Carmel gets back in the winning column after having their five-game winning streak snapped. They pretty much led the entire game, never really getting comfortable but also not allowing Brebeuf to close to one possession.
The Paoli Rams took the 40 minute drive east to Scottsburg to take on the #3 ranked Warriors at Meyer Gym on Tuesday night. The Rams and Warriors both stuck close to each other for the first few minutes before Scottsburg started to pull away. 6'4 Ram sophomore Chad Sullivan scored Paoli's first 9 pts. of the game. All of his pts. came from 2 ft. in off offensively rebounds and dump down layups. I like his potential going forward for the next 2 years but still needs to develop that jump shot. For Scottsburg it was raining 3s against Paoli's zone that got them going offensively. Senior Kody Clancy was on fire in the first half on his way to a game high 20 pts. The game was really never in question and a senior- led Scottsburg team came out with a 58-42 win.
● 6'3 senior Warrior point guard Kody Clancy got hot for the Warriors from beyond the arc tonight. He is a true scoring point guard that can run an offense. He doesn't force alot and gets others involved when open. When he is open you may as well count it. When you close out on him he uses a quick step and college- level handles to get to the basket and finish at the rim. At 6'3 Clancy has good size for his position. Currently, Clancy holds a Hanover offer and numerous schools are taking a real look at him. Kody finished tonight with 20 pts.
● 6'9 senior Wyatt Zellers is the absolute definition of a stretch big at the high school level. In fact, his strength is the 3 pt. shot on offense and affecting shot near the rim defensively. Wyatt is a long 6'9 also and will fit in nicely at D2 McKendree where he is committed to play next year. Tonight Zellers had 17 pts, 10 rb, and 5 blocks. He has played very well since his commitment 2 or 3 weeks ago and is playing alot more free. Wyatt will be tested if Scottsburg runs into Jr. Trent Sisley and Heritage Hills at regionals or semi state.
● 6'5 Sr. Warrior guard Jack Miller battled foul trouble all night picking up 3 quick ones in the first. He worked his way through it on his way to 9 pts and showing his athleticism on the defensive end. Not only is Jack tall for his two- guard position but he's long and quick. He made a move to the basket tonight that if you blinked you missed it. Miller recently committed to Hanover College and I feel should begin to make an impact for them by his sophomore year. Scottsburg as a team are tall and long for 3A and will give teams problems come tourney time.
● 6 foot Paoli junior Fletcher Cole was held scoreless in the first half but picked up his offense in the 2nd. In order for Paoli to be successful Cole is going to have to start the game off being aggressive. He looks to get others involved which at times he needs to do but there are also times he needs to go get his. Fletcher is a true point guard that can run a team and will get real looks from Crossroads League and D3 schools. He has a very good three point shot but has been in a recent slump. Once that starts falling, 2A teams down south better key in on him. Cole ended up with 8 pts tonight.
Scottsburg host top 5 2a, Southwestern (Hanover) on Thursday night while Paoli are back home on Friday night against Perry Central.
A big time HHC matchup took place in North Vernon on Saturday night as thr Jeffersonville Red Devils took on thr Panthers of Jennings County. Jeff was coming off a loss on the road to Center Grove the night prior while JC is coming off a road win against Columbus East where junior Carter Kent went off for 44 pts. Early on tonight it looked like JC senior Cole Sigler would hit the 40 pt mark. Sigler was continually left open from beyond the arc on his way to a 20 pt. 1st half. The game was close throughout with JC taking a 4 or 5 pt lead with 5 minutes left in the game. A 6 point possession by Jeff senior Jeremy Rose took momentum right away from JC and thr Devils never looked back. This week Jeff found out that starting point guard, Shawn Boyd has a fractured tibia that will keep him out for 5-6 months which is a big blow for Jeff's chances in tourney play next month. Coach Wilkerson has 3 weeks to figure out his 5th starter.
● 6'4 junior guard Michael Cooper continues to be the key to this Red Devil team. He has been consistently putting up numbers this season which I have wanted to see out of him. His 3 pt shot was on tonight and he already has good size for his position. Coop takes this team to another level with his confidence and play. St. Francis from the Crossroads League has been watching him lately and that's a perfect level for him. It will take a year to get used to the strength and speed of the game at that level but he's got a true position with size, as a 6'4 two- guard. Mikey finished with 25 tonight.
