By GREG MENGELT

There’s a rare Monday game and it’s a good one. Two ranked teams — Eastern (9-5) and Columbus East (11-3) — will battle at the Orange Pit in Columbus.

Eastern is No. 15 in the latest Class 2A Indiana Girls Coaches Association poll, while East is No. 11 in Class 4A and No. 17 in the single-class Indiana Basketball Coaches Association poll.

Both teams have lost two of their last three games going into the contest.

GAME OF THE NIGHT
EASTERN (9-5) AT COLUMBUS EAST (11-3)
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: The Orange Pit, East H.S. (230 S. Marr Rd., Columbus)
• Coaches:
Eastern — Michael McBride (228-120 in 15th season at Eastern)
East — Danny Brown (285-154 in 19th season at East, 343-182 in 23rd season overall)
• Rankings:
Eastern — No. 15 AP (Class 2A).
East — No. 17 IBCA (single class); No. 11 ICGSA (Class 4A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Eastern — No. 102, No. 17 Class 2A
East — No. 17, No. 15 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Eastern — Lost to Corydon Central 57-40 (Niehaus Lumber Classic, final round, Dec. 29)
East — Lost to Zionsville 76-59 (Dec. 29)
• Last 20 years: East 2-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 4, 2021 — At Columbus East 42, Eastern 30.
• News & notes: Eastern went 1-2 at the tournament in Vincennes. Before the loss to conference-rival Corydon, the Musketeers lost to Evansville Mater Dei 49-43 and beat the host Patriots 38-29. … The Olympians started the season 10-1 but suffered losses to Ben Davis (74-53) and Zionsville (76-59) in the last two weeks.
• John Harrell prediction: East 60, Eastern 36.
• Sagarin projection: East by 26.
• Outlook: Eastern’s defense is too good to get beat too badly … even on the road.
• Greg’s pick: East 51, Eastern 39.