By GREG MENGELT
It’s been an interesting couple weeks for Silver Creek basketball.
The Dragons are 6-8 against a very tough schedule and they’ve got a new face — Kaden Oliver — who transferred from Madison in the middle of last week.
Now Silver Creek hosts Madison (5-8) in Tuesday’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Boys’ Basketball Game of the Night.
Silver Creek coach Brandon Hoffman indicated over the weekend that Oliver likely won’t play against his former team.
The Dragons have lost three games in a row, including a 56-39 loss to Bloomington South on Saturday. It was Silver Creek’s first game in three weeks. In spite of the record, Hoffman says he likes his squad.
“I think our team’s definitely improving,” he said. “We’ve played a lot of guys with inexperience and we’ve lost a couple games we probably shouldn’t have lost. I like where we’re at headed toward March.”
GAME OF THE NIGHT
MADISON AT SILVER CREEK
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Silver Creek H.S. (557 Renz Ave., Sellersburg)
• Records:
Madison 5-8. The Cubs have lost two of their last three games.
Silver Creek 6-8. The Dragons have lost three straight.
• Coaches:
Madison — Adam Stotts (5-8 in first season at Madison)
Silver Creek — Brandon Hoffman (207-81 in 12th season at Silver Creek)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Madison — No. 182, No. 52 Class 3A
Silver Creek — No. 138, No. 40 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Madison — Lost to North Harrison 49-47, OT (Jan. 29)
Silver Creek — Lost to Bloomington South 56-39 (Jan. 29)
• Last 20 years: Silver Creek 19-6. The Dragons have won 16 in a row over Madison.
• Most recent meeting: March 6, 2021 — Silver Creek 83, Madison 71 (Class 3A Charlestown Sectional championship)
• News & notes: Cubs’ leading scorer Kaden Oliver has transferred from Madison to Silver Creek and is immediately eligible to play for the Dragons. Hoffman says Oliver is unlikely to play Tuesday.
• John Harrell prediction: Silver Creek 66, Madison 57.
• Sagarin projection: Silver Creek by 8.
• Outlook: When this game was originally scheduled, we figured the Dragons would win in a blowout. After the Cubs played so well against North Harrison, that’s certainly in doubt now.
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 67, Madison 55.