● 6'4 PJ Douglas is another 2025 kid for Jeff that had a big night. Douglas showed his range tonight hitting a few three's when left open. I've known he is capable of hitting that but haven't seen him take many attempts this year (at the games I've been to). PJ's scoring may have to go up to 20+ with Boyd being out but he had no problems getting that tonight. His midrange has always been money and has a soft touch. His footwork and passing in the paint are also very strong. PJ finished with 27 pts.
● The final piece of the Jeff Big 3 puzzle is 6'8 junior Tre Singleton. There is a few times a game where I see that, "wow" moment from Tre. I'm not sure he knows how big and good he is sometimes. He had a strong chase down block on a JC fastbreak and got from point A to point B super fast. Tre draws so much attention from the defense that it benefits everyone else on his team because is a willing passer in the post. He looks and finds the open man very well. It's rare at this level to find someone this good and this tall that is more than happy with getting an assist or rebound for his team. Singleton ended the night with 11 pts.
● The game- high scorer on the night was JC junior Carter Kent. The 5'11 guard got especially hot in the 3rd quarter scoring 11 of his 30 pts. Carter is an all star candidate for a reason. He not only puts up numbers but is the leader of this Panther team. Whatever they do usually runs through him. That's a testament to him as a player and point guard. He knows when he needs to take his shots and when find others. He's a smart player that recognizes mismatches on him and his teammates. Kent had a nasty cross step back 3 that lit the gym up. When he gets confident and hot, watch out. He is not just a shooter but showed he can get to the basket and finish through contact as well. I'm unsure of the Jennings County record books (I'm sure Danny Brown, Billy Harmon, Deron Kinter, and his dad, Rob Kent are in the mix of leading scorers all time) but Carter will be in the mix for all time points scored in a Panther uniform when its all said and done.
● 5'9 senior Panther Cole Sigler nearly stole the matchup of 2025 kids. Cole came out on fire hitting 6 three's in the first half on his way to a 23 pt night. When you leave Cole open for three you can count it. Sigler also showed he was a very capable ball handler against thr Jeff press. He is an elite 3 pt shooter at the high school level. After watching Providence senior Quentin Hesse last night I came away thinking he's the top 3 pt. shooter in this southern Indiana area but Sigler is easily in that discussion. I would love to watch a 3 pt competiton with Cole, Quentin, and Joshua Renfro from CAI more than I would any NBA 3 pt contest.
Jeffersonville will face off against Evansville Reitz next Friday and JC will be back in action on Wednesday for a Valentines matchup against Floyd Central.
The Dogs made the 5 minute trip to Clarksville to take on rival Providence Pioneers. New Albany came into this game with the state's third highest points per game total at 71.28 and Providence came in only allowing teams 41.28 ppg, so something had to give. From the opening tip the game was played at the Pioneers pace. Providence held a early lead after one and increased that to 30- 18 by half. The three's were falling for Providence and it felt like they controlled the entire game. Once they get a lead it's hard for teams to catch up. Their whole team can handle the ball and coach Ryan Miller does a good job of spreading the floor with constant movement. New Albany hung around and kept things even throughout the 2nd half including a thunderous dunk from 6'5 junior Chris Lampkins, but in the end the Dogs could not get over the 8-10 point hump and eventually fell on the road, 64- 46.
● 6'3 Providence senior Noah Lovan showed why he is one of the better players in this area down south. Noah is a kid that on most teams and most offenses could score 25 a night but has bought into Coach Miller's system and their record has shown it. I don't want to say he's slept on because most down south know about Noah but not sure he gets the statewide love he deserves. He's a strong kid that can handle the ball and get to the basket. His outside shot needs to become more consistent to reach that next level in his development but it has improved. Lovan is also aggressive and recognizes the mismatch when him or his teammates have them. The IU Southeast coach was in the house watching him tonight. He finished with a game-high 19 pts.
● 6'2 Pioneer senior Quentin Hesse showed why he is one of the better shooters in the state tonight. Notice, I said 'state' and not just southern Indiana. When Hesse is open you may as well count it. He is a great compliment to Lovan's game. Q is a capable ball handler and is money at the free throw line. This kid would be a great fit for a shooting team in the HCAC like Hanover College. He has been well coached and won't make mistakes to hurt your team. Hesse finished with 13 pts.
