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2009-2010 Boys BasketballWeek-9, Top-10 PollA USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith(01-28-2010) |
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2009-2010 Boys BasketballWeek-9, Top-10 PollA USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith(01-28-2010) |
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VALPARAISO (01-30-2010) Finally,
we get a couple of showdowns in local high school basketball.
Unfortunately, they're on the same night. You couldn't see both of them if
you wanted to. Saturday January 30: Class 2A No, 2 Bishop Luers (12-4) at
1A No. 1 Bowman Academy (14-0) in Gary. Class 4A No. 4 Munster (14-1) at
4A No. 3 Valparaiso (13-1).
The Munster-Valpo game will draw a very big crowd in the 5,000-seat Valpo gym.
There will probably be seats available at Bowman because Luers won't bring many
fans that far west.
But that's not the point. Big match-ups will occur and everybody on both
sides will remember these games far more than their eventual outcome of their
upcoming state tournament fate.
It's all about events and more in high school sports need to understand that.
Too many people get caught up in cheerleading for their team or their conference
or their region. But what maintains this sport is tournaments and the
meetings between powerful, attractive and memorable teams.
This Munster-Valpo game is an annual event matching the two best teams in recent
history in the two conference they play in. It's a valued game in an area
where a lot of the good programs have stopped playing each other (Lake Central-Andrean,
CP-Andrean, Valparaiso-Gary Roosevelt, Merrillville-East Chicago,
Merrillville-West Side, Lake Central-Boone Grove, Bowman vs. everybody in Gary)
for reasons that are their own.
Bowman vs. Bishop Luers brings 6-foot-7 All-American DeShaun Thomas and two-time
2A state champion Luers to Lake County. Bowman wastes a lot of their time
out of state, but they should be credited here with taking on one of Indiana's
finest, risking an undefeated season against a team that is not a state
tournament foe. The Eagles (14-0) gain nothing from winning this game.
They are already No. 1 and the favorite in the 1A state tourney. This is a
game they play (they've played Luers for 3 years now) because it's a big event
and they want to challenge the best.
I don't have late stats but after eight games, according to the IHSAA, 6-foot-6 1/2, 215-pound DeShaun Thomas was averaging 36 points a game, eight points higher than anyone else in the state. Lowell's Austin Richie (28.1 ppg. after 12 games) was second. Barring injury, Thomas will break Damon Bailey's all-time state scoring totals. The good news for Bowman is Luers lost to (Columbus, Ohio) Northland last Saturday 88-67.
The bad news is Northland is presently the No. 1 ranked team in the nation. Thomas is a small forward who is signed to play at Ohio State. But like Greg Oden and Mike Conley of Lawrence North (2004), Thomas may be there only one year. He's a mobile offensive player that's doing you a favor when he pulls up for the three-point shot. Luers is trying to become the first 2A school to win three state titles in a row.
I've been critical of Bowman here in the past, but not this week. Bowman did what I want every Northwest Indiana team to do. When a star player emerges in this part of the state, someone should challenge them to a game. For the sake of the game. Climb the mountain because it's there.
If I had a chance between Valpo-Munster and Bowman-Luers, I'd go see Bowman-Luers.
1.
(4A) Valparaiso (12-1)
2009 (20-4), 2008 (11-14), 2007
(23-3), 2006 (21-3), 22-3 (2005)
VALPARAISO: Valparaiso has won four in a row since the 65-62 loss to 4A No. 7 Carmel. The Vikings host Crown Point and Munster this weekend and that could be an issue since they are using just seven players in most games since the injury to 6-foot-3 junior Jerrick Suiter (10 ppg.) has limited them. One edge Valpo has in the showdown with Munster is that Valpo has two home games this weekend while Munster travels to Lowell and then to Valpo. Valpo has three players: Adam Butterfield (9.2), Andy Martin (9.2) and Derek Kennett (9.0) who average approximately nine pints a game behind leader Brad Karp (14.2 ppg.). Coaches love that balanced scoring. Makes them feel like they can coach.
2. (4A) Munster (12-1)
2009 (24-2), 2008 (16-6), 2007 (21-4), 2006 (20-4), 2005 (16-8)
MUNSTER: Munster has not been challenged other than the 12-point road loss to 3A No. 5 Mt. Vernon (11-2), but they have dominated all other games including an eight-point win over 4A No. 8 East Chicago (7-1). Munster hasn't played the schedule Valpo has, but they've won 10 games by 15 points or more. The Mustangs should look forward to this game. Not so much because they could see Valparaiso again because there are a lot of obstacles to a March rematch. But because this is a one-night only showcase against the most tradition-rich school in Northwest Indiana. This Saturday is just for the good of the game.
3. (1A) Bowman Academy (12-0)
2009 (19-4), 2008 (7-7)
GARY: Bowman added to their frequent flier miles with a win against Bettendorf, Iowa last week. Bowman Academy will face basketball teams from four states (Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa and Michigan) outside Indiana and they'll finish the season unbeaten against all outsiders. But this Saturday has to be one of their season highlights: A home game against two-time defending state champ Bishop Luers (12-4) and the state's top-rated player, DeShaun Thomas. Bowman is playing Luers for the second year in a row so they know what they're up against in Luers, which averages 80 points a game. Here's another game that has no bearing on the state tourney for either side since these two cannot meet in the post-season. But I've got to think Bowman will be up for this event and will be very eager to defend the home court.
