Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Indiana hoops fans! In this great season of fun and family, there are some fantastic games occurring over the winter break. If you have the chance, bundle up, get in the car with your kids or some buddies, and go check out one of these amazing high school matchups! Here are some of the top competitive tilts across the state, including many exciting tournaments.
December 26th
Ft. Wayne Snider (3-0) vs. Northrop (5-1) - In his first year after taking the reins from Indiana coaching legend Al Rhodes, head coach Barak Coolman has his Northrop squad playing some great basketball. They will need to play great against Ray Sims and his 4A number eleven-
ranked Snider squad in the Summit Conference Tourney at the Coliseum. The Panthers are led by coaches son Jon Sims and all-area big man Brad Sneary. Also playing in the tourney are Bishop Luers (4-2) and Harding (1-4). Luers (pictured against Lawrence North) has lost two tough games in a row and have dropped to number four in 2A, but they will recover from this brutal stretch in their schedule and will likely be tougher and better for playing such good teams.
December 27th
Centerville (5-0) vs. New Castle (3-3) - New Castle is always a tough out, and they will be a good test for Ryan Chiddister's Centerville squad. The 2A number eleven-ranked Bulldogs are led by 6'5" senior wing Drew Schauss, a varsity starter since his freshman year.
Broad Ripple (4-2) at Decatur Central (5-0) - Decatur is off to a red-hot start for coach Dave Oberle, led by 6'5" wing Blake Beasley (18.4 ppg). Broad Ripple has a ton of talented players, none more so than 6'3" freshman guard Ronald Patterson. The athletic wing is starting and averaging double digits in scoring as a ninth grader, and is a big time recruit already for area universities.
Franklin Central (6-0) vs. Lafayette Central Catholic (4-3) - The number three-ranked team in 4A, the Flashes will have their hands full with LCC's stable of great guards led by Dru Anthrop. Anthrop recently had 38 points in an upset win over a 4A top-ten ranked Cathedral squad. Franklin Central is led by two fantastic seniors, 6'8" Patrick Bade (Purdue) and point man Casey Coons (Taylor).
New Albany (5-0) vs. Evansville Harrison (5-0) - This matchup of undefeated squads is headlined by 6'8" New Albany big man Donnie Hale, a solid D1 recruit who uses his length and great fundamentals to dominate games. Harrison is ranked number fourteen in 4A, while New Albany is ranked number six.
Heritage Christian (5-0) vs. Roncalli (2-1) - The 3A number fifteen-ranked Rebels of Roncalli are led by 6'2" senior point guard Aaron Evans, who puts up twenty points per game. Their only loss came at LCC, a tough place to escape with a win. The 2A number six-ranked Eagles are on a hot streak, coming off a two win weekend and hope to continue their great play in winning the Shelby Shootout. They are led by 6'5" senior wing Tommy Eggleston (15.6 ppg), 6'4" senior forward Morgan Cook (10 ppg), and they have one of the state's top freshmen in 6'6" guard Joel Smith.
Danville (7-0) vs. Marion (3-1) - The potential best game of the day matches up the number two ranked team in 3A with the number nine ranked team in 4A. Danville is led by
6'9" junior center Travis Carroll (Purdue), who is putting up over twenty points and ten boards a game. Marion is led by 6'6" senior sharpshooter Scott Wood, who will follow former Giant teammate Julius Mays to ACC up-and-comer NC State. This throwdown will take place in front of many interested onlookers at Mackey Arena. No one will be more interested than Purdue coach Matt Painter (pictured with P-Hoops himself!), who will no doubt be watching Carroll, anticipating his impact in 2010. Danville also features Nate Rigdon (15.6 ppg), who is coming off games of 18 and 25 points.
December 29th
Castle (4-1) vs. North Central (6-0) - Coach Brian Gibson's Castle squad is playing solid basketball, but it will take a Christmas miracle for them to knock off the 4A number-two ranked Panthers. Coach Doug Mitchell may have his best, most well rounded team ever,led by Purdue-bound junior guard Terone Johnson (24.3 ppg; 5.2 rpg; 52% threes; 88% FT). Even if the Knights can stop Johnson, they still must contend with senior wing Damon Ellison (16.8 ppg), freshman star D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (15.8 ppg; 6.7 rpg), and senior 6'9" post Justin Reid (13.3 ppg; 8.5 rpg).
December 30th
Bluffton (6-0) vs. Tipton (7-0) - In this matchup of 2A powers, the number three-ranked Tigers will contend with the top-raked Blue Devils squad. Bluffton has the misfortune of being in the same sectional as Luers, so they often fly under the radar. They are the real thing, however, and will give coach Travis Daugherty and Tipton all they can handle. The Devils are led by 6'9" senior forward Derek Elston, and IU recruit averaging well over a double-double. This game will be the centerpiece of the Hall of Fame Tournament at New Castle Chrysler Fieldhouse.
Franklin Central (6-0) vs. Lafayette Jeff (6-2) - In another HOF Tourney game, the 4A number-three Flashes will face off with the 4A number-ten Bronchos, led by high scoring junior guard Jesse Berry, a surefire D1 level recruit.
There will be many other great games lined up as tourney results unfold, so be sure to follow all the action to see who will be facing off with each other in semifinal and final games.
Again, Merry Christmas hoops fans!