● 6'5 junior Dog Chris Lampkins was the best athlete on the floor tonight by a mile. His development is coming along and he's just now realizing how good he can really be. His outside shot is still a work in progress but his aggressiveness, strength, and quickness starting to look elite. He is a tenacious rebounder and on ball defender. He routinely battles with taller players and more than holds his own. His natural position is a wing and with the right coach in the right system could become a lockdown defender at the next level. What level that is exactly depends on this upcoming summer and the development of his ballhandling and jump shot. If those 2 things get polished up, look out. Lampkins finished the night with 13 pts including a monster dunk that ignited the Bulldog crowd.
Providence solidifies themselves to me as the #2 team overall in 2A regardless of what their actual ranking is. They are headed straight on another collision course for current #1 Brownstown in about a month at Southwestern (Hanover). Both teams return to action on their home floors a week from tonight, with Providence hosting North Harrison and New Albany hosting Bedford North Lawrence. The Pioneers improve to15-3 the Dogs fall to 14-5.
One of the better games in the entire state took place on Tuesday night in The Region ad the host Cardinals of East Chicago Central took on the Lake Central Indians. The Cards have been super hot having both lost to an Indiana team in almost 2 months (December 9th). Lake Central are no cupcakes as they came into the game 14-3 and ranked 14th in the state. EC came out of the gate running and gunning and just flat out had more pieces than LC. The Cards jumped out to a 19-10 lead after one quarter which extended to 35-21 at half. By the 4th it was still EC controlling the game on their way to a 70- 53 victory. EC simply outhustled and out toughed the Indians at times. That combined with the atheltic advantage the Cards had it was a long night on the glass for LC. The Cards shot 25/ 56 on the night (45%) while LC was 4/22 (18%) from beyond the arc. The state may not know about 6'6 Cardinal junior Yamauree Wallace but I sure do and all of Indiana will soon enough. Wallace is the ultimate sleeper tucked way up North in the corner next to Chicago on the lake. Yamauree had the absolute best block I've seen all year chasing down a breakaway lay up that was Lebron-esque. Adding senior Jameil Rich from Gary 21st may have just put the Cardinals over the top up north in the Region. The combination of Winters, Walker, Wallace, Williams, Murphy, Bell, and Rich is as good and athletic as any team in northern Indiana. LC may get their revenge in a month or so but EC has a good mix of juniors and seniors and will very much be in the mix next year as well.
● 6'5 EC junior Dominique Murphy was his usual self tonight hitting jumpers from wherever you want them on his way to 22 pts, and 11 rbs (his 8th double- double of the year). He showed range from three, mid range from 10-12, and using grown-man strength down low for easy buckets. My eyes don't lie and I see a P5 kid. I know he doesn't have the offers yet but I could easily see a kid like Murphy being able to suit up for DePaul or Georgetown for example. He's got the strength, (especially against high schoolers his own age) shooting ability, handles, and I believe he can guard his position. His jumper is smooth wherever he takes it including a turn around 3 at the buzzer to end the 3rd quarter. Offers don't usually lie and he's only got 1, but Dominique would absolutely do work sooner rather than later for mid majors like Ball State, Evansville, or Valpo.
● 6'6 Cardinal junior Yamauree Wallace is my super sleeper in the entire state. I've seen enough to know who's got the goods and this kid has "it." Wallace showed some ball handling around the perimeter which will only continue to improve and an outside shot. For East Chicago he has to play alot inside but will be a nice 4 at the next level. Like I mentioned earlier Wallace had an espn top 10 worthy chase down block so effort is not a question with this kid. Wallace even took it to the basket multiple times finishing against Indiana all star candidate Jake Smith from LC. Some of you Indiana college coaches would look real smart being the first to offer Wallace. Yamauree finished with 16 pts.
