By GREG MENGELT

If you’re the kind of basketball fan that looks for a good game to attend every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, there’s good news for you. For the first Saturday of the season, the lineup is interesting and has several options.

It starts with New Albany at Bloomington South, the Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Night. The Bulldogs (1-0) hung on to beat upstart Clarksville 48-45 in their season opener on Thanksgiving Eve.

Now comes the big test of the season for Jim Shannon’s crew. South (1-0) is coming off a 58-42 win over Edgewood on Tuesday. The Panthers are also coming off a 25-5 season that saw them claim a regional title before dropping a 54-52 heartbreaker to state runner-up Lawrence North on the doorstep on the state finals.

It’s the first big test for the Bulldogs, who have plenty of them this year. Their next four games are against Evansville Harrison (0-0), Zionsville (1-0), Floyd Central (0-0) and Carmel (0-1). Zionsville beat defending champion Carmel 45-42 on Tuesday.

New Albany could start 2-3 and still consider it a successful beginning to the season.

If you don’t want to drive all the way to Bloomington, there are plenty of other compelling games.

• North Harrison (1-0) faces a big test when Heritage Hills (0-0) comes to Ramsey. The Patriots went 19-4 and won a sectional title last season. The Cougars are coming off an 18-win season. Both teams dropped heartbreakers to Silver Creek in the 2021 postseason.

• Four other games are proximity rivalries, including county rivals Lanesville (0-1) at Corydon Central (0-1). Austin (0-1) at Crawford County (0-1), New Washington (0-1) at Shawe (0-0) and Christian Academy (0-0) at Clarksville (0-1) should all be competitive games.

TODAY’S GAMES | SATURDAY, NOV. 27

GAME OF THE NIGHT
NEW ALBANY (1-0) AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (1-0)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: South High School, Bloomington.
• Coaches:
New Albany — Jim Shannon (430-127 in 24th season at New Albany, 595-266 in 38th season overall).
South — J.R. Holmes (719-226 in 40th season at South, 862-344 in 52nd season overall).
• Rankings:
New Albany — Received votes IBCA (single class).
South — No. 19 IBCA (single class).
• 2021-22 final Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
New Albany — No. 42, No. 33 Class 4A.
South — No. 27, No. 21 Class 4A.
• Most recent game:
New Albany — Defeated Clarksville 48-45 (Nov. 24).
South — Defeated Edgewood 58-42 (Nov. 23).
• Last 20 years: New Albany 10-7. The Bulldogs have won 10 of the last 11 in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Nov. 28, 2020 — At New Albany 61, Bloomington South 36.
• News and notes: The two coaches have 1,457 combined career wins. Holmes ranks No.1 and Shannon No. 6 on the active wins list. Shannon is 10-7 head-to-head vs. Holmes. … Senior Tucker Biven (19) and junior Josten Carter (12) combined for 31 of New Albany’s 48 points against Clarksville. Only 4 Bulldogs scored in Wednesday’s win. … New Albany held Clarksville to 25 points through three quarters. Biven connected on five 3-pointers. … New Albany led Clarksville 36-25 at the end of the third quarter. … Senior Noah Ransom went 5 for 9 from the field and 3 for 4 from behind the 3-point arc in South’s win over Edgewood. … The Panthers led 15-2 early against the Mustangs.
• Outlook: Both the Bulldogs and the Panthers making scoring difficult. We’ll take South in a low-scoring early-season showdown.
• Greg’s pick: South 55, New Albany 50.

HERITAGE HILLS (0-0) AT NORTH HARRISON (1-0)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: North Harrison High School, Ramsey.
• Coaches:
Heritage Hills — Nate Hawkins (98-22 in sixth season at Heritage Hills, 162-48 in 10th season overall).
North Harrison — Lou Lefevre (37-10 in third season at North Harrison, 302-90 in 18th season overall).
• 2021-22 final Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
Heritage Hills — No. 58, No. 10 Class 3A.
North Harrison — No. 61, No. 11 Class 3A.
• Most recent game:
Heritage Hills — Lost to Silver Creek 52-48 (Washington Regional, first round, March 13).
North Harrison — Won at South Central 59-45 (Nov. 23).
• Last 20 years: Heritage Hills 10-5. The Patriots have a 6-game winning streak in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Nov. 28, 2020 — At Heritage Hills 56, North Harrison 38.
• News and notes: North Harrison is 9-0 for the ninth year in a row. … The Patriots’ sectional titles the last two years were their first since 2003.
• Outlook: Not sure if Hawkins has built a program that can sustain its success after losing its top three players. We’ll take the Cougars at home in a very close game.
• Greg’s pick: North Harrison 50, Heritage Hills 49.

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (0-0) AT CLARKSVILLE (0-1)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Clarksville High School main gymnasium.
• Coaches:
CAI — Hayden Casey (9-17 in second season at CAI).
Clarksville — Kyle Hankins (0-1 in first season at Clarksville).
• 2021-22 final Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
CAI — No. 296, No. 44 Class A.
Clarksville — No. 246, No. 53 Class 2A.
• Most recent game:
CAI — Lost to Lanesville 61-49 (Borden Sectional, championship, March 6).
Clarksville — Lost at New Albany 48-45 (Nov. 24).
• Last 20 years: Clarksville 10-3. CAI has won 2 of the last 3 vs. the Generals.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 9, 2019 — At Christian Academy 60, Clarksville 43.
• News and notes: Dakota Capps scored 22 of the Generals’ 45 points in their season-opening loss at New Albany. … Clarksville’s game against Southwestern has been rescheduled for Dec. 14 at home. … Last year was Christian Academy’s first below-.500 finish since 2011-12.
• Outlook: Clarksville played New Albany well. In a game that could go either way, the Generals’ homecourt advantage could be the difference.
• Greg’s pick: Clarksville 57, Christian Academy 51.

