Game Previews: Thursday, February 4

Being girls' sectional week, the best games of this week are Thursday night and Saturday afternoon. 

Carmel (15-1) at Lawrence North (16-1)

Not that it's a foregone conclusion, but the top four teams in the state have been Homestead, Cathedral, Carmel and LN.  After tonight, they each will have played two of other.  Homestead is 2-0 vs. Cathedral and LN (both OT games), while Carmel has lost to Cathedral (in OT).  Cathedral stands at 1-1.  Carmel vs. LN completes this 'series'.

Carmel will do it without Brian Waddell.  His ankle sprain last week in their win over Ben Davis removes a highly valuable presence.  Carmel will need Williams to continue or push his trend of strong play forward, and if LN utilizes the same match-up zone they did vs. Homestead, Williams should get find room in the middle.  Homestead got a lot of open jump shots.  Bodes well for the sophomore wing Sam Orme and senior Will Leary, who both came up big vs. Barr-Reeve.

LN has a lot of balance in their Big 3, but if one of them has a big game, it's going to be though without Waddell.  Each of these three have their own gravity on the court, pulling multiple defenders on almost every catch.

• Carmel
  
  • Peter Suder, 6'4" junior guard
  • Bryan Waddell, 6'7" senior guard
  • Charlie Williams, 6'10" junior center
  • Connor Goia, 5'9" senior guard
• Lawrence North
  
  • DJ Hughes, 6'7" senior forward
  • Shamar Avance, 6'2" senior guard
  • CJ Gunn, 6'5" junior guard

Chesterton (13-2) at Michigan City (11-3)

Michigan City will be without Jamie Hodges tonight, who is battling an ankle sprain.  This DAC matchup was enticing, thinking of Grayson vs. Hodges, but it's still two of the top teams in the far north.  

• Chesterton
  
  • Travis Grayson, 5'10" junior guard
  • Chris Mullen, 6'4" junior forward
  • Tyler Vanderwoude, 6'4" senior forward
• Michigan City
  
  • Jamie Hodges, 5'10" sophomore guard
  • Evan Bush, 6'4" senior guard
  • Tahari Watson, 5'10" senior guard
  • Omarion Hatch, 5'9" sophomore guard

Lafayette Jeff (13-1) at McCutcheon (11-2)

The battle of Lafayette.  McGovern has had a good senior year in his return to McCutcheon (transferred to and from Center Grove).  Teamed with Phinisee, it's a strong back court duo.  Barnhizer is among the state's leading scorers, and he has two shooter flanking him in Beaver and Collicot.  

• Lafayette Jefferson
  
  • Brooks Barnhizer, 6'6" senior guard
  • Ashton Beaver, 6'0" senior guard
  • Jacob Collicot, 6'2" senior guard
  • Jahsiah Kirk-Williams, 6'2" junior guard
• McCutcheon
  
  • Leyton McGovern, 6'3" senior guard
  • Joe Phinisee, 6'0" senior guard
  • Brock Dimmitt, 6'0" senior guard
  • Jahmarion Mallett, 6'2" junior forward

Mississinewa (11-4) at Blackford (12-4)

Off to a slow start, Ole Miss come in on an 8-game winning streak.  This is a physical match-up for Brown, and Mississinewa ran them out of the gym last year.  The younger Wors and Grimes will need to convert in the paint.  Brown will find them. 

• Mississinewa
  
  • Tai McClung, 6'4" senior forward
  • Landen Swanner, 6'0" senior guard
  • Hayden Ulerick, 5'11" junior guard
• Blackford
  
  • Luke Brown, 6'2" senior guard (Stetson)
  • Landon Grimes, 6'5" senior forward
  • Jackson Wors, 6'4" freshman forward
  • Max Wors, 6'3" senior forward
  • Dawson Hundley, 6'0" sophomore guard

North Daviess (12-3) at Bloomfield (10-3)

Good news for North Daviess...their only three losses have come to sectional foes.  

Both these teams feature a good collection of underclassmen. 

• North Daviess
  
  • Jaylen Mullen, 5'10" sophomore guard
  • Lance Wilson, 6'3" sophomore guard
  • Logan Wilson, 6'3" sophomore guard
• Bloomfield
  
  • Braylin Graf, 6'2" junior forward
  • Brett Sherrard, 5'10" sophomore guard
  • Peter Combs, 6'5" sophomore forward

Southwestern (12-3) at South Ripley (13-1)

Two high scoring offenses squaring off in SE Indiana.  

• Southwestern (H)
  
  • Foster Mefford, 6'1" senior guard
  • Matthew Williams, 6'4" senior forward
  • Austin Kramer, 6'0" senior guard
  • Billy Eccles, 6'1" senior guard
• South Ripley
  
  • Cody Samples, 6'2" senior guard
  • Jaden Peetz, 6'5" senior forward
  • Nick Schwartke, 6'4" junior guard