Marion County Tournament Tips Tomorrow

The annual Marion County Tournament, tipping off tomorrow evening, is full of great games. Many top teams and star players will be in action. Here's a look at a few of the best games, as well as some other games for Tuesday, January 10th.

Roncalli (9-0) vs. Warren Central (8-2)

Perhaps the top game of the first round pits some great big men against each other. The Rebels are undefeated and the only team to have beaten Park Tudor thus far. Led by a pair of 6'7 big men in Ryan Weber and David Heckman, Roncalli has size and strength to go along with their disciplined playing style. The Warriors counter with 6'6 junior forward Devin Davis, an IU recruit who has been playing his best ball as of late, including a 27 point, nine rebound game against Lawrence North. They also have 6'8 center Brent Calhoun, who will hope to slow down the Rebel inside attack. Should be a great game. Look for the Warriors' pressure to play a factor in the outcome of this one, depending on effectiveness.

Lawrence North (3-4) vs. Park Tudor (10-1)

The Wildcats are the poster-children for underachievement so far this season. Can they get back on track against one of the state's best? Senior guards Eron Harris and Petey Balls, along with 6'7 junior wing Basil Smotherman, are all D1 players for LN. The expectation for the Wildcats are high with reason. A string of tough losses could be overcome with this one win, but it won't be easy. The Panthers have a stable of talent and a laundry list of impressive wins, most notably a recent win on the road versus North Central. Senior IU-bound point guard Yogi Ferrell is the engine that makes the Park car go, and there are quality pieces galore. D1 level players include senior Paul Bayt and sophomores Trevon Bluiett and Troy Spears, and seniors J.B. Rapp and Brandon Tannenbaum aren't slouches, either. The Park Tudor suffocating 2-3 zone defense will likely be highly effective as well, since the Wildcats have struggled with the deep ball. Could be yet another statement win for the tops in 2A.

Other first round Marion County Tournament games include:

Ben Davis vs. Speedway - The Wills brothers should be able to withstand a Sparkplug attack led by 6'4 sophomore Justin Brent.

Pike vs. Beech Grove - All prayers go out to Beech Grove coach Matt English in his battle with cancer. His Hornets will have to play the game of the season to hang with R.J. Hunter, Zavier Turner, Johntae Alexander, and the rest of the Red Devils.

Brebeuf Jesuit vs. Franklin Central - An intriguing match up featuring the Braves high scoring sophomore point guard P.J. Thompson.

North Central vs. Indianapolis Lutheran - I simply feel bad for the Saints as North Central will be in AVENGE mode after a disappointing loss to Ben Davis. Will Ronnie Johnson still be in Doug Mitchell's dog house?

Southport vs. Perry Meridian - Seniors Michael Ramey and Kellon Thomas have scored a lot for the Cardinals this year, but help has been lacking. Perry has struggled to two wins so far, so this could be a momentum builder for both teams.

Lawrence Central vs. Decatur Central - The Bears have exceeded the expectations of many on their way to a 6-2 record, including wins over HSE and Bloomington South. Jeremy Hollowell and crew should be to much for Diamond Seltzer and the Hawks.

* Tuesday is also the start of the Southern Indiana Conference Tournament, and features great games like Bosse-Memorial and Harrison-Reitz.

* Also in action on Tuesday is Lake Station (6-2) vs. Bowman Acadeny (5-5), and LaPorte LaLumiere is in action as well.

Game Recaps: 1/7

* HSE beat Muncie Central 60-51 in a matchup of top ranked teams. MSU bound senior Gary Harris had 30 points, including five dunks.

* Bishop Luers beat Muncie South 94-65. IU bound sophomore James Blackmon Jr. Had 33 points for the second consecutive night. Luers football dynamo Jaylon Smith added 25 points, and South also got 25 points from Myron Smith.

* Tech beat Ben Davis 62-53. The Giants were coming off a huge win over North Central. IU commit Trey Lyles had 15 points to lead the Titans.

* Bosse beat Vincennes Lincoln 67-57. Sophomore Jaquan Lyle notched a triple double with 16 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds.

* LaPorte LaLumiere beat Farragut 66-51, getting 18 points apiece from Rapheal Davis and Hanner Perea. Perea even had a three tonight!

* Nortrop beat Zionsville earlier today, getting 26 points from Purdue bound Bryson Scott.

* Kokomo beat McCutcheon 61-49 behind 17 points from LaBradford Seabree.

Game Recaps: January 6th

* IU bound senior Ron Patterson had 18 points, 5 boards, and 5 steals in a 65-point blowout win over Herron.

* Another future Hoosier, Lawrence Central's Jeremy Hollowell, went over 1,000 career points in a win over Columbus North. It was an efficient shooting night. In fact, through three quarters, he had 32 points on only 14 shot attempts! Hollowell finished with 36 points and 11 rebounds in the 74-60 win.

* Guerin Catholic jumped out early on Chatard, leading in an ugly first half 28-17. Sophomore Aaron Brennan played well in the half, despite foul trouble, scoring nine points. But the Trojans came out hot to start the third, as Alabama-Huntsville bound Greg Gardner scored seven straight to cut the lead to 28-24. At the end of three, Guerin still clung to a 37-34 lead. The Golden Eagles tried to pull away many times, but Chatard kept hanging tough, and trailed 45-40 with just over four minutes to play. Guerin stretched the lead to six at 49-43 with under two minutes left. But Chatard, and specifically Gardner, would not go down without a fight, cutting the lead to two at 51-49 with 12.9 seconds to play. Guerin was able to hold on for the two point win, getting 19 points from Brennan. IU assistant Steve McClain was in attendance to watch him. Gardner had 25 points for Bishop Chatard, 23 of them in the second half.

* In the title game of the Madison County Tournament, Pendleton Heights jumped out to a 22-3 lead over Anderson, but the Indians battled back, whittling the lead to ten, trailing 35-25 at halftime. But the Arabians eventually pulled away by double digits, winning 66-54. Anderson had it as close as 7 points on occasion. Butler bound Kellen Dunham had another staggering scoring display with 39 points.

* Sophomore and IU commit James Blackmon , Jr. scored 31 points in a win over Ft. Wayne Dwenger.

* Searching for stats, but in an amazing result, Wabash beat Southwood 126-123 (!) in three overtimes.

