By GREG MENGELT

With losses at North Harrison and Corydon, Salem (7-4) lost back-to-back games for the first time in three years. The Lions returned home to beat Floyd Central by 2 points, but few expected the 3A regional powerhouse to ever lose back-to-back games this season.

New Albany (5-9) has lost eight of its last night. Needless to say, both teams will be looking for a victory in tonight’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Night.

In the night’s other local game, Henryville (4-7) looks for its first 3-game winning streak of the season when its hosts South Decatur (3-9) at 6 p.m.

GAME OF THE NIGHT
NEW ALBANY (5-9) AT SALEM (7-4)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Brooks Memorial Gymnasium, Salem H.S. (700 N. Harrison St., Salem)
• Coaches:
New Albany — Shelby Gliebe (11-25 in second season at New Albany, 15-44 in third season overall)
Salem — Jerry Hickey (144-69 in ninth season at Salem)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
New Albany — No. 148, No. 60 Class 4A
Salem — No. 61, No. 13 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
New Albany — Lost at Evansville North 66-34 (Dec. 17)
Salem — Won at Floyd Central 44-42 (Dec. 18)
• Last 20 years: Salem 4-0.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 23, 2020 — Salem 72, at New Albany 42.
• News & notes: Seniors Maleea Roland and Taylor Treat combine to score 29.6 of the Bulldogs’ 46.6 points per game this season. Roland is shooting 40 percent from the floor and Treat swipes more than three steals per game. … With losses to Corydon and North Harrison, the Lions lost back-to-back games for the first time since losing to Jeffersonville and Dixie Heights (Ky.) on Dec. 22 and 28, 2018.
• John Harrell prediction: Salem 58, New Albany 41.
• Sagarin projection: Salem by 19.
• Outlook: Salem is talented and experience. We expect the Lions to figure things out in the next month and compete with Silver Creek, Corydon and Charlestown in the sectional.
• Greg’s pick: Salem 58, New Albany 49.

SOUTH DECATUR (3-9) AT HENRYVILLE (4-7)
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Furnish Gym, Henryville H.S. (213 N. Ferguson St., Henryville)
• Coaches:
South Decatur — Tyler Johnson (9-25 in second season at South Decatur)
Henryville — Tuesday Guernsey (19-34 in third season at Henryville)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
South Decatur — No. 325, No. 82 Class 2A
Henryville — No. 336, No. 84 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
South Decatur — Won at Scecina 46-38 (Dec. 18)
Henryville — Defeated Dugger Union 54-20 (Dec. 21)
• Last 20 years: Henryville 1-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 20 — At Henryville 55, South Decatur 42.
• News & notes: With Tuesday’s win over Dugger Union, Henryville has won back-to-back games for the first time this year. The Hornets’ last 3-game winning streak came last year when they beat Crothersville, Providence, Christian Academy and today’s opponent, South Decatur, consecutively last January. … South Decatur responded to a 9-game losing streak with consecutive road wins at Knightstown and Scecina. The Cougars are 2-3 away from home this season.
• John Harrell prediction: South Decatur 41, Henryville 40.
• Sagarin projection: Henryville by 1.
• Outlook: Harrell has the Cougars by 1. Sagarin has Henryville by 1. Clearly, this is going to be a close game.
• Greg’s pick: Henryville 42, South Decatur 41.