By GREG MENGELT
Their last game was a 42-28 loss to Charlestown on Dec. 14. On Saturday, Jeff (7-6) return to action at Salem (9-6) in the Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Week.
Salem, which beat the Red Devils 86-38 a year ago, have become a state powerhouse over the past half-decade, but the Lions have lost six times in a season for the first time since 2016-17 when they were 14-11.
The other two local Hoosier Hills Conference teams take on HHC giants Saturday when New Albany (5-13) goes to Columbus to face 14th-ranked East (14-3) and Floyd Central (7-10) goes to Bedford to face the No. 2 Stars.
Class A No. 1 Lanesville (19-1) will put its 15-game winning streak on the line against a good Eastern (10-8) team and Class 3A No. 4 Silver Creek (17-1) goes to Austin (6-9). The Dragons have won five in a row.
Corydon Central (14-2) will look for its 11th win in its last 12 games when it goes to Madison (10-7) to face a Cubs team that has lost two straight following a 6-game winning streak.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
JEFFERSONVILLE AT SALEM
• Time: 12:30 p.m.
• Location: Brooks Memorial Gymnasium, Salem H.S. (700 N. Harrison St., Salem)
• Records:
Jeffersonville 7-6. The Red Devils have lost three straight.
Salem 9-6. The Lions have lost two of their last three.
• Coaches:
Jeffersonville — Missy Voyles (13-18 in second season at Jeff, 283-132 in 18th season overall)
Salem — Jerry Hickey (146-71 in ninth season at Salem)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Jeffersonville — No. 67, No. 43 Class 4A
Salem — No. 66, No. 16 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Jeffersonville — Lost to Charlestown 42-28 (Dec. 14)
Salem — Defeated Scottsburg 71-59 (Jan. 13)
• Last 20 years: Salem 2-1. The Lions have won their last two games vs. Jeff.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 5, 2021 — At Salem 86, Jeffersonville 38.
• News & notes: It’s been 32 days since the Red Devils’ last game.
• Sagarin projection: Salem by 6.
• Outlook: All the time off, Jeff has to be rusty … at least a little bit. Enough to make the difference.
• Greg’s pick: Salem 60, Jeffersonville 50.
NEW ALBANY AT COLUMBUS EAST
• Time: 1:30 p.m.
• Location: The Orange Pit, East H.S. (230 S. Marr Rd., Columbus)
• Records:
New Albany 5-13, 0-3 HHC. The Bulldogs have lost five in a row.
Columbus East 14-3, 4-0 HHC. The Olympians have won their last three games.
• Coaches:
New Albany — Shelby Gliebe (11-29 in second season at New Albany, 15-48 in third season overall)
Columbus East — Danny Brown (288-154 in 19th season at East, 346-182 in 23rd season overall)
• Rankings:
Columbus East — No. 17 IBCA (single class); No. 14 ICGSA (Class 4A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
New Albany — No. 146, No. 60 Class 4A
Columbus East — No. 17, No. 15 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
New Albany — Lost at Floyd Central 42-38 (Jan. 8)
Columbus East — Won at Bedford North Lawrence 58-51 (Jan. 11)
• Last 20 years: East 11-9. The Olympians have won three straight in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 18, 2021 — At East 64, New Albany 43.
• News & notes: In their last game, the defending Hoosier Hills Conference champion Olympians handed second-ranked Bedford North their first HHC defeat and assumed the mantle as league frontrunners. East is 4-0 in conference play and can clinch at least a share of the HHC title. The Olympians then go to Jennings County (13-3, 3-1) on Thursday for their final conference contest. Jennings can also earn a share of the HHC championship with a win.
• John Harrell prediction: Columbus East 69, New Albany 37.
• Sagarin projection: East by 32.
• Outlook: East has potential to make a long postseason run.
• Greg’s pick: East 55, New Albany 33.
FLOYD CENTRAL AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: BNL Fieldhouse (595 Stars Blvd., Bedford)
• Records:
Floyd Central 6-10, 1-3 HHC. The Highlanders have won three of their last four.
Bedford North Lawrence 16-2, 4-1 HHC. The Stars have won 10 of their last 11.
