HEBRON
(1-18-2012) Let me tell you. I would bet cash money that either Hebron or
Kouts wins the 89th Porter County Conference (PCC) boys basketball tournament
which started Wednesday. I just wouldn't bet a whole lot of it.
By the blunder of the 'blind draw' PCC leaders Hebron and Kouts go head-to-head
in Thursday's (Jan. 19) 5:30 p.m. quarterfinal eliminating one of the favorites
and opening the door half way for almost any of the other six teams in NW
Indiana's premier regular season basketball tournament.
And one of those teams is Hanover Central (6-5), which certainly got the best
draw of anyone. Hanover, which had a five-game winning streak broken last week,
draws Morgan Township (1-9). Morgan has lost nine in a row and Hanover has to
make sure that streak does not end against them. So if HC can win Wednesday and
watch Kouts and Hebron beat each other up Thursday, the Wildcats, who have
already defeated probable semifinal opponent Boone Grove (4-5), would seem to be
in a good position to sneak up and win the title with a Saturday upset.
Except that the PCC boys semifinals and finals are on the same day. Hanover,
which basically rotates just seven players, would have to win two games in 10
hours to take the school's first PCC title.
Hebron (9-1) has not lost since Jay Patz (7.0 ppg.) returned to the front court
to join Cody Artuso (15.9 ppg.) in front of top scoring guard Damon Wallace
(19.1 ppg.). The Hawks have seven seniors who have never won the PCC and they
have to feel this is their time. But the only team to defeat Hebron was
defending PCC champion Kouts (8-2) and their top scoring trio of 6-foot-2
sophomore Max Everaert (16.1 ppg.), senior guards Matt Bradley (11.6 ppg.) and
Stephen Keller (10.9 ppg.).
Kouts and Hebron have actually split two games.
This will be their third meeting. Kouts' other loss was 66-59 in overtime to
North Judson (7-2).
Hanover, led by the PCC's leading scorer in senior guard Nick Bollenbacher (20
ppg.), would be better suited to take on Kouts. In the earlier matchup with
Hebron, the Hawks won 70-65, before Patz was eligible to play. Hanover has not
faced Kouts this season.
Is there anyone else? Boone Grove's record is deceptive. They have lost to
Hanover, but the other losses are Highland (7-5), Valparaiso (8-2) and Hebron
(9-1). They might debate the Hanover setback, but from a distance, Boone does
not have a bad loss and they have some depth and balance led by 6-foot-2 Jake
Clapp (12.5 ppg.), 6-foot-2 senior Lukas Kemp (8.0 ppg.), 5-foot-11 junior guard
Dean Hill (7.2 ppg.) and 6-foot-3 sophomore newcomer Josh Hogg (7.0 ppg.).
If the Wolves could repeat their earlier 52-49
win over Washington (not a given) and hold the lead against Hanover (Boone led
the first meeting 26-23 at the half before losing by 12), Boone could get a shot
at arch rival Hebron or Kouts in the finals.
The boys semifinals at 11 a.m. Saturday morning is one of the highlights of the
tournament as four schools are in the building at the same time, an exact
replica of the state tournament regional in March.
That's the mistake the Greater South Shore
Conference makes with their eight-team tournament. They have the quarter finals
and semifinals on home sites which is fine, but it does not feel like a
tournament. The quarterfinals are sometimes sparsely attended, but by the time
the second semifinal begins Saturday afternoon, the gym is usually full.
It would seem that it's Hebron's turn as Kouts
(2011) and Hanover (2010) have won the last two seasons. The Hawks are at home
where their fans can fill the building and it is a significant advantage to be
at home playing twice in the same day.
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Revised: January 14, 2012
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