By GREG MENGELT
In the 13 weeks since the season began, Andrew Grantz’s Red Devils have had 13 practices with everyone available. The earliest incident was a suspension, the rest has been had luck and bad timing.
“It’s been the craziest year,” Grantz said. “We just need to get a bit of normalcy going for us. We’re improving and we just have to get through this rough stretch. Right now we’re focusing on getting better, and this sounds nuts in February, we need to rebuild chemistry, rhythm and flow. We haven’t been able to do that because of things mostly out of our control.”
Jeff (4-8) has won its last two games — 55-32 over Columbus East and 67-52 at Rock Creek — and there isn’t a game left on its regular-season schedule it can’t win. It starts with Bedford North Lawrence (8-7), which has also won its last two games and visits Johnson Arena for Thursday night’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Boys’ Game of the Night.
“Coach (Jeff) Hein does a great job,” Grantz said of the Stars’ head coach. “They’re very hard nosed and very physical. They play methodically. They gave us a really good test last year, both at their place and in the sectional championship. They’ll be prepared and ready to battle.”
GAME OF THE NIGHT
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE AT JEFFERSONVILLE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: William S. Johnson Arena, Jeffersonville H.S. (2315 Allison Ln., Jeffersonville)
• Records:
Bedford North Lawrence 7-7, 1-3 HHC. The Stars have won their last two games and three of their last four.
Jeffersonville 4-8, 1-2 HHC. The Red Devils have won their last two games.
• Coaches:
BNL — Jeff Hein (37-28 in thirdseason at BNL, 332-234 in 25th season overall)
Jeffersonville — Andrew Grantz (19-15 in second season at Jeff, 107-57 in seventh season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
BNL — No. 102, No. 62 Class 4A
Jeffersonville — No. 108, No. 63 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
BNL — Won at Loogootee 53-51, OT (Feb. 8)
Jeffersonville — Won at Rock Creek 67-52 (Feb. 2)
• Last 20 years: Jeffersonville 15-14. The Devils swept BNL last season.
• Most recent meeting: March 6, 2021 — Jeffersonville 57, Bedford North Lawrence 53 (Class 4A Seymour Sectional championship)
• John Harrell prediction: Jeffersonville 53, BNL 51.
• Sagarin projection: Jeff by 3.
• Outlook: We should start seeing better and better results for the Red Devils going forward. Hopefully they haven’t run out of time to reach their potential.
• Greg’s pick: Jeffersonville 67, BNL 53.
CORYDON CENTRAL AT AUSTIN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Rigel Gymnasium (401 S. Hwy. 31, Austin)
• Records:
Corydon Central 11-6, 3-2 MSC. The Panthers have won five games in a row and nine of their last 10.
Austin 4-10, 1-4 MSC. The Eagles have lost two of their last three.
• Coaches:
Corydon Central — Joseph Hinton (32-32 in third season at Corydon)
Austin — Randy Edwards (39-72 in fifth season at Austin)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Corydon Central — No. 110, No. 29 Class 3A
Austin — No. 302, No. 73 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Corydon Central — Defeated Brownstown Central 92-78 (Jan. 29)
Austin — Lost at Trinity Lutheran 72-57 (Feb. 5)
• Last 20 years: Corydon 16-4. The Panthers have won four straight against Austin.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 13, 2021 — At Corydon 98, Austin 67.
• John Harrell prediction: Corydon 70, Austin 51.
• Sagarin projection: Corydon by 18.
• Outlook: The Panthers win their sixth straight.
• Greg’s pick: Corydon 64, Austin 49.
WEST WASHINGTON AT BORDEN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Borden Junior-Senior H.S. (301 West St., Borden)
• Records:
West Washington 5-10. The Senators have won three of their last four games.
Borden 11-5. The Braves have won their last two games and seven of their last nine.
• Coaches:
West Washington — Clayton Sullivan (44-46 in fourth season at West Washington)
Borden — Doc Nash (215-154 in 16th season at Borden)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
West Washington — No. 313, No. 57 Class 2A
Borden — No. 231, No. 27 Class A
• Most recent game:
West Washington — Defeated Crawford County 74-69, 4 OT (Feb. 2)
Borden — Defeated Christian Academy 59-49 (Jan. 29)
• Last 20 years: Borden 19-16.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 17, 2021 — Borden 73, West Washington 56 (Washington County Invitational first round)
• John Harrell prediction: Borden 60, West Washington 45.
• Sagarin projection: Borden by 15.
• Outlook: Have a feeling this one is going to be a lot closer than the first time around.
• Greg’s pick: Borden 68, West Washington 61.
TRINITY LUTHERAN AT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Christian Academy of Indiana (1000 Academy Dr., New Albany)
• Records:
Trinity Lutheran 8-10. The Cougars have alternated wins and losses the past eight games.
Christian Academy 6-11. The Warriors have lost six of their last seven.
• Coaches:
Trinity Lutheran — Brad Dickey (8-10 in first season at Trinity, 243-160 in 17th season overall)
CAI — Hayden Casey (16-28 in second season at CAI)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Trinity Lutheran — No. 314, No. 58 Class A
CAI — No. 268, No. 40 Class A
• Most recent game:
Trinity Lutheran — Defeated Austin 72-57 (Feb. 5)
CAI — Defeated Henryville 45-39 (Feb. 8)
• Last 20 years: CAI 14-4. The Warriors have won nine of their last 10 vs. Trinity Lutheran.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 11, 2021 — At Trinity Lutheran 69, CAI 51.
• John Harrell prediction: CAI 60, Trinity Lutheran 47.
• Sagarin projection: CAI by 11.
• Outlook: This is a game the Warriors should win.
• Greg’s pick: Christian Academy 68, Trinity Lutheran 55.
PORTLAND CHRISTIAN (KY.) AT ROCK CREEK
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Rock Creek Academy/Restoration Christian Church (8000 Diefenbach Ln., Sellersburg)
• Records:
Portland Christian 10-11. The Eagles have won their last two games.
Rock Creek 7-7. The Lions have won two of their last three.
• Coaches:
Portland Christian — Jared Slaughter (Coaching record unavailable)
Rock Creek — Chris Brown (355-288 in 26th season at Rock Creek)
• Most recent game:
Portland Christian — Defeated Waldon (Ky.) 74-32 (Feb. 8)
Rock Creek — Lost to Jeffersonville 67-52 (Feb. 2)
• Last 20 years: Rock Creek 4-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 12, 2019 — At Rock Creek 66, Portland Christian 55.
• Outlook: After a tough stretch of schedule, the Lions should finally get an easy win.
• Greg’s pick: Rock Creek 78, Portland Christian 53.