* Uspet alert!!! Ben Davis handed North Central yet another loss, winning 70-66. Ronnie Johnson had a shot to tie that came up short at the end, and Ben Davis' Michael Beaty made two free throws to seal the win. The Purdue bound Johnson struggled a bit and was actually benches out of halftime, sitting the first two and a half minutes of the third. Tony and Harry Wills had 17 each for the Giants, and Patrick
Ingram had 21 points for the Panthers. Johnson was held to only ten points.

* Kokomo handled Peru 76-53 behind 21 points from Evansville bound DJ Balentine.

* Carmel and Center Grove played a nip and tuck first half, tied up 29-29 after two quarters. But the Greyhounds pulled away on the night their girls soccer team was recognized as ESPN's National Champs, and beat the Trojans 61-51. Ben Gardner, Michael Volovic, and Sam Curts scored in double figures for Carmel, while Joe Reed scored 18 for CG.

* Cathedral routed Howe by 34, getting 15 points from St. Louis signee Jared Drew. Collin Hartman, an IU recruit, added 12 points.

* Devin Davis had 12 points as Warren Central pounded TH South to move to 8-2.

* HSE beat Lafayette Harrison behind 23 points from Gary Harris.

* Greensburg trounced Shelbyville behind 25 points from Sean Sellers and 24 points from Bryant McIntosh, both sophomores.

* Park Tudor beat sectional foe Heritage Christian in an ugly game, 47-37. IU bound point guard Yogi Ferrell led the Panthers with 16 points, while sophomore Trevon Bluiett added 15 points.

Games of the Day: Friday, January 6th

Lots of great teams in action tonight and several interesting match ups to take note of. Here are five of the best in the state for Friday the sixth.

Center Grove (7-2) vs. Carmel (6-1)

The Trojans are having another strong season thanks in large part to the play of 6'8 senior forward Joe Reed, who is averaging over twenty points a game. Carmel has once again seemingly overachieved in terms of expectations. They have no "superstar," but they combine balanced scoring with great outside shooting, a real recipe for success. Should be a great game of evenly matched teams.

Guerin Catholic (8-3) vs. Bishop Chatard (8-0)

Two of the top parochial teams in the Indianapolis area square off in this one. Coach Pete Smith has Guerin rolling. Led by sophomore big man Aaron Brennan, who is getting looks from Big Ten schools including Michigan and Indiana, the Golden Eagles are a tough out. Chatard has two big, dynamic guards in Joe Fagan and Greg Gardner, both capable of going off for 20-plus in any game. Can Guerin hand Chatard it's first loss of the year?

North Central (8-3) vs. Ben Davis (5-3)

The Panthers are probably out for blood after a string of tough games including a recent loss to 2A Park Tudor. The trio of Ronnie Johnson, Patrick Ingram, and Darius Latham has been great for North Central, but so far they've lacked outside shooting, allowing teams to really key on Panther stud Johnson. Ben Davis is playing well under coach Mark James. Harry Wills is one to watch for the Giants.

Park Tudor (9-1) vs. Heritage Christian (5-3)

A potential sectional match up here. The 2A #1 ranked Panters led by IU-bound Yogi Ferrell are rolling. With several D1 and college caliber players on the squad, they are killing teams. Sophomore Trevon Bluiett has been scoring close to 30 points a game of late, and he is the happy recipient of many of Ferrell's assists. Heritage is no slouch. They lost Basil Smotherman to Lawrence North this offseason, but seniors Joel Smith and Tyler Mink, as well as junior point guard Anthony Warrum have made the Eagles really tough this year. This will be a test for Park Tudor and a chance to show if they're the odds on favorite in their sectional.

Anderson (6-3) vs. Pendleton Heights (10-2)

The championship of the Madison County Tournament should be a good one as rivals take the floor. Anderson has rolled to the title game with a pair of blowout wins. The Arabians have done the same and come into tonight with the advantage of playing on their home floor. Oh, and also having the advantage of deploying the most dynamic scorer in the state in Butler-bound Kellen Dunham. The Arabians are the better squad, but will they prove it tonight?

Also in action tonight state-wide are stars such as Gary Harris, Ron Patterson, Bryson Scott, Jared Drew, Collin Hartman, Jaquan Lyle, Jeremy Hollowell, and James Blackmon, Jr. Should be a fantastic night of hoops action!

Game Recap: Arsenal Tech versus Decatur Central

One of IPS's best team, the Arsenal Tech Titans, were in action last night on the road at Decatur Central. The Hawks are struggling this year, but they do have some talent and a pair of nice wins against Perry Meridian and Brownsburg.

From the start, this one appeared to be all Tech. The Titans jumped out to an 11-0 lead and rolled throughout the first quarter or so. In the first frame alone, Tech sophomore star and IU recruit Trey Lyles had 11 points. Midway through the second quarter, the Titans had a commanding 30-point lead at 41-11. But as is common for Tech, the guard play got sloppy and they went away from their bread and butter in Lyles. A DC run cut the lead to a somewhat manageable 50-28 halftime score.

The third quarter was more of the same for Tech, as Lyles could not get a touch and the Hawks crept closer, trailing onlt 59-46 after three. In all, Lyles got minimal touches and no points in the second and third quarter.

But the fourth quarter was when Lyles came alive. He demanded the ball, got it in the paint and in space, and scored in transition, including a thunderous dunk in the face of a DC defender. Tech and Lyles owned the final stanza, and he scored 15 of his team's 26 points in the quarter. Lyles finished with 26 points and nine rebounds, and fellow sophomore Mike Jones added 16 points. The Hawks were led by Diamond Seltzer, son of IU assistant coach Bennie Seltzer, with 14 points.

Tonight is a slow day for hoops action, although one game in the Hendricks County Tournament could be interesting, as Avon and Notre Dame recruit Austin Burgett takes on Tri-West, led by rising freshman point guard Trevor Waite, who has scored in double-digits in every game since becoming a starter, including a 21 point effort against Sheridan.

Game Recaps: January 3rd

Great games last night. P-Hoops previewed three of them, and here are the results!

