Week 7 News and Notes

Things got back to normal (somewhat) after the 2 holiday weeks of tournaments and games. I mean somewhat because most every game on Friday was moved for the Indiana Hoosiers football game. The week started off on Tuesday with a really good game in the Indy area, Pike @ Noblesville and up in Ft. Wayne (New Haven @ Snider). Then on Thursday most of the state was in action and the big New Albany and Jeffersonville rivalry took place down south. My #1 and #3 teams in Fishers and Pike matched up as well on the 8th up in Indy. Friday night there was a big time game up in South Bend as Riley visited St. Joe’s. Saturday night in Madison there’s a freshman in southern Indiana putting up massive #’s in the c/o ’29 while Charlestown’s Anthony Fresh is looking for an Indiana All Star spot. Let’s take a look @ a fun Week 7.

New Haven @ FW Snider- I figured this would be a fun and up-tempo style game between 2 teams that really mirror each other. In the first half neither team really got to play their game and it became more of a defensive game. Bulldog Jr. Lavell Ledbetter had the hot hand early backing his way down low for a total of 11 pts in the game. The difference maker for Snider tonight was Sr. Jordan Woods. The 6’6 athlete  was getting to the rim and rebounding well on his way to a 14 pts and 2 blocks in the game. By halftime it felt like Snider had control of the game with the score 26-22. The 3rd quarter is when the offense for both teams really picked up. Bulldog Sr. Jaidren Ezell got super hot from the outside and getting to the basket while Snider got themselves going thanks to a transition dunk and long 3 from soph. Chance Derossett. There was about a 2-3 minute stretch in the 3rd were hitting on cylinders. With Jr. Tank Paschall muscling his way inside the Panthers got the lead back before the end of the 3rd, after trailing, 42-39. It was a lead that Snider would never give up the rest of the game winning it, 53-48. Derossett finished with 10 pts while Paschall put up 11 in the win. Ezell did all he could for New Haven finishing with a game-high 23 pts.

Madison @ Scottsburg- Alot of good young talent was on display on Thursday night between these two. The Cubs will be a part of the MSC next season while the Warriors will drop on back to 3A after two seasons in the Seymour sectional. Early on it looked like the Cubs were going to keep pace with Fr. Braysen Russell and Jr. Gabe Fife getting it going giving Madison a 16-15 lead after 1. The 2nd quarter is when the Warriors really went to work; especially on the offensive glass. Sr. Garrett Boling and Jr. Jarin Luttrell got their inside- outside combo working on their way to a 35-25 halftime lead. The 2nd half is when the Scottsburg freshmen duo of 6’3 Caleb Salas and 5’10 Jaxon Owens showed their potential. Owens was near automatic from the corner 3 on the press breaker showing he is one of the top freshmen in southern Indiana on his way to a team high 20 pts. Salas rebounded well and finished around the basket putting up 8 pts. Madison has their own freshmen sensation in Russell, who’s been getting alot of attention lately is by now is pretty well known in the class of 2029. Credit to the Warriors and Coach Richardson for making life difficult for Braysen, sending multiple taller and long defenders at him throughout the game. Russell hit his season average of 24 but it was very hard earned.  The Warriors continued extending their lead pretty much all the way through the 2nd half eventually winning, 80-54. Scottsburg had a balanced scoring night from Boling, who put up a total of 17 pts and Luttrell 11 pts. Jr. Braden Cox and soph. Caiden Boswell both scored 9 pts. Jr. Gabe Fife also scored 15 for Madison.

Jeffersonville @ New Albany- This is the 170th all time meeting between these two southern Indiana giants. The Bulldogs hold a slim 85 Ws advantage to Jeff’s 84 wins all time in the series, but the Red Devils have owned this rivalry lately. In fact, New Albany’s last win between the 2 was January 8th of 2021. The talent tides are turning in favor of the Bulldogs after Jeff’s trio of Tre Singleton, Michael Cooper, and PJ Douglas are now playing college ball. Early on it looked like the Dogs would run away with it. New Albany’s offense sputtered in the 2nd quarter while Jeff’s Jr. Jacob Wilkerson and Sr. Cash Whitehead got going cutting the Jeff deficit at half to under 10. Soph. Noah Washington was knocking down shots all night, including a monster poster dunk in the 3rd on his way to a game high 30 pts. Fr. Karson Stoudemire poured in his usual 15 pts and numerous boards, even while losing his glasses. The Dogs went on to get their first win over Jeff in a 5 years by a score of 79-56. Junior Dog Seth Winslow had himself a solid game with 10 pts. while Jeffersonville was led by Jr. Jacob Wilkerson with 17 pts and Sr. Cash Whitehead with 11. Everyone in southern Indiana knew this wave of talent going through New Albany was going to be special for years. Now that they’re in high school, while still young can make some noise this year, despite a roster filled with juniors, sophomores, and freshmen.

