By GREG MENGELT
Silver Creek’s Brandon Hoffman and New Albany’s Jim Shannon have both won state championships in the last six years. They’ve combined for 20 sectional championships and over 800 wins.
Shannon and Hoffman know winning. But this year has been different. Silver Creek entered the season as the reigning Class 3A state champions for the last three years. New Albany has 22 straight winning seasons under Shannon, but the Bulldogs are hovering around .500 at 9-8 after Saturday’s 51-36 loss at Providence.
Silver Creek (8-10) had lost five of its last six until Friday’s 2-point win over Scottsburg. Earlier in the week, the Dragons were beaten 75-47 by Floyd Central.
“It’s been a gauntlet of a schedule this week,” Hoffman said of Floyd Central on Wednesday, Scottsburg on Friday and now New Albany. “That’s three really good teams.”
The Dragons got 20 points from senior Branden Northern in Friday’s 46-44 Mid-Southern Conference victory. Shannon says slowing Northern will be the key Saturday.
“It starts with the best player in Southern Indiana,” Shannon said. “Branden Northern is special. I think he has a very good chance of being an Indiana All-Star.”
Shannon understands Silver Creek will is dangerous in spite of losing a pair of Indiana All-Stars — Trey Kaufman-Renn, who is now at Purdue, and Kooper Jacobi, who is playing significant minutes at Toledo — after last year’s championship squad.
“They’ve struggled a little bit, but they’re a very dangerous team,” Shannon said of the Dragons. “They’re obviously very well coached. They’ve won two state championship and they probably would’ve won three in a row. They lost some great players, a couple of Indiana All-Stars, but they’re still a capable team.”
New Albany star senior Tucker Biven had just four points in Friday’s loss. Josten Carter led the Bulldogs with nine points in the low-scoring affair.
“First of all, it starts with Tucker, who it’s been a blessing to coach against,” Hoffman said. “He’s someone who’s a baseball player and still loves basketball. It’s hard not to love his passion and he’s accomplished a lot in career. … Carter is one of the most improved players in the state. He’s so athletic and so good when he gets to his left. That’s a good 1-2 punch, and when they shoot well, they’re really tough to beat.”
NOTE: Saturday’s Game of the Day will be played at 4:30 p.m. due to Silver Creek’s girls playing in the Charlestown Regional on Saturday evening.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
NEW ALBANY AT SILVER CREEK
• Time: 4:30 p.m.
• Location: Silver Creek H.S. (557 Renz Ave., Sellersburg)
• Records:
New Albany 9-8. The Bulldogs have lost three of their last four games.
Silver Creek 8-10. The Dragons have lost three of their last four games.
• Coaches:
New Albany — Jim Shannon (438-135 in 24th season at New Albany, 603-274 in 38th season overall)
Silver Creek — Brandon Hoffman (209-83 in 12th season at Silver Creek)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
New Albany — No. 67, No. 44 Class 4A
Silver Creek — No. 155, No. 43 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
New Albany — Lost at Providence 51-36 (Feb. 11)
Silver Creek — Won at Scottsburg 46-44 (Feb. 11)
• Last 20 years: New Albany 18-2. Silver Creek has won two of the last three vs. the Bulldogs.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 22, 2021 — At New Albany 81, Silver Creek 72.
• John Harrell prediction: New Albany 58, Silver Creek 55.
• Sagarin projection: New Albany by 6.
• Outlook: Man, this one’s tough. Until Friday, New Albany had been pretty consistent lately. I think the Bulldogs get a tough road win.
• Greg’s pick: New Albany 53, Silver Creek 52.
JEFFERSONVILLE AT JENNINGS COUNTY
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Charles Hurley Gymnasium, Jennings County H.S. (800 W. Walnut St., North Vernon)
• Records:
Jeffersonville 5-8, 2-2 HHC. The Red Devils have won three games in a row.
Jennings County 11-6, 2-3 HHC. The Panthers have lost three of their last four games.
• Coaches:
Jeffersonville — Andrew Grantz (20-15 in second season at Jeff, 108-57 in seventh season overall)
Jennings County — Josh Land (63-75 in sixth season at Jennings)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Jeffersonville — No. 108, No. 63 Class 4A
Jennings County — No. 37, No. 28 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Jeffersonville — Defeated Bedford North Lawrence (Feb. 10)
Jennings County — Lost at Columbus East 59-55 (Feb. 11)
• Last 20 years: Jeffersonville 20-5. The Red Devils have an 8-game winning streak in the series.
• Most recent meeting: March 2, 2021 — Jeffersonville 57, Jennings County 39 (Class 4A Seymour Sectional first round)
• John Harrell prediction: Jennings by 13.
• Sagarin projection: Jennings County 63, Jeffersonville 53.
• Outlook: So Jennings has now beaten New Albany and went to overtime with Floyd Central but lost to Columbus East. This kind of depends on which version of these teams show up.
• Greg’s pick: Jennings County 58, Jeffersonville 51.
SCOTTSBURG AT SALEM
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Brooks Memorial Gymnasium, Salem H.S. (700 N. Harrison St., Salem)
• Records:
Scottsburg 9-8, 4-3 MSC. The Warriors have lost three in a row and five of their last six.