Bowman Academy 84 - Lawrence Central 76

The Bears travelled to the Region last night, and the #5 team in 4A came away with a hard fought loss. Despite once again playing without star Elijah Ray, Bowman's depth was too much to overcome. A great scoring spread was led by Carlos McCormick, who had 24 of Bowman's points. Justin King added 17 points and DaMario Smith had 15 points. DePaul signee DeJuan Marrero could not get it going offensively, finishing with only 8 points, but he did notch 12 board. IU commit Jeremy Hollowell was the individual story of this one, going for a season high 38 points (or 50% of his team's points) in the loss.

Warren Central 56 - Lawrence North 52 (OT)

Another statement win by Greg Graham's Warriors. Just days after beating two of the Region's best in Munster and Bowman, Warren Central came back with another strong performance against one of Indy's best. Purdue recruit Basil Smotherman helped the Wildcats jump out to an early lead, scoring seven of the team's first nine points. But it was back and forth all the way to the end, where LN senior guard Petey Balls drilled a three to tie it at 46-46 and send it in to overtime. Warren Central pulled away for good on a trey by Jamal Bridges. The story of the game was Warrior's junior forward Devin Davis. He scored a season high 27 points to go along with 9 rebounds, playing with a purpose throughout the game. Smotherman's fast start didn't really continue, but he led LN with 13 points, and Sean Howard scored the same amount. Eron Harris chipped in 11 points for the Wildcats.

Cathedral 70 - Indianapolis Northwest 50

A close game at halftime was blown open in the third. Leading 31-29 going into the half, Cathedral outscored the Space Pioneers 23-10 in the third stanza and never looked back. Freshman guard Jalen Coleman led the Irish with 14 points, while Jared Drew added 12 points. Northwest's Donnell Minton, a Lamar recruit, notched 16 points, and freshman Harris Brown added 13 points. IU recruit Collin Hartman was saddled with foul trouble and managed only nine points.

* Michigan City upset lake Central 51-42. Glenn Robinson III scored 22 points in the loss, but the Indians were never really in this one.

Games of the Day: Tuesday, January 3rd

Welcome back, hoops fans! P-Hoops was out and about all Christmas break, but being on the road so much didn't allow for any write ups. Apologies. I did see Yogi Ferrell in action over break and came away impressed, but that will have to wait till another time. Many Indiana high schools are already back in session, so this week is full of many great games, a few of which tip off tonight! Let's take a brief look at some of the best games across Indiana for Tuesday night.

Lawrence Central (5-1) vs. Bowman Academy (4-4)

The Bears will likely be shaking off the rust as they've been off since December 21, and they come back to a tall task. IU commit Jeremy Hollowell leads the LC charge and has been putting up great numbers despite being the focal point of all opposing defenses. Bowman has a bevy of D1 talent, most notably 6'6 senior forward DeJuan Marrero, a DePaul signee. Travelling to the Region accompanied with the long layoff will make this a tough one for Coach Shelt and the Bears.

Lawrence North (3-3) vs. Warren Central (6-2)

Perennial 4A power Lawrence North has fallen on some hard times this year with an inability to score the ball despite having some big time talent. Senior guards Eron Harris (WVU) and Petey Balls (NIU) lead the Wildcats, who are looking to get back in the win column after losing to Guerin Catholic all the way back on December 16. Greg Graham's Warriors are rolling of late, beating Region powers Munster and Bowman Academy in holiday tournament action. Warren Central is led by 6'6 junior forward Devin Davis, an IU recruit who has played his best ball of late. Home court should aid the Warriors.

Cathedral (5-2) vs. Indianapolis Northwest (4-2)

The Irish visit IPS power Northwest in an Indy area match up. Cathedral dropped a New Year's Eve game to Bowman 49-46, and they are out for a fresh start led by 6'5 senior wing Jared Drew (SLU) and 6'6 junior shooter Collin Hartman (IU). Northwest had a big time win in the IPSAC/Midwest Shootout against Evansville Bosse and Jaquan Lyle, and are looking to continue their strong play. Lamar recruit Donnell Minton, a senior point guard, leads the way for the Space Pioneers. Should be a chance for Northwest to gauge how good they truly are.

Check back later for updates!

IPSAC/Midwest Showcase

What a great day of action at Indianapolis John Marshall High School! Some of the best teams in the state were in action today, and P-Hoops was on hand for a number of the games and is back with a report. Here we go...

Indianapolis Northwest 66 - Evansville Bosse 64

Upset alert! The Space Pioneers were the clear underdog in this one, facing off with the #5 ranked team in 3A. The Bulldogs were in control early, as is their MO. The Bulldogs were off and running early, leading 18-10 after the first quarter, in which senior guard Jalen Pendleton made an impact, taking the ball to the hole with abandon. Sophomore star Jaquan Lyle, meanwhile, seemed disinterested for most of the early going, perhaps affected by playing five games in five days. Nonetheless, Bosse clung to a solid six point lead at halftime, 33-27. In the second half, Northwest point guard and Lamar recruit Donnell Mixon came alive. He took the ball to the hoop, scoring off the bounce and setting up his teammates, most often 6'3 junior Michael Brown, for open looks. Bosse hung tough as Lyle got more involved, showing off his tremendous passing skills. However, his great dishes often went wanting as his teammates often failed to convert open looks or layups. At the end of the third, the game was all knotted up at 45-45. The Space Pioneers started the fourth on a quick run, taking the lead by four, but the Bulldogs clawed back to tie the game at 51-51 with just under five minutes remaining. The game was back and forth, and with two minutes to play, Bosse led by one, 56-55, and Lyle made a beautiful pass to Romeo Wright for layup plus the foul. Wright converted the freebie to give the Bulldogs a 59-55 lead. On the following possession, Brown hit a three pointer for the Space Pioneers to cut the lead to one. With a minute to go, Bosse sophomore Perry Fairrow turned the ball over at midcourt and fouled Minton, who made the first of his of two free throws to tie the game at 59-59. The second came up short, but Northwest's Harris Brown came up with a huge offensive rebound, was fouled, and made two free throws to give the Space Pioneers a 61-59 lead. A Pendleton turnover and foul followed, and Northwest's Alphonso Bowen made one of two free throws to stretch the lead to 62-59. After a Bosse timeout, the Bulldogs ran a nice play, setting up Bo Burkhart for an open three, which he nailed to tie it at 62-62 with 18 seconds to go. But the Bulldogs inexplicably fouled Minton on the inbounds pass, sending him to the line, where he made one of two, giving the Pioneers a one point lead. Pendleton took the rebound of the missed free throw coast-to-coast, spun at the top of the key, and attacked the rim, finishing the layup, giving Bosse a 64-63 lead. Northwest called a timeout with nine seconds left. Bosse came out in a 2-2-1 press, which failed them this time. Minton took the inbounds pass, raced up the court, drove the paint, and finished over three Bulldogs, plus the foul. He knocked in the free throw with two seconds on the clock, and Pendleton's half court heave went long, giving Northwest the two point win.

