By GREG MENGELT
The Highlanders have been playing their best basketball of late. They’ve won three of their last five and the only two losses since Christmas came against teams with a combined 37-3 record.
Borden is having a strong season in its fifth under Matt Vick. The Braves beat Orleans 43-42 on Thursday to clinch its third straight double digit-win season. Floyd beat the Braves 60-23 last season in the program’s first matchup in at least 20 years.
In Monday’s other game, Rock Creek looks for its eighth win of the season when it hosts Portland Christian (Ky.). The Lions are 7-0 all time against Portland Christian, but the Eagles are 10-3 this season. So that should be an interesting showdown at Rock Creek.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
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 10-7. The Braves have won five of their last nine.
Floyd Central 6-11. The Highlanders have won three of their last five.
• Coaches:
Borden — Matt Vick (44-63 in fifth season at Borden)
Floyd Central — Randy Gianfagna (26-58 in fourth season at Floyd)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Borden — No. 319, No. 60 Class A
Floyd Central — No. 116, No. 54 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Borden — Defeated Orleans 43-42 (Jan. 13)
Floyd Central — Lost at Bedford North Lawrence 62-28 (Jan. 15)
• Last 20 years: Floyd Central 1-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 14, 2020 — At Floyd Central 36, Borden 24.
• John Harrell prediction: Floyd Central 60, Borden 23.
• Sagarin projection: Floyd by 34.
• Outlook: This is a rare 4A vs. A matchup. It should go exactly as expected.
• Greg’s pick: Floyd Central 53, Borden 33.
PORTLAND CHRISTIAN (KY.) AT ROCK CREEK
• Time: 6:30 p.m.
• Location: Rock Creek Academy/Restoration Christian Church (8000 Diefenbach Ln., Sellersburg)
• Records:
Portland Christian 10-3. The Eagles have won four of their last five.
Rock Creek 7-8. The Lions have lost four in a row.
• Coaches:
Portland Christian — Jason Bragg (Coaching record unavailable)
Rock Creek — Sara Nord (9-17 in second season at Rock Creek)
• Most recent game:
Portland Christian — Lost to Holy Cross (Ky.) by forfeit (Jan. 14, Sixth Region All “A” Classic)
Rock Creek — Lost to Lanesville 58-18 (Jan. 13)
• Last 20 years: Rock Creek 7-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 12, 2019 — At Rock Creek 71, Portland Christian 45.
• News & notes: With a win Monday, Rock Creek will reach double-digit wins for the first time since 2004-05. It would be just their second-ever 10-win season. They went 14-8 in 2004-05.
• Outlook: Looks like Portland Christian is quite good this year. With Rock Creek just coming back from more than a month away, it’s hard to pick against the Eagles despite the Lions’ 7-game winning streak against them.
• Greg’s pick: Portland Christian 49, Rock Creek 42.
