By GREG MENGELT
In fact, for years Floyd Central vs. Jennings County often determined which team would finished last in the HHC.
Not anymore. This year, it appears the Highlanders and Panthers — along with New Albany (6-5) and upstart Seymour (7-4) — appear to be the Hoosier Hills’ and sectional’s top contenders. They’ll meet in Friday’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Game fo the Night.
The Panthers are 10-3 and already have wins over Brownstown Central, North Harrison and Bedford North Lawrence. A win by Floyd would put it at 3-0 in the conference with only Seymour, Bedford North Lawrence (5-5) and Columbus East (2-10) the remaining teams on the Highlanders’ HHC slate.
So, yeah, this is a big one for the Highlanders.
In Friday’s other action, assuming all the games go on as scheduled, North Harrison (8-3) and Lanesville (3-11) meet in a Harrison County rivalry game, No. 11 Eastern (12-2) meets Charlestown (4-9) and Corydon Central (8-6) battles Salem (4-7) in Mid-Southern Conference games, West Washington (4-9) faces Mitchell (6-7) in a Patoka Lakes matchup, sectional rivals Providence (10-3) and Henryville (4-7) play, as do former MSC rivals Scottsburg (8-5) and Clarksville (4-8). Also, New Washington’s game with Austin was canceled, so the 2-10 Mustangs picked up Oldenburg Academy (3-7) as a late add to their schedule.
(NOTE: Friday’s originally-scheduled Game of the Night — Silver Creek vs. New Albany — was postponed Thursday. The game has been rescheduled for Feb. 12.)
GAME OF THE NIGHT
JENNINGS COUNTY AT FLOYD CENTRAL
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Joe Hinton Court, Floyd Central H.S. (6575 Old Vincennes Rd., Floyds Knobs)
• Records:
Jennings County 10-3, 1-1 HHC. The Panthers have won five of their last six.
Floyd Central 9-2, 2-0 HHC. The Highlanders are on a 4-game winning streak.
• Coaches:
Jennings County — Josh Land (62-72 season at Jennings)
Floyd Central — Todd Sturgeon (131-42 in eighth season at Floyd)
• Rankings:
Floyd Central — No. 19 IBCA (single class).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Jennings County — No. 35, No. 27 Class 4A
Floyd Central — No. 18, No. 16 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Jennings County — Defeated Bedford North Lawrence 73-48 (Jan. 15)
Floyd Central — Won at North Harrison 58-43 (Jan. 15)
• Last 20 years: Floyd Central 15-10. The Highlanders have beaten Jennings seven of the last eight times they’ve met.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 6, 2021 — At Jennings County 55, Floyd Central 52.
• John Harrell prediction: Floyd Central 58, Jennings County 53.
• Sagarin projection: Floyd by 6.
• Outlook: These will likely be two of the four sectional contenders in March.
• Greg’s pick: Floyd Central 62, Jennings County 59.
NORTH HARRISON AT LANESVILLE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Lanesville H.S. (2725 Crestview Ave. NE, Lanesville)
• Records:
North Harrison 8-3. The Cougars have won four of their last five.
Lanesville 3-11. The Eagles have lost four of their last six.
• Coaches:
North Harrison — Lou Lefevre (44-13 in third season at North Harrison, 309-93 in 18th season overall)
Lanesville — Mikel Miller (290-220 in 22nd season at Lanesville)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
North Harrison — No. 63, No. 12 Class 3A
Lanesville — No. 232, No. 59 Class A
• Most recent game:
North Harrison — Lost to Floyd Central 58-43 (Jan. 15)
Lanesville — Lost to Orleans 47-29 (Jan. 15)
• Last 20 years: North Harrison 11-9. The Cougars have beaten Lanesville the last two years.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 22, 2021 — At North Harrison 58, Lanesville 41.
• John Harrell prediction: North Harrison 67, Lanesville 38.
• Sagarin projection: North Harrison by 26.
• Outlook: North Harrison wins another rivalry game easily.
• Greg’s pick: North Harrison 59, Lanesville 32.
CHARLESTOWN AT EASTERN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Eastern H.S. (1100 N. Eastern School Rd., Pekin)
• Records:
Charlestown 4-9, 0-2 MSC. The Pirates have lost six of their last seven.
Eastern 12-2, 2-2 MSC. The Musketeers have won 11 of their last 12 games.
• Coaches:
Charlestown — Matt Lynch (4-9 in first season at Charlestown, 73-59 in sixth season overall)
Eastern — Chandler Prible (24-15 in second season at Eastern)
• Rankings:
Eastern — No. 11 AP (Class 2A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Charlestown — No. 301, No. 81 Class 3A
Eastern — No. 120, No. 15 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Charlestown — Defeated Borden 41-39 (Jan. 15)
Eastern — Defeated Paoli 39-22 (Jan. 15)
• Last 20 years: Eastern 11-10.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 22, 2021 — Eastern 60, at Charlestown 50.
• John Harrell prediction: Eastern 65, Charlestown 41.
• Sagarin projection: Eastern by 26.
• Outlook: Musketeers in a landslide.
• Greg’s pick: Eastern 66, Charlestown 43.
SALEM AT CORYDON CENTRAL
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Corydon Central H.S. (375 Country Club Rd., Corydon)
• Records:
Salem 4-7, 0-1 MSC. The Lions have won two of their last three games.
