By GREG MENGELT
Mid-Southern Conference rival Silver Creek and Scottsburg open the Jefferson County Invitational today at Madison and could meet in the second round.
The defending Class 3A state champion Dragons face Southwestern (5-1), which is ranked 15th in Class 2A and won its first five games of the season before a 64-56 loss to Jac-Cen-Del last Thursday. The winner will advance to Thursday’s semifinal round against either Scottsburg (6-1) or Jay County (5-1). The loser will play the Warriors or Patriots later Wednesday evening.
With six wins in its first seven games, Scottsburg is off to its best start since it went 13-8 in 2003-04. The Patriots, who are coached by former Southwestern and Shawe head coach Jerry Bomholt, won its first four games before a 49-37 loss at New Castle.
On the other side of the bracket, Indianapolis Tech (5-2) appears to be the clear favorite. The Titans, who won the 2014 state championship, are ranked 13th in Class 4A and are coming off an 80-73 win over preseason No. 1 Cathedral.
The X-factor could be Warren Central (Ky.), which is 4-0 and has four comfortable wins this season. The Dragons are led by the trio of junior forward Chappelle Whitney (17.5 points per game), senior guard Jaiden Lawrence (13.5) and junior guard Damarion Walkup (12.0).
Behind freshman Cam Craig, Switzerland County (4-2) is going through a bit of a renaissance, but it’s unlikely the Pacers can compete with Tech. Madison enters the tournament 2-5, but the Cubs did upset Bedford North Lawrence 57-54 in overtime Friday.
JEFFERSON COUNTY INVITATIONAL
At Madison
WEDNESDAY
FIRST ROUND
Game 1 — Silver Creek (3-3) vs. Southwestern (5-1), 11 a.m.
Game 2 — Scottsburg (6-1) vs. Jay County (5-1), 12:45 p.m.
Game 3 — Madison (2-5) vs. Warren Central (Ky.) (4-0), 2:30 p.m.
Game 4 — Indianapolis Tech (5-2) vs. Switzerland County (4-2), 4:15 p.m.
SECOND ROUND
Championship Bracket
Game 5 — Silver Creek/Southwestern winner vs. Scottsburg/Jay County winner, 6 p.m.
Game 6 — Madison/Warren Central winner vs. Tech/Switzerland County winner, 7:45 p.m.
THURSDAY
Consolation Bracket
Game 7 — Silver Creek/Southwestern loser vs. Scottsburg/Jay County loser, 11 a.m.
Game 8 — Madison/Warren Central loser vs. Tech/Switzerland County loser, 12:45 p.m.
Game 9 — Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 2:30 p.m. (seventh-place game)
Game 10 — Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 4:15 p.m. (third-place game)
Game 11 — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 6 p.m. (fifth-place game)
Championship Bracket
Game 12 — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 7:45 p.m. (championship game)
GAME OF THE DAY
SILVER CREEK (3-3) AT VS. SOUTHWESTERN (5-1)
• Time: 11 a.m.
• Event: Jefferson County Invitational, first round.
• Location: Connor K. Salm Gymnasium, Madison H.S. (743 Clifty Dr., Madison)
• Coaches:
Silver Creek — Brandon Hoffman (204-76 in 12th season at Silver Creek)
Southwestern — Zac Nussbaum (30-9 in third season at Southwestern)
• Rankings:
Southwestern — No. 15 AP (Class 2A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Silver Creek — No. 109, No. 29 Class 3A
Southwestern — No. 101, No. 15 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Silver Creek — Lost at Bedford North Lawrence 64-51 (Dec. 18)
Southwestern — Lost to Jac-Cen-Del 64-56 (Dec. 16)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: Silver Creek held Jeffersonville to 39 percent shooting in Friday’s 13-point victory at Johnson Arena. The Dragons turned a 3-point halftime lead into a 59-50 advantage by outscoring the Red Devils 14-2 in the first 3 minutes of the third quarter. … Senior Zach Cole’s 20 points was one of three double-digit performers for the Rebels in a 67-44 win over Clarksville on Friday. Senior Parker Davis and sophomore Jamison Lewis had 13 points apiece in the win. … The Rebels outscored the Generals 57-33 over the final three quarters of the 23-point victory.