Minton and Brown led Northwest with 19 points each, while Brown added 17 points. Minton was awarded game MVP honors.

Pendleton tied game high honors with 19 points, Fairrow added 15 points, and Lyle had 12 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds to go along with a pair of blocks and steals.

Ft. Wayne Northrop 66 - Indianapolis Tech 55

Quick takeaway before the recap. BRYSON SCOTT IS REALLY GOOD. Okay, moving on.

The first quarter was a display of two of the state's best in Bryson Scott of Northrop and Trey Lyles of Tech. The Titans were successful at the start of the game feeding the ball inside to the 6'8 Lyles, who scored six quick points to start the game. He also took the ball coast to coast off a steal in transition, finishing at the rim on the run, one of the most impressive moves I've seen this season, considering he's supposed to be a power forward. The twins Bryson and Brenton Scott were also hot at the start, specifically Brenton, who hit a pair of threes in the opening frame, which ended at 17-16 with the Bruins holding the lead. The second quarter was when things started going downhill for Tech. The Titan guards could not find a way to get the ball into Lyles, their shots weren't falling, and they had numerous turnovers, a trend that continued for the remainder of the contest. And this was also the time when Bryson Scott began taking over. None of the Tech guard could do anything to prevent him from taking them off the dribble, more often than not getting all the way to the rim for an easy layup, or for a shooting foul. But the Bruins did not take full advantage of Tech's struggles just yet, and led by three at half, 32-29. The first two minutes of the third quarter is where Tech lost the game. Lyles picked up a quick reach in foul and then two fairly to very questionable charging calls, saddling him with his fourth foul with six minutes to go in the third. Coach Jason Delaney blew a gasket at the second charge, earning a technical, and by the end of it all, the Bruins stretched their three point lead considerably. Lyles sat almost the rest of the third quarter, and Tech tried valiantly to stay in the game with their star on the bench. They did just enough, and were still withing striking distance, down eight at the end of three, 46-38. There was a glimmer of hope for Tech, as they came out fired up to start the fourth. A pair of free throws and a dunk by Lyles eventually cut the lead down to five points with just under seven minutes to play. But the turnover bug bit the Titan guards yet again, as they threw the ball away on three consecutive possessions, and the Bruins capitalized, stretching the lead to eleven at 54-43, and they never looked back. The remainder of the game was a layup-fest by Northrop, and Lyles fouled out on a 50-50 ball with over two minutes to go.

Bryson Scott's game was unreal. He attacked the basket at will and showed a killer instinct. The ball is as safe in his hands as it would be in a Brinks armored car (aka, it's on a string and you ain't taking it from him). He struggled a bit at the line and didn't take many outside shots, but I'm nitpicking. He was phenomenal on the way to 35 points. Brother Brenton was no slouch, finishing with 21 points and those two threes. Bryson is Purdue bound, and I'm not so sure Brenton couldn't be at that level as well. He holds only mid and low major offers, but if that's how he always plays, he can find a spot and be productive at a big school.

Lyles finished a frustrating day with 13 points, ten rebounds, and by my count, six blocks. His guards, while very good on other nights, were ineffective at getting the ball to him. Lyles is not their only player or their whole team, but Northrop had no one to stop him. Bruins coach Barak Coolman was wise to zone them and make it tougher to get him the ball in a position to score. Not trying to pile on, but I have to imagine Tech had upwards to 25 turnovers, and as many rushed or poor shots by their guards. One thing to note is that Lyles did not let his frustration affect his play or his outward demeanor, a big plus for a young team.

Nice win for the Bruins, who should move up from #10 in 4A.

Richmond 70 - Ft. Wayne Luers 49

A defensive clinic by the Red Devils, who recently took North Central to the wire. They threw all they had defensively at one of Indiana's best sophomores, James Blackmon, Jr., often double and triple teaming him, making his teammates rise to the occasion. Obviously, they didn't. Richmond's Quenten Hunter and freshman Joel Okafor took turns on the Blackmon assignment (with help) and did amazingly well. Richmond big man Bola Olaniyan was dominant. At 6'8 and 220 pounds, and as a senior, schools are going to come calling on Bola. He had 17 points and 17 rebounds and was simply too much for Luers to handle. Hunter led the Red Devils with 19 points.

Blackmon was harassed and held to a season-low eight points. He came in averaging over thirty per game, so this is obviously one he'd like to forget.

Broad Ripple 58 - Louisville (KY) Central 43

Big night for many reasons for Broad Ripple senior Ron "Buss" Patterson, an IU recruit. In front of his future coach Tom Crean (who was there all day, and raced to North Central-Park Tudor as well!), Buss led his team to a big showcase win, and set a record along the way.

Broad Ripple and Patterson both started slow, leading 13-11 after one with only two points from their star. From there, the Rockets defense took over, holding Central to only two second quarter points, taking the lead to 25-13 at halftime. Still, Patterson had only four points at the break.

In the third quarter, Buss revved his engine and scored nine in the frame, taking the Broad Ripple lead up to 15 points at 40-25.

A team oriented fourth quarter was Patterson score two more points, finishing the night with 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists. The record? Patterson's 15 points moved him into first place on the all-time scoring list at Broad Ripple, placing him in front of former Rocket and IUPUI Jaguar and current NBA star George Hill. Major congrats are in order to Buss for a high school career to be proud of, but not yet content with.

Non-IPSAC Game of the Night

Park Tudor 83 - North Central 61

Wow! I'd be lying if I said I saw that one coming. Park Tudor winning is not that shocking, but Park Tudor winning by 22 points at North Central is that shocking! Park Tudor, the #1 ranked team in 2A, were the best Panthers tonight.

