Games of the Day: Friday, December 9th

SO MANY GAMES! I think P-Hoops may lose his mind with the full slate of unbelievable games tipping off tonight all across the great state of Indiana. There are almost too many good games to give their due, but this brisk, clear Friday morning, we'll look at just a few. And I say "few" a bit tongue in cheek. Here are a daily dozen games to keep tabs on.

Kokomo (3-0) vs. Muncie Central (3-0)

Oh, yeah. It's on! These two rivals come in to this game unbeaten and looking for some serious bragging rights. The 4A #3 ranked WildKats have won in convincing fashion, and they've won close, specifically their overtime thriller against Fishers. DJ Balentine will look to continue his great play and scoring against the Bearcats. Muncie Central, the #1 ranked team in 3A, boasts 6'8 big man Nick Osborne, a Loyola recruit. Osborne is one of the most underrated players in the state. He may be the difference in this one, as the Kats have no one who can match up with his size and strength.

Lawrence Central (3-0) vs. Pike (2-1)

A great city battle shold be expected here. The Bears have proven their worth, beating the likes of Lawrence North and Arsenal Tech. Senior Jeremy Hollowell, a 6'8 IU signee, is throwing his hat in the ring for Mr. Basketball, averaging over 23 points per game so far this year. Point guard Tyler Corley and forward Richard Freeman help the LC cause. Pike is led by senior and Georgia State recruit RJ Hunter, a versatile 6'6 scoring guard who can shoot it and get to the rim. Junior point guard Zavier Turner is also playing well of late for the Red Devils.

Noblesville (2-1) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (3-0)

Rivals clash in this tilt where there is no love lost. Noblesville is a disciplined, grind-it-out team with a solid big man in senior Daniel Purvlicius. The Royals are a high-flying, high-scoring team led by MSU-bound Gary Harris and teammates Jaccobby Bledsoe and Zakarie Irvin. Contrasting styles will be on display here. Who will dictate style of play?

Evansville Bosse (1-0) vs. Princeton (2-0)

Not as much is known about these teams aside from their records and their past success. One very known commodity, however, is Bosse sophomore Jaquan Lyle. The 6'4 scoring guard is, by some, seen as the best player in the state in the 2014 class, with Tech's Trey Lyles and Luers' James Blackmon also getting mentions. He is an early five star on Rivals.com in that class. Princeton is a perennial power in that area of the state, but can they keep up with Lyle and his 3A #2 ranked Bulldogs?

Cathedral (2-0) at Arsenal Tech (2-2)

Two more top Indianapolis area teams square off in this one. Cathedral is loaded with talent, starting with 6'6 senior wing Jared Drew, a St. Louis recruit. Flanking his are 6'6 junior Colin Hartman (IU), sophomore guard Mo Evans, and perhaps the best freshman in the state in point guard Jalen Coleman. Tech is led by a trio of sophomores: Trey Lyles, Jeremie Tyler, and Mike Jones. Lyles is a 6'9 matchup nightmare who is a top ten national player according to most recruiting services. Tyler and Jones are two dynamic scoring guards. The experience of Cathedral's players may be the difference in this one.

North Central (3-0) vs. Carmel (2-1)

The 4A #1 ranked Panthers look to keep things rolling against the Greyhounds. North Central's high scoring attack is spearheaded by 5'10 point guard Ronnie Johnson, a Purdue recruit. He is helped considerably by wing players Patrick Ingram, Perry Poindexter, and Jimmy Miller, as well as 6'6 widebody Darius Latham. Carmel is at home, but will the Greyhounds have enough? They can stroke it from deep. Sam Curts had seven threes in their last game.

Mt. Vernon (2-1) vs. Pendleton Heights (3-1)

A somewhat friendly rivalry exists between these two teams. The Marauders have won a big game already this year, knocking off Noblesville on the road. But will they be able to slow down the Kellen Dunham show? The Arabians 6'5 shooting guard has been nearly unstoppable this year, with games of 40, 38, 37, and 23 points so far. Dunham, a Butler recruit, is one of the early season odds-on favorites for Mr. Basketball, and a win over a qualtiy Mt. Vernon squad will only enhance an already strong resume.

Brebeuf Jesuit (2-1) vs. Lawrence North (2-1)

The Braves opened the season with a dud against Zionsville, but have since then rebounded and played great the last two games. Their offensive attack is led by sophomore point guard PJ Thompson, a high scoring lead guard. The Wildcats also dropped their opener to 4A #5 ranked Lawrence Central, and they've struggled to find their groove offensively. Looking to change their offensive woes are 6'3 shooting guard Eron Harris (WVU) and 6'1 point guard Petey Balls (N. Illinois). The depth and size of LN may be too much for Brebeuf, and considering they're on the road, a win by the braves would have to be considered a decent upset.

Concord (3-0) vs. Penn (0-1)

Another great game. Man, there are a ton of them! The Concord Minutemen have started the season with three impressive wins with an average magin of victory of over 20 points. They are led by 6'6 junior power forward Franko House, who checks in a #19 on P-Hoops 2013 Class Rankings. Penn dropped their first game of the season to Ft. Wayne North (3-1) and they look to rebound at home. They are led by a pair of 6'4 guards: senior Jeff Laidig (Penn) and junior Leo Svete (P-Hoops #11 in 2013). Svete is one of the highest risers in terms of college exposure and interest in the junior class. Should be a great one with plenty of stars on display.

Ft. Wayne Wayne (3-0) vs. Northrop (3-0)

Wayne is off to a 3-0 start while playing some tough competition, beating three area teams. But will they be able to keep up with the Bruins? Led by junior point guard and Purdue recruit Bryson Scott, Northrop looks to move to 4-0 on the season at home. Expect coach Barak Coolman's crew to do just that.

Howe (2-0) vs. Broad Ripple (2-1)

A super IPS showdown at the Rockets home court. The Hornets come in undefeated with one blowout win and one three-point battle against Washington. Broad Ripple won a close one on Tuesday against a tough Guerin squad after dropping a heartbreaker to Cathedral. Senior guard and IU recruit Ron Patterson is looking to get in a groove, having struggled to for this year with his shot. Good news for the Rockets is that they expect point guard Aaron Payne back tonight, and he'll get Buss better looks. Playing well for Broad Ripple has been Mo Cross, who had 23 points against Guerin on 8-8 shooting.

Bloomington South (2-0) vs. Southport (2-2)

Bloomington South remains a 4A powerhouse despite losing top players every season. They are currently ranked #4 in the class with wins over Bedford North Lawrence and New Albany. Southport has been up and down so far this season, but can never be counted out with senior stars Kellon Thomas and Michael Ramey. Home court advantage should help the Cardinals too.


Other Games of Interest

FW Luers (1-0) vs. FW South (0-2)
Lake Central (2-1) vs. Crown Point (1-1)
Mishawaka Marian (3-1) at South Bend Clay (3-0)
Park Tudor (3-1) vs. Beech Grove (2-2)
Loogootee (3-0) vs. Forest Park (1-1)