• Coaches:
Floyd Central — Randy Gianfagna (26-57 in fourth season at Floyd)
BNL — Jeff Allen (171-36 in eighth season at BNL)
• Rankings:
BNL — No. 2 IBCA (single class); No. 2 ICGSA (Class 4A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Floyd Central — No. 109, No. 52 Class 4A
BNL — No. 7, No. 6 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Floyd Central — Defeated New Albany 42-38 (Jan. 8)
BNL — Lost to Columbus East 58-51 (Jan. 11)
• Last 20 years: BNL 18-5. The Stars have won their last two against Floyd.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 16, 2021 — BNL 57, at Floyd Central 37.
• John Harrell prediction: BNL 59, Floyd Central 28.
• Sagarin projection: BNL by 35.
• Outlook: Unfortunately for Floyd, the Stars are coming off a rare loss and will be looking for a top-notch performance.
• Greg’s pick: BNL 62, Floyd Central 33.
LANESVILLE AT EASTERN
• Time: 1:30 p.m.
• Location: Eastern H.S. (1100 N. Eastern School Rd., Pekin)
• Records:
Lanesville 19-1. The No. 1 Eagles have won 15 straight.
Eastern 10-8. The Musketeers have lost their last two and four of their last five.
• Coaches:
Lanesville — Angie Hinton (81-16 in fourth season at Lanesville, 254-89 in 15th season overall)
Eastern — Michael McBride (229-123 in 15th season at Eastern)
• Rankings:
Lanesville — No. 1 ICGSA (Class A).
Eastern — No. 12 ICGSA (Class 2A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Lanesville — No. 46, No. 2 Class A
Eastern — No. 103, No. 17 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Lanesville — Won at Rock Creek 58-18 (Jan. 13)
Eastern — Lost to Charlestown 49-40 (Jan. 11)
• Last 20 years: 5-5.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 16, 2021 — At Lanesville 48, Eastern 41.
• John Harrell prediction: Lanesville 47, Eastern 36.
• Sagarin projection: Lanesville by 9.
• Outlook: The Eagles continue to challenge themselves with bigger programs with more past success. This will be another challenge overcome.
• Greg’s pick: Lanesville 67, Eastern 53.
SILVER CREEK AT AUSTIN
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Location: Austin H.S. (401 South Highway 31, Austin)
• Records:
Silver Creek 17-1. The Dragons have won five consecutive games.
Austin 6-9, 1-5 MSC. The Eagles have won four of their last five.
• Coaches:
Silver Creek — Scott Schoen (172-109 season at Silver Creek)
Austin — Jared Petersen (237-173 in 17th season at Austin)
• Rankings:
Silver Creek — No. 8 IBCA (single class); No. 4 ICGSA (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Silver Creek — No. 20, No. 4 Class 3A
Austin — No. 198, No. 45 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Silver Creek — Defeated Madison 76-43 (Jan. 11)
Austin — Won at North Harrison 59-42 (Jan. 13)
• Last 20 years: Silver Creek 11-9. The Dragons have won five in a row in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 16, 2021 — At Silver Creek 89, Austin 37.
• News & notes: Both head coaches have led their current programs to state championships.
• John Harrell prediction: Silver Creek 62, Austin 34.
• Sagarin projection: Silver Creek by 29.
• Outlook: Impressive what Austin’s accomplished the past few weeks, but Silver Creek is at a whole different level.
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 75, Austin 42.
CORYDON CENTRAL AT MADISON
• Time: 1:30 p.m.
• Location: Connor K. Salm Gymnasium, Madison H.S. (743 Clifty Dr., Madison)
• Records:
Corydon Central 16-2. The Panthers have won four straight and nine of their last 10.
Madison 10-7. The Cubs have lost two straight since winning six in a row.
• Coaches:
Corydon Central — Josh Conrad (26-13 in second season at Corydon, 145-106 in 11th season overall)
Madison — Sonja Bowyer (47-42 in fourth season at Madison)
• Rankings:
Corydon Central — No. 11 ICGSA (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Corydon Central — No. 56, No. 12 Class 3A
Madison — No. 96, No. 27 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Corydon Central — Defeated Forest Park 57-34 (Jan. 11)
Madison — Lost at Silver Creek 76-43 (Jan. 11)
• Last 20 years: Madison 10-8. The Cubs have won four consecutive games vs. Corydon.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 16, 2021 — Madison 53, at Corydon 52.
• John Harrell prediction: Corydon Central 52, Madison 43.
• Sagarin projection: Corydon Central by 6.
• Outlook: The Cubs are having a nice season, but Corydon should be able to leave Madison with a victory.
• Greg’s pick: Corydon Central 68, Madison 60.