Park was on fire in the first half, draining threes, more often than not, threes that were set up by a Yogi Ferrell pass or drive and kick. Ferrell played the role of floor general to a "T" tonight, mimicking the role he'll likely play in college at IU. And a fine time to do it, too, as Coach Crean was in the crowd. Also in attendance was future MSU Spartan Gary Harris of HSE, who recently spurned the like of IU and Purdue to go out of state.

North Central's pressure led to open shots in the first half and led to free throws in the second half, as Park Tudor was in the bonus with two minutes to play in the third quarter. North Central never got it closer than eight points in the second half.

Sophomores Trevon Bluiett and Troy Spears led Park Tudor in the scoring department tonight. Bluiett had 24 points and Spears, a New Mexico recruit, had 19 points. Ferrell had 13 points and nine big assists. Even though his scoring was not high, the win over 4A's number one team and the assists make it a strong statement to stake his claim as a Mr. Basketball frontrunner.

Purdue signee Ronnie Johnson led North Central with 19 points.

IPSAC Showcase Tomorrow!

An INSANE amount of fantastic games tip off tomorrow morning at 10:15 and last all day long in the IPSAC Midwest Showcase. Indianapolis John Marshall High School will play host to seven great games Friday. Let's take a glimpse at the action for Friday.

10:15- East Chicago Central (3-2) vs. Indianapolis Marshall (4-1)

Top Players - EC Central: Anfernee Brown - Marshall: Jock Breeding

12:00- Gary West (3-2) vs. Indianapolis Howe (2-2)

Top Players - Gary West: Arnold Wilson - Howe: Tyler Alexander

1:45- Evansville Bosse (6-1) vs. Indianapolis Northwest (3-2)

Top Players - Bosse: Jalen Pendleton, Jaquan Lyle - Northwest: Donnell Minton (Lamar)

3:15- Fort Wayne Northrop (6-0) vs. Indianapolis Tech (4-2)

Top Players - Northrop: Bryson Scott (Purdue), Brenton Scott - Tech: Trey Lyles (IU), Jeremie Tyler, Mike Jones

5:00- Fort Wayne Luers (4-1) vs. Richmond (4-1)

Top Players - Luers: James Blackmon, Jr. (IU) - Richmond: Bola Olaniyan, Joel Okafor

6:45- Bowman Academy (1-3) vs. Southport (3-3)

Top Players - Bowman: DeJuan Marrero (Depaul), Stephen Hawkins (Robert Morris), Elijah Ray (IUPUI) - Southport: Kellon Thomas (Kent State), Michael Ramey (Ball State)

8:30- Indianapolis Broad Ripple (4-1) vs. Louisville Central (KY)

Top Players - Broad Ripple: Ron Patterson (IU), Aaron Payne, Mo Cross

Check in throughout the day for results!

Game Highlights: Wednesday, December 21st

It was an exciting Wednesday night of hoops action across the Hoosier state! Top teams clashed, upsets were pulled off, and players excelled in individual performances they'll remember long after the whistle blew. Here are a few recaps of the P-Hoops Preview, as well as other highlights.

Lawrence Central 70 - Hamilton Southeastern 68

After earning the #1 ranking in 4A, the Royals have dropped two bitter losses in a row, first to North Central, and now this one, which many would consider a sizeable upset, to the Bears. The Royals got out early and led by ten at halftime, 34-24. The lead got up to 11 points in the fourth quarter before LC went on a 16-0 scoring run, sparked by a switch to a 2-3 zone, to take a lead they never relinquished. The lead grew to as many as nine points for the Bears before Gary Harris tried his best to get 4A #2 HSE back in the game. A three by Harris with under 20 seconds to play cut the lead to three for LC at 68-65. The Royals put LC at the line, where they missed the one-and-one, but Bears junior Richard Freeman promptly stole the ball and threw down a thunderous windmill jam. A 45-foot heave by Harris at the buzzer went in, but it was all over by then, as the 4A #7 Bears hung on for a classic win, 70-68. IU commit Jeremy Hollowell and teammate Tyler Fischl led the Bears with 16 points apiece. Fischl also grabbed 11 rebounds, and point guard Tyler Corley had 15 points and eight assists. while Harris led HSE with 26 points.

Warren Central 51 - Pike 49

Another upset! Pike came into the game riding high with the #4 ranking in 4A, while the Warriors have been up and down so far this season. With the game tied and under ten seconds to go, the Warriors worked for a layup by Sam Thompson to give them the win. One of the top juniors in the state, IU commit Devin Davis, led Warren Central with 18 points and nine rebounds. Detriot signee Brent Calhoun chipped in ten points for the Warriors, while RJ Hunter, a Georgia State commit, led Pike with 21 points, including five three pointers.

Fishers 70 - Avon 51

As predicted, the Tigers got back on track against a quality, ranked 4A team. Fishers jumped out to a 13 points lead at the end of the first quarter, going up 27-14. The remainder of the game was played fairly evenly, but the big start was too much to overcome for the Orioles. CJ Johnson led Fishers with 18 points, while Tyler Alderman added 14 points of his own. Joe Retic and Jaylon Brown had 12 points apiece for the Tigers, and JP Pena was also in double
figures with ten points. Notre Dame commit Austin Burgett struggled to just seven points for the Orioles, who were led by Lance Magee's 12 points.

Other Highlights

* Bosse beat Reitz 78-72, getting 24 points from senior Jalen Pendleton. Sophomore Jaquan Lyle scored 16 points, including four treys in six attempts.

* New Castle beat Centerville 56-30 behind 17 points from Korey Ryan.

* Evansville Harrison, playing without star sophomore Ernie Duncan (back injury), beat Floyd Central 72-66, getting 31 points from brother Everett Duncan. He had seven three pointers in the win.

* Greensburg rolled Hauser 87-64, getting 26 points from Sean Sellers and 19 points from Bryant McIntosh, both sophomores.

* Finally, LaPorte LaLumiere won their third game in a row at the Elgin Holiday Tournament, advancing to the championship game, but did so without their top two players. Hanner Mosquera-Perea was gone while attending his sister's first communion, and sadly, Rapheal Davis was gone with the passing of his grandmother. Both will miss the final. Prayers go out to Raph and his family in this hard time.

Top Games for Wednesday, 12/21

A few games pop up on the P-Hoops radar as ones to watch for Wednesday, December 21st. Top players and teams will take the floor looking to score big wins for their teams. Here's a quick look at some of the best the state has to offer four days before Christmas!

