been much time to adjust last week so Norwell certainly needs to make sure to protect against a Northrop defense that is stout. BOUNCE PICKS NORTHROP
Snider at Warsaw, Thursday
The Panthers will get their shot at Warsaw and Bounce is telling you that if this game came later in the season, we could be having a different conversation. Not to say that we won’t see this again later because we could. But right now, the Panthers aren’t seasoned enough for the well oiled Tiger machine. BOUNCE PICKS WARSAW
Woodlan at Bellmont, Friday
Two more teams that did not play opening week, though Bellmont will get a game in before this opposite Concordia. Both could be real threats in their respective conferences this season so it is important to get off on a good foot. BOUNCE PICKS BELLMONT
Fremont at Eastside, Friday
Well this is very important week two game because it could legitimately have NECC implications when all is said and done in 2025. Fremont has had an impressive start as the only team in the conference to go 2-0 opening week and they’ve done so with a nice spread of scoring. But no spread of scoring is usually as good as Eastside, who had 4 in double figures in their season opening win. Could we see this again in the NECC Tournament? Hope so. BOUNCE PICKS EASTSIDE
Bluffton at East Noble, Saturday
East Noble’s potential strong start is going to be contested early as the physical, defensive strength of Bluffton is a lot to take on. Both teams can play well inside out, but the difference in this game is how East Noble’s offensive guard play works against what can be lock down Tiger defense. BOUNCE PICKS BLUFFTON
Norwell at Northridge, Saturday
No easy outs for Norwell, am I right? You don’t become a perennial power by scheduling lay up wins. BOUNCE PICKS NORWELL
Snider at Bishop Dwenger, Saturday
SAC season starts early too as Dwenger gets to host a rebuilding Panther squad. This could be a nice coming out party for Janaya Cooper, the freshman that has already proven she can go a little bit in week one. But to close week two with a big game and conference win? That is ideal. BOUNCE PICKS SNIDER
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