By GREG MENGELT
It’s Dec. 3 and Jeffersonville is one of the last teams in Indiana to take the floor.
With high expectations — and a ranking of 11th in the state — the Red Devils finally take the floor Friday in Evansville. Jeff will face Evansville North (0-1) as part of the River City Shootout at the University of Southern Indiana. It is the Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Night.
“I’m most excited to see where we are as a team and start the process of challenging ourselves against outside competition, so we can continue to improve and grow,” Jeff second-year head coach Andrew Grantz said.
The Red Devils, who are led by Drake recruit Will Lovings-Watts but are hardly a one-man team, are the defending 4A sectional champions and are expected to be one of the sectional and regional frontrunners.
North, which went 14-9 last season and is considered to be a program on the rise, opened its season with a 61-40 win at Princeton.
We are looking forward to opening up our season against a quality opponent that would could see in a regional matchup,” Grantz said. “Evansville North is well coached and they shoot the ball well.”
Jeff also faces Walnut Hills from Cincinnati on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Charlestown Sports Arena.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
JEFFERSONVILLE (0-0) VS. EVANSVILLE NORTH (1-0)
• Time: 7:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. local time).
• Event: River City Showcase.
• Location: University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagle Arena (8600 University Blvd., Evansville).
• Coaches:
Jeffersonville — Andrew Grantz (15-7 in second season at Jeff, 103-49 in seventh season overall).
North — Jason Roach (44-52 in fifth season at North, 91-81 in eighth season overall).
• Rankings:
Jeffersonville — No. 11 IBCA (single class); No. 12 AP (Class 4A).
• Most recent game:
Jeffersonville — Lost to Bloomington South 51-50 (Class 4A Seymour Regional semifinal, March 13).
North — Won at Princeton 61-40 (Nov. 27).
• Last 20 years: Jeffersonville 5-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 5 — At Jeffersonville 73, North 57.
• News and notes: Jeff went 15-7 last season. After starting 3-5, the Red Devils won 12 of their next 13 games, including a 9-game winning streak, before a heartbreaking loss to Bloomington South in the regional semifinal. … North outscored Princeton 17-4 in the the first quarter of its 21-point victory. … This is one of three games Friday at USI. Before the Jeff-North game, Vincennes (0-0) faces Reitz (0-0). The last game of the night features La Lumiere (0-0) vs. Castle (6-2) in a girls’ game.
• Outlook: North may be a program on the rise, but it would be a surprise if the Huskies stay with Jeff.
• Greg’s pick: Jeffersonville 70, North 61.
EVANSVILLE HARRISON (0-1) AT NEW ALBANY (1-1)
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Location: Doghouse, New Albany H.S. (1020 Vincennes St., New Albany)
• Coaches:
Harrison — Nathan Fleenor (60-56 in sixth season at Harrison).
New Albany — Jim Shannon (430-128 in 24th season at New Albany, 595-265 in 38th season overall).
• Most recent game:
Harrison — Lost to South Spencer 61-50 (Nov. 30).
New Albany — Lost at Bloomington South 47-37 (Nov. 27).
• Last 20 years: New Albany 13-8. The Bulldogs have won 7 straight in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 5, 2020 — New Albany 49, Harrison 31.
• Outlook: The Warriors aren’t a pushover, but New Albany should handle its business in this one.
• Greg’s pick: New Albany 69, Harrison 51.
CORYDON CENTRAL (1-1, 0-0 MSC) AT NORTH HARRISON (2-0, 0-0)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: North Harrison H.S. (1070 Hwy. 64 N.W., Ramsey)
• Coaches:
Corydon Central — Joseph Hinton (22-27 in third season at Corydon).
North Harrison — Lou Lefevre (38-10 in third season at North Harrison, 303-90 in 18th season overall).
• Rankings:
North Harrison — No. 6 AP (Class 3A).
• Most recent game:
Corydon Central — Defeated Lanesville 59-41 (Nov. 27).
North Harrison — Defeated Heritage Hills 39-25 (Nov. 27).
• Last 20 years: Corydon Central 21-13. North Harrison has won the last three rivalry games.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 23, 2020 — North Harrison 60, at Corydon Central 37.
• Outlook: North Harrison is still the best team in Harrison County.
• Greg’s pick: North Harrison 54, Corydon Central 37.
SILVER CREEK (2-0) AT COLUMBUS NORTH (2-1)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: North H.S. (1400 25th St., Columbus)
• Coaches:
Silver Creek — Brandon Hoffman (203-73 in 12th season at Silver Creek).
Columbus North — Paul Ferguson (86-54 in seventh season, 219-109 in 14th season overall).
• Rankings:
Silver Creek — No. 4 AP (Class 3A).
• Most recent game:
Silver Creek — Defeated Charlestown 73-40 (Nov. 30).
Columbus North — Lost to Seymour 56-46 (Nov. 27).
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News and notes: The Dragons are being completely disrespected in both the media and coaches polls. After starting the season with wins over Columbus East and Charlestown — by a combined 45 points — the defending Class 3A champions dropped from No. 3 to No. 4 in the most recent AP poll. Silver Creek still isn’t in the top 20 of the single-class coaches poll. Interesting.