LANESVILLE (0-1) AT CORYDON (0-1)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Corydon High School.
• Coaches:
Lanesville — Mikel Miller (287-210 in 22nd season at Lanesville).
Corydon — Joseph Hinton (21-27 in third season at Corydon).
• 2021-22 final Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
Lanesville — No. 213, No. 18 Class A.
Corydon — No. 229, No. 65 Class 3A.
• Most recent game:
Lanesville — Lost to Evansville Christian 77-43 (Nov. 23).
Corydon — Lost at Seymour 64-52 (Nov. 23).
• Last 20 years: Corydon 13-7. Lanesville has won 3 of the last 4 in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 9 — At Lanesville 50, Corydon 47.
• Outlook: Our guess is Evansville Christian is quite good and the 34-point loss is an anomaly for Lanesville. Still, give us Corydon at home.
• Greg’s pick: Corydon 48, Lanesville 46.

NEW WASHINGTON (0-1) AT SHAWE MEMORIAL (0-0)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Father Hilary Menny Gymnasium, Madison.
• Coaches:
New Washington — Kyle Brown (9-16 in second season at New Wash).
Shawe — Dan Hambrick (10-33 in third season at Shawe).
• 2021-22 final Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
New Washington — No. 340, No. 61 Class A.
Shawe — No. 405, No. 95 Class A.
• Most recent game:
New Washington — Lost to Charlestown 44-43 (Nov. 23).
Shawe — Lost to West Washington 77-29 (West Washington Sectional, first round, March 2).
• Last 20 years: Tied 10-10. The Mustangs have won 6 in a row over Shawe.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 9 — At New Washington 64, Shawe 52.
• News and notes: New Wash led Charlestown 43-42 until the Pirates’ Jake Helton hit two free throws — the second thanks to a lane violation — with 8.5 seconds left. … An 11-0 run helped the Mustangs erase a 39-30 fourth quarter deficit. … The Mustangs forced Charlestown into 22 turnovers. … Shawe has had 10 straight losing seasons since Jerry Bomholt left the program for Southwestern following the Hilltoppers’ 20-4, sectional championship season of 2010-11.
• Outlook: It was a rough way to lose a season opener for New Washington, but the Mustangs should get their first win Saturday.
• Greg’s pick: New Washington 69, Shawe 48.

SOUTH CENTRAL (0-1) AT CRAWFORD COUNTY (0-1)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Ron Ferguson Gymnasium, Marengo.
• Coaches:
South Central — Greg Robinson (173-169 in 16th season at South Central, 195-232 in 20th season overall).
Crawford County — Jerry Hanger Jr. (3-18 in second season at Crawford).
• 2021-22 final Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
South Central — No. 365, No. 71 Class A.
Crawford County — No. 312, No. 76 Class 3A.
• Most recent game:
South Central — Lost to North Harrison 59-45 (Nov. 23).
Crawford County — Lost at Forest Park 58-43 (Nov. 24).
• Last 20 years: Crawford County 19-1. The Wolfpack has won 18 straight against South Central.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 9 — At Crawford County 63, South Central 41.
• Outlook: Crawford County should have the better team … at least early in the season.
• Greg’s pick: Crawford County 62, South Central 46.

SHOALS (1-0) AT BORDEN (0-1)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Borden Junior-Senior High School.
• Coaches:
Shoals — Bryson Able (61-87 in seven season at Shoals).
Borden — Doc Nash (204-150 in 16th season at Borden).
• 2021-22 final Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
Shoals — No. 281, No. 37 Class A.
Borden — No. 263, No. 31 Class A.
• Most recent game:
Shoals — Defeated Dugger Union 65-34 (Nov. 23).
Borden — Lost to Eastern 70-56 (Nov. 23).
• Last 20 years: Borden 8-3. Shoals has won 2 of the last 3 in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Nov. 28, 2020 — Borden 69, at Shoals 63.
• Outlook: Looks like Shoals is a program on the rise, but the Braves should be able to win this one on their home court.
• Greg’s pick: Borden 59, Shoals 55.

AUSTIN (0-1) AT SWITZERLAND COUNTY (0-1)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Switzerland County High School, Vevay.
• Coaches:
Austin — Randy Edwards (35-63 in fifth season at Austin).
Switzerland County — Travis Wrightsman (3-22 in second season Switzerland County, 267-181 in 19th season overall).
• 2021-22 final Sagarin ratings (computer-based rankings):
Austin — No. 313, No. 77 Class 2A.
Switzerland County — No. 365, No. 97 Class 2A.
• Most recent game:
Austin — Lost at Scottsburg 74-43 (Nov. 24).
Switzerland County — Lost at South Decatur 82-64 (Nov. 26).
• Last 20 years: Switzerland County 3-2.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 22, 2020 — At Austin 76, Switzerland County 54.
• Outlook: We love Austin’s chances of picking up its first win here.
• Greg’s pick: Austin 62, Switzerland County 51.