By GREG MENGELT
Cathedral, which was ranked No. 1 entering the season, is 14-4 and enters the contest having won four games in a row. The Highlanders (13-2), who clinched the Hoosier Hills Conference championship with a 53-36 win at Bedford North Lawrence on Wednesday night, has won eight in a row.
The Fighting Irish have a balanced attack and features 6-foot-11 junior Xavier Booker, a top-100 recruit being pursued by the likes of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Butler and Clemson.
There’s little doubt both are state championship contenders in what appears will be a wide-open 4A state tournament in March and this may be the best boys game statewide Saturday.
In other local action, New Albany (8-7) will try to snap modest 2-game losing streak at home against Columbus East (2-12), which is winless in the HHC. Also, Silver Creek (7-8) picked up Lawrenceburg (12-5) as an opponent Saturday after Milan decided it wouldn’t make the trip to Sellersburg and Corydon Central (11-6) goes for its sixth straight win at Paoli (8-7).
Clarksville (4-11) hosts Class 3A No. 12 Brownstown Central (13-3), Austin (4-9) travels to Seymour to face Trinity Lutheran (7-10), Christian Academy (6-10) goes to Evansville to face an Evansville Christian (10-7) team that features one of the state’s top scorers in sophomore Josiah Dunham and Lanesville (4-13) visits Tecumseh (5-10).
GAME OF THE NIGHT
CATHEDRAL AT FLOYD CENTRAL
• Time: 4:30 p.m.
• Location: Joe Hinton Court, Floyd Central H.S. (6575 Old Vincennes Rd., Floyds Knobs)
• Records:
Cathedral 14-4. The Irish have won four games in a row.
Floyd Central 13-2. The Highlanders are on a 8-game winning streak.
• Coaches:
Cathedral — Jason Delaney (102-33 in sixth season at Cathedral, 280-138 in 18th season overall)
Floyd Central — Todd Sturgeon (135-42 in eighth season at Floyd)
• Rankings:
Cathedral — No. 4 IBCA (single class); No. 4 AP (Class 4A).
Floyd Central — No. 12 IBCA (single class); No. 18 AP (Class 4A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Cathedral — No. 2, No. 2 Class 4A
Floyd Central — No. 8, No. 8 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Cathedral — Defeated Purdue Poly Englewood 94-51 (Jan. 29)
Floyd Central — Won at Bedford North Lawrence 53-36 (Feb. 2)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: Floyd clinched the outright Hoosier Hills Conference championship Wednesday when the Highlanders beat Bedford North Lawrence 53-36 and second-place New Albany dropped a 60-57 decision at Jennings County. … The Irish won the Indianapolis City championship with wins over Indianapolis Washington (77-40), Crispus Attucks (73-38) and Indianapolis Tech (80-64) over the last two weeks.
• John Harrell prediction: Cathedral 62, Floyd Central 56.
• Sagarin projection: Cathedral by 1.
• Outlook: I want to take Floyd. I know the Highlanders have a good shot at winning this game, but at this point, Cathedral may be the best team in Indiana.
• Greg’s pick: Cathedral 67, Floyd Central 62.
COLUMBUS EAST AT NEW ALBANY
• Time: 2 p.m.
• Location: The Doghouse, New Albany H.S. (1020 Vincennes Street, New Albany)
• Records:
East 2-12, 0-3 HHC. The Olympians have lost nine of their last 10 games.
New Albany 8-7, 1-2 HHC. The Bulldogs have lost their last two games.
• Coaches:
East — Brent Chitty (122-142 in 12th season at East, 308-300 in 28th season overall)
New Albany — Jim Shannon (437-134 in 24th season at New Albany, 60-2273 in 38th season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
East — No. 202, No. 89 Class 4A
New Albany — No. 64, No. 42 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
East — Lost to Bloomington North 69-46 (Jan. 29)
New Albany — Lost at Jennings County 60-57 (Feb. 2)
• Last 20 years: New Albany 15-5. The Bulldogs are on a 4-game winning streak in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 6, 2021 — New Albany 66, at Columbus East 58.
• John Harrell prediction: New Albany 59, East 43.
• Sagarin projection: New Albany by 19.
• Outlook: It’s weird to see New Albany sitting at 8-7, but the Bulldogs have a chance to close the regular season with seven straight wins.
• Greg’s pick: New Albany 68, East 44.
LAWRENCEBURG AT SILVER CREEK
• Time: 1:30 p.m.
• Location: Silver Creek H.S. (557 Renz Ave., Sellersburg)
• Records:
Lawrenceburg 12-5. The Tigers have won three of their last four games.
Silver Creek 7-8. The Dragons have lost three of their last four.
• Coaches:
Lawrenceburg — Brad Cutter (25-16 in second season at Lawrenceburg)
Silver Creek — Brandon Hoffman (208-81 in 12th season at Silver Creek)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Lawrenceburg — No. 123, No. 32 Class 3A
Silver Creek — No. 138, No. 40 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Lawrenceburg — Lost at Greensburg 60-47 (Jan. 26)
Silver Creek — Defeated Madison 83-71 (Feb. 1)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: Silver Creek was originally scheduled to Milan on Saturday. When the Indians dropped out, the Dragons picked up Lawrenceburg late this week.
• John Harrell prediction: Silver Creek 58, Lawrenceburg 54.
• Sagarin projection: Silver Creek by 3.
• Outlook: The Dragons are starting to find themselves. Adding Kaden Oliver should help further.
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 70, Lawrenceburg 65.
CORYDON CENTRAL AT PAOLI
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Location: Paoli H.S. (501 Elm St., Paoli)
• Records:
Corydon Central 11-6. The Panthers are currently on a 5-game winning streak.
Paoli 8-7. The Rams have lost two of their last three games.
