Another week, another chance to be great.
Each week, Bounce will pick (around) 10 games on the girls side and another (around) 10 on the boys side. Looking to highlight the big games and the best matchups in the area. Unlike Blitz, we can’t quite pick every game because we don’t get to only play on Fridays, am I right?
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: 8-3
THIS SEASON: 32-8
LAST SEASON: 136-66
BOYS
ANGOLA AT WAWASEE, TUESDAY
The Warriors have a lot of firepower in their lineup, but their early season falter may tip the hand to Angola. A few of these Hornets come in with major momentum from a football postseason, but the reality remains that this Angola team returns almost everyone from last year and that is alot of pressure on the host team. BOUNCE PICKS ANGOLA
BLUFFTON AT LAKEWOOD PARK, TUESDAY
This one is on the plate because it is a matchup between two of the area’s top returning scorers and rebounders in Lakewood Park’s Avery MacFarlane (20 pts in LP’s opener) and Bluffton’s Declan Grieser (18 pts in Bluffton’s opener). These two are also well acquainted from playing summer ball together recently. BOUNCE PICKS BLUFFTON
NORWELL AT MISSISSINEWA, TUESDAY
Two teams coming from different directions as Norwell posted a major win over Northrop to open their season and Mississinewa was blown out by rival Marion. The games between these two teams are always a lot of fun and come down to who shoots better. Right now, guys named McBride are shooting pretty damn good. BOUNCE PICKS NORWELL
LEO AT WAYNE, WEDNESDAY
Leo’s comeback win over Concordia was impressive, as was the breakout game of Sajeh Richard a season after his brother helped lead Leo to a Sectional final. Both teams are young and we don’t have a clear view of what Wayne will look like yet. That said, we know what Wayne should look like. BOUNCE PICKS WAYNE
EAST NOBLE AT LAKELAND, THURSDAY
A reschedule from last week, the Knights and Lakers both opened with wins, with East Noble’s being a bit more challenging against a team from Lakeland’s conference. Cole Riehl and Kyle Hartsough’s guard play looks to be the early leader in the clubhouse for how the Lakers play. BOUNCE PICKS LAKELAND
CARROLL AT PENN, FRIDAY
Carroll is another team that looked really good in their season opener, a win over Bellmont. What Bellmont is not however is Penn. Remember the name Barak Coolman from former area coaching gigs including Northrop? Well if you aren’t in the know, he coaches Penn and his sophomore son Caleb Coolman is the real deal, one of the state’s best players in the Class of 2028. BOUNCE PICKS PENN
FAIRFIELD AT PRAIRIE HEIGHTS, FRIDAY
This one got more interesting not just with PH’s win over Garrett last weekend, but with how they did it, putting up 78 points in the process, the most points since a January 2023 game that the Panthers have scored. Fairfield looked equally impressive in their first game out this season and their size could play with the Panthers. A big early season NECC game that neither wants to lose. BOUNCE PICKS FAIRFIELD
NORTH SIDE AT DEKALB, FRIDAY
The second game for each team this season with DeKalb picking up a win already and North heading into the new week without a game played (they get Blackhawk Christian earlier in the week). What does the new look (old look?) North Side have under new (old) head coach Shabaz Khaliq? We already know that DeKalb can do a really good job sharing the ball as they did in their opening win against Tippecanoe Valley. BOUNCE PICKS NORTH SIDE
HOMESTEAD AT WARSAW, FRIDAY
Two teams that are reloading with a lot of turnover, but still expected to be at the top of the area. Can anyone stop Mack Welker? That is a realistic question as we head into the new season. If anyone can, Warsaw probably can with their ever changing defensive stylings, right? BOUNCE PICKS HOMESTEAD
EAST NOBLE AT CARROLL, SATURDAY
The East Noble girls just picked up a big one over Carroll, but their boys come in a bit behind in the battle. Carroll, as previously mentioned, looked impressive in their opener and made Bellmont work for quality shots. East Noble can make some quality shots, but can their interior deal with the size of Brody Fisher? BOUNCE PICKS CARROLL
GIRLS
DEKALB AT CARROLL, TUESDAY
Two teams in need of a win that go completely different ways. The Barons lean on guard play and defense. The Chargers lean on controlling the interior. Go back and read Bounce’s column covering last week and you’ll know how I feel about Carroll’s interior. BOUNCE PICKS CARROLL
FAIRFIELD AT ANGOLA, TUESDAY
A NECC game that has far more attention now with how Angola has come out hot. Fairfield has factored into the equation in the conference significantly for some time and expect them to continue to. But in an important conference game, Angola’s Kendall VanderWal seems too good right now for just about any opponent. BOUNCE PICKS ANGOLA
BISHOP LUERS AT HUNTINGTON NORTH, TUESDAY
Vikings coach Gary Andrews welcomes his long ago program in with both teams searching for a win to build off. The Vikings are just 1-4, but Luci Reich has been really good for them. It is hard to see a scenerio where they drop this one at home. BOUNCE PICKS HUNTINGTON NORTH
LAKELAND AT EAST NOBLE, TUESDAY
East Noble wants to stay hot and this one goes a long way in making sure that happens in the midst of a big week. Lakeland has the ability to make things tough here and will try and push East Noble away form the rim. Problem is, the Knights can shoot when they get going. BOUNCE PICKS EAST NOBLE
WOODLAN AT EASTSIDE, TUESDAY
Eastside does Eastside things. Woodlan has some pieces, but Eastside’s ability to get 20 points on any given night out of multiple hands is rare. BOUNCE PICKS EASTSIDE
EAST NOBLE AT NORTHRIDGE, THURSDAY
This is where the Knights have to be really sharp. Northridge averages nine offensive rebounds and 10 steals per game and shoot 42 percent from the floor. This isn’t as good as some recent Raider teams, but they are still very sound and can hurt you in a lot of ways. This is a fair measuring stick for both teams, but Bounce thinks something special is brewing at East Noble, at least for right now. BOUNCE PICKS EAST NOBLE
CARROLL AT HOMESTEAD, FRIDAY
Hey, it is Carroll and Homestead, right? So we have to talk about it. Homestead is deep, too deep for anyone in the area not named Norwell or Warsaw in Bounce’s personal opinion. So great to have a rivalry matchup this week, but….BOUNCE PICKS HOMESTEAD
COLUMBIA CITY AT LEO, SATURDAY
The top 6 teams in the NE8 have combined for six losses with these two teams making up three of them. That said, there has not been any conference action for anyone coming into this week, so this game is a pace setter and could be make or break with both teams having Norwell, Bellmont and East Noble ahead. A loss doesn’t end conference hopes, but it dashes them a lot. Something has me feeling the presumed underdog at home. BOUNCE PICKS LEO
SOUTHERN WELLS AT BLUFFTON, SATURDAY
Southern Wells has quietly come out with a 5-1 start, but none of their wins have come against anyone the caliber of the Tigers. As the season goes on, Bluffton looks tougher and tougher. Don’t count SW completely out of this one, but Bluffton’s diversity on offense is great. BOUNCE PICKS BLUFFTON.
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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