The last few weeks has seen the start of conference play across the area. With a bigger sample size of what has gone down, Bounce feels he has a better grasp of who ranks where.
But there is still plenty of chaos. If anything, this year is shaping up like last season, with unpredictability across the board from one night to the next.
Read on to find out where your team ranks as we count down the days to the new year.
NO. 1 – WARSAW TIGERS (6-0, 1-0 NLC)
Coach Matt Moore’s team continues to roll through its early portion of the schedule, which included a 29-point thrashing of Wawasee to open Northern Lakes Conference action.
The trio of Luke Bricker, Brandt Martin and Robbie Finlinson continue to set the pace. All three finished in double figures in last weekend’s win over Carroll.
The Tigers will be tested over the break by appearing at both the Hall of Fame Classic at New Castle and the Bob Wettig Tournament in Richmond, where they will open with Bishop Luers on Jan. 2.
NO. 2 – BISHOP LUERS KNIGHTS (4-0, 2-0 SAC)
The Knights have several playmakers, but this team still revolves around senior twins Drelyn and Dereon Truesdale. Combined, the duo is averaging 27 points, 10 rebounds and 7.3 assists per contest.
If anything the Bob Wettig Tournament will give us a better barometer on where this team is in relation to the rest of Class 2A. Last year, the Knights won 20 games but fell in the sectional championship game to Blackhawk Christian.
A reminder, Blackhawk is now up in Class 3A. Does that clear the way for Bishop Luers to make a run in the 2A north?
Why Not Higher?
Warsaw has the better body of work, but the head-to-head matchup in Richmond on Jan. 2 will be telling.
NO. 3 – BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN BRAVES (6-1)
The Braves’ lone loss so far this season is by three to a very good Avon team. A 50-point demolition of a decent Canterbury team was the most recent eye-opening performance out of Coach Matt Roth’s squad.
Kellen Pickett continues to state his case to be chosen as an Indiana All-Star. He went for a season-high 29 points with 12 rebounds in a 20-point win over Heritage last week after being held scoreless against Norwell. He has 12 or more rebounds in every game this season.
Why Not Higher?
Warsaw and Bishop Luers just feel like a cut above the Braves right now. That’s not a knock. In terms of grading a team’s body of work so far, the Braves just haven’t impressed as much as the other two. Not yet, anyway.
NO. 4 – WAYNE GENERALS (4-2, 2-0 SAC)
Outside of the puzzling season-opening loss to Leo, Wayne has looked pretty good. It battled undefeated Crown Point, falling by just one. Outside of that, have routed the likes of New Haven, Snider and Carroll.
The ultra-talented senior class is still going to dictate how far this team goes, whether that be an SAC title, postseason titles or both. Sophomore Tyree Eldridge is one to watch, however, as a versatile player who can score, rebound and see the floor.
Wayne will compete in the Fishers Tournament over the holidays, which will be a good test.
Why Not Higher?
The Leo loss continues to hold Wayne back from the top three, especially as the Lions continue to lose games.
NO. 5 – COLUMBIA CITY EAGLES (5-1, 1-0 NE8)
Caidyn Berna has been impactful this season for the Eagles. In Columbia City’s most recent game, a 60-44 win over East Noble to open league play, the junior dropped 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Coach Matt Schauss’ team lost just twice after Jan. 2 last season. Those winning ways have carried over into the beginning of this campaign.
The Eagles will play in a tournament at Delta this weekend, with a showdown with Blackhawk Christian looming on Jan. 3.
Why Not Higher?
You could argue the most impressive performance from Columbia City thus far was the nine-point loss to Warsaw. That’s more a criticism of the lack of competition that the Eagles have had more than anything else. The schedule stiffens considerably over break and beyond.
NO. 6 – HOMESTEAD SPARTANS (4-3, 1-1 SAC)
Homestead is confusing, much like the rest of the area so far. On the good side, there is a win over a good Tippecanoe Valley team and a close, overtime loss to Warsaw. On the bad, there is a puzzling loss to New Haven on the road.
Coach Chris Johnson’s team most recently led Bishop Luers on the road at half before letting the Knights pull out the win. Jake Coolman continues to be impressive, as he scored 17 at Luers in defeat.
Why Not Higher?
No winning streak of more than two games so far this year.
NO. 7 – NEW HAVEN BULLDOGS (4-3, 1-0 NE8)
The Bulldogs beat Homestead a few weeks ago, so how are they below the Spartans?
Well, Bounce still feels Homestead is the better team. Play that game 10 times and the Spartans win seven of them, at least.
Now, credit to New Haven for being better on that day, but this is also a team that lost to Northrop by double digits and only beat winless Bellmont by four.
But Coach Brandon Appleton is already turning heads in his first season at the helm. New Haven will take part in the Phil Cox Memorial Tournament at Kokomo after Christmas.
Why Not Higher?
New Haven owns a win over Homestead but a loss to Northrop. Explain this.
NO. 8 – SOUTH SIDE ARCHERS (6-1, 2-1 SAC)
in this dog-eat-dog season, South Side’s loss to Northrop in its most-recent outing shouldn’t come as that much of surprise. When you shoot less than 25 percent from the field, as the Archers did in that contest, you aren’t going to win very many games.
Was the loss an anomaly or give opponents a strategy to take down South? The 43 points scored in that game were 12 points less than any other game so far this year. For a team averaging 62 points a game, dropping only 43 is a big decline.
Here’s thinking that the loss is only a blip on the radar for the Archers, who will get the holidays off before a back-to-back weekend on the road at Homestead and Marion on Jan. 10-11.
Why Not Higher?
That loss to Northrop. Maybe we are selling the Bruins short?
NO. 9 – SNIDER PANTHERS (3-3, 1-2 SAC)
We need to remember that, other than Qualyn Clopton, this team is led by underclassmen. Also, their three losses are to teams all above them in this poll – South Side, Wayne and Warsaw.
This is another SAC squad that, like South Side, has a lot going for it in terms of varsity contributors who are from the lower classes. Xavier Wilson and Trell Hogue, Snider’s two players who are averaging in double figures, are a junior and sophomore, respectively.
Snider will compete in the Holiday Hoops Tournament at Huntington North this weekend.
Why Not Higher?
Three losses, all by double digits.
NO. 10 – GARRETT RAILROADERS (7-1, 2-1 NECC)
Welcome to the party, Railroaders.
Coach Logan Traylor has Garrett on the rise in his first season. Consider that with seven wins already, this team has already captured more victories in a season since the 2015-16 campaign when they won nine. The competition hasn’t been the best, but the Railroaders were a victim of the mediocre competition in years past. Not anymore.
Sophomore Isaiah King has made an immediate impact since transferring in from being home schooled as a freshman. He leads the Railroaders in scoring at 16.6 points per game.
Why Not Higher?
Of the seven wins, just two have come against teams with a current winning record.
IN THE CONVERSATION (in alphabetical order)
Adams Central (4-1)
Angola (5-3)
Carroll (3-4)
Heritage (5-3)
Lakeland (6-2)
Leo (4-3)
Northrop (5-4)
Norwell (4-2)
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
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