Game Previews: Friday, Jan 24-Saturday, Jan 25

Friday, January 24

Westfield (9-2) at Brownsburg (12-1)

Coming off a great win vs Lafayette Jeff, Westfield still needs to punch through the top of their conference and sectional hurdles.  Brownsburg was the favorite to win the HCC, and they sit at 3-0.  Westfield is a sophomore laden group led by Braden Smith, while Brownsburg answers with a deep junior class and three seniors led by Pierce Thomas.

• • Westfield
    
    • Braden Smith, 5'10" sophomore guard
    • Nic Depasquale, 6'1" sophomore guard
    • Cam Haffner, 6'2" sophomore guard
    • Benji Welch, 6'0" junior guard
  • Brownsburg
    
    • Pierce Thomas, 6'5" junior guard
    • Malek Edmonds, 6'6" senior forward
    • Luke Lacey, 6'1" junior point guard
    • Connor Lucas, 6'1" senior guard

Warren Central (8-4) at Lawrence Central (14-2)

No different than earlier in the week with Warren.  Looking at their losses individually isn't an issue.  That they're four in a row makes it tough.  They did not play hard vs. Zionsville earlier in the week, nor did they get much production outside the paint.  Both will have to change vs. LC.  

Lawrence Central hasn't lost a game outside of its own township (0-2 vs. Lawrence North), and they've been well documented on these pages this season.

• • Warren Central
    
    • Malik Stanley, 5'11" junior guard
    • Chandler Jackson, 6'5" sophomore forward
    • Sean Black, 5'10" junior guard
    • Aaron Humphrey, 6'6" sophomore center
  • Lawrence Central
    
    • DeAndre Davis, 6'6" senior guard
    • Nijel Pack, 5'11" senior guard
    • DeAnte Davis, 6'6" sophomore forward

Pike (11-3) at Carmel (7-4)

Even though both teams are coming off losses, it's hard to go wrong with another MIC game.  Carmel is still battling through injuries to two key players (Waddell, Whack-best defender), but Suder's outside shot is becoming more consistent.  Conwell has gone from early season surprise to consistent performer.  A lot of talented sophomores in this game.

• • Pike
    
    • Davion Bailey, 6'4" senior guard
    • Ryan Conwell, 6'2" sophomore guard
    • Eddie Jones, 6'4" junior forward
    • Justin Dobbins, 6'7" junior forward
    • JJ Louden, 6'3" sophomore guard
  • Carmel
    
    • Peter Suder, 6'4" sophomore guard
    • Charlie Williams, 6'9" sophomore center
    • Bryan Waddell, 6'6" junior guard

Jasper (10-2) at Forest Park (10-3)

Jasper rides in on a seven game winning streak, and despite Forest Park's recent struggles, they're among the group of teams in SW Indiana having strong seasons.  

• • Jasper
    
    • Jackson Kabrick, 6'2" senior guard
    • Quentin Harmon, 6'6" senior forward
    • Carter Stamm, 6'0" senior guard
    • Elliott Hopf, 6'2" senior forward
    • Caleb Burger, 5'9" junior guard
  • Forest Park
    
    • Isaac Uebelhor, 6'4" senior forward
    • Drew Howard, 5'11" sophomore guard, Simon Jacob, 6'3" junior guard
    • Blake Hagedorn, 6'5" junior forward

Saturday, January 25

Indianapolis City Tournament semi-final at Tech HS

• 6:00pm - Covenant Christian (10-4) vs Crispus Attucks (10-3)
  • Covenant Christian
    
    • Noah Hedrick, 6'4" senior forward
    • Trey Flatt, 6'0" junior point guard
    • Graham Shelton, 6'3" junior guard
    • Bryan Lomax, 6'0" junior guard
  • Crispus Attucks
    
    • Sincere McMahon, 6'1" senior guard
    • Jaylen Carson, 6'6" junior forward
    • Donovan Barnett, 6'3" junior guard
    • Qushawn Ware, 6'4" freshman guard
• 7:30pm - Bishop Chatard (10-3) vs Cathedral (11-2)
  • Bishop Chatard
    
    • Edreece Redmond, 6'0" senior guard
    • Noah Carter, 5'10" junior guard
    • Andre Long, 6'3" junior forward
    • Sam Richey, 6'4" senior forward
  • Catehdral
    
    • Tayshawn Comer, 6'0" sophomore point guard
    • Peter Moe, 6'8" sophomore center
    • Grant Taueg, 6'2" senior guard
    • Jalen Johnsson, 6'2" junior guard
    • Jaron Tibbs, 6'4" freshman forward
    • Ryan Trusler, 5'10" senior guard

South Decatur (13-0) at Greensburg (12-2)

It's been eight years since South Decatur beat Greensburg, and Greensburg has won 25 of the last 26 meetings.  Greensburg does play a tougher schedule and is undefeated south of 4A teams.  However, at 91.2 points per game their scoring is reminding some of Evansville Reitz from 2015 and the 1991 Martinsville that ran over teams through the regular season.

South Decatur enters with three players averaging 19ppg+--Lauderbaugh, Walters and Johnson.  Only Walters is a senior. Greensburg brings in a talented duo of their own in Welage and Sparks, but they get support from Wilkinson and Comer too.

