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2006-2007 Boys BasketballWeek-5, Top-10 PollA USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith(01-02-2007) |
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2006-2007 Boys BasketballWeek-5, Top-10 PollA USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith(01-02-2007) |
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VALPARAISO (01-02-2007) - Reality struck for NW Indiana basketball as the top two teams in the region were defeated by out-of-towners. That's no big deal. All of NW Indiana basketball would be drastically upgraded if local teams would travel to some of the big Indiana schools and put their game on the line. As painful as it is to be forced to go to a basketball game on New Year's Day, at least it was something different and local teams were challenging quality competition. This isn't a new thought but what seriously needs to be reevaluated is the 20-game limit for high school basketball teams. It seems to be an arbitrary limit put up in another era. The boys basketball season is more than three months long and teams are restricted to 20 games in 14 or 15 weeks. No one has an explanation for it and no one justifies it.
Players are forced to practice 2 or 3 hours a night anyway so there's no way to argue any educational advantage to a game limit. It's not about travel or finances because we're not necessarily talking about games in faraway places. All I've ever come up with is that players enjoy games more than practice, but coaches enjoy practice more than games. The majority of coaches want to play as few games as possible and practice all the time until the state tournament. Coaches control practices more than they do games and all coaches are basically control freaks. There is no incentive for a coach to want to play 26 or 28 games as they do in Illinois because that could just mean more losses. More situations the coach can't control.
So an increase in the game limit is something athletic directors or principals would have to vote for and pursue. There is a money issue that's hard to dismiss. More games means more money for the athletic department. That's reason enough to lift the game limit up to 26 or 28. It has always been insanity that the quintessential Indiana sport, high school basketball, is held to a game limit that is one of the lowest in the nation, for reasons that have long since been forgotten.
The portion of the Region Rumble that was played at Valparaiso University went very well. Almost 2,800 fans showed up on New Year's Day, which I did not think would happen. I thought the crowd would be half that large. The Times newspaper, which had been looking for a way to juice up the 'Rumble' gambled and won with a well-run tourney. The new 'Rumble' three-point shooting contest is fun for players and brings even more fans. I'd rather stay home and watch football, but those days are probably over. The Times may have stumbled upon a truly unique region tradition (no one else in the state plays on Jan. 1) that can highlight local teams on a day when there's no other games being played. The weather (upper 30s and dry) cooperated and the presence of high-powered Valparaiso didn't hurt.
Future 'Rumble' teams? Crown Point is already signed up to return and
Chesterton would be a good choice (they won't play each other). Outside of this
area, a team I'd like to see is Plymouth, with a big fan following and 500-win
coach Jack Edison. On the girls side, many would like to see South Bend
Washington with all-state guard Skyler Diggins or Lebanon, which has been very
good (57-6) for three seasons now. I don't know if it's possible, but Lawrence
North (yes, the same one that won 3 state titles) has the best collection of
young big men in the state. One team that might not be an obvious choice is
brand new Guerin Catholic of Hamilton County. Reportedly they have a very
strong freshman group and another one coming in this fall. One thing for sure
about the 'Rumble.' They've found a new home. They'll be back at VU
on New Years Day, 2008.
This is when it gets tough for boys basketball. The holidays are over.
Playoffs are nowhere in sight and the games often dwindle to one a week. One
major highlight coming up next week in Indianapolis is the annual 16-team Marion
County Tournament. There is a first round game matching 4A No. 1 North
Central (8-0) with defending state champion Lawrence North (6-2). There is
the matchup of Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) champion Munster (9-1) and
independent power East Chicago (6-2) Saturday night, Jan. 6.
NUMBERS GAME: When I looked at Kokomo's 0-8 record, my immediate reaction was how can a school with a reputation like that be 0-8? But when you look it up, Kokomo is 32-45 in the last four seasons. Fort Wayne Snider is 2-5 and so is Huntington North. On the other hand, the great 'winning season' quest continues. Lowell is 4-3 starting the new year. Let's be realistic. They have West Side, Munster, Crown Point, Wheeler, Boone Grove and East Chicago to play. But Lowell has not had a winning season since they went 18-6 in 1993 and they are up one with 13 to go. Calumet (5-3) has won four games and that's not much to cheer about. But Calumet has not won five games in any season since 2002. Calumet is 13-74 in the last four complete seasons. Counting this year, Munster (9-1) is 85-17 in the last five seasons.
And the greatest name in all of Indiana basketball. The Forest Park Rangers are off to a 8-0 start. Did you know that Forest Park has had four consecutive 20-win seasons and is 101-15 in the last five years?
1.