● 6'6 LC senior Jake Smith was a bright spot for the Indians tonight. Usually Smith can hit from the outside but did most of his damage inside tonight. The EC combination of Murphy and Wallace gave him some issues inside but Smith did what he could. Jake is an Indiana All star candidate and will further make his with a LC run in March. Smith is a willing passer out of the double and when he's not, he can bully defenders under the basket. He's not going to blow past you create his own but what he does is effective. Smith finished with 14 pts and 7 rbs battling some foul trouble throughout the game.
A recently hot Springs Valley Blackhawk team, winning 9 of their last 11 took the 10 minute trip east to rival, Paoli on Tuesday night in a make-up game from a previous postponement. The Rams come in a with a good record themselves and are hovering around the top 10 of 2a. Paoli started out in a zone from the opening tip. SV seniors Maverick Land and Konner Chase almost shot Paoli out of their zone early on connecting on bombs from deep. Paoli settled in after the first few minutes and their defense tightened up. The Blackhawks managed more turnovers than points for the rest of the quarter and Paoli took a 19- 11 lead into the 2nd quarter and extended it to a 32-22 lead by halftime. The difference really was that 4 minute stretch in the 1st quarter because the rest of the game played out even. Ram senior Trey Rominger found points easy to come by attacking the SV zone and junior Fletcher Cole was in complete control of the game. Paoli went on to a 57-47 win despite junior Blackhawk Deion Edwards cashing in on 19 pts.
● 6'1 Paoli senior Trey Rominger was not who you'd expect to lead the game in scoring with 20 but he continously found himself open in SV's zone defense. Trey is a football kid so he is very aggressive and strong at getting to the basket. He's not going to beat you with his outside shot but when he is going to thr basket, it either a foul or 2 pts. For 6'1 he's a very aggressive and willing rebounder. If Paoli can get him into double figures every game it will change the dynamics of their team and make them sectional/ regional contenders come March. Combine that with sophomore Cooper Spire putting up 10 and the Rams can do damage down south in 2A.
● 6'0 junior Paoli guard Fletcher Cole is the engine for this team. It wouldn't be hard for him to score 20-25 a night but he knows what the team needs to be successful. Cole is a true point guard that can also score it. He is a coach on the floor, which makes sense because his dad is the head varsity coach. Fletch uses his body to get to the basket on drives and had a pull up game from 6-7 feet that is money. Fletcher will be a kid at the next level whos happy with 6 pts and double figure asssits as long as the team wins. It bothers him to lose. College coaches in the Crossroads League or HCAC should really give this kid a serious look. He knows how to run a team. Cole finished the game with 13.
● 6'5 SV junior Deion Edwards has been on a heater recently scoring+ rebounding in bunches. The Rams defense did give him and his Blackhawk teammates some issues throughout the game but Edwards showed he could step out and hit the 3 ball tonight hitting three of them. Edwards is big and atheltic enough to get to the basket most anytime. If there's anyone that's the definition of a point/ center at the high school level its Edwards. He is routinely asked to bring the ball up during pressure and rebound against the other teams bigs down low. He guarded Cole on the perimeter for half the night. Like I've said before, Edwards is getting better and more confident realizing his full potential overall on both ends of the floor. Going 100% the entire game, every possession is the next step in his improvement. Edwards had 19 on an "off night" by his recent standards
Paoli improves to 13-3 and hosts another rival on Friday night as the Bulldogs of Orleans come in while the Blackhawks face off against White River Valley at home on the 9th.
Saturday afternoon basketball took place in French Lick as the host Blackhawks took on the Borden Braves. Both teams came on featuring 20+ ppg scorers as Springs Valley junior Deion Edwards is putting up 24.3 ppg and Borden senior Kasym Nash is putting up big numbers as well. Early on it was the Braves grabbing control of this game hitting beyond the outside and jumping out to a halftime lead. The Hawks got back in this game with their defensive full court pressure causing turnovers and quickening the pace of the game. SV senior Jaheim Hamilton is a long, athletic, and good perimeter defender. Add that on top of offensive machine, Deion Edwards and it was too much for the Braves to overcome in the end. SV showed alot of fight and heart with a 63-58 comeback win over Borden. This game was definitely earned on the defensive end for the Hawks.
