It is a special edition of the Pick from the Pond this week. Why? Because it is where Bounce will pick EVERY first round game of the NECC and ACAC boys and girls tournaments and nothing else.
Sorry everybody not in those conferences.
Lets get into it.
LAST WEEK: 13-6 (7-3 Girls, 6-3 boys)
THIS SEASON: 98-48
ACAC GIRLS
Adams Central at Southern Wells, Tuesday 6 pm
The Raiders are a team that aren’t talked about enough, but have been fantastic this season. Southern Wells are 13-4, with the second most overall wins of ACAC teams and sit with the most wins since 2012-13. Adams Central, on the other hand, has traded wins and losses for their last six. BOUNCE PICKS SOUTHERN WELLS
Jay County at South Adams, Tuesday 6 pm
Jay County is coming off a tough loss that ended their regular season ACAC title run despite an amazing output from Hallie Schwieterman last week. The Patriots beat South Adams by nearly 30 right before the new year. BOUNCE PICKS JAY COUNTY
Bluffton at Woodlan, Tuesday 6 pm
Bluffton rolled through Woodlan in December and this game has been pointed at as a potential de facto tournament championship game since the draw. If Alyssa Anderson goes off, this should be much closer, but Bluffton’s depth continues to be a hallmark for them. BOUNCE PICKS BLUFFTON
ACAC BOYS
Adams Central at Southern Wells, Tuesday after girls
AC is coming off a tough loss to Jay County last week that hurts them in the overall ACAC race, but this week it only matters what you do this week. Trace Maller is the best player in this game and it isn’t even close. He may go for 40. BOUNCE PICKS ADAMS CENTRAL
Jay County at South Adams, Tuesday after girls
South Adams has been quiet this season, with Tytus Lehman having the biggest impact just last week in a win over Blackford; meanwhile Jay County just proved how deep and strong they can be with a win over Adams Central. BOUNCE PICKS JAY COUNTY
Bluffton at Woodlan, Tuesday 6 after girls
This one will come together just three days after Woodlan beat Bluffton 56-40, also at Woodlan. Here is the key: what does Craig Teagle do in practice Monday to flip the script for Bluffton? Not much turnaround time to make things happen makes this one tricky. Part of me says Bluffton figures it out, but 16 points is a heck of a gap. BOUNCE PICKS WOODLAN
NECC GIRLS
Eastside at West Noble, Tuesday 6 pm
Eastside is deep and dominant. That was proven over the weekend against Fairfield. When you are the Blazers, literally one of 6-7 girls could step up and dominate. What a great luxury to have, isn’t it? Also, a win here gets Eastside home court for the next round and, at the top of the bracket, would give them second round and semi final home games as long as they keep winning. BOUNCE PICKS EASTSIDE
Angola at Garrett, Tuesday 6 pm
Angola takes a hit with some injuries and have to go into Garrett after the Railroaders put the mother of scares into current NECC unbeaten Central Noble just last Friday. Angola won the first meeting by 24 in just their fourth game of the season and Garrett sits at the bottom of the conference in both NECC record and overall record. But recent events make this one much harder to call and it really complicates a pick for this first round matchup. Give the edge to the team that won the first one, but it won’t be easy and it will be close either way. Too bold of a pick? BOUNCE PICKS GARRETT
Churubusco at Fremont, Tuesday 6 pm
The Eagles soar in one of these places and Fremont is a team who could actually cause a little bit of chaos in this tournament. BOUNCE PICKS FREMONT
Lakeland at Central Noble, Wednesday 6 pm
Lakeland’s one conference win going up against the team that currently shares the conference lead. Lakeland has played some games that they’ve done some really good things in and that deserves some respect. But Central Noble’s ability to hit from anywhere on the court and their inside-out play is high level at times. BOUNCE PICKS CENTRAL NOBLE
Westview at Prairie Heights, Wednesday 6 pm
Two teams who both need and want a conference tournament win. Westview has won two straight overall and a win here gets them to that important 10 win mark. BOUNCE PICKS WESTVIEW
NECC BOYS
Eastside at West Noble, Tuesday after girls
West Noble sits at 4-6 overall, but all four of those wins are in the conference and they also went into overtime with a short-handed by aggressive East Noble team. Eastside sits at 0-9 overall and is the only team in the OTH coverage area without a win right now. BOUNCE PICKS WEST NOBLE
Angola at Garrett, Tuesday after girls
One of the most interesting games on the schedule in the NECC boys tournament. Garrett is rolling, with the most overall wins of any NECC team and the largest margin of victory on average of any team in the conference. But Angola beat them; if you take the third quarter out of the last game, it was damn near dead even. So how much does a game one month ago matter? In the case of these two teams who play a similar scrappy and get after it style, Bounce thinks it matters a lot. BOUNCE PICKS ANGOLA
Churubusco at Fremont, Tuesday after girls
Busco is a team that has shown really strong flashes and when they are shooting the ball well, they can provide some push back throughout this tournament. They just topped Fremont by one point last week and Fremont is clearly missing Colton Guthrie right now after a finger injury. But with it being just a one point game last week and this game being at The Cage, I have to lean towards a 6-game losing skid ending. BOUNCE PICKS FREMONT
Lakeland at Central Noble, Wednesday after girls
This is an easy edge to give but let me tell you why. This isn’t about Central Noble as much as it is Lakeland, who is 5-0 in the NECC right now, already with wins over Westview and Fairfield. They can score in a lot of ways and even have guys that aren’t expected to do much step up in major ways. CN is fiesty and their ability to take charges is a bit of a neutralizer, but…BOUNCE PICKS LAKELAND
Westview at Prairie Heights, Wednesday after girls
Westview has been tested a lot lately but Prairie Heights is coming off four straight losses themselves. The Warriors just have more scoring options and even if their scoring depth consists of four guys, any of those four guys can go for 20. BOUNCE PICKS WESTVIEW
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