Hamilton Southeastern (5-1) vs. Lawrence Central (4-1)

Two of the top teams in the 4A class will do battle at the home of the Bears. HSE is coming off a heart-breaking loss in the one-versus-two matchup against North Central, despite top dog Gary Harris' 34 points. The Royals also boast juniors Zakarie Irvin and Paul Furlin, and are led by senior point guard Jaccobby Bledsoe. They look to get back on track against a team who is coming off potentially the biggest win in school history. The Bears broke Bloomington South's 50-game home win streak with a 51-50 win on the road. Leading the way for LC is IU recruit Jeremy Hollowell, averaging over 20 points a game. Flanking him are point guard Tyler Corley, who made the game winning layup against thr Panthers, and forward Richard Freeman. This should be an awesome game.

Warren Central (3-2) vs. Pike (5-1)

Greg Graham's Warriors have yet to play their best basketball, and tonight would be the perfect time to do so. Led by 6'6 junior forward Devin Davis and 6'8 senior Brent Calhoun, the Warriors have the size and skill to compete with anyone. Pike has won five straight after dropping their opener to North Central, including big wins over Lawrence Central and Avon. The Red Devils are led by 6'5 senior guard RJ Hunter and 5'9 junior play maker Zavier Turner. They also get strong inside play from Johntae Alexander. This could be a signature win for the Warriors, but Pike is rolling right now.

Avon (5-1) vs. Fishers (2-4)

The Orioles are off to a fast start, with their only loss a nine-point defeat to Pike. They are led by 6'8 forward Austin Burgett, a Notre Dame recruit. Fishers has lost a string of heartbreakers recently, dropping their last four by a combined 21 points. The Tigers have gotten strong play this year from 6'9 senior center Tyler Alderman, and from guards JP Pena and Jaylon Brown. I expect Fishers to get back in the win column tonight, with their size and depth more than Avon has seen since Pike.

Other Good Games

Evansville Bosse (5-1) vs. Evansville Reitz (4-3)

Centerville (5-0) vs. New Castle (5-1)

Connersville (4-2) vs. Winchester (4-2)

And the LaPorte LaLumiere Lakers are in action for the third game of four in the Elgin Holiday Tournament today. The Lakers are 2-0 thus far led by Rapheal Davis (19.5 ppg in tourney) and Hanner Perea (10.5 ppg in tourney).

Check back for results as they come in!

Tuesday 12/20 Trio: Update!

Today P-Hoops focused on three fantastic games between top teams in Indiana. Let's take a glimpse at how things went tonight!

Muncie Central 58 - Jay County 33

The game was much closer than the score indicated. The Bearcats finished the game on a 23-3 run as the well simply went dry for the Patriots. Senior point guard Adam Botts led all scorers with 25 points. Travis Woods chipped in 13 points for Central. Big man Nick Osborne was limited to five points offensively, but he still did work on the glass, gobbling up ten rebounds. The Patriots were led by Kegan Comer with 11 points. The Bearcats face a brutal upcoming stretch, playing the likes of Pike, HSE, Ricmond, and North Central. If they cam navigate this stretch successfully, 3A will have a big time favorite.

Warsaw 46 - Triton 40

In an ugly, turnover filled game, the 4A Tigers pulled out a lackluster win over the visiting 1A Trojans. Triton had many chances to win this game, and they will no doubt look back in disgust at their 4-12 performance at the free throw line.

Lake Central 53 - Munster 49

It was close all game long. The Indians went into the half, nursing a four point lead at 31-27. In the third quarter, Lake Central doubled that lead to eight, 42-34. But Munster was not about to go down without a fight. They scrapped and clawed, outscoring the Indians 15-11 in the fourth. In fact, the game was tied until Indians reserve guard Zach Gentz nailed a go-ahead three pointer with under three minutes remaining. Munster had two tries at a three pointer with under 25 seconds, trailing 52-49. Both came up short, however, and the Mustangs were forced to foul. Glenn Robinson III stepped to the line and made one of two, putting the game out of reach. Robinson scored 13 points in all, but missed four free throws in the fourth quarter which made it very interesting. Junior center Tyler Wideman led Lake Central with 14 points and Tye Wilburn added 11 points. Munster was led by Nate Bubash and Mike Schlotman, with 14 points apiece.

Other Highlights

* Castle junior Blake Simmons had 27 points and 5 boards in a win over New Albany. Simmons is a 6'6 forward.

* Bosse sophomore Jaquan Lyle had 14 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in a win against Mt. Carmel (IL).

* Wapahani got a mice win over Frankton and 25 points from sophomore Grant Evans.

* North Judson thumped Culver behind 25 points from big forward John Eckert.

LaLu Wins Again

In round two of the Elgin Holiday Tournament, the LaLimiere Lakers defeated Dundee-Crown, 62-42. DC was extremely patient, playing a slowed down pace, but they could not keep up with the Lakers. Purdue recruit Rapheal Davis scored 21 points while IU recruit Hanner Mosquera-Perea had ten points. LaLumiere, who is now 9-1, plays again tomorrow. Check back for updates.

A Tuesday Trio for 12/20

On a relatively quiet night of games in the state of Indiana, three games stand out as ones to keep a close eye on. Let's take a look at the trio of games for Tuesday, December 20th.

Jay County (5-0) vs. Muncie Central (6-0)

Two unbeaten teams square off tonight, one with a much more impressive resume than the other. The class 4A Patriots are 5-0, but four of those wins came against 1A or 2A opponents. Meanwhile, the Bearcats have taken down Kokomo, New Castle, and others on their way to their 6-0 mark. Will Jay County be able to keep pace with big man Nick Osborne and the rest of the Bearcats? It would certainly be an upset if the Patriots won, despite the undefeated record. Look for Muncie Central to stay unbeaten and retain the #1 ranking in the 3A class.

Lake Central (5-1) vs. Munster (5-0)

A region game with implications of area dominance tips off tonight. The Indians are led by dynamic guard Glenn Robinson III, a Michigan commit who is scoring over 22 points a game. Lake Central junior forward Tyler Wideman, a 6'7 wide body, is a D1 prospect who has been scouted live by Purdue and many others this season. The Mustangs are once again unbeaten, much like last year until their fall in the postseason. They are led by a pair of juniors, 6'6 forward Nate Bubash (15 points) and 6'3 guard Mike Schlotman (13.4 points). This should be a close one!

