By GREG MENGELT
There’s been one Mid-Southern Conference game already, but the MSC really gets underway tonight.
Defending champion Silver Creek (1-0) hosts a talented Charlestown (1-0) team tonight. Both are coming off wins, but it’s the Dragons who are the conference favorites. The Dragons opened the season with a 69-57 win over Columbus East (0-2), while the Pirates held off rival New Washington (1-1) for a 44-43 victory in Matt Lynch’s debut on the Charlestown bench.
It will be the same case in Scottsburg, where a couple teams coming off impressive wins — and a pair of teams garnering some preseason buzz. The 1-0 Warriors opened their season with a 31-point conference win over rival Austin. Eastern (1-0) pulled away late to win at Borden, 70-56. Both teams should be contenders to Silver Creek’s throne at this point, so this should be viewed as an elimination game of sorts.
In the other MSC game Tuesday, Salem continues to bounce back from last year’s 4-18 season when the Lions host Brownstown Central (0-0) in the Braves’ season opener. Salem began its season with a 46-45 win at rival West Washington in coach Duane Malloy debut. The Lions lost at home to West Washington last season, so it appears Salem should be improved under Malloy.
In perhaps the area’s most compelling game Tuesday, Floyd Central goes to Meade County. It’s the season opener for both teams. The Highlanders are expected to be one of the area’s top teams and perhaps one of the state’s top teams in 2021-22.
South Central (1-1), which is coming off a big 57-48 win over Crawford County, heads across the rival to take on Holy Cross. It’s the first game of the season for the Cougars, who also go to Charlestown on Saturday and to Rock Creek on Dec. 17.
TODAY’S GAMES | TUESDAY, NOV. 30
GAME OF THE NIGHT
CHARLESTOWN (1-0, 0-0 MSC) AT SILVER CREEK (1-0, 0-0)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Silver Creek H.S., Sellersburg.
• Coaches:
Charlestown — Matt Lynch (1-0 in first season at Charlestown, 70-50 sixth season overall).
Silver Creek — Brandon Hoffman (202-73 in 12th season at Silver Creek).
• Rankings:
Silver Creek — Received votes in the IBCA poll.
• Most recent game:
Charlestown — Won at New Washington 44-43 (Nov. 23).
Silver Creek — Defeated Columbus East 69-57 (Nov. 24).
• Last 20 years: Silver Creek 29-8. The Dragons have won 7 in a row in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 1, 2020 — Silver Creek 78, at Charlestown 31.
• Outlook: Charlestown is probably better than last year and the Dragons probably aren’t as good as last year, but the Pirates had a whole lot of ground to make up.
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 79, Charlestown 58.
EASTERN (1-0, 0-0 MSC) AT SCOTTSBURG (1-0, 1-0)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Charles E. Meyer Gymnasium, Scottsburg.
• Coaches:
Eastern — Chandler Prible (13-13 in second season at Eastern).
Scottsburg — Eric Richardson (7-18 in second season at Scottsburg).
• Most recent game:
Eastern — Won at Borden 70-56 (Nov. 23).
Scottsburg — Defeated Austin 74-43 (Nov. 24).
• Last 20 years: Scottsburg 16-3.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 1, 2020 — At Eastern 69, Scottsburg 58.
• Outlook: This looks like a true tossup, so we’ll go with the Warriors at home.
• Greg’s pick: Scottsburg 68, Eastern 67.
SALEM (1-0, 0-0 MSC) AT BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (0-0)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Brownstown Central H.S., Brownstown.
• Coaches:
Salem — Duane Malloy (1-0 in first season at Salem).
Brownstown Central — Dave Benter (403-153 in 24th season at Brownstown).
• Most recent game:
Salem — Won at West Washington 46-45 (Nov. 24).
Brownstown Central — Lost to Northview 54-52 (Owen Valley Sectional semifinal, March 5).
• Last 20 years: Brownstown 19-5. The Braves have won 6 of the last 7 against Salem.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 1, 2020 — Brownstown Central 73, at Salem 49.
• Outlook: The hope for Salem fans should be to narrow last year’s 24-point gap between the programs.
• Greg’s pick: Brownstown 77, Salem 55.
FLOYD CENTRAL (0-0) AT MEADE COUNTY (KY.) (0-0)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Meade County H.S., Brandenburg, Ky.
• Coaches:
Floyd Central — Todd Sturgeon (122-40 in eighth season at Floyd).
Meade County — Jason Tripure (no records available).
• Rankings:
Floyd Central — Received votes in the IBCA poll.
• Most recent game:
Floyd Central — Lost to Jeffersonville 66-64, 3 OT (Seymour Sectional semifinal, March 5).
Meade County — Lost to Owensboro Catholic 63-57 (Regional 3 Championship, March 22).
• Last 20 years: Meade County 4-3.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 4, 2020 — At Floyd Central 68, Meade County 42.
• News & Notes: This is the first game of the season for both teams. Floyd Central went 13-6 last year, while Meade County went 9-11 overall and 7-4 in Kentucky’s Region 3.
• Outlook: Meade County’s top players graduated, so the Highlanders should cruise to a win in their opener.
• Greg’s pick: Floyd Central 75, Meade County 60.
SOUTH CENTRAL (1-1) AT HOLY CROSS (KY.) (0-0)
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: Holy Cross High School, Shively, Ky.
• Coaches:
South Central — Greg Robinson (174-169 in 16th season at South Central, 196-232 in 20th season overall).
Holy Cross — Jody A. Thornsberry (no record information available).
• Most recent game:
South Central — Won at Crawford County
Holy Cross — Lost to Beth Haven 69-55 (21st District, March 17).
• Last 20 years: 1-1.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23 — Holy Cross 79, at South Central 50.
• News & Notes: This is the season opener for Holy Cross, which went 14-9 last year, including 5-5 in Kentucky’s Region 6.
• Outlook: We’re not going to predict a South Central victory, but if the Rebels win this game — coupled with the win at Crawford County — it would be a very good sign for the direction of the program.
• Greg’s pick: Holy Cross 64, South Central 55.