December 26th
Ft. Wayne Snider (3-0) vs. Northrop (5-1) - In his first year after taking the reins from Indiana coaching legend Al Rhodes, head coach Barak Coolman has his Northrop squad playing some great basketball. They will need to play great against Ray Sims and his 4A number eleven-
ranked Snider squad in the Summit Conference Tourney at the Coliseum. The Panthers are led by coaches son Jon Sims and all-area big man Brad Sneary. Also playing in the tourney are Bishop Luers (4-2) and Harding (1-4). Luers (pictured against Lawrence North) has lost two tough games in a row and have dropped to number four in 2A, but they will recover from this brutal stretch in their schedule and will likely be tougher and better for playing such good teams.December 27th
Centerville (5-0) vs. New Castle (3-3) - New Castle is always a tough out, and they will be a good test for Ryan Chiddister's Centerville squad. The 2A number eleven-ranked Bulldogs are led by 6'5" senior wing Drew Schauss, a varsity starter since his freshman year.
Broad Ripple (4-2) at Decatur Central (5-0) - Decatur is off to a red-hot start for coach Dave Oberle, led by 6'5" wing Blake Beasley (18.4 ppg). Broad Ripple has a ton of talented players, none more so than 6'3" freshman guard Ronald Patterson. The athletic wing is starting and averaging double digits in scoring as a ninth grader, and is a big time recruit already for area universities.
Franklin Central (6-0) vs. Lafayette Central Catholic (4-3) - The number three-ranked team in 4A, the Flashes will have their hands full with LCC's stable of great guards led by Dru Anthrop. Anthrop recently had 38 points in an upset win over a 4A top-ten ranked Cathedral squad. Franklin Central is led by two fantastic seniors, 6'8" Patrick Bade (Purdue) and point man Casey Coons (Taylor).
New Albany (5-0) vs. Evansville Harrison (5-0) - This matchup of undefeated squads is headlined by 6'8" New Albany big man Donnie Hale, a solid D1 recruit who uses his length and great fundamentals to dominate games. Harrison is ranked number fourteen in 4A, while New Albany is ranked number six.
Heritage Christian (5-0) vs. Roncalli (2-1) - The 3A number fifteen-ranked Rebels of Roncalli are led by 6'2" senior point guard Aaron Evans, who puts up twenty points per game. Their only loss came at LCC, a tough place to escape with a win. The 2A number six-ranked Eagles are on a hot streak, coming off a two win weekend and hope to continue their great play in winning the Shelby Shootout. They are led by 6'5" senior wing Tommy Eggleston (15.6 ppg), 6'4" senior forward Morgan Cook (10 ppg), and they have one of the state's top freshmen in 6'6" guard Joel Smith.
Danville (7-0) vs. Marion (3-1) - The potential best game of the day matches up the number two ranked team in 3A with the number nine ranked team in 4A. Danville is led by
6'9" junior center Travis Carroll (Purdue), who is putting up over twenty points and ten boards a game. Marion is led by 6'6" senior sharpshooter Scott Wood, who will follow former Giant teammate Julius Mays to ACC up-and-comer NC State. This throwdown will take place in front of many interested onlookers at Mackey Arena. No one will be more interested than Purdue coach Matt Painter (pictured with P-Hoops himself!), who will no doubt be watching Carroll, anticipating his impact in 2010. Danville also features Nate Rigdon (15.6 ppg), who is coming off games of 18 and 25 points.December 29th
Castle (4-1) vs. North Central (6-0) - Coach Brian Gibson's Castle squad is playing solid basketball, but it will take a Christmas miracle for them to knock off the 4A number-two ranked Panthers. Coach Doug Mitchell may have his best, most well rounded team ever,led by Purdue-bound junior guard Terone Johnson (24.3 ppg; 5.2 rpg; 52% threes; 88% FT). Even if the Knights can stop Johnson, they still must contend with senior wing Damon Ellison (16.8 ppg), freshman star D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (15.8 ppg; 6.7 rpg), and senior 6'9" post Justin Reid (13.3 ppg; 8.5 rpg).
December 30th
Bluffton (6-0) vs. Tipton (7-0) - In this matchup of 2A powers, the number three-ranked Tigers will contend with the top-raked Blue Devils squad. Bluffton has the misfortune of being in the same sectional as Luers, so they often fly under the radar. They are the real thing, however, and will give coach Travis Daugherty and Tipton all they can handle. The Devils are led by 6'9" senior forward Derek Elston, and IU recruit averaging well over a double-double. This game will be the centerpiece of the Hall of Fame Tournament at New Castle Chrysler Fieldhouse.
Franklin Central (6-0) vs. Lafayette Jeff (6-2) - In another HOF Tourney game, the 4A number-three Flashes will face off with the 4A number-ten Bronchos, led by high scoring junior guard Jesse Berry, a surefire D1 level recruit.
There will be many other great games lined up as tourney results unfold, so be sure to follow all the action to see who will be facing off with each other in semifinal and final games.
Again, Merry Christmas hoops fans!
3 comments:
P
For Christmas, will you give me a gift? I would love a write up on how Greg Graham and Darnell Archey are doing in your opinion. I know it can't be easy to be a first year head coach, but I'd love any insight into their efforts.
Thanks and God Bless You!
i'm going to see both soon, so i'll let you know. i think graham is doing much better than archey so far, but darnell is in a tough spot at park tudor. they have a lot of young talent but not much in the way of upperclassmen with skills and leadership.
Merry Christmas!
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