Triton (5-2) vs. Warsaw (5-1)

The classic little guy and big man game. Triton is a perennial power in the 1A class, and this year's version is led by high-scoring Clay Yeo. The Tigers are without 2011 Indiana All-Star Nic Moore, now playing in college, but they are having another good season under coach Doug Ogle. If the Trojans are able to pull off the upset, all of 1A will be officially put on notice!

Today also marks day two of the Elgin Holiday Tournament, which LaPorte LaLumiere is playing in. Check back for updates on all of these games!

Bosse Wins in Underwhelming Fashion

The Evansville Bosse Bulldogs came into this season with a ton of hype and at one time held the #1 ranking in the 3A class. The talent in undeniable, and the schedule seemed favorable for a monster year. But coach Shane Burkhart has been displeased with his team and their lack of effort and focus at times this season. Monday night was more of the same from Bosse. Six days after being upset by Evansville Memorial, and three days removed from an eight point win over an overmatched Washington squad, the Bulldogs squared off with a 3-1 Gibson Southern squad. This should have been an easy win for Bosse, and for a while, it seemed it would be. Leading by 22 points midway through the third quarter, the Bulldogs were in cruise mode, although instead of maintaining speed, the players seemed to decelerate and let up. Gibson Southern stormed back and cut the lead to 12 with about seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Bosse held on for an 11 point win, 77-66, but Burkhart was incensed. He did not speak to reporters after the game, and his players were off limits too. Bosse has a ton of potential, and there is still plenty of time to realize it. I'm betting they do.

Lost in all the negativity was another great game by senior Jalen Pendleton. He notched a triple-double, with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and ten assists. Quite impressive, considering the lackluster effort.

The Bulldogs will get a chance to redeem themselves immediately, as they go against Mt. Carmel (1-4) this evening. Let's see if the can keep the throttle down throughout the entire game.

LaLu Dominates

In the first round of the Elgin Holiday Tournament, the LaLumiere Lakers had a dominating performance over Walther Lutheran, 81-36. They played suffocating defense, forcing 18 turnovers. They also dominated the glass, outrebounding their opponent 39-19. IU recruit Hanner Mosquera-Perea led the Lakers balanced attack with 11 points, while Matej Buovac added ten points. LaLumiere plays tomorrow at 11:15 AM. Check back for updates!

LaLumiere Starts Tournament Today

The LaPorte LaLumiere Lakers (8-1) begin the four day Elgin Tournament today with a 2:15 game against Walther Lutheran. The Walther Broncos (4-4) are a team from Melrose Park, IL, led by senior guard Patrell Green and junior guard Joe Lomnicki. The Lakers should be able to handle the Broncos with their lineup featuring multiple high-level D1 recruits, including seniors Rapheal Davis (Purdue), Hanner Mosquera-Perea (IU), Obij Aget (New Mexico), Jay Simpson (Purdue), and Bobo Drummond (S. Illinois). The tournament runs through Thursday, and the Lakers will play each day. Check back for updates throughout the week on LaLu!

Another Top Game

Evansville Bosse (3-1) vs. Gibson Southern (3-1)

The Bosse Bulldogs led by senior Jalen Pendleton and sophomore Jaquan Lyle look to keep rolling versus Gibson Southern, a bit of a surprise at 3-1. Bosse has been putting up points in bunches; will Southern be able to slow them?

Game Highlights: Saturday, December 17th

* The #2 4A squad, North Central, prevailed over #1 ranked Hamilton Southeastern 81-76 in the game of the year. In what was a back and forth affair, Purdue recruit Ronnie Johnson hit a 12-foot floater with 2:18 to go in the fourth quarter to give the Panthers a 74-72 lead, one they would never relinquish. Holding the same two point lead with under 20 seconds, Johnson missed a jumper, but Iowa recruit Patrick Ingram got the offensive rebound and putback basket to pad North Central's lead to 80-76. On the next possession, HSE's Gary Harris missed a three pointer, and after an additional free throw for the Panthers, that was all she wrote.

Johnson led North Central with 27 points, while Ingram battled through foul trouble to score 20 points, including ten in the fourth. Big man Darius Latham had 17 points. Harris scored 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Junior Zakarie Irvin added 17 points and senior Jaccobby Bledsoe had 13 points.

* In an amazing individual performance, Ft. Wayne Luers sophomore James Blackmon, Jr. scored 40 points, including four three pointers, to give the Knights an 89-83 victory over Indianapolis Howe. Dwight Richards added 23 points for Luers, while Aaron Mann led the Hornets with 25 points.

* Park Tudor rolled to a comfortable win over Triton Central, 87-60, getting 23 points from Manhattan recruit Paul Bayt. Yogi Ferrell added 18 points and sophomore Trevon Bluiett had 16 points.

* Cathedral got a nice win over fellow parochial school Lafayette Central Catholic, 59-42. Saint Louis recruit Jared Drew had 16 points, while junior Collin Hartman, an IU recuit, had 14 points.

* Ben Davis bounced back from an overtime loss to Warren Central to thump Brownsburg 56-31, getting 14 points from Tony Wills. Promising sophomore Jaraan Lands led the Bulldogs with 12 points.

* Pendleton Heights had a nice game to sharpen up for their upcoming tilt with HSE, defeating Rushville 62-44. Butler signee Kellen Dunham had 24 points in the win.

* Guerin Catholic kept rolling along the night after beating Lawrence North, handling Anderson 59-44. Sophomore Aaron Brennan had another good game, notching 13 points for the Golden Eagles.

More Updates from Friday, December 16

FW Luers 83 - FW Canterbury 79

Sophomore IU recruit scored 22 points to pace Luers in their win over Canterbury.