Corydon Central 8-6, 0-2 MSC. The Panthers have won five of their last six games.
• Coaches:
Salem — Duane Malloy (4-7 in first season at Salem)
Corydon Central — Joseph Hinton (29-32 in third season at Corydon)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Salem — No. 322, No. 86 Class 3A
Corydon Central — No. 156, No. 44 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Salem — Won at Crawford County 77-69 (Jan. 8)
Corydon Central — Won at Crawford County 65-52 (Jan. 15)
• Last 20 years: 12-12.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 22, 2021 — Corydon Central 76, at Salem 61.
• John Harrell prediction: Corydon Central by 24.
• Sagarin projection: Corydon Central 71, Salem 45.
• Outlook: The Panthers have overcome early injuries and a 2-5 start … and they’re going to keep winning a lot.
• Greg’s pick: Corydon Central 66, Salem 43.
CLARKSVILLE AT SCOTTSBURG
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Charles E. Meyer Gymnasium (1 Jim Barley Way, Scottsburg)
• Records:
Clarksville 4-8. The Generals have lost three of their last four.
Scottsburg 8-5. The Warriors have lost three of their last four.
• Coaches:
Clarksville — Kyle Hankins (4-8 in first season at Clarksville)
Scottsburg — Eric Richardson (14-23 in second season at Scottsburg)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Clarksville — No. 279, No. 65 Class 2A
Scottsburg — No. 109, No. 30 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Clarksville — Lost at Austin 60-50 (Jan. 15)
Scottsburg — Lost at New Albany 58-38 (Jan. 15)
• Last 20 years: Scottsburg 13-7.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 22, 2021 — At Clarksville 52, Scottsburg 47.
• John Harrell prediction: Scottsburg 67, Clarksville 43.
• Sagarin projection: Scottsburg by 25.
• Outlook: This series has been incredibly competitive over the years. Don’t see why this one won’t be too.
• Greg’s pick: Scottsburg 64, Clarksville 57.
HENRYVILLE AT PROVIDENCE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Larkin Center, Our Lady of Providence (707 Providence Way, Clarksville)
• Records:
Henryville 4-7. The Hornets have won three of their last five.
Providence 10-3. The Pioneers have a 4-game winning streak.
• Coaches:
Henryville — Jared Hill (95-83 in eighth season at Henryville)
Providence — Ryan Miller (40-19 in third season at Providence)
• Rankings:
Providence — No. 14 AP (Class 2A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Henryville — No. 287, No. 69 Class 2A
Providence — No. 140, No. 20 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Henryville — Defeated Trinity Lutheran 57-28 (Jan. 8)
Providence — Defeated Crawford County 56-18 (Jan. 18)
• Last 20 years: Providence 17-5. Henryville has won three of the last four vs. the Pioneers.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 2, 2021 — At Henryville 69, Providence 56.
• John Harrell prediction: Providence 58, Henryville 38.
• Sagarin projection: Providence by 23.
• Outlook: The Pioneers are going to move to 4-0 against their sectional field and 6-0 against 2A competition.
• Greg’s pick: Providence 64, Henryville 51.
WEST WASHINGTON AT MITCHELL
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Mitchell H.S. (1000 West Bishop Blvd., Mitchell)
• Records:
West Washington 4-9, 0-2 PLAC. The Senators have won their last two games.
Mitchell 6-7, 3-1 PLAC. The Blue Jackets have won two of their last three.
• Coaches:
West Washington — Clayton Sullivan (43-45 in fourth season at West Washington)
Mitchell — Jackson Ryan (9-21 in second season at Mitchell)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
West Washington — No. 308, No. 52 Class A
Mitchell — No. 281, No. 66 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
West Washington — Won at Medora 60-34 (Jan. 18)
Mitchell — Lost at South Central 56-40 (Jan. 8)
• Last 20 years: 10-10.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 22, 2021 — At West Washington 42, Mitchell 41.
• John Harrell prediction: Mitchell 55, West Washington 49.
• Sagarin projection: Mitchell by 7.
• Outlook: The Senators have lost a couple games that I picked them. They haven’t scared me off yet.
• Greg’s pick: West Washington 60, Mitchell 56.
NEW WASHINGTON AT OLDENBURG ACADEMY
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Rigel Gymnasium (401 S. Hwy. 31, Austin)
• Records:
New Washington 2-10. The Mustangs have lost seven straight.
Oldenburg 3-7. The Twisters have lost four of their last five.
• Coaches:
New Washington — Kyle Brown (11-25 in second season at New Wash)
Oldenburg — Gary Moorman (164-139 in 14th season at Oldenburg)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
New Washington — No. 366, No. 75 Class A
Oldenburg — No. 352, No. 69 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
New Washington — Lost at Clarksville 62-60 (Jan. 8)
Oldenburg — Lost to South Ripley 47-32 (Jan. 11)
• Last 20 years: New Washington 1-0.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 19, 2020 — New Washington 46, at Oldenburg 44 (OT).
• News & notes: This was a last-second makeup game after Friday’s New Wash opponent, Austin, had a Covid outbreak.
• John Harrell prediction: Oldenburg 49, New Wash 47.
• Sagarin projection: Oldenburg by 6.
• Outlook: Good, quick scheduling by the New Wash athletic department. The Mustangs, who are easily better than their 2-10 record, has an opportunity get a needed road win.
• Greg’s pick: New Washington 53, Oldenburg 47.