• • South Decatur
    
    • Lane Lauderbaugh, 6'5" junior forward
    • Dominic Walters, 6'0" senior guard
    • Hunter Johnson, 6'2" sophomore
    • Tyler Sporleder, 6'0" junior guard
    • Evan Wullenweber, 6'0" sophomore guard
  • Greensburg
    
    • Andrew Welage, 6'6" senior guard
    • Lane Sparks, 6'2" junior guard
    • Colin Comer, 6'2" sophomore guard

South Bend Adams (13-1) at Chesterton (13-1)

Adams is one win away from last year's win total, and while they expected to be improved, not sure anyone saw this outside of their own program.  Chesterton's success this season was a little more expected, but the Region is down this year, and their lone loss came from outside the 219.

• • South Bend Adams
    
    • Sidney Jefferies, 6'1" junior guard
    • Quentez Columbus, 5'11" junior guard
    • Charles Worsham, 5'10" junior point guard
    • Lynn King, 6'3" junior forward
  • Chesterton
    
    • Jake Wadding, 6'5" senior forward
    • Alex Schmidt, 6'2" senior guard
    • Jake Warren, 6'6" senior forward
    • Travis Grayson, 5'8" sophomore guard
    • Chris Mullen, 6'4" sophomore forward
    • Tyler Vanderwoude, 6'4" junior forward

Lafayette Central Catholic (9-2) at Lafayette Jeff (14-2)

For years these two wouldn't play each other in a regularly scheduled game.  Before class basketball it was a big game for LCC to get Jeff in the sectional.  Class basketball changed that, and they didn't meet again until 2003.  It's been hit and miss for regular season games, but of late it's been scheduled, as well as any meetings in the early season tournament at Jeff.

It's fun when and talkative when both teams are good, and Dave Barrett has sustained success at LCC during his tenure while playing a very competitive schedule.  Jeff is obviously very good this year but is coming off a loss to Westfield.

• • Lafayette Central Catholic
    
    • Carson Barrett, 6'5" senior forward
    • AJ Bordenet, 6'0" junior guard
    • Nate Webb, 6'4" senior forward
    • Clark Barrett, 6'5" sophomore forward
  • Lafayette Jefferson
    
    • Braxton Barnhizer, 6'3" senior guard
    • Brooks Barnhizer, 6'6" junior guard
    • Avery Beaver, 6'2" senior guard
    • Ashton Beaver, 6'1" junior guard

Lawrence North (14-0) at Homestead (10-4)

Playing just their second game out of Marion County, LN travels to Fort Wayne to face Homestead.  Homestead might be hoping for some tired legs, as LN has utilized tremendous defensive pressure to create offense, to go along with their talented core.  Homestead will either have to greatly control tempo or turn LN's defense into their offense.

• • Lawrence North
    
    • Tony Perkins, 6'4" senior guard
    • DJ Hughes, 6'7" junior forward
    • Shamar Avance, 6'1" junior point guard
    • CJ Gunn, 6'4" sophomore guard
  • Homestead
    
    • Luke Goode, 6'5" junior guard
    • Zak Krueger, 5'11" senior guard
    • Grant Simmons, 6'4" junior forward
    • Alec Grindfelder, 6'4" senior forward
    • Grant Leeper, 6'5" sophomore forward

Carmel (7-4) at Brownsburg (12-1)

This could be a rough weekend for both teams.  Last year Carmel was effectively one pass away from going undefeated (Ok...assuming all else remained equal), as Cam Alford blew up a cut, pick off a pass and went in for the game winning score.  Brownsburg was physical with Carmel last year, and that will continue. 

New this year is that Pierce Thomas is no longer a player you can reliably close out short on, and it's been fun watching him and Carmel's Peter Suder develop.  

• • Carmel
    
    • Peter Suder, 6'4" sophomore guard
    • Charlie Williams, 6'9" sophomore center
    • Bryan Waddell, 6'6" junior guard
  • Brownsburg
    
    • Pierce Thomas, 6'5" junior guard
    • Malek Edmonds, 6'6" senior forward
    • Luke Lacey, 6'1" junior point guard
    • Connor Lucas, 6'1" senior guard

Floyd Central (9-3) at Madison (10-3) 

Two teams in search of signature wins square off.  Floyd Central has had the tougher schedule and owns a win over New Albany.  

• • Floyd Central
    
    • Jake Heidbreder, 6'5" junior guard
    • Grant Gohmann, 6'4" senior forward
    • Caleb Washington, 6'4" freshman forward
  • Madison
    
    • Nick Center, 6'4" juinor forward
    • Mason Welsh, 6'0" senior guard
    • Luke Miller, 6'2" junior guard
    • Kaden Oliver, 6'0" freshman guard
    • Luke Ommen, 6'2" junior guard
    • Jackson Falconberry, 6'5" sophomore forward

Peru (10-2) at Tipton (11-2)

Tipton comes in a little more tested, and Peru enters following a loss.  

• • Peru
    
    • Treyden Curtis, 6'1" junior guard
    • Daunte Majors, 5'10" senior guard
    • Kade Townsend, 5'10" junior guard
    • Matthew Ross, 6'4" sophomore forward
  • Tipton
    
    • Ben Humrichous, 6'7" senior wing
    • Noah Wolfe, 6'2" senior forward
    • Cory Vonfeldt, 5'9" senior guard
    • Dalton Money, 6'2" senior forward
    • Nate Powell, 6'2" sophomore forward