By GREG MENGELT

Last week, New Albany ran through Southwestern and Scottsburg for Wins No. 5 and 6 on the season.

The Bulldogs victories also were Nos. 599 and 600 in the storied career of New Albany head coach Jim Shannon.

Shannon, who led the Bulldogs to the 2016, liked the way his team played last week in outscoring the Rebels and Warriors by a combined 31 points.

“We have been playing better,” said Shannon, who has earned 435 wins in 24 seasons on the New Albany bench. “We’ve finally got everybody healthy and everybody playing. We seem to be at full health now. We’ve been practicing much better the last couple weeks and that’s allowed us to play better basketball.”

The Bulldogs have been playing particularly well on the defensive end of late. Aside from giving up 94 points to Cathedral, New Albany has surrendered 36, 20, 47, 48 and 38 in consecutive games going back to Dec. 18.

The Bulldogs’ D will need to be good in Saturday’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Week. Evansville Reitz (6-4) visits the Dog House with a reputation of having high-powered offenses under Michael Adams.

“We’ve defended well,” Shannon said. “Hopefully we continue to do that.”

Reitz began the season 5-0 but has lost four of its last five games.

GAME OF THE NIGHT
EVANSVILLE REITZ AT NEW ALBANY
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Location: The Doghouse, New Albany H.S. (1020 Vincennes Street, New Albany)
• Records:
Reitz 6-4. The Panthers have lost four of their last five.
New Albany 6-5. The Bulldogs have won four of their last five.
• Coaches:
Reitz — Michael Adams (392-261 in 29th season at Reitz, 451-273 in 32nd season overall)
New Albany — Jim Shannon (435-132 in 24th season at New Albany, 600-271 in 38th season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Reitz — No. 48, No. 34 Class 4A
New Albany — No. 59, No. 41 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Reitz — Lost to Centralia (Ill.) 64-60 (Jan. 15)
New Albany — Defeated Scottsburg 58-38 (Jan. 15)
• Last 20 years: New Albany 15-8.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — At Reitz 53, New Albany 29.
• John Harrell prediction: Reitz 56, New Albany 50.
• Sagarin projection: New Albany by 2.
• Outlook: Twice this year Harrell has picked New Albany to lose and has been wrong. Make it three.
• Greg’s pick: New Albany 60, Reitz 51.

COLUMBUS EAST AT JEFFERSONVILLE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: William S. Johnson Arena, Jeffersonville H.S. (2315 Allison Ln., Jeffersonville)
• Records:
East 2-10, 0-2 HHC. The Olympians have lost seven of their last eight.
Jeffersonville 2-8, 0-2 HHC. The Red Devils have lost three straight.
• Coaches:
East — Brent Chitty (122-140 in 12th season at East, 308-298 in 28th season overall)
Jeffersonville — Andrew Grantz (17-15 in second season at Jeff, 105-57 in seventh season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
East — No. 229, No. 94 Class 4A
Jeffersonville — No. 170, No. 83 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
East — Defeated Mooresville 51-31 (Jan. 18)
Jeffersonville — Lost at North Oldham (Ky.) 60-58 (Jan. 18)
• Last 20 years: Jeffersonville 12-8. The Red Devils have won four in a row vs. East.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — Jeffersonville 80, at Columbus East 52.
• John Harrell prediction: Jeffersonville 57, East 49.
• Sagarin projection: Jeffersonville by 10.
• Outlook: This should be a much-needed win for the Red Devils. If not, there will be serious concern in Jeffersonville.
• Greg’s pick: Jeffersonville 67, Columbus East 48.