• John Harrell prediction: Southwestern 59, Silver Creek 56.
• Sagarin projection: Silver Creek by 1.
• Outlook: Silver Creek will find a way to advance in the winners’ bracket.
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 51, Southwestern 47.
SCOTTSBURG (6-1) VS. JAY COUNTY (5-1)
• Time: 12:45 p.m.
• Event: Jefferson County Invitational, first round.
• Location: Connor K. Salm Gymnasium, Madison H.S. (743 Clifty Dr., Madison)
• Coaches:
Scottsburg — Eric Richardson (12-19 in second season at Scottsburg)
Jay County — Jerry Bomholt (71-49 in sixth season at Jay County, 561-356 in 41st season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Scottsburg — No. 53, No. 10 Class 3A
Jay County — No. 70, No. 18 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Scottsburg — Won at Columbus North 46-45 (Dec. 18)
Jay County — Defeated Delta 58-49 (Dec. 17)
• Last 20 years: First meeting,
• News & notes: Scottsburg outscored Corydon 16-11i in the fourth quarter to pull off a 56-53 MSC victory on Dec. 18. Freshman Kolby Hall led a balanced Warriors’ attack with 13 points. … Jay County is located in Portland, which is located in northeast Indiana. The Patriots are in the Allen County Athletic Conference and are coached by former Shawe and Southwestern head coach Jerry Bomholt. … Jay County has won 17 sectional titles in program history and won regional and semistate championships in 2006.
• John Harrell prediction: Scottsburg 51, Jay County 47.
• Sagarin projection: Scottsburg by 3.
• Outlook: Scottsburg has some opportunities to add to an already impressive early resume with some wins against teams the Warriors normally wouldn’t see.
• Greg’s pick: Scottsburg 65, Jay County 63.
JEFFERSONVILLE (1-5) VS. LOUISVILLE WAGGENER (3-5)
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Event: MAC’s Childcare Christmas Classic, final round.
• Location: Pleasure Ridge Park H.S. (5901 Greenwood Rd., Louisville)
• Coaches:
Jeffersonville — Andrew Grantz (16-12 in second season at Jeff, 104-54 in seventh season overall)
Waggener — Bryan O’Neill (Coaching records unavailable)
• Most recent game:
Jeffersonville — Lost to Louisville Western 66-56 (MAC’s Childcare Christmas Classic at Louisville Western, first round, Dec. 21, 2021)
Waggener — Lost to Louisville Southern (Dec. 21)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: This is the seventh-place game of the tournament. … The Wildcats are led by junior wing Josiah Corley (16.2) and senior guard Austin Chiles (13.4), who combine for 29.6 of Waggener’s 47.5 points per game.
• Outlook: Jeff is in desperate need of a win.
• Greg’s pick: Jeffersonville 60, Waggener 48.
TELL CITY (0-6) AT NEW ALBANY (2-4)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Doghouse, New Albany H.S. (1020 Vincennes Street, New Albany)
• Coaches:
Tell City — Mike Brown (0-6 in first season at Tell City, 498-287 in 34th season overall)
New Albany — Jim Shannon (431-131 in 24th season at New Albany, 596-270 in 38th season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Tell City — No. 341, No. 87 Class 2A
New Albany — No. 183, No. 85 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Tell City — Lost to Washington 63-40 (Dec. 18)
New Albany — Lost at Carmel 36-24 (Dec. 18)
• Last 20 years: No meetings.
• News & notes: New Albany’s last meeting with Tell City came on Feb. 18, 1995. The Bulldogs won 68-66 in overtime. … Mike Brown led Paoli to five sectional titles from 1994-2002, including a state runner-up finish in 1999. Brown has also spent time at Crawford County, South Dearborn and Shawe in his 34-year career. … This game was scheduled because former New Albany player and assistant coach Matt Lynch was the coach at Tell City from 2017-2021. He helped lead the Marksmen to a 21-6 record and a sectional title in 2019. He’s now the head coach at Charlestown.
• John Harrell prediction: New Albany 69, Tell City 41.
• Sagarin projection: New Albany 25.
• Outlook: New Albany could use a comfortable win.
• Greg’s pick: New Albany 65, Tell City 45.
