Some really good games took place Week 2 after a fun week 1. I got to attend games in person on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday so it was an especially fun week. Sneakers for Santa @ Brownsburg on Saturday was the big time event and the other nights were local southern Indiana games. Silver Creek flexed their #1 in 3A muscle on Tuesday beating a top 10 Charlestown team. Thursday Charlestown got back on track with a road win. Jennings County dominated in a W on Friday night. On Saturday Plainfield and New Albany were two teams that could meet again in a possible semi state matchup. And Saturday night I got to return to Tyson gym to watch South Ripley get a W on their old home floor. It was a week filled with ball and looking forward to Week 3.
Westview @ Northridge- I got to stream this game on Monday night from a previous postponement. It was a chance to see one of my #41 team overall (Westview) go against my #30 team overall (Northridge). The Raiders feature 6’8 senior Indiana all star candidate, Brady Scholl that I thought would be a load for Westview to handle. Scholl showed early on, especially defensively that he was going to be a problem for Westview ending with 19 pts. and 7 blocks. Fellow Raider senior, Hayden Johnson had himself a game scoring a game-high 22 pts. Westview’s duo of Jr. Austin Schlabach and Sr. Kaden Grau struggled in the first half to get anything to fall. In the 2nd, Schlabach finally got some shots to fall finishing with a team- high 16 pts. A couple of Yoder’s had solid games for Westview as well; Daniel put in 16 pts while the freshman, Bryce scored 6. Northridge controlled the entire game winning by a final of 68-56.
Charlestown @ Silver Creek- This is one everyone in southern Indiana had been looking forward to all offseason. And by the amount of fans in the gym, pretty much all of southern Indiana was in the house. The Dragons came in as a heavy favorite according to most that I’d talked to and it seemed to be more of a question of how much would SC win by rather than would they. The Pirates stayed with SC early on but gave up way too many offensive rebounds that the Dragons capitalized on. The long range shooting wasn’t quite there for either team tonight as SC went 2-15 from three. I was impressed on by the defense junior Brody McLaughlin played on Pirate senior Anthony Fresh. The length and height (and at times double teams) seemed to bother him and forced some turnovers. Silver Creek gradually just increased their lead throughout the game and the outcome never seemed in doubt. SC was led in points by junior guard Brandon Hunter while the Pirates Fresh and AJ Todd both had 12. The Dragons showed why they’re my #1 team in 3A winning, 67-43.
Scottsburg @ Charlestown- I had to check this one out after seeing the Warriors beat Austin by 30+ last week. And it was a good test for both teams in the MSC. In the first half it looked like Scottsburg could pull the upset on the road. Their confidence grew as the half went on and a 2nd quarter spark gave them a 33-29 lead. Pirate senior Keevin Bowman kept the Pirates afloat in the 1st with 17 pts by halftime. After halftime Charlestown started using their athleticism and press to bother the Warriors and quickly took a lead going into the 4th, 49-42. The Pirates continued extending their lead with seniors Anthony Fresh and Parker Odle getting going and finishing with 13 pts each. Bowman put in a game-high 23 pts. Scottsburg was led by senior Garrett Boling with 16 pts., Jr. Jarin Luttrell with 10 pts, and freshman Jaxson Owens with 9.
Madison @ Jennings County- The Cubs traveled to North Vernon on Friday night after their Turkey Shootout loss v. Southwestern. From the opening tip the Panthers showed their muscle by getting most whatever they wanted on the inside. Senior guard Jeremiah Davis routinely got to his spots on the floor all game. They got the Cubs frustrated early and often. By halftime the Panthers held a 44-17 lead and had the game in complete control. Madison’s big time freshman, Braysen Russell was held to just 2 first half points. I’m not sure how many offensive rebounds Jennings had but that was a huge factor in the Cubs deficit. Combine that with most of the Panthers points came from within 5 feet from the basket. After a running clock in the 4th quarter the Panthers ended up with a 80-56 W. Davis put up 25 pts, senior Omar Gonzalez added in 14 pts., and the sophomore, Nate Dixon scored 19 pts. For Madison it was junior Gabe Fife scoring 13 pts, Braysen Russell with 12, and fellow freshman Gavin Barnes with 10 off the bench.
New Albany v. Plainfield- The Bulldogs jumped out fast in this one running up and down the floor. It looked like NA may be too quick for the Quakers after jumping out to a 20-14 lead after 1. If New Albany can get out in transition and run they’re one of the better teams in the state. Plainfield withstood that initial run at the beginning and started feeding Noah Smith on the inside. In the 2nd quarter is when Plainfield settled into the game with Harper Baker Lands and Noah Smith got going. Smith had 12 in the quarter while Baker Lands had 11 to give Plainfield a 42-34 halftime lead. The young Bulldog duo of soph. Noah Washington and Fr. Karson Stoudemire looked really good at times and really young at times. Washington finished with 15 pts while Stoudemire had 13 pts and 10 rebounds. Stoudemire made a strong case for himself as the top overall 2029 in Indiana today. The 2nd half was a battle but the Quakers never gave up the lead finishing off the W, 75-65. Speaking of making a strong case for themselves, it would be hard to argue anyone having a better start to their junior season than Plainfield guard, Harper Baker Lands who scored 27 pts and 6 rebounds today.