ROCK CREEK AT PROVIDENCE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Larkin Center, Our Lady of Providence (707 Providence Way, Clarksville)
• Records:
Rock Creek 5-6. The Lions have lost five of their last six.
Providence 11-3. The Pioneers are on a 5-game winning streak.
• Coaches:
Rock Creek — Chris Brown (353-287 in 26th season at Rock Creek)
Providence — Ryan Miller (41-19 in third season at Providence)
• Rankings:
Providence — No. 14 AP (Class 2A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Rock Creek — No. 215, No. 22 Class A
Providence — No. 140, No. 20 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Rock Creek — Lost at Southwestern 71-56 (Jan. 21)
Providence — Defeated Henryville 60-26 (Jan. 21)
• Last 20 years: Providence 14-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 17, 2020 — At Providence 51, Rock Creek 46.
• John Harrell prediction: Providence 57, Rock Creek 44.
• Sagarin projection: Providence by 12.
• Outlook: This will likely be Rock Creek’s seventh loss, but the Lions are still their sectional favorites. They’re not afraid to take on anyone and their schedule will probably help them in March.
• Greg’s pick: Providence 54, Rock Creek 45.

CHARLESTOWN AT CORYDON CENTRAL
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Corydon Central H.S. (375 Country Club Rd., Corydon)
• Records:
Charlestown 4-10, 0-3 MSC. The Pirates have lost seven of their last eight.
Corydon Central 9-6, 1-2 MSC. The Panthers have won three straight and seven of their last eight.
• Coaches:
Charlestown — Matt Lynch (4-10 in first season at Charlestown, 73-60 in sixth season overall)
Corydon Central — Joseph Hinton (30-32 in third season at Corydon)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Charlestown — No. 310, No. 81 Class 3A
Corydon Central — No. 156, No. 44 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Charlestown — Lost at Eastern 55-47 (Jan. 21)
Corydon Central — Defeated Salem 76-30 (Jan. 21)
• Last 20 years: Corydon Central 20-5.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — At Charlestown 89, Corydon 84.
• John Harrell prediction: Corydon Central 64, Charlestown 42.
• Sagarin projection: Corydon by 22.
• Outlook: Corydon is playing well and playing at home. Should be a fairly comfortable win for the Panthers.
• Greg’s pick: Corydon Central 63, Charlestown 42.

NORTH HARRISON AT SALEM
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Brooks Memorial Gymnasium, Salem H.S. (700 N. Harrison St., Salem)
• Records:
North Harrison 9-3, 5-1 MSC. The Cougars have won five of their last six.
Salem 4-8, 0-2 MSC. The Lions have lost two of their last three.
• Coaches:
North Harrison — Lou Lefevre (45-13 in third season at North Harrison, 310-93 in 18th season overall)
Salem — Duane Malloy (4-8 in first season at Salem)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
North Harrison — No. 63, No. 12 Class 3A
Salem — No. 322, No. 86 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
North Harrison — Won at Lanesville 61-22 (Jan. 21)
Salem — Lost at Corydon Central 76-30 (Jan. 21)
• Last 20 years: Salem 13-9. North Harrison has a 3-game winning streak vs. the Lions.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — At North Harrison 72, Salem 32.
• John Harrell prediction: North Harrison 73, Salem 38.
• Sagarin projection: North Harrison by 26.
• Outlook: All Cougars, even on the road.
• Greg’s pick: North Harrison 60, Salem 39.

BORDEN AT HENRYVILLE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Furnish Gym, Henryville H.S. (213 N. Ferguson St., Henryville)
• Records:
Borden 9-5, 4-0 SAC. The Braves have lost two of their last three.
Henryville 4-8, 1-0 SAC. The Hornets have split their last six games.
• Coaches:
Borden — Doc Nash (213-154 in 16th season at Borden)
Henryville — Jared Hill (95-84 in eighth season at Henryville)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Borden — No. 239, No. 27 Class A
Henryville — No. 287, No. 69 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Borden — Lost at Charlestown 41-39 (Jan. 15)
Henryville — Lost at Providence 60-26 (Jan. 21)
• Last 20 years: Henryville 12-11. The Hornets have a 6-game winning streak vs. Borden.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — Henryville 40, at Borden 33.
• John Harrell prediction: Borden 53, Henryville 47.
• Sagarin projection: Borden by 4.
• Outlook: Could go either way, so I’ll take the home team by a point.
• Greg’s pick: Henryville 57, Borden 56.

