By GREG MENGELT
The Hoosier Hills Hoops Boys’ Game of the Night, for example, features two teams with state championship expectations. Host Floyd Central (16-2) is ranked sixth in the state, while the Braves (16-3) enter the contest at No. 11 in 3A. The Highlanders have won 11 in a row, Brownstown has won four straight.
Another big game is at Rock Creek, where Class 2A No. 13 Eastern (14-3) will play the host Lions (9-7) in a game that features two teams that will probably be sectional favorites starting two weeks from Tuesday.
Christian Academy (9-11) and Corydon Central (13-6) won’t be sectional favorites but both will be serious contenders. The Warriors are on a 3-game winning steak. The Panthers streak is currently at seven games.
Henryville (6-12) and New Washington (5-13) are essentially playing for second place in the Southern Athletic Conference. Borden has already won the league title, but the Hornets and Mustangs are playing for more than just conference placement. Both teams have been playing well and are in sectionals with no dominant favorites.
Silver Creek (8-11) goes to Austin (4-12) for a mid-week Mid-Southern Conference contest, Class 3A No. 13 North Harrison (13-3) hosts Clarksville (5-13), Scottsburg (10-8) hosts South Central (7-11), Borden (12-5) hosts Crawford County (2-16) and West Washington (6-11) goes to Orleans (14-5) for a Patoka Lakes Conference game on a busy Tuesday night.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL AT FLOYD CENTRAL
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Joe Hinton Court, Floyd Central H.S. (6575 Old Vincennes Rd., Floyds Knobs)
• Records:
Brownstown Central 16-3. The Braves have won four games in a row and eight of their last nine.
Floyd Central 16-2. The Highlanders have won 11 straight and 13 of 14.
• Coaches:
Brownstown — Dave Benter (419-156 in 24th season at Brownstown)
Floyd Central — Todd Sturgeon (138-42 in eighth season at Floyd)
• Rankings:
Brownstown — No. 11 AP (Class 3A).
Floyd Central — No. 6 IBCA (single class); No. 11 AP (Class 4A).
• Most recent game:
Brownstown — Defeated Bedford North Lawrence 70-59 (Feb. 11)
Floyd Central — Won at Madison 67-28 (Feb. 11)
• Last 20 years: Floyd Central 5-4. The Highlanders have a 5-game winning streak vs. Brownstown.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 18, 2021 — At Floyd Central 68, Brownstown 34.
• Outlook: Three weeks from now when there’s only 16 teams left in the entire state, these could be two of them.
• Greg’s pick: Floyd Central 67, Brownstown 55.
EASTERN AT ROCK CREEK
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Rock Creek Academy/Restoration Christian Church (8000 Diefenbach Ln., Sellersburg)
• Records:
Eastern 14-3. The Musketeers have won three of their last four games.
Rock Creek 9-7. The Lions have won their last two and four of their last five.
• Coaches:
Eastern — Chandler Prible (26-16 in second season at Eastern)
Rock Creek — Chris Brown (357-288 in 26th season at Rock Creek)
• Rankings:
Eastern — No. 13 AP (Class 2A).
• Most recent game:
Eastern — Lost to Corydon Central 46-42 (Feb. 11)
Rock Creek — Defeated Portland Christian (Ky.) 84-38 (Feb. 10)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: The Lions’ game against Highlands Latin (Ky.), which was scheduled for Monday, was canceled.
• Outlook: Like Brownstown-Floyd, this could very well be two sectional champions in a couple weeks.
• Greg’s pick: Eastern 64, Rock Creek 56.
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AT CORYDON CENTRAL
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Corydon Central H.S. (375 Country Club Rd., Corydon)
• Records:
Christian Academy 9-11. The Warriors have won three games in a row.
Corydon Central 13-6. The Panthers have won seven straight and 11 of their last 12.
• Coaches:
Christian Academy — Hayden Casey (18-28 in second season at CAI)
Corydon Central — Joseph Hinton (34-32 in third season at Corydon)
• Most recent game:
Christian Academy — Defeated Highlands Latin (Ky.) 57-33 (Feb. 12)
Corydon Central — Won at Eastern 46-42 (Feb. 11)
• Last 20 years: Corydon 1-0.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 26, 2021 — Corydon Central 58, Christian Academy 46.
• Outlook: Corydon could go into the postseason on a 10-game winning streak and having a 14-1 record since Dec. 28.
• Greg’s pick: Corydon Central 70, Christian Academy 53.
HENRYVILLE AT NEW WASHINGTON
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: James Matthews Gymnasium (a.k.a. The Jim), New Washington H.S. (226 N. Highway 62, New Washington)
• Records:
Henryville 6-12, 2-1 SAC. The Hornets have won their last two games.
New Washington 5-13, 1-2 SAC. The Mustangs have lost their last two games and three of their last five.
• Coaches:
Henryville — Jared Hill (97-88 in eighth season at Henryville)
New Washington — Kyle Brown (14-28 in second season at New Wash)
• Most recent game:
Henryville — Defeated Switzerland County 47-37 (Feb. 12)
New Washington — Lost at Springs Valley 78-69 (Feb. 12)
• News & notes: Henryville can clinch second place in the SAC with a win. New Wash can finish as high as second if it wins. Borden has already clinch the league championship.
• Outlook: Both teams have had some positive results lately, but I really like the way Jared Hill has the Hornets playing.
• Greg’s pick: Henryville 49, New Washington 46.
