By GREG MENGELT

When you’re a team that’s dominated your competition for a half-decade, the schedule-maker tends to test you.

That’s the case with Salem. The Lions, who have won regional titles two of the last three years, will put themselves to the test Saturday when they travel to Brownsburg (3-5) to face a Bulldog team that went to the state finals last year (before falling to Crown Point in the championship game) in the Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Day.

The contest is first of six games at the Brownsburg Shootout. Top programs from Indiana, Ohio and Illinois are involved, including defending 4A champion and top-ranked Crown Point (6-0), which faces Mount Notre Dame (Ohio) in the final game of the night at approximately 8:15 p.m. Local 4A power Bedford North Lawrence and reigning 3A state runner-up South Bend Washington will also participate in the event.

Brownsburg enters Saturday’s game at just 3-5, but it’s not your normal 3-5. The Bulldogs have already faced Indianapolis powers Warren Central (3-2), Cathedral (4-2), North Central (5-2), Ben Davis (3-3) and Plainfield (4-2) and recently dropped a pair of games against two of Hamilton County’s best teams — 63-28 to second-ranked Noblesville (6-0) and 46-40 to Hamilton Southeastern (5-3).

Class 3A No. 7 Salem (4-1) has already played a pair of Class 4A teams, beating Seymour 70-47 to open the season and losing their only game of the season 61-37 at Jennings County. The Lions later face Floyd Central (2-4), New Albany (4-4) and Jeffersonville (5-3) — then 3A state champion Silver Creek (7-0) in a big MId-Southern Conference game — in consecutive games in late December and early January.

It’s the kind of schedule that could make the Lions very dangerous when tournament time rolls around.

TODAY’S GAMES | SATURDAY, NOV. 27

GAME OF THE DAY
SALEM (4-1) AT BROWNSBURG (3-5)
• Time: 12:30 p.m.
• Event: Brownsburg Shootout.
• Location: Varsity Fieldhouse, Brownsburg.
• Other games at the Brownsburg Shootout: Franklin vs. Reynoldsburg (Ohio), 1:15 p.m.; Westfield vs. Centerville (Ohio), 3 p.m.; Bedford North Lawrence vs. Fremd (Ill)., 4:45 p.m.; North Central vs. South Bend Washington, 6:30 p.m.; Crown Point vs. Mount Notre Dame (Ohio), 8:15 p.m.
• Coaches:
Salem — Jerry Hickey (141-66 in ninth season at Salem).
Brownsburg — Debbie Smiley (111-54 in seventh season at Brownsburg, 238-187 in 19th season overall).
• Rankings:
Salem — No. 20 IBCA (single class); No. 7 ICGSA (Class 3A).
• Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
Salem — No. 58, No. 11 Class 3A.
Brownsburg — No. 34, No. 27 Class 4A.
• Most recent game:
Salem — Defeated Madison 60-46 (Nov. 20).
Brownsburg — Lost to Hamilton Southeastern 46-40 (Nov. 23).
• Last 20 years: Salem 1-0.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 20, 2019 — Salem 42, Brownsburg 38 (Hall of Fame Tourmament consolation game).
• News and notes: The Lions and Bulldogs last met in the Hall of Fame Classic in New Castle, with Salem taking third place in the 4-team tournament that annually matches up the state’s best teams. … This is the fifth straight season Salem is 4-1 (or better) through five games. … It’s been a week since the Lions’ last game, a 14-point win over Madison. … Brownsburg has won sectional championships in four of Smiley’s six complete seasons. … Smiley was the Indiana All-Star coach in 2019. … Brownsburg scored 10 points in all four quarters against HSE.
• Outlook: This could be a big win for the Lions, but it certainly won’t be easy. In a game excepted to come down to the final minutes, we’ll take the home team.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: Brownsburg 52, Salem 42.
• Sagarin projection: Brownsburg by 13.
• Greg’s pick: Brownsburg 63, Salem 57.