LANESVILLE AT CLARKSVILLE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Furnish Gym, Henryville H.S. (213 N. Ferguson St., Henryville)
• Records:
Lanesville 3-12. The Eagles have lost their last two games.
Clarksville 4-9. The Generals have lost three straight.
• Coaches:
Lanesville — Mikel Miller (290-221 in 22nd season at Lanesville)
Clarksville — Kyle Hankins (4-9 in first season at Clarksville)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Lanesville — No. 323, No. 59 Class A
Clarksville — No. 279, No. 65 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Lanesville — Lost to North Harrison 61-22 (Jan. 21)
Clarksville — Lost at Scottsburg 74-45 (Jan. 21)
• Last 20 years: Lanesville 6-5.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — At Lanesville 67, Clarksville 57.
• John Harrell prediction: Clarksville 57, Lanesville 50.
• Sagarin projection: Clarksville by 8.
• Outlook: Halfway through the season, it’s hard to know what to make of both of these programs.
• Greg’s pick: Clarksville 54, Lanesville 50.

SCOTTSBURG AT SEYMOUR
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium, Seymour H.S. (1350 W. Second St., Seymour)
• Records:
Scottsburg 9-5. The Warriors have lost two of their last three.
Seymour 8-4. The Owls have won their last two games and three of their last four.
• Coaches:
Scottsburg — Eric Richardson (15-23 in second season at Scottsburg)
Seymour — Kirk Manns (26-31 in third season at Rock Creek)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Scottsburg — No. 109, No. 30 Class 3A
Seymour — No. 79, No. 50 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Scottsburg — Defeated Clarksville 74-45 (Jan. 21)
Seymour — Won at Bedford North Lawrence 36-26 (Jan. 21)
• Last 20 years: Seymour 12-8.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — Seymour 47, at Scottsburg 40.
• John Harrell prediction: Seymour 56, Scottsburg 49.
• Sagarin projection: Seymour by 7.
• Outlook: This is the best Seymour team in probably 20 years.
• Greg’s pick: Seymour 57, Scottsburg 47.

SOUTHWESTERN AT AUSTIN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Rigel Gymnasium (401 S. Hwy. 31, Austin)
• Records:
Southwestern 9-5. The Rebels have won two consecutive games and three of their last four.
Austin 3-8. The Eagles have lost three of their last four.
• Coaches:
Southwestern — Zac Nussbaum (34-13 in third season at Southwestern)
Austin — Ryan Edwards (38-70 in fifth season at Austin)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Southwestern — No. 117, No. 14 Class 2A
Austin — No. 266, No. 60 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Southwestern — Defeated Rock Creek 71-56 (Jan. 21)
Austin — Defeated Clarksville 60-50 (Jan. 15)
• Last 20 years: Austin 14-8. Southwestern is on a 3-game winning streak vs. the Eagles.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — At Southwestern 98, Austin 80.
• John Harrell prediction: Southwestern 70, Austin 51.
• Sagarin projection: Southwestern by 15.
• Outlook: I could see Austin pulling off the upset, but I’m not confident enough to predict it.
• Greg’s pick: Southwestern 65, Austin 58.

PAOLI AT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Christian Academy of Indiana (1000 Academy Dr., New Albany)
• Records:
Paoli 6-5. The Rams have lost their last two and four of their last five.
CAI 6-7. The Warriors have lost two straight and three of their last four.
• Coaches:
Paoli — Dusty Cole (149-73 in 10th season at Paoli)
CAI — Hayden Casey (15-24 in second season at CAI)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Paoli — No. 221, No. 44 Class 2A
CAI — No. 268, No. 39 Class A
• Most recent game:
Paoli — Lost to Springs Valley 59-53 (Jan. 21)
CAI — Lost to Lanesville 59-55 (Jan. 14)
• Last 20 years: Paoli 15-2. The Rams have won six straight vs. CAI.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — At Paoli 49, CAI 40.
• John Harrell prediction: Paoli 54, CAI 53.
• Sagarin projection: Paoli by 3.
• Outlook: CAI could also pull off an upset. I am confident enough to predict it.
• Greg’s pick: CAI 62, Paoli 59.