● 6'5 junior Blackhawk Deion Edwards continued his scoring outburst putting up 26 pts. today. Edwards is gaining confidence and looks like he, and everyone else knows it's his team. Edwards uses his size well, bullying his defenders down low or realizing the mismatch and taking them off the dribble. Deion was engaged on defense today which takes his overall game to another level. There's not any team on the Springs Valley schedule that should be able to stop Edwards completely when he wants to go get his. Once his outside shot starts to consistently fall, he may be looking at close to 30 ppg by next season for SV. His willingness to pass and ability to see the floor allows him to be one of their better ball handlers. He is also shooting a strong 82% from the free throw line this year. Edwards will be running with EG10 on the aau circuit and college coaches in the Crossroads League should start taking note of junior Deion Edwards.
● 6'2 Borden senior guard Kasym Nash did everything he could for the Braves today. Nash was driving to the basket and taking on multiple defenders throughout the game. He is known for his 3 pt range but is just a flat out scorer. I expect to see him somewhere at a HCAC school next year at the college level. Nash finished with 24 points and you could tell he's capable at times of even more. If he gets hot thr Braves could surprise some teams come sectional time, especially on their home floor.
Springs Valley moves to 12-6 and face the Rams in Paoli on Tuesday night while Borden falls to 10-8 and host West Washington on the same night.
The Clarksville Generals made the half hour trip up I-65 north to visit the Scottsburg Warriors. Scottsburg comes into this game 13-4 and ranked #4 in the 3A polls. It took a while tonight for Scottsburg's offense to get going but their defense on the Generals was more than impressive. Their halfcourt 1-3-1 Scottsburg has been playing all year looked very good against an undermanned Generals team. Clarksville has been going through some tough years since their very good 2013 team. On the other hand, the time is now for the Warriors and The Big 3 for Scottsburg showed up and showed out tonight. It took a quarter and a half to get it going but once they did, this game was a runaway Warrior win. By the 4th quarter a running clock had been put on Clarksville as the Warriros won this one going away, 68-31.
● 6'8 Wyatt Zellers has been a force for Scottsburg all year on the defensive end as well as beyond the arc. Zellers uses his height and length to disrupt shots down low and play in the middle of their zone looks. When Wyatt is in that 3 point corner, you may as well count it. That is his sweet spot offensively. Zellers, who recently committed to McKendree in Illionois finished the game with 17 pts and 6 rebounds.
● 6'3 poing guard Kody Clancy got himself going in the 2nd quarter of tonight's game. Defensively he made an impact with 5 steals pressuring the ball. Clancy can get downhill in a hurry or light it up from 3. Tonight he was doing a little bit of both. Clancy has an offer from Hanover and would be an impact player for a school in the HCAC. Kody finished the game with 17 pts, 5 steals, and 4 rebounds.
● 6'5 Warrior 2 guard/ wing Jack Miller had himself a nice game on both ends of the floor. He is one of the better 2-way players in southern Indiana combining length, height for his position, and athleticism. Fresh off a Hanover College commitment earlier in the week Miller got himself to the basket often. He also matched Clancy's 5 steals on his way to a 14 pt and 4 rebound game. Jack also reached the 1000 point mark for his career tonight.
Scottsburg is in action next Tuesday at South Decatur while Clarksville will be at Salem on Feb. 9th.
The ORVC title was on the line tonight in Hanover as the host Rebels took on the South Ripley Raiders. Early on it was SR that had the momentum jumping out to small lead. The Raiders came in with the height advantage with 6'6 senior Ethan Johnson and 6'7 junior Cole Henry. It seemed as though SR was content to let it fly from the outside but water eventually found its level as the Rebels buckled down defensively and eventually hit their stride offensively against a soft Raider zone. SR tried to keep the game close and were battling to stay in it the first half but the 2nd half the Rebels were running and gunning. Despite foul trouble on both ends the Rebels depth proved to be too much as SW won going away, 70-44. Junior Raider Blaine Ward led the team in scoring with 15 while Cole Henry finished with 8 in what was a frustrating evening for the junior All State candidate.
● 6'4 Senior Jamison Lewis continues to impress for the Rebels. He is the engine for this team most nights offensively. I have discussed how he is a mismatch for most guards in this area with his size and atheltic ability. Tonight he did what he was supposed to posting smaller guards and bringing bigger defenders outside while driving to the basket. Jamison also hit the 1000 point mark in the 1st quarter for SW. He finished with a game- high 28 pts in the win. As good of a shooter he is, he may be the 3rd best Lewis brother when its all said and done. Sophomore Braxton can shoot the lights out and Quinton, who's in 7th grade can put up points in a hurry too.
