By GREG MENGELT
The Silver Creek girls’ basketball program has accomplished a lot in its history, particularly the last few years.
Here’s something interesting. The Dragons have only gone through the Mid-Southern Conference slate unbeaten once in program history. That was last season.
On Saturday, Class 3A No. 4 Silver Creek (19-1) can make it back-to-back perfect conference seasons — and 18 straight MSC wins — by beating Class 2A No. 13 Eastern (11-9) at home in Saturday’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Night.
“This games means everything at the moment because if we can figure out how to win it, we will win the conference outright for the second time in school history,” said Silver Creek coach Scott Schoen, who’s led the Dragons to a 65-8 record over the past three seasons.
Beating Eastern won’t be easy. The Musketeers have been test. In fact, according to the computer-based Sagarin Ratings, Eastern plays third third-toughest schedule in all of Class 2A (behind only Evansville Mater Dei and Eastside, just north of Fort Wayne).
Michael McBride has led the Musketeers to five sectional titles in the last nine seasons, including a 2A state championship in 2017.
“Eastern is a well coached team, who plays extremely hard and can shoot the 3,” Schoen said. “They are a lot like us in the fact that they pride themselves on defensive intensity and toughness.”
GAME OF THE NIGHT
EASTERN AT SILVER CREEK
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Silver Creek H.S. (557 Renz Ave., Sellersburg)
• Records:
Eastern 11-9, 2-5 MSC. The Musketeers have lost three of their last four.
Silver Creek 19-1, 7-0 MSC. The Dragons have won seven straight.
• Coaches:
Eastern — Michael McBride (230-124 in 15th season at Eastern)
Silver Creek — Scott Schoen (174-109 in 12th season at Silver Creek)
• Rankings:
Eastern — No. 13 ICGSA (Class 2A).
Silver Creek — No. 9 IBCA (single class); No. 4 ICGSA (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Eastern — No. 110, No. 19 Class 2A
Silver Creek — No. 18, No. 3 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Eastern — Lost to Scottsburg 56-40 (Jan. 20)
Silver Creek — Defeated Columbus North 54-34 (Jan. 18)
• Last 20 years: Silver Creek 14-6. The Dragons have won their last three games vs. Eastern.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — Silver Creek 61, at Eastern 42.
• John Harrell prediction: Silver Creek 57, Eastern 34.
• Sagarin projection: Silver Creek by 25.
• Outlook: Silver Creek’s dominating season continues … and it probably will for a while.
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 65, Eastern 32.
FLOYD CENTRAL AT CORYDON CENTRAL
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Location: Corydon Central H.S. (375 Country Club Rd., Corydon)
• Records:
Floyd Central 7-12. The Highlanders have won four of their last seven.
Corydon Central 17-2. The Panthers have won five in a row.
• Coaches:
Floyd Central — Randy Gianfagna (27-59 in fourth season at Floyd)
Corydon Central — Josh Conrad (27-13 in second season at Corydon, 146-106 in 11th season overall)
• Rankings:
Corydon Central — No. 11 ICGSA (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Floyd Central — No. 116, No. 55 Class 4A
Corydon Central — No. 56, No. 12 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Floyd Central — Lost to Trinity Lutheran 46-45 (Jan. 20)
Corydon Central — Defeated North Harrison 53-23 (Jan. 18)
• Last 20 years: Corydon Central 10-9.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — At Floyd Central 47, Corydon Central 40.
• John Harrell prediction: Corydon Central 53, Floyd Central 36.
• Sagarin projection: Corydon Central by 18.
• Outlook: Good test for Corydon. The Panthers will pass it.
• Greg’s pick: Corydon Central 62, Floyd Central 47.
NEW ALBANY AT EVANSVILLE CENTRAL
• Time: 5 p.m.
• Location: Central H.S. (5400 First Ave., Evansville)
• Records:
New Albany 5-16. The Bulldogs have lost eight in a row.
Central 6-14. The Bears have lost three straight and seven of their last eight.
• Coaches:
New Albany — Shelby Gliebe (11-32 in second season at New Albany, 15-51 in third season overall)
Central — Dave Alexander (20-46 in third season at Central)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
New Albany — No. 155, No. 63 Class 4A
Central — No. 230, No. 82 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
New Albany — Lost to Jeffersonville 48-36 (Jan. 21)
Central — Lost at Mater Dei 47-44 (Jan. 20)
• Last 20 years: Central 1-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — Central 44, at New Albany 41.
• John Harrell prediction: New Albany 50, Central 42.
• Sagarin projection: New Albany by 7.
• Outlook: New Albany could really use a late-season win.
• Greg’s pick: New Albany 47, Central 38.
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AT CHARLESTOWN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Charlestown Sports Arena (1 Pirate Place, Charlestown)
• Records:
CAI 6-12. The Warriors have lost two straight and three of four.
Charlestown 15-5. The Pirates have won five in a row.
• Coaches:
CAI — Carson Casey (14-47 in third season at CAI)
Charlestown — Scott Matthews (81-57 in sixth season at Charlestown)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
CAI — No. 353, No. 74 Class A
Charlestown — No. 59, No. 13 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
CAI — Lost at Springs Valley 50-19 (Jan. 20)
Charlestown — Won at Salem 56-47 (Jan. 20)
• Last 20 years: Charlestown 10-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — Charlestown 65, at CAI 22.
• John Harrell prediction: Charlestown 70, CAI 11.
• Sagarin projection: Charlestown by 57.
• Outlook: Hopefully the Pirates will go a little easy.