• Outlook: North is a tough place to play, but it shouldn’t be too much of an obstacle for the Dragons.
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 67, Columbus North 55.
PROVIDENCE (1-0) AT AUSTIN (0-2)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Rigel Gymnasium (401 S. Hwy. 31, Austin)
• Coaches:
Providence — Ryan Miller (31-16 in third season at Providence).
Austin — Randy Edwards (35-64 in fifth season at Austin).
• Rankings:
Providence — No. 34 AP (Class 2A).
• Most recent game:
Providence — Defeated Tell City 67-19 (Nov. 27).
Austin — Lost at Switzerland County 68-64 (Nov. 27).
• Last 20 years: Providence 18-4. The Pioneers have won 5 consecutive games against Austin.
• Most recent meeting: March 2 — Providence 57, Austin 55 (Class 2A Southwestern Sectional, first round).
• Outlook: Not sure what to make of a 48-point win to open the season. Not sure if it says more about Providence or Tell City. Either way, the Pioneers should go to 2-0.
• Greg’s pick: Providence 67, Austin 36.
BORDEN (1-1, 0-0 SAC) AT LANESVILLE (0-2, 0-0)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Lanesville H.S. (2725 Crestview Ave. N.E., Lanesville)
• Coaches:
Borden — Doc Nash (205-150 in 16th season at Borden).
Lanesville — Mikel Miller (287-211 in 22nd season at Lanesville).
• Most recent game:
Borden — Defeated Shoals 57-49 (Nov. 27).
Lanesville — Lost at Corydon Central 59-41 (Dec. 3).
• Last 20 years: Lanesville 15-11. The Eagles have beaten Borden 4 straight times.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 4, 2020 — Lanesville 62, at Borden 54.
• News and notes: This is the Southern Athletic Conference opener for two teams who should be factors in the conference race. … Miller and Nash have 10 sectional titles (Miller 6, Nash 4) and three regional titles (Nash 2, Miller 1) between them.
• Outlook: Looks like the SAC is going to be hotly contested, but Lanesville appears to be a slight favorite … maybe.
• Greg’s pick: Lanesville 50, Borden 48.
SCOTTSBURG (2-0, 2-0 MSC) AT CHARLESTOWN (1-1, 0-1)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Charlestown Sports Arena, Charlestown H.S. (1 Pirate Place, Charlestown)
• Coaches:
Scottsburg — Eric Richardson (8-18 in second season at Scottsburg).
Charlestown — Matt Lynch (1-1 in first season at Charlestown, 70-51 in sixth season overall).
• Most recent game:
Scottsburg — Defeated Eastern 62-43 (Nov. 30).
Charlestown — Lost at Silver Creek 73-40 (Nov. 30).
• Last 20 years: Scottsburg 13-8. The Warriors have won the last 4 vs. Charlestown.
• Most recent meeting: March 3 — Scottsburg 60, Charlestown 54 (Class 3A Charlestown Sectional first round).
• News and notes: Scottsburg has an early lead in the MSC race, so a win over Charlestown would be big. However, the Warriors still have Corydon (Dec. 17), North Harrison (Jan. 8) and Silver Creek (Feb. 11) on their schedule.
• Outlook: It appears that Scottsburg is headed for a pretty big season.
• Greg’s pick: Scottsburg 66, Charlestown 54.
WEST WASHINGTON (0-1) AT EASTERN (1-1)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Eastern H.S. (1100 N. Eastern School Rd., Pekin)
• Coaches:
West Washington — Clayton Sullivan (39-37 in fourth season at West Washington).
Eastern — Chandler Prible (13-14 in second season Eastern).
• Most recent game:
West Washington — Lost to Salem 46-45 (Nov. 24).
Eastern — Lost at Scottsburg 62-43 (Nov. 30).
• Last 20 years: Eastern 18-16. This has been one of the most closely contested intra-county series in the state.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 19, 2020 — Eastern 56, West Washington 38 (Washington County Invitational championship).
• News and notes: In a two-week period, the Senators and Musketeers split two meetings last year.
• Outlook: Despite an early loss at Scottsburg, the Musketeers are pretty good.
• Greg’s pick: Eastern 57, West Washington 47.
PAOLI (0-0) AT HENRYVILLE (0-1)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Furnish Gymnasium, Henryville H.S. (213 No. Ferguson St., Henryville)
• Coaches:
Paoli — Dusty Cole (143-68 in 10th season at Paoli).
Henryville — Jared Hill (91-77 in eighth season at Henryville).
• Most recent game:
Paoli — Lost at Southridge 43-35 (Class 2A Southridge Regional semifinal, March 13).
Henryville — Lost to Rock Creek 57-38 (Nov. 23).
• Last 20 years: Paoli 7-4. The Rams have won the last 6 against Henryville.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 4, 2020 — At Paoli 52, Henryville 41.
• News and notes: The Rams, who are playing their season opener, have won at least 15 games five years in a row and won a sectional championship last season.
• Outlook: The Rams probably won’t be as good as they’ve been the last few years, but they’ll still be a tough opponent.
• Greg’s pick: Paoli 49, Henryville 40.
