Another week, another chance to be great. After a well needed holiday resting season for yours truly, I am back with more game picks in the midst of the ACAC and NECC Tournaments.
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.
Of note, there are NO ACAC or NECC Tournament predictions here. If you want those, I suggest you take a look at the previews for those tournaments elsewhere on OutsideTheHuddle.net
LAST WEEK: 12-6
THIS SEASON: 87-24
LAST SEASON: 136-66
GIRLS
NORTHROP AT BELLMONT, TUESDAY
This could be a good showcase game for either team as they both look to gain postseason momentum. Bellmont has a massive game over the weekend, but don’t expect them to overlook this one. Expect a really strong showcase of defense from both side. BOUNCE PICKS BELLMONT
MISHAWAKA AT WARSAW, WEDNESDAY
A win gets the Tigers closer to another NLC title and that is the big thing on the line for Warsaw here. Their NLC win streak and home win streak are both on the line. BOUNCE PICKS WARSAW
ELKHART CHRISTIAN AT EAST NOBLE, THURSDAY
The 13 win Eagles visit a surging Knights team with big goals on their mind. This is going to be one of two big challenges left for East Noble before the postseason and the last major home game for them. Elkhart has played well all season, but not quite against the level of talent that East Noble has. BOUNCE PICKS EAST NOBLE
SNIDER AT HOMESTEAD, FRIDAY
One team will advance to 7-0 in the conference and be in the right position to win the SAC title, a place we may not have expected Snider to be at right now, but here they are. They held the course well in Janaya Cooper’s absence and have been full throttle since her return. That absence actually helped with their depth, something that Homestead has a ton of. Here is your game of the week, and yes I am including conference tournaments. BOUNCE PICKS HOMESTEAD
BELLMONT AT NORWELL, SATURDAY
This may be the for the NE8 title. Of course, there are plenty of other games for both teams before the end of the regular season, but it seems like the NE8 comes down to these two teams more often than not, doesn’t it? Bellmont has the best overall record of these two teams, but lets be honest nothing matters when these two teams face off. BOUNCE PICKS NORWELL
COLUMBIA CITY AT HUNTINGTON NORTH, SATURDAY
There is nothing on the line in this one but pride and momentum, but both teams would really like to get this done with the postseason looming. Columbia City is getting a lot of good play our of Torah Holler and this could be a nice showcase for her. BOUNCE PICKS COLUMBIA CITY
BOYS
CARROLL AT DEKALB, TUESDAY
The Barons are off to their best start since the 2014-15 season and are coming off a more than solid first half against New Haven last week while Carroll has been exchanging wins and losses. This is going to come down to who can play more tenacious on defense with their offensive and defensive averages being near identical. BOUNCE PICKS DEKALB
HOMESTEAD AT BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN, TUESDAY
This one is always a great showcase even though many of the faces have changed even since last year. Blackhawk’s roster has had some flux and Homestead is coming off their biggest win of the season last week against South Side, where Jake Coolman scored 27 points. BOUNCE PICKS HOMESTEAD
NORWELL AT WAYNE, TUESDAY
Norwell has been able to pull off some wins that some didn’t expect as the brothers McBride have both been able to score at a high level this season. But visiting Wayne is a whole different level. The Generals are averaging 71.8 points per game in their wins this season. Can Norwell keep that pace? BOUNCE PICKS WAYNE
EAST NOBLE AT SNIDER, WEDNESDAY
East Noble’s push forward has cooled off with back to back losses against NECC and NE8 contenders, but their second half in a loss to Huntington North is something good to build on. Carson Waltke has been able to showcase a lot in a short time for the Knights, but a visit to Snider may be their most difficult task to date. BOUNCE PICKS SNIDER
SNIDER AT HOMESTEAD, FRIDAY
Snider has won five in a row coming into this week and possibly are on a six game win streak heading into this game. Like on the girls side of this double header on Friday, this game could have major conference title implications. Snider struggled in ways out of the gate this season, but have they finally put all the pieces together at the right time? Because it seems like Homestead already has. Like on the girls side, lets call this the game of the week. BOUNCE PICKS HOMESTEAD
GOSHEN AT WARSAW, FRIDAY
Goshen likely comes into this one 10-0 and firmly in charge of the NLC, up two games on the Tigers int he conference standings. But playing at Warsaw is as big of a test as anywhere else in the NE8. Can the Redhawks maintain or will Warsaw get a signature win that flips things on their up and down season? BOUNCE PICKS GOSHEN
NEW HAVEN AT LEO, FRIDAY
This is always a fun rivalry matchup in the NE8, even though these two teams have different trends this season. It is a big test for a fairly young an inexperienced Leo team. New Haven takes this one, I will spoil that prediction early. But how and where can Leo push on them in a way to exploit their weaknesses? BOUNCE PICKS NEW HAVEN
BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN AT BISHOP LUERS, SATURDAY
This is one where both teams would get an impact for winning. With Carmani Davis playing arguably the best basketball of his career and sophomore Jayden Moore turning the corner into a higher level scorer, the wing matchups in this one opposite Bryce Lacross and Drake Sefton are going to be huge. BOUNCE PICKS BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN
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