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.
THIS SEASON: 45-13
LAST SEASON: 136-66
BOYS
BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN AT PENN, TUESDAY
The Braves have not missed a beat this season, spreading out their scoring and showing their diversity without a true big as they have had for so many seasons in a row. Last week’s win over New Haven was certainly eye opening as they controlled the pace in that one most of the game. But to go TO Penn and CONTROL Penn, on a weeknight? BOUNCE PICKS PENN
NORTHROP AT EAST NOBLE, TUESDAY
The Knights and Bruins both ended last week with lopsided losses where they would have rather gained some traction. This is a bit litmus test for both of them with the Bruins needing to prove they can beat a NE8 team that can slow it and shoot it and the Knights needing to prove they can handle an intense pace. BOUNCE PICKS NORTHROP
SOUTH SIDE AT LEO, TUESDAY
South Side has placed themselves at the front of everyone’s minds with their win over Snider last week. It has the Archers getting state votes and the play of Terrance Jordan and Jayvon Irby has been exceptional. The Lions have had some good moments, but their youth got exposed a bit last week in a pair of losses. BOUNCE PICKS SOUTH SIDE
LAKELAND AT FAIRFIELD, TUESDAY
Such an early season matchup for so many NECC implications. A loss in the NECC is bad early this year and these two come into the week perfect on the season out of conference. Lakeland’s games have not been close, winning by 38 points on average. This one is actually one of the most intriguing NECC games of the entire season. BOUNCE PICKS FAIRFIELD
COLUMBIA CITY AT WAWASEE, WEDNESDAY
Ian St. John added to a long list of reasons why you don’t want Columbia City on your schedule. The sophomore guard broke out last week and was arguably the best player in a game where Landon Richmond posted a monster double double. Wawasee? Well they have fluctuated in the new season but are getting steady performances from Stephen Akase, who Richmond will have to battle down low. BOUNCE PICKS COLUMBIA CITY
NEW HAVEN AT WAYNE, WEDNESDAY
Expect a track meet to break out here. It is what both teams do best. One of them however is just more seasoned and if they can bounce back from a disappointing one last week, they are too strong for most area teams. BOUNCE PICKS NEW HAVEN
ANGOLA AT GARRETT, FRIDAY
One of the area’s greatest rivalries from a year ago, with three intense games, sees two teams in different spots to start this season. Garrett comes into the week 0-3 while Angola is 3-0; are those the records when they get to this game? Will it matter. A lot could go into this one and we still expect a really assertive and intense game. Angola won the regular season matchup last year and the distance between where the two teams were at the time was a lot closer than in 2025. BOUNCE PICKS ANGOLA
NORTH SIDE AT SOUTH SIDE, FRIDAY
The Reichert-Hey Trophy is on the line as North Side coach Shabaz Khaliq battles for it for the first time in his career as it didn’t exist his last go around. The Legends played Blackhawk Christian well before succumbing to a strong shooting night later in the week from DeKalb. Don’t think North Side is going to be on a long slide, but South Side has all the momentum right now. BOUNCE PICKS SOUTH SIDE
CARROLL AT COLUMBIA CITY, SATURDAY
The Chargers are another team probably not getting enough love for their start. Brody Fisher has jumped in to a role as a strong big man lead quite well and they got a decent amount of versatility in their scoring. Expect this game to be won in the rebounding battle and it could be a toss up game, the most toss up game on the boys side this week. BOUNCE PICKS COLUMBIA CITY
BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN AT WARSAW, SATURDAY
No rest for the Braves this week as they get a second really challenging opponent on Saturday. The Braves have proven much deeper so far though and Warsaw has given up quality shooting games to two teams last week. With the momentum the Braves have, especially if they can open the week with a win, they are goig to be a hard out for anyone right now. BOUNCE PICKS BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN
GIRLS
ANGOLA AT NORWELL, MONDAY
Angola’s aura took a hit last week, but they are still a very capable team, albeit a bit young. Norwell is as seasoned as it gets and has looked that way for a reason. The Knights buried 14 threes in a win last week and their defense is looking as good as ever. BOUNCE PICKS NORWELL
COLUMBIA CITY AT HOMESTEAD, TUESDAY
The Spartans rolled their rival last week and face a surging Columbia City team with a lot to prove. Kudos to the Eagles because they have come out swinging this season. Homestead, however, proves to be too formidable a foe. BOUNCE PICKS HOMESTEAD
NORTHROP AT EAST NOBLE, TUESDAY
This one would go a long way for the Knights, who need a key win on their plate and hosting a SAC opponent could be it. Don’t be surprised if this game is closer than any of you expected it to be. That said, the Bruins are a defensive monster and you can’t make many mistakes against them. BOUNCE PICKS NORTHROP
LEO AT ANGOLA, WEDNESDAY
Two teams who can battle at the rim and hit timely shots. It makes things much more interesting, but Angola may get a little bump Monday night. Does it motivate or shut them down if Norwell is great Monday? You cannot take Leah Shappell or Mackenzie Collins for granted here. Expect a fun one and maybe a toss up? BOUNCE PICKS LEO
WARSAW AT CARROLL, WEDNESDAY
This game shouldn’t be super close judging by teams abilities to shut down Carroll’s Lily George well last week. Every Warsaw game for a while is noteworthy while Joslyn Bricker quickly chops down the deficit to be the program’s all-time leading scorer. BOUNCE PICKS WARSAW
BELLMONT AT EAST NOBLE, FRIDAY
If earlier in the week is a momentum one for East Noble, this is must win. The NE8 race is really just getting started on the girls side so as two of the most likely contenders in the conference, you don’t want to drop one here. There is a chance that any loss could take you out of conference contention in the NE8 this season. BOUNCE PICKS BELLMONT
NORTH SIDE AT SOUTH SIDE, FRIDAY
The annual game for the Reichert-Hey Trophy that has been handled by North Side in recent years. The Legends have a big stopper in the middle, but South Side has shown some nice flashes including a quality first quarter last week in a loss to Snider. BOUNCE PICKS SOUTH SIDE
NORWELL AT COLUMBIA CITY, FRIDAY
As mentioned above, you don’t want to lose in the NE8 right now. This is another game that could really determine alot in the conference. If you are Columbia City, you are certainly happy to host this. Stranger things have happened, but right now you just can’t go against the Knights. BOUNCE PICKS NORWELL
SNIDER AT CARMEL, SATURDAY
The Panthers have not gotten enough respect for a quality season they are putting together. To be able to go on the road and win this would be more than noteworthy. 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
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