South Bend Riley @ South Bend St. Joe’s- The big game that everyone has been looking forward to in the SB area featured two statewide ranked Sectional 3 opponents. Riley is coming off a good showing @ the Kokomo tournament a few weeks ago where they finished runners up to Northridge, while St. Joe’s is coming of a 3rd place finish @ the Homestead tourney. Riley Sr. Tyrese Jones got going early and looked like it was going to be a repeat performance of last year’s game for him where I believe he had 30-35 pts. The game was back and forth early on with St. Joe’s Jr. Elijah King holding it down for the Huskies. Jones got into some foul trouble picking up his 3rd before halftime which only made me in stronger in my rules that I wish we would change in high school (and college) basketball. GIVE PLAYERS 6 FOULS PER GAME. It completely took Jones and Riley out of rhythm and before you knew it, St Joe’s had a 10 pt. lead. It’s not St. Joe’s fault but fans come to see the players play and even 2 fouls before halftime changes the way the game is played from a team and individual perspective. Sr. Nick Shrewsberry looked every bit of an Indiana All Star player finishing the game with 23 pts and shooting it lights out. Shrewsberry is every bit of 6’5, is a good athlete, and a knockdown shooter. He certainly has a case to be one of the 12 names listed come June. Jones and the Wildcats did everything they could to scratch and crawl back into it but it was too much St Joe’s tonight as the Huskies won, 70-58. Jones finished with 23 for Riley while King put in 18 for St. Joe’s.

Charlestown @ Madison- The Pirates made the 30 minute trip up 62 to Madison to take on the Cubs. Coming into the game you’d think Charlestown would roll with good Ws this season against Southport and Scottsburg by 15 pts. Madison is a young team right now finding their way starting 3 freshmen and playing 4. It does help when 1 of those c/o ’29 kids is averaging 25.3 ppg and leading the state for freshmen in scoring. Braysen Russell did everything he could in the 1st half to give the Cubs a chance for the upset scoring 18 pts and giving Madison a 33-25 lead. The Pirates are a senior led team though and came out like I expected in the 2nd half turning the tables and taking a 5 point lead midway through the 3rd. Sr. AJ Todd hit some big 3s to help that run in the 3rd and going into the 4th. Madison did not fold in the 4th, which is a big deal for a young team and fought back to tie it up and eventually take a small lead. Jr. Gabe Fife played a big role for Madison scoring 15 pts and handled the ball well against the Charlestown press. Madison Sr. Zach Vinup also had a good 9 pt. and 9 rebound game in the middle. With just under a minute to play the Pirates held a 2 point lead with Russell going to the line where he hit 2 clutch free throws to tie it up. What has caused Madison problems this year is the offensive rebounds and it showed itself on the last play tonight. Sr. Parker Odle drove baseline throwing up a runner that bounced off the rim, but Sr. Keevin Bowman cleaned up the board putting it back and in for the W at the buzzer. Bowman was big time for the Pirates tonight scoring 21 pts and 14 rbs. while Russell led the Cubs with a game-high 24 pts.