North Decatur @ South Ripley- Attending this game was for pure nostalgia as the Raiders returned to play their first regular season game at the old Tyson Auditorium since 2008. The Raiders should absolutely play one game a year here for the older fans and it’s a really good environment for a game. Both teams started out slow but 6’5 SR sophomore Blake Gunter led the team all game with his energy and points. Gunter is a sneaky athletic forward that plays alot inside for SR and is a name to remember in southern Indiana for the next few years, especially if he can get to 6’6 or 6’7. I’m not sure of his point total but ND senior Logan O’Dell had at least 7 three’s (maybe 8). Both O’Dell and Gunter put up at least 25 pts but it was SR getting the W by a score of 70-56. This puts SR at 3-0 with some tough games coming up @ Hauser and v. Batesville but it looks like another good season in Versailles. If SR can ever get Eli Gilpin, Bryson Sipples, Blake Gunter, and Drew Volz to have a good game on the same night then watch out for the Raiders.
Other news and notes from around the state
- Portage put up 103 points on Tuesday night in a W v. Westville who only managed to score 28 pts. That was topped on Friday night with Monrovia beating MTI Knowledge 103- 8.
- Silver Creek got 3 big Ws this week. W v. Charlestown on Tuesday, 67-43. Columbus North, 65-53 on Friday. W v. Austin, 78-53 on Saturday.
- Barr Reeve got a W over defending 1A state champ, Orleans on Saturday, 48-28.
- Plainfield and Jr. Harper Baker Lands with another statement week defeating Whiteland and New Albany. Baker Lands put up 27 pts and 6 rbs in the New Albany game.
- Greenwood moves to 4-0 after Ws this week v. Martinsville and New Pal. Sr. Parker Doolin put in 29 pts and 11 rebounds in a W v. New Pal. and 21 pts/ 10 rebounds in a W v. Martinsville.
- A Mullins led Greenfield in scoring in a W this week. Sound familiar? This time it was Clay Mullins with 23 pts and 5 assists v. Ind. Washington.
- Cathedral with 2 massive Ws this week. 71-62 W v. Brebeuf on Friday and 78-71 W v. SB St. Joe’s on Saturday.
- Carmel with a statement win, 70-62 @ Lawrence Central on Friday.
- Edgewood’s Caden Jones continues to be one of the more slept on players in the c/o ’27 scoring 22 pts, 10 rbs, and 2 blocks in a W v. Cloverdale.
- There’s a case to be made Chesterton had the biggest statement win of the week with a 73-55 victory over SB St. Joe’s.
- Merrillville sophomore Charles Hardiman poured in a game high 35 pts in a loss v. SB Adams.
5 Stars of Week 2
- Cooper Sims- Pendleton Heights. 30 pts. in a W v. Westfield. 15 pts in a W v. Lapel
- Wyatt Jones- Borden. Career high 40 pts, 13 rebounds, 4 assists in a W v. Lanesville
- Caleb Coolman- Penn. Career high 34 pts in a W v. Carroll.
- Korbyn Hammel- Kokomo. Career high 31 pts., 4 assists, and 3 rbs. in a W v. Peru
- Brady Scholl- Northridge. 32 pts in a W v. CMA. 28 pts and 13 rbs in a W v. Valpo. 19 pts and 7 blocks in a W v. Westview
Team of the Week- Fort Wayne South Archers. 72-50 W v. Central Noble on Tuesday and a 71-65 OT W v. FW Snider on Friday.
Upset of the week- Pendleton Heights get a 60-56 W over Westfield on Tuesday night. Muncie Central also got themselves a BIG W @ Guerin Catholic on Wednesday although GC was missing 2 starters.
Top 5 Freshmen Performances around the State in Week 2:
Karson Stoudemire- New Albany. 15 pts and 10 rbs. in his debut v. Bloomington South. 14 pts and 10 rebounds v. Plainfield
Naji Meux- East Chicago Central. 16 pts a W v. Chicago Farragut.
Micah Mohler- Austin. 16 pts v. Providence and 21 pts v. Silver Creek
Ethan Hampton- Evansville Bosse. 11 pts and 3 blocks in a W v. Jasper
Ashton Brobston- 12 pts in a W v. Muncie Burris and 13 pts/ 6 rbs in a W v. Tipton
Leave a Reply