• Greg’s pick: Charlestown 61, CAI 23.
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL AT NORTH HARRISON
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Location: North Harrison H.S. (1070 Hwy. 64 N.W., Ramsey)
• Records:
Memorial 16-4. The Tigers have won three straight and nine of their last 10.
North Harrison 9-9. The Lady Cats have lost five in a row.
• Coaches:
Memorial — Lee Auker (56-13 in third season at Memorial)
North Harrison — Jamie Kolkmeier (21-15 in second season at North Harrison)
• Rankings:
Memorial — No. 12 ICGSA (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Memorial — No. 50, No. 10 Class 3A
North Harrison — No. 165, No. 50 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Memorial — Won at North 58-48 (Jan. 20)
North Harrison — Lost at Corydon Central 53-23 (Jan. 18)
• Last 20 years: North Harrison 3-1.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 14, 2019 — At North Harrison 56, Memorial 51.
• John Harrell prediction: Memorial 56, North Harrison 38.
• Sagarin projection: Memorial by 18.
• Outlook: The Tigers always seem to be good. This year isn’t an exception.
• Greg’s pick: Memorial 59, North Harrison 31.
SALEM AT MITCHELL
• Time: 1:30 p.m.
• Location: Mitchell H.S. (1000 West Bishop Blvd., Mitchell)
• Records:
Salem 10-8. The Lions have lost their last two and four of their last six.
Mitchell 11-7. The Bluejackets have lost three of their last four.
• Coaches:
Salem — Jerry Hickey (147-73 in ninth season at Salem)
Mitchell — Tim Haworth (22-11 in second season at Mitchell)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Salem — No. 69, No. 16 Class 3A
Mitchell — No. 143, No. 30 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Salem — Lost to Charlestown 56-47 (Jan. 20)
Mitchell — Lost at Bloomington North 51-45 (Jan. 11)
• Last 20 years: Mitchell 12-10. Salem has a 5-game winning streak vs. the Bluejackets.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 9, 2020 — At Salem 74, Mitchell 34.
• John Harrell prediction: Salem 51, Mitchell 43.
• Sagarin projection: Salem by 9.
• Outlook: The Lions are probably going to end up with nine regular-season losses. That’s quite a schedule they’ve faced.
• Greg’s pick: Salem 65, Mitchell 49.
WEST WASHINGTON AT BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL
• Time: 1:30 p.m.
• Location: Brownstown Central H.S. (500 N. Elm St., Brownstown)
• Records:
West Washington 12-6. The Senators have won their last two games.
Brownstown 11-11. The Braves have won two of their last three and seven of their last 10.
• Coaches:
West Washington — Matthew Myers (20-21 in second season at West Washington)
Brownstown — Brandon Allman (56-22 in third season at Brownstown)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
West Washington — No. 277, No. 41 Class A
Brownstown — No. 129, No. 39 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
West Washington — Lost to Paoli 56-30 (Jan. 20)
Brownstown — Defeated Bloomington North 48-44 (Jan. 18)
• Last 20 years: Brownstown 8-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — Brownstown 58, West Washington 30.
• John Harrell prediction: Brownstown 54, West Washington 30.
• Sagarin projection: Brownstown by 26.
• Outlook: Brownstown has an interesting resumé. Some really good ones and some questionable losses. The Braves are playing well of late.
• Greg’s pick: Brownstown 51, West Washington 27.
ORLEANS AT AUSTIN
• Time: 1:30 p.m.
• Location: Austin H.S. (401 South Highway 31, Austin)
• Records:
Orleans 4-16. The Bulldogs have lost five of their last six.
Austin 6-10. The Eagles have won four of their last six.
• Coaches:
Orleans — Jared Gilbert (61-73 in sixth season at Orleans)
Austin — Jared Petersen (237-174 in 17th season at Austin)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Orleans — No. 323, No. 63 Class A
Austin — No. 185, No. 41 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Orleans — Lost at Crawford County 51-32 (Jan. 20)
Austin — Lost to Silver Creek 60-24 (Jan. 15)
• Last 20 years: Orleans 2-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — At Orleans 51, Austin 45.
• John Harrell prediction: Austin 53, Orleans 30.
• Sagarin projection: Austin by 27.
• Outlook: Gotta like the way the Eagles are closing out the regular season.
• Greg’s pick: Austin 57, Orleans 37.
CLARKSVILLE AT SHAWE MEMORIAL
• Time: Noon
• Location: Father Hilary Menny Gymnasium, Shawe H.S. (201 West State Street, Madison)
• Records:
Clarksville 3-16. The Generals have lost four straight.
Shawe 7-9. The Hilltoppers have lost three games in a row.
• Coaches:
Clarksville — Amanda Carmichael (11-32 in second season at Clarksville, 71-126 in ninth season overall)
Shawe — Terry King (22-51 in fourth season at Shawe, 85-102 in 10th season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Clarksville — No. 373, No. 96 Class 2A
Shawe — No. 344, No. 70 Class A
• Most recent game:
Clarksville — Lost at Christian Academy 42-24 (Jan. 13)
Shawe — Lost to Hauser 46-36 (Jan. 21)
• Last 20 years: Clarksville 9-2.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 5, 2021 — At Clarksville 31, Shawe 24.
• John Harrell prediction: Shawe 43, Clarksville 28.
• Sagarin projection: Shawe by 16.
• Outlook: Clarksville is going to have to play great defense to win this one. I’ll take Shawe in a close one at home.
• Greg’s pick: Shawe 33, Clarksville 31.
