Since it’s November now I’m going to go into a 6 pack of Must- See games category for Northern Indiana, Central Indiana, and Southern Indiana. These are the top 6 games for the upcoming 2025- 26 H.S. basketball season according to me. These will give you a preview and idea of what games to try and catch this year. I’ll be putting out a 6 pack of games that include the best teams and players. This gives you all a chance to put these games in your basketball calendar before the season starts. This week we’re looking @ Must- See games in northern Indiana.
December 29 and 30- Phil Cox Memorial Tournament @ Kokomo– Ok, maybe this is cheating but the tourney is so good I had to include it. Northridge and Merrillville kick things off in this one. Chatard goes up against the hometown Wildkats in the second game. Top 10 Lawrence North faces off against Charlestown in the lower half of the bracket. And New Haven takes on SB Riley in the final first round matchup. There is some good individual talent (Anthony Fresh- Charlestown, Brady Scholl- Northridge, Brennan Miller- LN, Tyrese Jones- SB Riley, Charles Hardiman- Merrillville, DJ Nash- Kokomo) and if you haven’t been to the Kokomo gym this is a great chance to enjoy a good tourney.
January 9- SB Riley @ SB St. Joe’s. This game last year certainly lived up to the hype. Both teams are ranked in our Top 20 and there’s plenty of star power left on the floor this year. Tyrese Jones for Riley and Nick Shrewsberry for St. Joe’s are likely Indiana All Stars while St. Joe’s junior Elijah King is near a lock for Jr. All Star. The game being @ St. Joe’s helps the Huskies but this is the game that should decide the best team in South Bend and is a potential sectional final preview.
January 16- FW Snider @ Homestead. These two are looking like the 2 top teams in Fort Wayne this year. Homestead may have arrived a year early winning the sectional last season ending Wayne’s run @ the regional. Snider has something to prove showing it’s their year with senior Xavier Wilson and juniors Trell Hogue + Tank Paschall. The talent is clear for the Panthers but the game being @ Homestead + having junior Mack Welker may give the Spartans the advantage.
January 20- Penn @ Northridge. Both of these teams have a shot at making some real noise and surprising some teams come March. They already feature two of the best players in Penn’s soph. Caleb Coolman and Northridge’s senior Brady Scholl. This should be a fun one for the fans on a Tuesday night in January. The winner of this game will tell me alot of what to expect come tourney time. Penn can get a real statement win on the road or a win Northridge could put them in real contention for at semi state.
January 31- Chesterton @ Crown Point. You get to see possibly the 2 best teams in the Region dueling in what should be for the DAC title. Lots of star power in this one; Brad Basila, Logan Pokorney, TJ Ray for Chesterton against Dikembe Shaw, Mason Darrell, Bryce Peters for CP. This should be a great environment for a end of January game. CP should be favored here but this is a chance for a big time statement for Chesterton on the road against a top 3 team.
February 6- Gary 21st Century @ Gary Westside– The 2 top teams in Gary matchup in this one @ West. Two of the quickest and better guards in all of the state face off against each other; Terrence Hayes for 21st Century and Trey Hinton for GW. Gary 21st has alot of star power now and should be ready for a state title run this year in 2A. Gary West also has some pieces to make a run in 3A North this season + has some very good young pieces that are worth keeping an eye on; GW freshmen Prentiss Gates and Deshawn Clay will have had half a season under their belt by now and should be fully in the rotation. If you like fast/ up tempo games this one is for you.
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