(4A) Valparaiso (11-1)
2006 (21-3), 2005 (22-3), 2004 (22-3)
VALPARAISO - Valpo lost to Indianapolis Cathedral on a last second shot 52-49 in overtime in the Hall-of-Fame Classic in New Castle. This is the perfect 'good loss.' The Vikings lost to an undefeated team on the road in a non conference game. Coaches can't admit this, but a loss steadies a team and allows the boys to rejuvenate. There is a new sense of purpose or, at least, there can be. There is too much media hype about being undefeated and a loss clears the air. As long as the coaches don't see an OT loss on a lucky shot as proof of some submerged character flaws in their players that they suspected all along, the team will be fine. An overtime loss is still a tie game. Scott Martin scored 37 as Valpo beat Chicago's Washington high on New Year's Day. An overtime win is a tie, too, but the games against good competition are supposed to be close. Valpo lost 6-8 senior wing Rob Hummel to a concussion in a win over Vincennes Lincoln (5-4) in the Hall-of-Fame consolation game. Obviously, this is a serious situation that has to be watched closely.
2. (4A) East Chicago
(7-3)
2006 (19-5), 2005 (13-8), 2004 (13-10)
EAST CHICAGO - State No. 1 player Eric Gordon scored 50 in North Central's 73-62 win over EC at North Central last weekend. EC's E'Twan Moore scored 32 points, but was 2-of-15 from 3-point range. The Cardinals are facing NW Indiana's toughest schedule and they had to rally to nudge Calumet City, Illinois power TF North (11-2) Monday night in the 'Region Rumble' at Hammond's Civic Center. It appears that EC will have 6-10 wing Angel Garcia on the roster for the rest of the season. Garcia is ineligible according to the IHSAA, but there has been a court order that allows him to play. Garcia had 16 points and 10 rebounds against North Central. Garcia should not be allowed to play, but he will be and that will make EC a much more formidable squad in another month. The Cardinals have (Indianapolis) Arlington (5-1), Gary Roosevelt (6-2) and Gary West Side (7-3) still to come, plus a home game with Munster (9-1) this Saturday. They have not had their entire team together often and they are playing a very tough schedule.
3. (4A) Munster (9-1)
2006 (20-4), 2005 (16-8), 2004 (20-2)
MUNSTER - Munster smoked out run-and-gun Kankakee Valley 100-56 in a fun fest Saturday. The Mustangs have won five games by five points or less and maybe that's why they aren't highly-touted. But if guard Michael Bizoukas (30 vs. KV) is healthy, no one around here can beat them decisively. The lack of a Holiday tournament put the Ponies in the barn for 10 days, but they hit the trail to Andrean Friday (Jan. 5) night. Munster needs a Holiday Tournament assignment. Here's a school that benefits greatly with the LAC breakup. They can now go anywhere they want and play who they want. Is scoring up this year? Munster and EC go over 100 in the same week. A sectional preview involves superpower East Chicago, which hosts Munster Saturday night.
4. (4A) Chesterton (6-2)
2006 (14-9), 2005 (9-12), 2004 (13-8)
CHESTERTON - The Trojans lost 52-44 to Valparaiso (11-1), but played very well and have hope for a rematch. This team has been overlooked as they also have victories over Gary Roosevelt (5-2) and Michigan City (5-3). Zack Novak (21.5 ppg.) has gotten up front help from 6-7 junior Jack Houpt (10.5 ppg). Guard Mark Babcock (7.8) is out indefinitely with a broken foot and that may have cost the Trojans the game against Valpo. The Trojans will see VHS twice more. Hey, how about Chesterton-Muncie Central at VU next year? Just a thought. This year's team faces a major challenge Friday from up-and-coming Crown Point (4-5) and you have to see what they can do without Babcock. But the early third of the season has been very successful.
5. (4A) Gary West Side
(6-3)
2006 (7-14), 2005 (19-5), 2004 (12-7)
GARY - Gary West Side has rare talent on the floor with 6-4 guards DeShawn Clay and Wesley Danzy, plus 6-8 '007' graduate Horace Bond. But the shocker is in the freshman class where 6-3 lead guard Xavier Jones looked as good as big talking coach John Boyd said he was. I believe West Side went to the Martin Luther King Classic in Detroit and beat Detroit Cooley high 53-44 with 11 from Bond. So their record is 6-3, not 5-3 as listed elsewhere. The 'Side' was 14 of 16 from the line and I think they play under more control than they did last year. Can West Side beat East Chicago? We find out on Jan. 28. Can they beat Munster? We find out on Feb. 8.
6. (4A) Merrillville
(3-5)
2006 (17-4), 2005 (18-4), 2004 (9-12)
MERRILLVILLE - The Pirates have lost five games by a combined total of 20 points, so the 3-5 record is still very deceptive. The speed is there and there's good size up front. Coach Jim East and his staff sound like they want to lean hard on these boys to get them hustling. That means they know they have the talent, as games with Valpo and Munster indicates, and they want to get the intensity that Merrillville traditionally has. Don't bet that they won't get it. When you look at the Pirates on the floor, you see two things. No leader, probably because many are new to the varsity. But you also see all the talent you could want at all the positions. This is a very dangerous team, because they are not all guards and forwards like Merrillville usually is.
