By GREG MENGELT
That doesn’t mean there aren’t some great games and great storylines.
For example, Scottsburg (3-2) and Austin (1-4) renew their Scott County rivalry — one of the best rivalries in Indiana going back to the beginning when the sport became officially an IHSAA event.
The Scott County Showdown is one of two rivalry games. Charlestown (4-2) goes to New Washington (2-3) for the program’s 32nd meeting in the past 20 years.
Jeffersonville visits Jennings County for a key Hoosier Hills Conference game and the Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Week. The Red Devils have lost two straight (to be fair, almost every team in Indiana would go 0-2 against Silver Creek and Bedford North Lawrence) and looks to get back on track against unbeaten Jennings County (5-0).
Are we sure Jennings isn’t as good as Creek and BNL? The Panthers are at least nearing the same level as the Dragons and Stars. You ask for evidence? Jennings is 5-0 and its closest win was 55-42 over Charlestown. Oh yeah, in case we haven’t mentioned it, the Panthers beat Salem — one of the best Class 3A programs of the past half-decade — by 24 points. It was fifth-ranked Salem’s only loss in five games to start the season.
How about this for a storyline? New Albany (4-3) is going after its fifth win of the season after going 6-16 last year. With a win, the Bulldogs would have five wins in November and will be one win away from last year’s total with three months left in the season. Bloomington North (3-3) comes to town for the first time in over 20 years and it looks like it could be most competitive local game of the night.
In Tuesday’s other local games, Providence (0-4) looks for its first win at home against 2-0 Trinity Lutheran and West Washington (4-2) looks to bounce back from a 2-point performance against Lanesville (7-1) when the Senators host 0-4 Crothersville.
TODAY’S GAMES | TUESDAY, NOV. 24
GAME OF THE NIGHT
JEFFERSONVILLE (5-2, 0-1 HHC) AT JENNINGS COUNTY (5-0, 0-0)
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Charles Hurley Gymnasium, North Vernon.
• Coaches:
Jeffersonville — Missy Voyles (11-14 in second season at Jeff, 281-128 in 18th season overall).
Jennings County — Kristi Sigler (66-61 in sixth season at Jennings and overall).
• Rankings:
Jennings County — Received votes IBCA (single class); No. 12 ICGSA (Class 4A).
• Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
Jeffersonville — No. 68 overall, No. 44 Class 4A.
Jennings County — No. 33 overall, No. 26 Class 4A.
• Most recent game:
Jeffersonville — Lost at Bedford North Lawrence 53-31 (Nov. 20).
Jennings County — Won at Greensburg 56-35 (Nov. 20).
• Last 20 years: Jeffersonville 19-6. Jennings has won the last two vs. the Red Devils.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 20, 2021 — At Jennings County 61, Jeffersonville 53.
• News and notes: This is the Hoosier Hills Conference opener for Jennings. Jeff dropped its HHC debut to BNL on Saturday.
• Outlook: BNL appears to be the best team in the HHC. Jennings County probably isn’t far behind.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: Jennings County 54, Jeffersonville 38.
• Sagarin projection: Jennings County by 12.
• Greg’s pick: Jennings County 61, Jeffersonville 51.
SCOTTSBURG (3-2, 0-1 MSC) AT AUSTIN (1-4, 0-1)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Austin High School.
• Coaches:
Scottsburg — Carrie Daniels (11-17 in second season at Scottsburg, 114-73 in seventh season overall).
Austin — Jared Peterson (232-168 in 17th season at Austin and overall).
• Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
Scottsburg — No. 97 overall, No. 23 Class 3A.
Austin — No. 249 overall, No. 64 Class 2A.
• Most recent game:
Scottsburg — Lost to North Harrison 64-60 (Nov. 20).
Austin — Lost at Paoli 66-44 (Nov. 19).
• Last 20 years: Scottsburg 16-4. The Warriorettes have won six straight rivalry games.
• Most recent meeting: Nov. 24, 2020 — At Scottsburg 73, Austin 25.
• News and notes: Austin’s game against New Washington, which was scheduled for last Tuesday, has been postponed. No makeup date has been announced.
• Outlook: Scottsburg continues its recent domination of the Scott County rivalry game.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: Scottsburg 55, Austin 34.
• Sagarin projection: Scottsburg by 18.
• Greg’s pick: Scottsburg 52, Austin 36.
CHARLESTOWN (4-2) AT NEW WASHINGTON (2-3)
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: James Matthews Gymasium, New Washington.
• Coaches:
Charlestown — Scott Matthews (70-54 in sixth season at Charlestown and overall).