4. (4A) East Chicago (9-1)
2009 (14-8), 2008 (20-4), 2007 (23-3), 2006 (19-5)
EAST CHICAGO: The Cardinals
stopped Crown Point 61-56 last week after a 59-50 win over Gary Roosevelt.
EC had a 20-day layoff due to a postponed game with Lawrence North.
Basically, they're starting the season over. The Cardinals still have
Lawrence North and Bowman to play, but they need to play somebody, anybody.
Most East Chicago teams are over-rated because of their vast tradition and big
mouth fans. This one might be under-rated.
5. (4A) Lew Wallace (12-3)
2009 (14-7), 2008 (13-11), 2007 (5-17), 2006 (4-17)
GARY: Andrean and Gary West Side are still the only Northwest Indiana teams that Wallace has played so this ranking is very much a guess. Wallace is another world traveler. They've played in three states other than Indiana. I'm looking forward to the final third of the year when they take on Gary Roosevelt and East Chicago. The 80-73 win over West Side wasn't that impressive. Like Bowman, you have to take LW's word on how they'd been doing or how they've been playing because the opponents are so wide-ranging. But the rankings here indicate that locally, we're buying a lot of what they're selling.
6. (4A) Merrillville (10-2)
2009 (16-6), 2008 (16-5), 2007 (13-9), 2006 (17-4), 2005 (18-4), 2004 (9-12)
MERRILLVILLE: The Pirates lost 74-71 to Lake Central in overtime, their second loss in the DAC. Merrillville has lost twice by three points each time. Folks who comment on the Pirates speak very highly of them. But when you see Merrillville, you don't see one of the state's top teams offensively or defensively. Not yet. The Pirates have played eight games that have been decided by 10 points or less and I think they're still in the rebuilding process. It's a good thing there's another month to the season.
7. (2A) BOONE GROVE (8-4)
2009 (13-7), 2008 (12-10), 2007 (11-12), 2006 (18-6), 2005 (19-7)
PORTER TOWNSHIP: Boone Grove is two baskets from being 10-2, losing two overtime games to Wheeler (11-1) and Hanover Central (12-1). So how come Boone is ranked ahead of those two teams? First of all, Boone should have won both games. They had late leads against HC and Wheeler. Experience? Boone has eight seniors. Schedule: Boone plays six 4A schools including 4A No. 3 Valparaiso (12-1). Michael Eleftheri (15.6 ppg.) still leads a strong attack, which includes Ryan Reynolds (16.2 ppg.) and Wayland Roach (10.2 ppg.). Boone lost in the PCC semifinals 60-58 to Hanover and the rematch is Tuesday, Feb. 2 at Boone.
8. (2A) Wheeler (14-1)
2009 (21-4) 2008 (16-6), 2007 (17-6),
2006 (19-6)
UNION TOWNSHIP: The Bearcats won the Greater South Shore Conference title easily behind 6-foot-5 Andrew Rudakas (15.0 ppg.), 6-foot-5 Petr Todorovic (12.7 ppg.), 6-foot-3 Naje Bailey (12.6 ppg,.) plus 6-foot-7 newcomer Aleksa Kojcinovic (9.4). The schedule hurts them and they have to know it. Wheeler has played nine teams that are .500 or below. But they are almost as experienced as Boone and they have unusual size for a 2A school. I'd like to tell you that Wheeler has several tough tests remaining on the schedule, but I'd also like to tell you that Indiana University will get back to the .500 mark this year. Wheeler is certain to finish at 20-1.
9. (2A) Hanover Central (12-1)
2009 (9-11) 2008 (11-11), 2007 (9-11), 2006 (7-14)
CEDAR LAKE: The story of the year so far. Last Saturday (Jan. 23) Hanover defeated Boone 60-58 in two overtimes, the first win over Boone in 16 years. Boone had won 21 in a row from HC. Hanover then defeated South Central 62-60 for the Porter County Conference championship, HC's first PCC title in 23 years. The win was HC's 11th in a row, the Cats longest streak in the 42-year history of the boys basketball program. HC has to stay healthy. They use basically eight players. Hanover also has to face Boone, Morgan Township and up-and-coming River Forest in the final four weeks. And the sectional includes Wheeler (14-1) and Bishop Noll (10-2). Hanover still has hills to climb. But no one has accomplished more in the regular season so far.
10. (4A) Lake Central
(9-4)
2009 (15-6), 2008 (9-12), 2007 (13-9), 2006 (7-14)
ST. JOHN: The Indians, who began the season 5-4 have since gone 9-4 after a 74-71 overtime win over Merrillville (10-2). LC has won three overtime games so they aren't a powerhouse, but the losses to Valparaiso, Merrillville, Munster and LaPorte are all to winning teams. Loai Issa scored 23 to lead LC with the rematch win over the Pirates and 6-foot-4 Glenn Robinson III (14.5 ppg) has made a quality sophomore debut in the big school league. The LC schedule, which includes 19 4A schools (Valpo and Portage also play 19 4As) is a tough road. Nobody plays 20 4A schools.