• Coaches:
Corydon Central — Joseph Hinton (32-32 in third season at Corydon)
Paoli — Dusty Cole (151-75 in 10th season at Paoli)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Corydon Central — No. 101, No. 26 Class 3A
Paoli — No. 240, No. 50 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Corydon Central — Defeated Brownstown 92-78 (Jan. 29)
Paoli — Won at Shoals 51-46 (Feb. 2)
• Last 20 years: Corydon Central 14-5.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 29, 2021 — At Corydon Central 68, Paoli 37.
• John Harrell prediction: Corydon Central 58, Paoli 50.
• Sagarin projection: Corydon by 10.
• Outlook: The Panthers’ win over Brownstown wasn’t a fluke. In fact, it was quite predictable. This is a good Corydon team.
• Greg’s pick: Corydon Central 77, Paoli 63.
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL AT CLARKSVILLE
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Location: Clarksville H.S. Main Gymnasium (800 Dr. Dot Lewis Drive, Clarksville)
• Records:
Brownstown Central 13-3. The Braves have won five of their last six games.
Clarksville 4-11. The Generals have lost five in a row.
• Coaches:
Brownstown — Dave Benter (416-156 in 24th season at Brownstown)
Clarksville — Kyle Hankins (4-11 in first season at Clarksville)
• Rankings:
Brownstown — No. 12 AP (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Brownstown — No. 68, No. 14 Class 3A
Clarksville — No. 315, No. 77 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Brownstown — Won at Charlestown 67-36 (Jan. 31)
Clarksville — Lost at South Central 63-55 (Jan. 29)
• Last 20 years: Brownstown 21-2. The Braves have won 13 of their last 14 games against Clarksville.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 23, 2021 — At Brownstown 61, Clarksville 44.
• John Harrell prediction: Brownstown 71, Clarksville 46.
• Sagarin projection: Brownstown by 24.
• Outlook: The Braves are really good and should be focused after their loss to Corydon last week.
• Greg’s pick: Brownstown 84, Clarksville 65.
AUSTIN AT TRINITY LUTHERAN
• Time: 1:30 p.m.
• Location: 1 Trinity Way, Trinity Lutheran H.S. (1 Trinity Way, Seymour)
• Records:
Austin 4-9. The Eagles have won two of their last three games.
Trinity Lutheran 7-10. The Cougars have lost three of their last five games.
• Coaches:
Austin — Randy Edwards (39-71 in fifth season at Austin)
Trinity Lutheran — Brad Dickey (7-10 in first season at Trinity, 242-160 in 17th season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Austin — No. 276, No. 62 Class 2A
Trinity Lutheran — No. 335, No. 63 Class A
• Most recent game:
Austin — Won at Salem 69-67 (Jan. 31)
Trinity Lutheran — Lost to Jac-Cen-Del 58-50 (Jan. 29)
• Last 20 years: Austin 5-3. The Eagles have won four of their last five vs. Trinity Lutheran.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 8, 2020 — At Austin 70, Trinity Lutheran 64.
• John Harrell prediction: Austin 58, Trinity Lutheran 54.
• Sagarin projection: Austin by 5.
• Outlook: The Eagles are one local team that’s better than its record. They have a tough stretch upcoming, so they need this win.
• Greg’s pick: Austin 61, Trinity Lutheran 58.
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AT EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Location: Eagles Nest, Evansville Christian H.S. (4401 Epworth Road, Newburgh)
• Records:
Christian Academy 6-10. The Warriors have lost five games in a row.
Evansville Christian 10-7. The Eagles have won three of their last four games.
• Coaches:
Christian Academy — Hayden Casey (15-27 in second season at CAI)
Evansville Christian — David Kruse (10-7 in first season at Evansville Christian, 36-52 in fourth season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Christian Academy — No. 269, No. 40 Class A
Evansville Christian — No. 141, No. 8 Class A
• Most recent game:
Christian Academy — Lost at Borden 59-49 (Jan. 29)
Evansville Christian — Lost at Mt. Carmel (Ill.) 62-55 (Feb. 1)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: Evansville Christian sophomore Josiah Dunham is the fifth-leading scorer in the state at 25.9 points per game. He scored 29 points in each of the Eagles’ last two games, wins over Gibson Southern (76-66) and Tecumseh (66-47).
• John Harrell prediction: Evansville Christian 68, CAI 54.
• Sagarin projection: Evansville Christian by 18.
• Outlook: The Eagles aren’t eligible for the postseason, but there’s little doubt they’re one of the best 15-20 teams in Class A.
• Greg’s pick: Evansville Christian 69, CAI 59.
LANESVILLE AT TECUMSEH
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Location: Tecumseh H.S. (5244 W. State Road 68, Lynnville)
• Records:
Lanesville 4-13. The Eagles have lost three of their last four games.
Tecumseh 5-10. The Braves have lost six in a row.
• Coaches:
Lanesville — Mikel Miller (291-222 in 22nd season at Lanesville)
Tecumseh — Kreig Oxley (5-10 in first season at Tecumseh)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Lanesville — No. 306, No. 53 Class A
Tecumseh — No. 290, No. 67 Class A
• Most recent game:
Lanesville — Lost to Charlestown 47-44, 2 OT (Jan. 29)
Tecumseh — Lost at Evansville Christian 66-47 (Jan. 29)
• Last 20 years: Tecumseh 7-6.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 6, 2021 — At Lanesville 52, Tecumseh 50.
• John Harrell prediction: Tecumseh 57, Lanesville 54.
• Sagarin projection: Tecumseh by 6.
• Outlook: Either team can win this game, but I’ll take Lanesville in a 1-possession game.
• Greg’s pick: Lanesville 56, Tecumseh 55.
