By GREG MENGELT
After a 4-1 start to the season, New Albany snapped a 7-game losing streak Friday with a 40-21 victory at Providence.
That was the second of five straight games on the road for the Bulldogs. Tonight at Evansville North is the third.
North (5-2) comes into Friday’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Night at 5-2 and on a 2-game winning streak. Those wins were blowouts of Evansville Central (67-28) and Bloomington South (52-40).
Junior Amiyah Buchanan leads the Huskies at 12.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Four North players average double-figure points per game. Senior Jaidn Green is averaging 11.6, junior Jalyn Shelby is at 10.3 points per game and Kaylee Martin averages 10-even. Martin is 18 for 45 from behind the 3-point arc, the Huskies top 3-point threat.
“The game at Evansville North is going to be a very tough game,” New Albany coach Shelby Gliebe said. “They are very good and very balanced, so we are going to have to put all 4 quarters together with everybody contributing. It will be a good test for us.”
The Bulldogs go to Salem (7-3) next Wednesday then to Evansville Memorial (6-2) the following Thursday to complete the 2021 portion of its season.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
NEW ALBANY (5-8) AT EVANSVILLE NORTH (5-2)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Husky Arena, North H.S. (15331 Hwy. 41 North, Evansville)
• Coaches:
New Albany — Shelby Gliebe (11-24 in second season at New Albany, 15-43 in third season overall)
North — Tyler Choate (88-41 in sixth season at North)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
New Albany — No. 148, No. 60 Class 4A
North — No. 62, No. 42 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
New Albany — Won at Providence 40-21 (Dec. 16)
North — Defeated Bloomington South 52-40 (Dec. 11)
• Last 20 years: New Albany 9-4. North has won 3 of the last 4 vs. the Bulldogs.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 18, 2020 — At New Albany 50, North 47.
• News & notes: New Albany snapped a 7-game losing streak with its 19-point win at Providence on Thursday. … Friday’s game is the Bulldogs’ third of five straight games away from home. … New Albany has played the 65th toughest schedule (of 395 teams) so far this season. … North junior Amiyah Buchanan contributed 18 points and 15 rebounds to the Huskies’ 67-28 win over Evansville Central on Dec. 7. Junior Jalyn Shelby finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in the win. … Senior guard Kaylee Martin knocked down 4 3-pointers and scored 12 points in North’s 52-40 victory over Bloomington South on Dec. 11.
• John Harrell prediction: North 60, New Albany 43.
• Sagarin projection: North by 18.
• Outlook: North has been pretty good for a while now, but this may be the its best team since 2010-11 when the Huskies went 18-5 and won a sectional title.
• Greg’s pick: North 61, New Albany 52.
SOUTH CENTRAL (1-6) AT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (4-8)
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: South Central H.S. Main Gym (6675 E. Hwy. 11 S.E., Elizabeth)
• Coaches:
South Central — Lynne Thomas (4-40 in third season at South Central)
CAI — Carson Casey (12-43 in third season at CAI)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
South Central — No. 376, No. 83 Class A
CAI — No. 362, No. 77 Class A
• Most recent game:
South Central — Defeated Crothersville (Dec. 9)
CAI — Won at Cannelton 55-30 (Dec. 16)
• Last 20 years: South Central 14-1.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 18, 2020 — At South Central 68, CAI 18.
• News & notes: Not only did the Rebels pick up their first win last Thursday against Crothesville, it was also South Central’s SAC opener. … The Rebels game scheduled for Tuesday against Corydon Central was postponed and has been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 24 at South Central. … The Warriors now have twice as many wins this year — before the calendar turns to 2022 — as all of last season.
• John Harrell prediction: CAI 46, South Central 33.
• Sagarin projection: CAI by 10.
• Outlook: This game should be close, but the Warriors are probably just a little better at this point in the season.
• Greg’s pick: CAI 33, South Central 25.