● Speaking of Braxton, the 5'9 SW guard had as good of a game as I've seen him have this season. When Braxton is open from 3 it's almost automatic. He is smaller but he is a tough kid defensively. I would like to see him become more than a shooter going into next year but with as deep as SW is this year, he has a very specific role. The Rebels graduate some guys but a have a strong sophomore class as well as middle school teams so get used to SW being in the mix for the foreseeable future.
● 6'3 Rebel Brady Cook does a little bit of everything. He may be the best college prospect on the team when its all said and done with his length, shooting abilities, and drives. Cook has improved throughout the year on being a more confident player getting to the basket. He is no longer just a catch and shoot kid. He has potential on the defensive end as well with long arms and being a good height for his position. Cook is a kid to keep your eyes on if your a D3 or NAIA coach in Indiana. Brady finished with 13 pts and guarded SRs Cole Henry most of the night.
SW faces Rising Sun back home in Hanover on Feb. 9th while the Raiders host South Dearborn on the same night.
Two of the hotter teams in Fort Wayne met up for a Tuesday night matchup as Canterbury hosted the Wayne Generals. Wayne came off a weekend as good as anyone outside of Carmel in the state defeating both FW Luers and FW Blackhawk. Canterbury is just now finding their groove despite their .500 record, including winners of their last 5. Early on it looked like the 1A Cavaliers were going to shock the 260 and put the state on notice at the 1A level. The senior combo of 6'8 Tucker Day (12 pts) pg Devon Lewis (11 pts) , Ashton Dressler (12 pts) and Jackson Davis (14 pts) played right with Wayne until Day got into early foul trouble and had to sit. Wayne just had waves of guys to throw out onto the court, in spite of missing junior all star candidate Chase Barnes. In fact Wayne junior Khalin Williams-Thomas recorded a double double with 16 pts and 10 rebounds. Also stepping up for the Generals was senior Kharrington Terry with 13 pts and 7 rbs. himself. Wayne is just flat out deep. The Generals just kept increasing their lead and once Tucker Day got a technical and a questionable 5th foul, that was all she wrote for Canterbury. Wayne ran away with it on their way to a fairly comfortable 78- 62 win and showed who the best team in FW after this past week.
● 5'9 Wayne senior guard Jevon Lewis played alot bigger than his size. A legitimate Indiana all star candidate Lewis is a quick guard that blows by his defenders. Lewis is not at all selfish and makes some really nice passes when the help defense comes. There are times I feel he dribbles a little too much but that's just nitpicking. Lewis can hit the outside shot, has tons of energy and is active on both ends of the floor, and is very unselfish. Lewis would thrive in the Crossroads League where he could eventually make a very nice impact and has already received an offer from St. Francis. He makes his teammates better and finished with 20 pts and 11 assists.
● Trey Dillard (or HJ) is a 6'6 junior big for the Generals. Dillard benefited greatly by Day getting in early foul trouble but took advantage of it scoring 14 pts, 12 boards, and 4 blocks. Trey is athletic for his size and he's not a stick. He's got a grown body that is hard to defend. He did all of his work inside on the block and owning the paint. I'm sure he was close to a double double in rebounds as well. Dillard and Barnes will be a scary combo for Northern 4A teams next year (and this upcoming March as well). I could also see Trey doing solid work at the NAIA level as well as a big and strong 4, or a small lineup 5.
● 6'8 Canterbury senior Tucker Day had a very frustrating night dealing with questionable fouls but when he was on the floor, he was a difference maker and produced. Day is obviously the X factor for this Cavs team and makes them one of the favorites to represent the North in 1A come March. I will say I did notice that Day likes to go for the shot fake a little more than I would like for someone with his size. Day has numerous offers from schools such as Pikeville, Goshen, Lake Eire, DePauw and more. He finished with 12 pts in limited minutes.
Wayne moves to 15-3 and plays Homestead on Feb. 6 while Canterbury drops to 7-8 and faces Fremont on Saturday afternoon.