PERRY CENTRAL (1-5) AT LANESVILLE (7-1)
• Time: 1:30 p.m.
• Location: Lanesville High School.
• Coaches:
Perry Central — R.T. Elliott (20-55 in fourth season at Perry Central).
Lanesville — Angie Hinton (69-16 in fourth season at Lanesville, 242-89 in 15th season overall).
• Rankings:
Lanesville — No. 1 ICGSA (Class A).
• Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
Perry Central — No. 318, No. 80 Class 2A.
Lanesville — No. 60, No. 2 Class A.
• Most recent game:
Perry Central — Lost at Forest Park 62-23 (Nov. 18).
Lanesville — Defeated Orleans 57-20 (Nov. 22).
• Last 20 years: Perry Central 12-8. Lanesville won five straight over the Commodores.
• Most recent meeting: Nov. 28, 2020 — Lanesville 62, at Perry Central 20.
• News and notes: Lanesville moved to No. 1 in the latest ICGSA Class A poll. The Eagles began the season No. 2, but previous No. 1 Tecumseh has lost three of its last four games. … The 20 points Lanesville surrendered against Orleans was the most they’d given up in three games. They gave up 11 combined in the previous two wins. … Junior Linzie Wernert had 18 points and freshman Hylton Brumley added 17 in the win over Orleans. …Perry Central hasn’t played since Nov. 18 due to its game against Cannelton, scheduled for Nov. 22, was postponed. No makeup date has been announced for that game.
• Outlook: The Eagles have some tough games coming up. This doesn’t figure to be one of the them.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: Lanesville 66, Perry Central 16.
• Sagarin projection: Lanesville by 32.
• Greg’s pick: Lanesville 71, Perry Central 30.

HERITAGE HILLS (3-2) AT NORTH HARRISON (4-3)
• Time: 1:30 p.m.
• Location: North Harrison High School, Ramsey.
• Coaches:
Heritage Hills — Kim Brown (131-99 in 11th season at Heritage Hills).
North Harrison — Jamie Kolkmeier (16-9 in second season at North Harrison).
• Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
Heritage Hills — No. 104, No. 27 Class 3A.
North Harrison — No. 106, No. 28 Class 3A.
• Most recent game:
Heritage Hills — Won at Evansville Bosse 61-26 (Nov. 20).
North Harrison — Lost to Silver Creek 72-44 (Nov. 24).
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News and notes: North Harrison was outscored 42-19 in the middle two quarters against Silver Creek. Ali Saunders had 14 points and Diana Burgher had 12 in the loss. … The Patriots are led by senior Hadley Lytton, who’s averaging 20.2 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2.6 assists through 5 games.
• Outlook: This is easily the most competitive game of the night. We expect the Lady Cats to come out on top in a close one.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: North Harrison 46, Heritage Hills 45.
• Sagarin projection: North Harrison by 11.
• Greg’s pick: North Harrison 46, Heritage Hills 40.

NEW WASHINGTON (2-3) AT MILAN (1-5)
• Time: 1:30 p.m.
• Location: Milan High School.
• Coaches:
New Washington — Kirsti Holloway (57-86 in seventh season at New Was).
Milan — Karisa Voss (1-5 in first season at Milan).
• Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
New Washington — No. 180, No. 21 Class A.
Milan — No. 354, No. 89 Class 2A.
• Most recent game:
New Washington — Defeated Christian Academy 60-23 (Nov. 13).
Milan — Won at Indiana Deaf 47-37 (Nov. 20).
• Last 20 years: New Wash 4-1. The Mustangs have won the last two vs. Milan.
• Most recent meeting: Nov. 28, 2020 — At New Washington 87, Milan 39.
• News and notes: It’s been 2 full weeks since New Wash’s last game. The Mustangs’ schedule game against Austin on Nov. 16 was postponed with no makeup date yet announced.
• Outlook: The Mustangs should be well rested. Let’s hope they’re not rusty.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: New Washington 61, Milan 28.
• Sagarin projection: New Wash by 26.
• Greg’s pick: New Washington 58, Milan 30.

VINCENNES (2-4) AT CORYDON (7-1)
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Location: Corydon Central High School.
• Coaches:
Vincennes — Tim Young (14-13 in second season at Vincennes, 237-50 in 12th season overall).
Corydon Central — Josh Conrad (17-12 in second season at Corydon, 136-105 in 11th season overall).
• Rankings:
Corydon Central — No. 14 ICGSA (Class 3A).
• Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
Vincennes — No. 211, No. 62 Class 3A.
Corydon Central — No. 47, No. 8 Class 3A.
• Most recent game:
Vincennes — Lost to Washington 61-39 (Nov. 23).
Corydon Central — Lost at Silver Creek 69-40.
• Last 20 years: Vincennes 4-1. The Alices have won the last two showdowns with Corydon.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 23, 2017 — At Vincennes 66, Corydon Central 41.
• News and notes: The Panthers’ seven straight wins to start the season was their longest winning streak since they went 20-6 and won 12 in a row, including a sectional title, in 2013. … Junior Ava Weber is one of the area’s top scorers at 20.3 points per game. Junior Bailey Orme and freshman Josie Vaughn are both over 9 points per game through 8 games.
• Outlook: Corydon’s re-emergence as a local 3A contender appears to be legit.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: Corydon 63, Vincennes 36.
• Sagarin projection: Corydon by 30.
• Greg’s pick: Corydon 67, Vincennes 45.