New Washington — Kirsti Holloway (57-86 in seventh season at New Wash and overall).
• Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
Charlestown — No. 63 overall, No. 14 Class 3A.
New Washington — No. 180 overall, No. 21 Class A.
• Most recent game:
Charlestown — Won at South Central 74-9 (Nov. 20).
New Washington — Defeated Christian Academy 60-23 (Nov. 13).
• Last 20 years: Charlestown 19-12. The Pirates have beaten their rivals 10 straight times.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 1, 2020 —- Charlestown 51, at New Washington 36.
• News and notes: Due to a postponement against Austin, New Wash hasn’t played in 10 days. No makeup date has yet been announced for the Austin game.
• Outlook: It’s been a great start for New Wash. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, the Pirates have been even better through three weeks.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: Charlestown 57, New Washington 37.
• Sagarin projection: Charlestown by 15.
• Greg’s pick: Charlestown 53, New Washington 37.
BLOOMINGTON NORTH (3-3) AT NEW ALBANY (4-3)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Doghouse, New Albany.
• Coaches:
North — Jeff Turmail (27-71 in fifth season at North and overall).
New Albany — Shelby Gliebe (10-19 in second season at New Albany, 14-38 in third season overall).
• Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
North — No. 115 overall, No. 55 Class 4A.
New Albany — No. 105 overall, No. 54 Class 4A. 75
• Most recent game:
North — Won at Covenant Christian 55-29 (Nov. 20).
New Albany — Lost to Silver Creek 64-39 (Nov. 20).
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• Outlook: North is a little better than its been the past few years, but this is a good the Bulldogs should win.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: New Albany 46, North 45.
• Sagarin prediction: New Albany by 6.
• Greg’s pick: New Albany 54, North 43.
TRINITY LUTHERAN (2-0) AT PROVIDENCE (0-4)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Larkin Center, Our Lady of Providence, Clarksville.
• Coaches:
Trinity Lutheran — Mike Lang (169-78 in 11th season at Trinity Lutheran and overall).
Providence — Brad Burden (159-152 in 14th season at Providence and overall).
• Rankings:
Trinity Lutheran — No. 3 ICGSA (Class A).
• Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
Trinity Lutheran — No. 167 overall, No. 17 Class A.
Providence — No. 337 overall, No. 86 Class 2A.
• Most recent game:
Trinity Lutheran — Won at Crothersville 55-25 (Nov. 20).
Providence — Lost at Jeffersonville 65-25 (Nov. 16).
• Last 20 years: Trinity Lutheran 4-3. The Cougars have beaten Providence four straight times.
• Most recent meeting: Nov. 24, 2020 — At Trinity Lutheran 63, Providence 15.
• News and notes: Because of its volleyball success, this is only the third game for Trinity Lutheran.
• Outlook: It wasn’t long ago, this was a competitive rivalry. Hopefully for the Pioneers, it will be again soon.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: Trinity Lutheran 56, Providence 28.
• Sagarin prediction: Trinity Lutheran by 24.
• Greg’s pick: Trinity Lutheran 53, Providence 22.
CROTHERSVILLE (0-4) AT WEST WASHINGTON (4-2)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Tower Gymnasium, West Washington.
• Coaches:
Crothersville — Kevin Hensley (113-163 in 13th season at Crothersville and overall).
West Washington — Matthew Myers (12-17 in second season at West Washington and overall).
• Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
Crothersville — No. 369 overall, No. 80 Class A.
West Washington — No. 253 overall, No. 36 Class A.
• Most recent game:
Crothersville — Lost to Trinity Lutheran 55-25 (Nov. 20).
West Washington — Lost to Lanesville 50-2 (Nov. 20).
• Last 20 years: West Washington 15-13. The Senators have won 6 of the last 8 against the Tigers.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 5, 2021 — West Washington 38, Crothersville 27 (Edinburgh Sectional semifinal).
• News and notes: The two programs split a pair of games last year with the Crothersville winning the regular-season game 42-39 in overtime and the Senators taking the sectional semifinal contest. … West Washington’s 2 points Saturday was the program’s first single-digit scoring game since a 59-9 home loss to Lanesville on Dec. 18, 2007. The Senators went 2-17 that season. … The game prior to the 2-point performance, West Washington scored 62 against Christian Academy.
• Outlook: Expect the Senators to bounce back and score plenty of points.
• JohnHarrell.net prediction: West Washington 54, Crothersville 22.
• Sagarin prediction: West Washington by 29.
• Greg’s pick: West Washington 51, Crothersville 33.
