It is time to get fully into the rest of this season. The girls are turning the corner to the second half and the boys are done playing around as they get fully involved in 2025.
Lets get into it.
LAST WEEK: 9-7 (4-3 Girls, 5-3 boys)
THIS SEASON: 85-42
BOYS GAMES
Columbia City at NorthWood, Tuesday
The Eagles will have to bounce back from a loss to Blackhawk Christian with another high powered opponent that can get it done inside and outside. This type of competition will strengthen the Eagles, but it doesn’t men it is easy. In the Everingham boys get hot on the perimeter, this could be a long one. BOUNCE PICKS NORTHWOOD
Snider at New Haven, Tuesday
New Haven and Snider have both been on a bit of a ride as of late and they both could use a win here for momentum purposes. The physicality that both can play with should make for a great back and forth battle, but who gets the edge in the mental aggression is what Bounce is looking for. BOUNCE PICKS SNIDER
Westview at East Noble, Tuesday
The Knights are on a three game win streak and it has them back in Bounce’s view. Westview is building their resume heading into a NECC Tournament that they may be the favorites in. The Big Blue Pit is a benefit here as a host site, but the Knights have yet to prove they can stop scoring super well. BOUNCE PICKS WESTVIEW
Huntington North at East Noble, Friday
Right back with the Knights and, lets face it, this one means more. Expect an absolute show between two high scoring lead guards here with Huntington North’s Ethan Zahn and East Noble’s Nathan Bowker. But there is a good chance those two will cancel each other out, so if the Vikings can contain the interior of Kobe Ritchie and Alex Scott, it comes down to who has the best option 2 and right now Titus Schultz is the best option 2. BOUNCE PICKS HUNTINGTON NORTH
Northridge at Warsaw, Friday
A game that is an early possible NLC title eliminator. The Raiders are 10-0 and Warsaw is rolling with three straight wins after three straight losses to high end teams. Welcome to the Tiger Den Northridge, here is your first L. BOUNCE PICKS WARSAW
Central Noble at Garrett, Friday
Central Noble threw a scare at East Noble last Friday and have been trading wins and losses. Does that mean they are due for a win? Right now, the Cougars offense has to be a worry for them as they are averaging just over 40 points per game but they are also likely the best team in the area at drawing charges as we saw against East Noble. Garrett meanwhile also played EN in one of their most recent games, but they picked up the win and CN didn’t. How does Garrett bounce back this week after a 23 point loss in their last outing against Class 4A #7 Anderson? BOUNCE PICKS GARRETT
Wayne at North Side, Friday
With the way that North Side is playing, including a fun game opposite Bishop Luers last week in Richmond, they have to be a team what Wayne can’t take lightly. That said, Wayne is Wayne and while they have had some unexpected challenges, if they are on, who in the SAC is better? BOUNCE PICKS WAYNE
Adams Central at Jay County, Saturday
A defacto ACAC title eliminator? While Bluffton is very much playing into the top of the conference, this one means quite a bit. The Patriots have been solid, but AC is rolling and a lot of that has to do with Trace Maller. Having the best player on the floor doesn’t always amount to a win but Maller is BY FAR going to be the best player on the floor. BOUNCE PICKS ADAMS CENTRAL
Norwell at Leo, Saturday
Leo is coming off a crushing loss to Homestead while Norwell is a surprising 8-2 and just won the Wawasee Tournament. Someone, eventually is going to have to figure out the McBride brothers but nobody has very well yet. We also know Leo has been missing starters, are they back for this one? Don’t know. BOUNCE PICKS NORWELL
Snider at Kokomo, Saturday
Another chance to see former area standout Korbyn Hammel against a team he is used to play. Kokomo is really strong right now and Snider is going to have to make the best of a long road trip. This is going to be a really up and down game where minimizing turnovers is key. BOUNCE PICKS KOKOMO
GIRLS GAMES
Carroll at Norwell, Tuesday
Carroll can make a big impact here. They have been a team who has found some success but never a consistent foothold this season as they have lost four of their last six. They have the bodies to push on Norwell, but by now everyone should know how Bounce feels about games in The Castle. BOUNCE PICKS NORWELL
DeKalb at Eastside, Tuesday
DeKalb’s Ashley Cox has established herself now as one of the best players in program history, but running into Butler for this game against what has to be an angry Eastside coming off their first loss is not great. BOUNCE PICKS EASTSIDE
Lakewood Park at Woodlan, Tuesday
Two of the more prolific players in the area square off here with high scoring Ava McGrade of LP and big double double threat Alyssa Anderson of Woodlan. This is a pretty evenly set matchup on paper, but Woodlan is a team looking to gain momentum before the most wide open ACAC Tournament in recent years. BOUNCE PICKS WOODLAN
Whitko at Wabash, Wednesday
A defactor TRC title eliminator here as Whitko has silently been putting together a great campaign and Wabash has bounced back from some early struggles and have gotten pretty deep offensively. BOUNCE PICKS WABASH
East Noble at Angola, Wednesday
This wasn’t one super on the radar until Angola has really surged lately. The Hornets’ win over Fremont last week showcased some upper level consistency and scoring depth, which makes Angola as tough as they have been all season. That said, East Noble has som of the best offensive depth in the area and Bounce surely doesn’t want to upset Addison Deming the way she has been playing. BOUNCE PICKS EAST NOBLE
Snider at Northrop, Friday
Always a great rivalry game anymore, Snider has been under the radar despite a 9-7 record. The Panthers though have not played since December 28 before this January 10 game so is rust going to be an issue? Guess we won’t know until they toss up the opening tip. BOUNCE PICKS NORTHROP
Jay County at Bluffton, Friday
Speaking of ACAC importance, this one has an impact on the conference title too. With a win, Jay County is right back in it; with a loss, the Patriots probably aren’t in the conference equation and that is weird. Bluffton is so good offensively and went into last week as the best offense in the state, where they now sit third. BOUNCE PICKS BLUFFTON
Bellmont at Columbia City, Friday
While there are still some games that could throw wrenches in things, including Bellmont still needing to matchup with Norwell, this is another possible conference title eliminator this week. A Bellmont win helps them control their destiny in the conference heading into that Norwell game, but it could also mean a three-way tie is happening. A Columbia City win has to make the Eagles feel good about their chances to claim an outright NE8 title. Game of the Week right here. BOUNCE PICKS COLUMBIA CITY
Fairfield at Eastside, Friday
With the NECC Tournament looming, this one is of critical importance. Last year, the battles between these two teams were huge but this year Eastside wants to win the regular season big to help really lay to rest a big challenge for the conference regular season title. If for some reason, Eastside has gotten back into the win column earlier in the week, they are going to want to do so here bad. It won’t be easy; Fairfield has established tremendous depth so far and this game should be a slugfest. BOUNCE PICKS EASTSIDE
Blackhawk Christian at Wayne, Saturday
Just a really good tough game where Wayne gets the chance to showcase themselves. The Generals area quietly 9-6 and have a stretch coming up where they could string together several wins, including here. BOUNCE PICKS WAYNE
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