SILVER CREEK AT AUSTIN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Rigel Gymnasium (401 S. Hwy. 31, Austin)
• Records:
Silver Creek 8-11, 2-3 MSC. The Dragons have lost three of their last four games.
Austin, 4-12, 1-6 MSC. The Eagles have lost their last three games.
• Coaches:
Silver Creek — Brandon Hoffman (209-84 in 12th season at 12th)
Austin — Randy Edwards (39-74 in fifth season at Austin)
• Most recent game:
Silver Creek — Lost to New Albany 69-58 (Feb. 12)
Austin — Lost at Charlestown 78-61 (Feb. 11)
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 24, 2021 — At Silver Creek 87, Austin 51.
• Outlook: Is this where Silver Creek starts to gain some momentum?
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 83, Austin 63.
CLARKSVILLE AT NORTH HARRISON
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: North Harrison H.S. (1070 Hwy. 64 N.W., Ramsey)
• Records:
Clarksville 5-13. The Generals have lost seven of their last eight games.
North Harrison 13-3. The Cougars have won five straight and nine of their last 10.
• Coaches:
Clarksville — Kyle Hankins (5-13 in first season at Clarksville)
North Harrison — Lou Lefevre (49-13 in third season at North Harrison, 314-93 in 18th season overall)
• Rankings:
North Harrison — No. 13 AP (Class 3A).
• Most recent game:
Clarksville — Won at Salem 59-56 (Feb. 11)
North Harrison — Defeated Crawford County 67-22 (Feb. 11)
• Last 20 years: 10-10. North Harrison has won the last two meetings against Clarksville.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 17, 2021 — North Harrison 48, at Clarksville 30.
• Outlook: Why is it North Harrison’s 13-3 season has seemed so quiet despite the Cougars probably being the area’s best chance of making a trip to Indy for the state finals?
• Greg’s pick: North Harrison 67, Clarksville 30.
SOUTH CENTRAL AT CHARLESTOWN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Charlestown Sports Arena (1 Pirate Place, Charlestown)
• Records:
South Central 7-11. The Rebels have won three of their last five games.
Charlestown 6-13. The Pirates have lost two of their last three.
• Coaches:
South Central — Greg Robinson (180-179 in 16th season at South Central, 202-242 in 20th season overall)
Charlestown — Matt Lynch (6-13 in first season at Charlestown, 75-63 in sixth season overall)
• Most recent game:
South Central — Defeated Cannelton 66-23 (Feb. 12)
Charlestown — Defeated Austin 78-61 (Feb. 11)
• Outlook: Almost a season in, it’s pretty obvious Lynch is the right guy to get the Pirates turned around.
• Greg’s pick: Charlestown 54, South Central 46.
PAOLI AT SCOTTSBURG
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Charles E. Meyer Gymnasium (1 Jim Barley Way, Scottsburg)
• Records:
Paoli 10-7. The Rams have won three games in a row.
Scottsburg 10-8. The Warriors have lost three of their last four.
• Coaches:
Paoli — Dusty Cole (153-75 in 10th season at Paoli)
Scottsburg — Eric Richardson (16-26 in second season at Scottsburg)
• Most recent game:
Paoli — Defeated Orleans 55-48 (Feb. 11)
Scottsburg — Won at Salem (Feb. 12)
• Outlook: Scottsburg has Paoli, Southwestern, Jennings, Mitchell and Rock Creek left in the regular season. That’s a tough stretch but also a chance for the Warriors to get some really good wins heading into the postseason.
• Greg’s pick: Scottsburg 56, Paoli 51.
CRAWFORD COUNTY AT BORDEN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Borden Junior-Senior H.S. (301 West St., Borden)
• Records:
Crawford County 2-16. The Wolfpack have lost three straight games.
Borden 12-5. The Braves have won three in a row.
• Coaches:
Crawford County — Jerry Hanger Jr. (5-33 in second season at Crawford)
Borden — Doc Nash (216-154 in 16th season at Borden)
• Most recent game:
Crawford County — Lost at North Harrison 67-22 (Feb. 11)
Borden — Defeated West Washington 56-47 (Feb. 10)
• Outlook: Predictably, Nash has Borden playing well heading into March.
• Greg’s pick: Borden 61, Crawford County 51.
WEST WASHINGTON AT ORLEANS
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Orleans H.S. (200 W. Wilson St., Orleans)
• Records:
West Washington 6-11, 1-3 PLAC. The Senators have won two of their last three and four of their last six.
Orleans 14-5, 4-1 PLAC. The Bulldogs have won two of their last three but have lost three of their last five.
• Coaches:
West Washington — Clayton Sullivan (45-47 in fourth season at West Washington)
Orleans — Tom Bradley (354-196 in 23rd season at Orleans)
• Rankings:
Orleans — No. 12 AP (Class A).
• Most recent game:
West Washington — Defeated Crothersville 69-45 (Feb. 11)
Orleans — Won at Edgewood 54-36 (Feb. 12)
• News & notes: The Bulldogs can win the PLAC with a win Tuesday. A loss opens the door for Springs Valley, which would clinch a tie for the league title with a West Washington win, plus Perry Central, Mitchell and Paoli, who would all need to run the table to claim a piece of the championship.
• Outlook: The Senators have been playing well, but getting a win at Orleans in the middle of the week is an awfully tough task.
• Greg’s pick: Orleans 64, West Washington 50.
