By GREG MENGELT
Class A No. 1 Lanesville (17-1) has won 13 games in a row and takes on No. 8 Trinity Lutheran (11-5) in Tuesday’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Night.
The Cougars started the season 6-0 but have stumbled a bit of late against a tough schedule. Still, Trinity Lutheran will almost certainly be an obstacle Lanesville will have to overcome to win the program’s first regional championship.
The Eagles should win going away. If they do, it’s a sign that big things may be ahead for top-ranked Lanesville.
Also Tuesday, Charlestown (12-5) takes on Eastern (10-7) in a matchup of two of the Mid-Southern Conference’s best, Class A Borden (9-7) travels to Floyd Central (6-10) to take on the 4A Highlanders, Class 3A No. 11 Corydon Central (15-2) hosts Class 2A No. 4 Forest Park (14-2), Providence (5-11) goes to New Washington (8-8) for what should be a competitive game, Henryville (7-9) battles Austin (5-9) in another interesting contest, defending 3A champion Silver Creek (16-1) host Madison (10-6) and Scottsburg (10-7) hosts Paoli (11-7).
GAME OF THE NIGHT
LANESVILLE AT TRINITY LUTHERAN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Trinity Lutheran H.S. (1 Trinity Way, Seymour)
• Records:
Lanesville 17-1. The top-ranked Eagles have won 13 straight.
Trinity Lutheran 11-5. The Cougars have lost 2 of 3 but have won four of their last six.
• Coaches:
Lanesville — Angie Hinton (79-16 in fourth season at Lanesville, 252-89 in 15th season overall)
Trinity Lutheran — Mike Lang (178-83 in 11th season at Trinity)
• Rankings:
Lanesville — No. 1 AP (Class A).
Trinity Lutheran — No. 8 AP (Class A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Lanesville — No. 46, No. 2 Class A
Trinity Lutheran — No. 154, No. 12 Class A
• Most recent game:
Lanesville — Defeated Crothersville 81-12 (Jan. 8)
Trinity Lutheran — Defeated Greenwood Christian 67-50 (Jan. 4)
• Last 20 years: 10-10.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 14, 2021 — Trinity Lutheran 71, at Lanesville 64.
• News & notes: Trinity Lutheran was one of three programs to defeat Lanesville last season.
• John Harrell prediction: Lanesville 55, Trinity Lutheran 34.
• Sagarin projection: Lanesville by 16.
• Outlook: It’s becoming pretty obvious that Lanesville has few (if any) peers in Class A.
• Greg’s pick: Lanesville 62, Trinity Lutheran 39.
CHARLESTOWN AT EASTERN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Eastern H.S. (1100 N. Eastern School Rd., Pekin)
• Records:
Charlestown 12-5, 4-2 MSC. The Pirates have won their last two games.
Eastern 10-7, 1-4 MSC. The Musketeers have lost three of their last four.
• Coaches:
Charlestown — Scott Matthews (78-57 in sixth season at Charlestown)
Eastern — Michael McBride (229-122 in 15th season at Eastern)
• Rankings:
Eastern — No. 12 AP (Class 2A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Charlestown — No. 60, No. 13 Class 3A
Eastern — No. 103, No. 17 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Charlestown — Won at Brownstown Central 43-36 (Jan. 8)
Eastern — Lost to Corydon Central 49-29 (Jan. 8)
• Last 20 years: Eastern 12-11. The Musketeers have a 6-game winning streak in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 12, 2021 — Eastern 54, at Charlestown 47.
• John Harrell prediction: Charlestown 47, Eastern 39.
• Sagarin projection: Charlestown by 6.
• Outlook: Eastern is probably going to finish with 11 or 12 losses and they’re pretty darn good. That’s how good the Mid-Southern Conference is this year.
• Greg’s pick: Charlestown 59, Eastern 47.
BORDEN AT FLOYD CENTRAL
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Joe Hinton Court, Floyd Central H.S. (6575 Old Vincennes Rd., Floyds Knobs)
• Records:
Borden 9-7. The Braves have lost two straight and three of their last four.
Floyd Central 6-10. The Highlanders have won three of their last four.
• Coaches:
Borden — Matt Vick (43-63 in fifth season at Borden)
Floyd Central — Randy Gianfagna (26-57 in fourth season at Floyd)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Borden — No. 316, No. 59 Class A
Floyd Central — No. 109, No. 52 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Borden — Lost to Paoli 57-13 (Jan. 8)
Floyd Central — Defeated New Albany 42-38 (Jan. 8)
• Last 20 years: Floyd Central 1-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 14, 2020 — At Floyd Central 36, Borden 24.
• News & notes: The Highlanders are one victory away from last year’s win total.
• John Harrell prediction: Floyd Central 60, Borden 23.
• Sagarin projection: Floyd Central by 35.
• Outlook: Borden’s schedule suddenly got really difficult.
• Greg’s pick: Floyd Central 59, Borden 37.
PROVIDENCE AT NEW WASHINGTON
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: James Matthews Gymnasium (a.k.a. The Jim), New Washington H.S. (226 N. Highway 62, New Washington)
• Records:
Providence 5-11. The Pioneers have won two straight and three of their last four.
New Washington 8-8. The Mustangs have won three in a row.