Other News and Notes from Around the State

• In a battle of 7-0 Goshen and 6-0 Fairfield, the RedHawks got the W 66-63. Goshen Sr. Braxton Cline put up a career- high 23 pts.
• Pike defeated Noblesville on Tuesday night, 48-44 in 2OT. Red Devil soph. Landon Lampley scored 20 pts in the W. Miller Sr. Baron Walker also scored 20 pts, 9 rbs, and 4 assists.
• Jasper pulls off the W v. Reitz, 56-45. Wildcat Jr. Jaylen Manners scored 22 pts.
• Ben Davis got the W over Indy Metro. Sr. Giant Sherman Moss put up 17 pts and 8 rbs.
• Trinity Lutheran’s Jr. Reed Mellencamp put up 24 pts and 9 rbs. on Tuesday v. BNL. Stars Jr. Parker Kern put up 18 pts, 5 rbs, and 5 assists in the W.
• South Ripley got a 60-56 W over Milan in the Ripley County Tournament on Wednesday. Juniors Dylan Jesse  and Drew Volz both put up 18 pts for SR. Indians Sr. Gabe Riehle put up a game-high 25 pts.
• Batesville beat Jac-Cen-Del in the 2nd game on Wednesday night, 66-49. Seniors Brayden Maple and Trenton Luers both put up 17 pts each for the Bulldogs .
• Chesterton beat Andrean, 64-24. Trojan Sr. Logan Pokorney scored 20 pts.
• HSE got a good 66-64 W over Lawrence Central on Thursday. Royal Sr. Landon Osswald scored 18 pts and Sr. Luke Weemer put up 17 pts and rbs.
• Heritage Hills defeated Gibson Southern in a 62-61 thriller. HH Jr. Tait Wetzel led the Pats with 21 pts. GS Jr. Kolton Schmitt scored a game-high 22 pts.
• Andrean’s soph. Cole Gilvydis out up 23 pts and 5 boards in a W v. Hanover Central.
• Mt. Vernon defeated Greenfield Central, 62-51. Cougar Sr. Clay Mullins poured in 25 pts.
• Penn beat Elkhart, 65-38. Kingsmen soph. Caleb Coolman put up 22 pts and 5 rbs.
• Homestead knocked off previously unbeaten FW South, 67-59. Jake Coolman put up 27 pts for the Spartans.
• FW Wayne defeats FW North, 87-71. General Sr. Lashawn Green put up 27 pts.
• FW Luers defeated FW Concordia, 83-47. Knight Sr. Carmani Davis scored 26 pts.
• Portage remains undefeated beating Portage, 57-56. Viking Sr. Maddux Wagner put up 20 pts and 9 boards. On Saturday the Indians defeated East Chicago Central.
• Silver Creek gets a big W v. SB St. Joe’s, 78-56. Dragon Sr. Kasen Daeger put up 19 pts while Sr. Dane Caldwell scored 17. St. Joe’s Jr. Elijah King had a game-high 22 pts.
• Borden got a 72-55 W over New Wash. Soph. Wyatt Jones put up 32 pts, 8 rbs, and 3 assists.
• Crown Point got a W v. Michigan City. Bulldog Sr. Dikembe Shaw scored 24 pts.
• Oak Hill continues their undefeated season beating Zionsville, 51-43. Jr. Jace Tonagel scored 16 pts and 4 steals. On Friday night the Golden Eagles defeated Peru, 79-53 where Jace Tonagel put up 24 pts, 8 rbs, and 5 assists.
• Bosse defeats Princeton in the big battle of the Pocket City on Saturday night, 60-55. Bulldog Sr. Dorion Bowen put up 26 pts, 5 rbs, and 4 steals. The Tigers were led by Sr. Edwin Holmes with 20 pts and 10 boards.
• Columbus East Sr. Keaton Lawson put in 29 pts and 11 rbs in a 62-60 W v. BNL.
• Batesville wins the Ripley County Tourney beating South Ripley 66-55. Sr. Trenton Luers 23 for the Bulldogs. Raider Jr. Drew Volz scored a game-high 24 pts.
• South Dearborn win the Rivertown Tourney the defeating Lawrenceburg, 52-34. Jr. Wyatt Adams was named MVP and put up 19 pts and 10 rbs.
• Plainfield wins the Hendricks Co. Tourney defeating Brownsburg, 74-49 Quaker Sr. Noah Smith put up 19 pts.
• Carmel defeated Westfield. Greyhound Jr. Cash Daniels scored 23 pts in the W. Shamrock Sr. Drew Haffner scored a game-high 33 pts.
• Gary 21st defeated Attucks on Saturday night, 67-65. Cougar Sr. Terrence Hayes hit the game winning 3 giving him 13 pts and 3 steals. Tiger Jr. Dezhon Hall scored 31 pts.
• Paoli moved to 9-0 defeating Tell City, 70-39. Jr. Justin Thornton led the Rams with 15 pts and 7 rbs.

5 Stars of Week 7

Noah Washington- New Albany. 30 pts in a W v. Jeffersonville.

Trenten Luers- Batesville. 17 pts in a W v. Jac-Cen-Del. 23 pts in a W v. South Ripley. Named Ripley Co. Tournament MVP.

Avery MacFarlane- Lakewood Park. 41 pts in a W v. Bethany Christian. 23 pts v. Whitko

Jaxson Johnson- Muncie Central. 31 pts and game winning 3 in a W v. Lafayette Jeff.

Amarian Leggett- Blackford. Career- high 41 pts and 6 rbs in a W v. Madison-Grant. 23 pts and 6 rbs in a W v. South Adams

Team of the Week- Ft. Wayne Snider Panthers. 53-48 W v. New Haven. 67-55 W v. Northrop. 56-45 W v. Kokomo.

Upset(s) of the Week- Castle defeated Boonville, 42-38. Michigan City over SB Riley, 45-44. Covenant Christian over Ritter, 63-61

Top Freshmen from Around the State in Week 7

Kellen Williams- Tipton. 29 pts and 4 rbs in a W v. Peru.

Jaxon Owens- Scottsburg. 20 pts in a W v. Madison.

Braysen Russell- Madison. 24 pts v. Scottsburg on Thursday. 24 pts v. Charlestown on Saturday.

Mekhi Gillis- East Chicago Central. 18 pts in a W v. Hammond Central.

Naji Meux- East Chicago Central. 21 pts, 6 rbs, 2 assists v. Portage.

Karson Stoudemire- New Albany. 18 pts in a W v. Jeffersonville

Micah Mohler- Austin. 16 pts, 5 assists and 3 rbs in a W v. N. Harrison

Romyiez Calvin- Evansville Harrison. 13 pts and 6 rbs. in a W v. Mater Dei. 20 pts and 9 rbs. in a W v. South Spencer.

Ashton Brobston- Frankton. 15 pts, 4 assists and 3 rbs. v. Lapel.

Aiden Terry- Evansville Harrison. 13 pts and 6 rbs in a W v. Mater Dei.

Deshawn Clay- Gary West. 13 pts, 5 rbs, 4 assists, + 2 steals in a W v. Hammond Noll.

Prentiss Gates- Gary West. 10 pts, 6 rbs, + 6 blocks in a W v. Hammond Noll.

KJ Buckley- HSE. 12 pts in a W v. Lawrence Central.

Caleb Salas- Scottsburg. 8 pts in a W v. Madison.