Salem 4-12, 0-4 MSC. The Lions have lost five in a row.
• Coaches:
Scottsburg — Eric Richardson (15-26 in second season at Scottsburg)
Salem — Duane Malloy (4-12 in first season at Salem)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Scottsburg — No. 117, No. 31 Class 3A
Salem — No. 332, No. 88 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Scottsburg — Lost to Silver Creek 46-44 (Feb. 11)
Salem — Lost to Clarksville 59-56 (Feb. 11)
• Last 20 years: Salem 14-12. Scottsburg has won the last two games in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 15, 20221 — At Scottsburg 56, Salem 52.
• John Harrell prediction: Scottsburg 70, Salem 42.
• Sagarin projection: Scottsburg by 22.
• Outlook: The Warriors suffered a tough loss Friday. They’ll break even this weekend.
• Greg’s pick: Scottsburg 65, Salem 44.
HIGHLANDS LATIN (KY.) AT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Christian Academy of Indiana (1000 Academy Dr., New Albany)
• Records:
Highlands Latin 9-14. The Highlanders have won five of their last six games.
Christian Academy 8-11. The Warriors have won their last two games.
• Coaches:
Highlands Latin — Anthony Schnell (coaching record unavailable)
Christian Academy — Hayden Case (17-28 in second season at CAI)
• Most recent game:
Highlands Latin — Lost to Henry County 74-69 (Feb. 11)
Christian Academy — Defeated Trinity Lutheran 53-32 (Feb. 10)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• Outlook: The Highlanders aren’t a pushover, but CAI should win its third straight. Three of Latin’s 14 losses were by forfeit.
• Greg’s pick: Christian Academy 73, Highlands Latin 64.
SWITZERLAND COUNTY AT HENRYVILLE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Furnish Gym, Henryville H.S. (213 N. Ferguson St., Henryville)
• Records:
Switzerland County 8-10. The Pacers have won their last two games and three of their last four.
Henryville 5-12. The Hornets have lost five of their last six games.
• Coaches:
Switzerland County — Travis Wrightsman (11-31 in second season at SwitzCo, 275-190 in 19th season overall)
Henryville — Jared Hill (96-88 in eighth season at Henryville)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Switzerland County — No. 295, No. 69 Class 2A
Henryville — No. 298, No. 71 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Switzerland County — Won at Shawe 63-27 (Feb. 11)
Henryville — Defeated South Central 53-38 (Feb. 11)
• Last 20 years: Switzerland County 1-0.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 13, 2021 — Henryville 56, at Switzerland County 32.
• John Harrell prediction: Henryville 54, Switzerland County 51.
• Sagarin projection: Henryville by 4.
• Outlook: It’ll be close, but I have a feeling the Hornets are the better team here.
• Greg’s pick: Henryville 44, Springs Valley 40.
NEW WASHINGTON AT SPRINGS VALLEY
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Location: Springs Valley H.S. (326 S. Larry Bird Blvd., French Lick)
• Records:
New Washington 5-12. The Mustangs have won two of their last three games.
Springs Valley 14-3. The Blackhawks have won 10 straight.
• Coaches:
New Washington — Kyle Brown (14-27 in second season at New Wash)
Springs Valley — Jonathon Bowles (24-16 in second season at Springs Valley)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
New Washington — No. 344, No. 65 Class A
Springs Valley — No. 191, No. 19 Class A
• Most recent game:
New Washington — Lost to Lanesville 38-34 (Feb. 11)
Springs Valley — Won at White River Valley 77-67 (Feb. 11)
• Last 20 years: Springs Valley 7-1.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 2, 2021 — At Springs Valley 64, New Washington 50.
• News & notes: Spings Valley has already surpassed last year’s win total of 10. The 13 wins is their most since going 17-7 in 2018-19.
• John Harrell prediction: Springs Valley 67, New Washington 43.
• Sagarin projection: Springs Valley by 26.
• Outlook: After picking against Springs Valley a couple times this season, I’ve learned my lesson.
• Greg’s pick: Springs Valley 69, New Washington 51.
CANNELTON AT SOUTH CENTRAL
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Location: South Central H.S. Main Gym (6675 E. Hwy. 11 S.E., Elizabeth)
• Records:
Cannelton 3-16. The Bulldogs have lost three games in a row.
South Central 6-11. The Rebels have lost their last two games.
• Coaches:
Cannelton — Chris Melton (10-29 in second season at Cannelton)
South Central — Greg Robinson (179-179 in 16th season at South Central, 201-242 in 20th season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Cannelton — No. 397, No. 97 Class A
South Central — No. 306, No. 54 Class A
• Most recent game:
Cannelton — Lost to Wood Memorial 54-38 (Feb. 11)
South Central — Lost at Henryville 53-38 (Feb. 11)
• Last 20 years: South Central 18-0.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 13, 2021 — South Central 74, Cannelton 64.
• News & notes: The Rebels won just two games last year. One of those wins was a 10-point victory at Cannelton.
• John Harrell prediction: South Central 70, Cannelton 31.
• Sagarin projection: South Central by 34.
• Outlook: South Central is significantly better.
• Greg’s pick: South Central 66, Cannelton 33.
