By GREG MENGELT

It’s been an interesting start to the season for both Silver Creek and Corydon.

Successful too.

The Dragons have begun defense of their Mid-Southern Conference and Class 3A state championships nicely. The Dragons are 5-0 with three wins against Class 4A teams — Jeffersonville, New Albany and Seymour. The Panthers came in with far fewer expectations than Silver Creek, but they’re 7-0 and beat Class 3A No. 2 Lanesville to win the Battle of the First Capitol a week ago.

The two teams meet tonight in a rare big Monday evening game.

The Dragons have stars all over the place. Kynidi Mason-Striverson is averaging 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists, Emme Rooney is shooting over 50 percent from the floor and Sydney Sierota is a defensive disruptor. They present the biggest test yet for Corydon, which also has quality wins over Brownstown, Southridge and Paoli and has scored at least 44 points in all 7 games this season.

“Silver Creek is a great team and program,” Corydon coach Josh Conrad said. “They are well coached and have the talent that makes them dangerous in every aspect of the game.”

The Panthers also have a star. They have been led so far by Ava Weber, who is averaging 21.5 points and 8.5 rebounds.

“She has improved her passing this season, as well,” Conrad said of Weber, who has five or more assists in multiple games.

Silver Creek coach Scott Schoen is impressed with what he’s seen from Weber, a junior guard, and upstart Corydon.

“They have a young talent and are playing with a ton of confidence,” Schoen said. “We hope to shoot the ball well, play good defense and rebound the ball.”

Both coaches say this is the biggest game of the year so far for either team.

“Silver Creek and Salem are the measuring sticks in the MSC and really Class 3A,” Conrad said. “Their success the past few years is very impressive and where every program wants to be.”

Schoen said this is the first game that affects his team’s 2021-22 goals.

“This is a conference game and one of our goals is to win conference,” Schoen said. “Plus they’re a sectional opponent … so this is the most important game of the year.”

TODAY’S GAMES | MONDAY, NOV. 22

CORYDON (7-0, 1-0 MSC) AT SILVER CREEK (5-0, 0-0)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Silver Creek High School, Sellersburg.
• Coaches:
Corydon — Josh Conrad (17-11 in second season at Corydon, 136-104 in 11th season overall).
Silver Creek — Scott Schoen (160-108 in 12th season at Silver Creek and overall).
• Rankings:
Silver Creek — No. 12 IBCA (single class); No. 3 ICGSA (Class 3A).
• Most recent games:
Corydon — Defeated Paoli 74-44 (Nov. 16).
Silver Creek — Won at New Albany 64-39 (Nov. 19)
• Last 20 years: Jan. 5, 2021 — Silver Creek 59, at Corydon Central 45
• Most recent meeting: Corydon 19-10. Silver Creek has won four straight matchups against the Panthers.
• News and notes: This is just the second road game for Corydon. The Panthers won 74-26 at Perry Central on Nov. 9. … The Panthers are 7-0 for the first time since their 17-4 season in 2002-03 under Michael Uhl. … Corydon junior Ava Weber is averaging 21.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game. She has scored 51 points in the last two games combined. … Kynidi Mason-Striverson scored 15 of her game-high 23 points in the first half of the win over New Albany. … The Dragons outscored the Bulldogs 18-6. In the first quarter and 21-10 of the third quarter in the victory. … Silver Creek has started 5-0 for the third straight season. During last year’s state championship season, the Dragons began with 11 victories before falling at North Central. … This is the MSC opener for defending champion Silver Creek.
• Outlook: Again, Silver Creek gets a big test. Again, the defending state champs pass with flying colors.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: Silver Creek 52, Corydon Central 45.
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 68, Corydon Central 55.

SHAWE MEMORIAL (3-2) AT BORDEN (3-2)
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Borden Junior-Senior High School.
• Coaches:
Shawe Memorial — Terry King (18-44 in fourth season at Shawe, 81-95 overall).
Borden — Matt Vick (37-58 in fifth season at Borden and overall).
• Most recent games:
Shawe Memorial — Defeated Seven Oaks Classical 45-6 (Nov. 20).
Borden — Lost at Rock Creek 56-46 (Nov. 18).
• Last 20 years: Borden 13-7. The Braves have beaten Shawe the last two times they played, both in 2019-20.
• Most recent meeting: Nov. 25, 2019 — Borden 53, Shawe 5.
• News and notes: Borden and Shawe did not play each other last year after facing each other four times in the previous three years. … Emily Cissell scored 40 of the Braves’ 61 points for the Hoosier Hills Hoops Performance of the Week in their win over Crothersville on Tuesday. … Saturday was Shawe’s first ever game against Seven Oaks Classical, a public charter school in Ellettsville that opened in 2016.
• Outlook: Should be a fourth with for Borden.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: Borden 44, Shawe 30.
• Greg’s pick: Borden 49, Shawe 26.

ORLEANS (2-3) AT LANESVILLE (6-1)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Lanesville High School.
• Coaches:
Orleans — Jared Gilbert (59-60 in sixth season at Orleans and overall).
Lanesville — Angie Hinton (68-16 in fourth season at Lanesville, 241-89 in 15th season overall).
• Rankings:
Lanesville — No. 2 ICGSA (Class A).
• Most recent games:
Orleans — Lost at Bloomfield 40-29 (Nov. 19).
Lanesville — Won at West Washington 50-2 (Nov. 20).
• Last 20 years: Orleans 13-7. Lanesville has beaten the Bulldogs three straight times.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 19, 2021 — Lanesville 67, at Orleans 33.
• News and notes: Lanesville gave up 11 points last week … combined in two games. Christian Academy managed 9 points on Thursday and West Washington — a team that had games of 62, 55 and 41 this season — to 2 points Saturday. … The Eagles have scored at least 72 points the last three times they faced Christian Academy. … Freshman forward Mylie Knight leads the Bulldogs in scoring (9.7 points per game) and rebounding (7.3 per game) this season. Senior guard Lily Saliba is the team’s leader in steals (4.3) and assists (3.7).
• Outlook: There was a time that a 7-1 start for Lanesville was unimaginable. No more.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: Lanesville 55, Orleans 23.
• Greg’s pick: Lanesville 52, Orleans 30.