• Coaches:
Providence — Brad Burden (164-159 in 14th season at Providence)
New Washington — Kirsti Holloway (63-91 in seventh season at New Wash)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Providence — No. 300, No. 77 Class 2A
New Washington — No. 223, No. 28 Class A
• Most recent game:
Providence — Defeated Providence Cristo Rey 57-6 (Jan. 8)
New Washington — Won at Clarksville 59-20 (Jan. 8)
• Last 20 years: New Washington 13-8. Providence has won six of the last seven in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 12, 2021 — At Providence 40, New Washington 36.
• John Harrell prediction: New Washington 47, Providence 34.
• Sagarin projection: New Washington by 15.
• Outlook: Wouldn’t be surprised if Providence keeps this close, but New Wash should win.
• Greg’s pick: New Washington 39, Providence 33.
HENRYVILLE AT AUSTIN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Austin H.S. (401 South Highway 31, Austin)
• Records:
Henryville 7-9. The Hornets have won five of their last seven games.
Austin 5-9. The Eagles have won three of their last four after starting 2-8.
• Coaches:
Henryville — Tuesday Guernsey (22-36 in third season at Henryville)
Austin — Jared Petersen (236-173 in 17th season at Austin)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Henryville — No. 334, No. 84 Class 2A
Austin — No. 198, No. 45 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Henryville — Defeated Orleans 31-25 (Jan. 8)
Austin — Lost at Crawford County 74-73, OT (Jan. 4)
• Last 20 years: Austin 10-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 12, 2021 — Austin 31, at Henryville 23.
• John Harrell prediction: Austin 54, Henryville 27.
• Sagarin projection: Austin by 28.
• Outlook: The Eagles have dominated this series and will continue to do so.
• Greg’s pick: Austin 53, Henryville 30.
MADISON AT SILVER CREEK
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Silver Creek H.S. (557 Renz Ave., Sellersburg)
• Records:
Madison 10-6. The Cubs had their 6-game winning streak snapped last Friday by Charlestown.
Silver Creek 16-1. The Dragons have won four games in a row.
• Coaches:
Madison — Sonja Bowyer (47-41 in fourth season at Madison)
Silver Creek — Scott Schoen (171-109 in 12th season at Silver Creek)
• Rankings:
Silver Creek — No. 8 IBCA (single class); No. 4 AP (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Madison — No. 96, No. 27 Class 3A
Silver Creek — No. 20, No. 3 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Madison — Lost to Charlestown 39-26 (Jan. 7)
Silver Creek — Defeated Salem 41-31 (Jan. 8)
• Last 20 years: Madison 15-9. Silver Creek beat the Cubs twice last season, including in the sectional semifinal round en route to its first state championship. Overall, the Dragons have won four in a row in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 5, 2021 — Silver Creek 51, at Madison 36 (Class 3A Madison Sectional semifinal).
• John Harrell prediction: Silver Creek 59, Madison 36.
• Sagarin projection: Silver Creek by 22.
• Outlook: The Dragons just keep rolling along as February quickly approaches.
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 68, Madison 45.
FOREST PARK AT CORYDON CENTRAL
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Corydon Central H.S. (375 Country Club Rd., Corydon)
• Records:
Forest Park 14-2. The Rangers have won three straight and 11 of their last 12.
Corydon Central 15-2. The Panthers have won three in a row and eight of their last nine.
• Coaches:
Forest Park — Tony Hasenour (92-47 in sixth season at Forest Park)
Corydon Central — Josh Conrad (25-13 in second season at Corydon, 144-106 in 11th season overall)
• Rankings:
Forest Park — No. 4 AP (Class 2A).
Corydon Central — No. 11 AP (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Forest Park — No. 69, No. 7 Class 2A
Corydon Central — No. 56, No. 12 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Forest Park — Defeated Pike Central 68-34 (Jan. 8)
Corydon Central — Won at Eastern 49-29 (Jan. 8)
• Last 20 years: Forest Park 8-7. The Rangers have won four in a row against Corydon.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 12, 2021 — At Forest Park 49, Corydon Central 30.
• John Harrell prediction: Corydon Central 50, Forest Park 43.
• Sagarin projection: Corydon Central by 8.
• Outlook: The Panthers have had a hard time with Forest Park lately. Not this time.
• Greg’s pick: Corydon Central 56, Forest Park 46.
PAOLI AT SCOTTSBURG
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Charles E. Meyer Gymnasium (1 Jim Barley Way, Scottsburg)
• Records:
Paoli 11-7. The Rams have won three in a row and six of their last eight.
Scottsburg 10-7. The Warriorettes have alternated wins and losses over their last 11 games.
• Coaches:
Paoli — Donavan Crews (21-13 in second season at Paoli)
Scottsburg — Carrie Daniels (18-22 in second season at Scottsburg, 121-78 in seventh season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Paoli — No. 155, No. 34 Class 2A
Scottsburg — No. 87, No. 24 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Paoli — Defeated Borden 57-13 (Jan. 8)
Scottsburg — Won at Seymour 46-43 (Jan. 4)
• Last 20 years: Paoli 1-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 12, 2021 — At Paoli 53, Scottsburg 46.
• John Harrell prediction: Scottsburg 50, Paoli 40.
• Sagarin projection: Scottsburg by 13.
• Outlook: Paoli’s having a really nice season and has the ability to pull off an upset if the Warriorettes don’t play well.
• Greg’s pick: Scottsburg 61, Paoli 50.