FW Northrop 66 - FW North Side 64

In one of the wildest finishes of the night, the Bruins went the length of the floor in 0.5 seconds for a two point win over North Side. Rallying from nine points down in the fourth, and with both Bryson and Brenton Scott fouled out, Northrop found a way to pull it out in exciting fashion. On a play called "Jump" designed by coach Barak Coolman, Spencer Cowherd threw an 85-foot pass that found teammate Carter Rump under the basket, who promptly laid it in for the stunning victory. The Redskins really let this one slip away, missing 15 of their final 17 shots, and shooting 28-40 from the line. Bryson led the Bruins with 26 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Brenton added 19 points. Quilyn Howard-Upshaw led North Side with 20 points, while Andy Bachman added 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Penn 70 - South Bend Clay 58

Rising junior star Leo Svete had a season high 27 points as Penn knocked off a persistent and pesky Clay team. Senior and Bellmont recruit Jeff Laidig notched a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds, whiile Aaron Brady scored 13 points. Kenny Jones led Clay with 19 points.

South Bend Washington 63 - Mishawaka Marian 61

Washington overcame a slow start that saw them trailing 20-5 in the first quarter. Duron Ivery led the winning side with 14 points while Bo Calhoun added 13 points. Marian's star point guard Demetrius Jackson had 19 points and Robert Mischler had 16 points of his own.

Game Recaps: Friday, December 16

Crazy night of games with some amazing wins and astounding final scores. Let's take a look at Friday's action.

HSE 74 - Zionsville 59

In a game of unbeatens, and in what some considered a trap game for HSE, the Royals prevailed comfortably over the Eagles. Before turning to the clash with North Central on Saturday, HSE handled business behind 21 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four blocks from Gary Harris. Zakarie Irvin added 18 points and nine rebounds. Zionsville was led by Will Dixon's 18 points.

Lawrence Central 51 - Bloomington South 50

Possibly the biggest win in recent memory for the Bears. On the road, in a hostile environment, with star forward Jeremy Hollowell the focus of a bevy of junk defenses, Lawrence Central got a HUGE statement win. Bears point guard Tyler Corley had two free throws with under ten seconds with LC trailing 50-49, and he missed both. On the rebound, Panther Trae Washington was fouled and went to the line for a one-and-one. The free throw clanked off the rim, and fittingly, Corley took it the length of the court, through the defense, and laid it in as the buzzer sounded. Hollowell had a nice all around game despite being limited by a box and one, a "T" defense, and other looks. He had six points, eight rebounds, and four assists. This marked the end of the Panthers 50 game win streak on their home court.

Roncalli 60 - Brebeuf Jesuit 46

The Rebels keep running along, beating another quality opponent. Roncalli's pair of 6'7 forwards, David Heckman and Ryan Weber, had 18 points apiece, dominating the interior against the smaller Braves. Sophomore point guard PJ Thompson scored 23 points for Brebeuf.

Muncie Central 75 - New Castle 45

Most did not see this blowout coming, but as it was New Castle's first true test against a top team, expectations went out the window. The Bearcats leaped out to a 44-16 halftime lead and never looked back. Big man Nick Osborne led Muncie Central with 15 points, and Steven Bennett had 18 points for the Trojans.

Warren Central 54 - Ben Davis 50 (OT)

Giants guard Harry Wills scored eight points, including two free throws with three seconds to play that forced overtime. But in the end, it wasn't enough to overcome the Warriors. Warren Central forward Devin Davis had 15 points, while 6'8 senior center Brent Calhoun added 11 points. Ben Davis guard Tony Wills led all scorers with 25 points.

Evansville Bosse 65 - Washington 57

Jalen Pendleton had 25 points and Jaquan Lyle had five points, nine assists, and six rebounds as Bosse beat the Zeller-less Hatchets.

Carmel 53 - Fishers 50

The Greyhounds move to 5-1 behind 16 points from Ben Gardner. Fishers has played well but have suffered several close losses, and they're tired of moral victories. Point guard Jaylon Brown scored 18 for the Tigers and big man Tyler Alderman added 12 points.

Guerin Catholic 58 - Lawrence North 52

The Golden Eagles got coach Pete Smith possibly his biggest win at Guerin. The teams were tied 38-38 at halftime. Aaron Brennan had 20 points for Guerin while Adam Hufford added 15 points. The Wildcats got 18 points from Eron Harris and 15 points from Sean Howard.

Arsenal Tech 77 - Indianapolis Washington 54

The Tech Titans jumped out to a 33-9 lead from the tip and never looked back. Jeremie Tyler led the Titans with 14 points, while super soph Trey Lyles added 13 points. Continental Julian Page led all scorers with 16 points.

Kokomo 74 - Marion 67

LaBradford Seabree scored 18 points and Evansville recruit DJ Balentine added ten as the WildKats got a big win over a rival. Marion led by one at halftime, but couldn't maintain it going down to the wire.

Lake Central 66 - Merrillville 60 (OT)

The Pirates had this one in the bag, but forgot to tell the Indians. Leading 46-38 after the third, Merrillville watched their lead slip away, and Lake Central fought back and forced overtime. The Indians were dominant in the extra frame led by Glenn Robinson III, who finished with 22 points. The Pirates were led by BJ Jenkins with 18 points.

Greensburg 102 - Jennings County

Unexpected blowout city! Sophomores Sean Sellers and Bryant McIntosh led the winners with 21 and 19 points, respectively.

Broad Ripple 63 - Indianapolis Northwest 51

Ernest Burton scored 16 points, Mo Cross had 15 points, and IU recruit Ron Patterson had 11 points, seven boards, four assists, and four steals to lead the Rockets to the win.

Lebanon 66 - Danville 54

Trey Hendrix and Jack Day scored 17 points each to keep Lebanon undefeated.

Tri-West 69 - Sheridan 67 (OT)

The Bruins got a much needed win, getting 21 points from star freshman Trevor Waite, who is one to keep an eye on for the future. Senior Earl Chastain scored 19 points, and junior Sam Koelling added 12 points.

Other Notables

* Joe Fagan scored 28 points and Greg Gardner added 19 points as Chatard rolled Baptist Academy.

* Heritage Christian topped Cardinal Ritter by 18 points behind 20 points from junior point guard Anthony Warrum, a big time football recruit. Senior Joel Smith added 11 points.

* Pike beat Columbus North 78-51, getting 21 points from RJ Hunter.

* Pendleton Heights demolished Shenandoah, getting a "meager" 21 points from Kellen Dunham.

* Avon snuck past Brownsburg 60-49, getting 12 points from Notre Dame recruit Austin Burgett.

* Southport notched a big win over Bloomington North 67-50. Senior duo Kellon Thomas and Michael Ramey were at it again for the Cardinals, scoring 24 and 20 points, respectively.