7. (4A) LaPorte (6-3)
2006 (12-13), 2005 (8-14), 2004 (21-4)
LaPORTE - LaPorte is off to a strong start with losses only to Merrillville, Valparaiso (6-0) and East Central (7-2). Good balanced scoring with senior center Colby Kus (10.7 ppg.), a 6-6 senior, and 6-1 shooting guard Austin Kesling (11.8 ppg.). Freshman Rich Leslie (5.1 ppg.) is breaking in and 6-6 center Tim Knickerbocker (7.7 ppg.) is still the key in the low post. Is Kus really 31 of 36 from the line? Is Kesling really 20 of 38 from 3-point range? Probably. LaPorte always finds the shooters and they sometimes manufacture them. The grind starts this week though. Chesterton, Lake Central and then Merrillville. And then a Jan. 13 game at Plymouth (8-1).
8. (3A) Gary Roosevelt (5-2)
2006 (11-12), 2005 (10-11), 2004 (11-13)
GARY - Roosevelt played three games in three nights in the Gary Holiday Tournament and won two of them before they lost by 17 to Gary West Side. I'd throw that game out, because it was the Panthers' third game in three nights and it was not for Gary West Side. Calumet is quick, but Gary West Side may be quicker with Derrick Mamon and James Scott, boys with just blinding speed. Roosevelt accepts 15-20 turnovers a game to play their style and no one pushes the ball up the floor like they do. They scored 102 on Lew Wallace. The Panthers 80-78 win over (Memphis, Tennessee) Ridge way was a classic where the Panthers put five starters in double figures. You have to slow this team down. An interesting weekend with Mishawaka and South Bend Washington. They get a shot at Indianapolis Howe on Jan. 12.
9. (3A) Calumet (5-3)
2006 (4-19), 2005 (4-17), 2004 (2-20)
GARY - Calumet split two games at the Benton Central tournament, losing to powerhouse Indianapolis Howe (7-2) by 16, but laying out North Judson 74-47. Cal is not great from the foul line and that hurts them in close games. If I have the numbers correct, the Warriors were just 6-of-21 from the line against Howe. That's JV level shooting and the players pride has to kick in. Cal was just 11 of 20 against North Judson. The Warriors' days as a good team will be short-lived if they can't do better than that.
10. (4A) Lake Central (4-4)
2006 (7-14), 2005 (11-10), 2004 (17-6)
ST. JOHN - Lake Central is warming up with wins over Michigan City and Portage. The losses are to Chesterton, Merrillville, Munster and Valparaiso, all good teams. This team has been slowed by injuries and the presence of first year varsity players, but they can and will build by playoff time. A 3-game road tip to LaPorte, Highland and Crown Point. LC needs to go 3-0 in this stretch, but they will find a tougher CP team than the one they beat 64-60 in November.
On the outside looking in...
11.
(1A) Morgan Township (6-2)
2006 (5-16), 2005 (10-14), 2004 (19-4)
MORGAN TOWNSHIP - This team dominated the South County tournament and embarrassed rival Boone Grove 60-42. They are good and young with 6-2 Eric Spaulding (11.6 ppg.) and 6-0 Troy Turner (10.8 ppg.). They have very good prospects in 5-10 Jon Grubl and 5-11 freshman Joel Reinhertz. They have no size and that's a big liability. But so far, they have played with a fever that makes them hard to handle. If they beat Marquette (6-2) Friday, they'll carry a long win streak into the PCC tournament in 2 weeks where Boone Grove is waiting for a rematch.
12. (2A) Wheeler (7-1)
2006 (19-6), 2005 (16-5), 2004 (20-5)
UNION TOWNSHIP - Wheeler won their own holiday tournament with wins over Hanover Central and Hammond, neither of whom mounted a challenge. The second half of the schedule is weak and an 18-win season is very much possible. In all honesty, here's where Wheeler has to make schedule changes for the future. They cannot play teams like Lake Station, North Judson, Marquette and Whiting down the stretch. Senior 6-7 wing Nate Kasper (23.1 ppg.) is 30 of 40 from the line and 6-foot-3 wing shooter Derek Highlan (11.6 pg.) has 20 3s in eight games. Wheeler gets arch-rival Boone Grove Saturday night in a feature game.
13. (4A) CROWN POINT (4-5)
2006 (9-13) 2005 (13-9) 2004 (6-16)
CROWN POINT - Crown Point's four-game winning streak was broken in a 54-47 loss to Washington (6-2) at the 'Region Rumble' at Valparaiso University. Kyle Hanaway is averaging almost nine assists per game and 6-2 mini-center Zach Cecich has scored in double figures in all nine games so far. CPis an odd-shaped team because they are big in the back court with Hanaway and Stephen Albrecht, but small up front with Cecich and 6-6 (but slim) Aleks Alavanja. This team doesn't have much depth, but that may change when 6-foot-2 football-player-turned-basketball guard Matt Ernest joins the team in two weeks.