Hoosier Hills Hoops | Southern Indiana high school basketball

TUESDAY’S GIRLS’ GAMES | Warriorettes, Pirates face tough field at Cheatham Classic

December 28, 2021

By GREG MENGELT

Six local teams — two at Scottsburg’s Donna Cheatham Classic, two at Vincennes Rivet and two at a tournament at Whitefield Academy in Louisville — will participate in holiday tournaments Tuesday. At Rivet, Class 3A No. 10 Corydon Central (12-1) will play for its second in-season title this season.

There are also three regular-season games, including Austin vs. Borden and Henryville hosting Crawford County.

Here’s a look at Tuesday’s girls’ basketball action:

GAME OF THE DAY
CHARLESTOWN (9-3) VS. LAWRENCEBURG (8-5)
• Time: 1:30 p.m.
• Event: Donna Cheatham Classic, second round.
• Location: Charles E. Meyer Gymnasium (1 Jim Barley Way, Scottsburg)
• Coaches:
Charlestown — Scott Matthews (75-55 in sixth season at Charlestown)
Lawrenceburg — Zane White (128-73 season at Lawrenceburg)
• Rankings:
Charlestown — No. 15 AP (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Charlestown — No. 60, No. 13 Class 3A
Lawrenceburg — No. 113, No. 30 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Charlestown — Lost to Corydon Central 61-52, OT (Dec. 21)
Lawrenceburg — Lost at Rushville 56-51 (Dec. 18)
• Last 20 years: Lawrenceburg 2-1.
• Most recent meeting: Nov. 6 — Lawrenceburg 60, Charlestown 55 (Jennings County Lady Panther Tipoff, final round)
• News & notes: In Wednesday’s final round, the Pirates would face East Central (8-3), Bloomington South (1-11) or the host Warriorettes (8-5) at 2 p.m. (fifth-place game), 4 p.m. (consolation game) or 6 p.m. (championship game).
• John Harrell prediction: Charlestown 55, Chatard 40.
• Sagarin projection: Charlestown by 12.
• Outlook: It’s rare a team gets a chance to avenge an earlier loss. Charlestown has a chance to do just that.
• Greg’s pick: Charlestown 61, Lawrenceburg 54.

EAST CENTRAL (8-3) AT SCOTTSBURG (8-5)
• Time: 11:45 a.m.
• Event: Donna Cheatham Classic, first round.
• Location: Charles E. Meyer Gymnasium (1 Jim Barley Way, Scottsburg)
• Coaches:
East Central — Kevin Moore (207-86 in 13th season at East Central)
Scottsburg — Carrie Daniels (16-20 in second season at Scottsburg, 119-76 in seventh season overall)
• Rankings:
East Central — No. 17 IBCA (single class); No. 13 AP (Class 4A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
East Central — No. 18, No. 16 Class 4A
Scottsburg — No. 93, No. 25 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
East Central — Lost to Crown Point 60-50 (Dec. 22)
Scottsburg — Won at Mitchell 51-43 (Dec. 16)
• Last 20 years: East Central 1-0.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 29, 2020 — East Central 56, Scottsburg 42.
• News & notes: In Wednesday’s final round, the Warriorettes will face Chatard (4-5), Lawrenceburg (8-5) or MSC-rival Charlestown (9-3) at 2 p.m. (fifth-place game), 4 p.m. (consolation game) or 6 p.m. (championship game).
• John Harrell prediction: East Central 59, Scottsburg 39.
• Sagarin projection: East Central by 19.
• Outlook: East Central is the team to beat in this tournament.
• Greg’s pick: East Central 55, Scottsburg 37.

CHARLESTOWN (9-3) VS. CHATARD (5-6)
• Time: 10 a.m.
• Event: Donna Cheatham Classic, first round.
• Location: Charles E. Meyer Gymnasium (1 Jim Barley Way, Scottsburg)
• Coaches:
Charlestown — Scott Matthews (75-55 in sixth season at Charlestown)
Chatard — Dan Wagner (5-6 in first season at Chatard)
• Rankings:
Charlestown — No. 15 AP (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Charlestown — No. 60, No. 13 Class 3A
Chatard — No. 126, No. 37 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Charlestown — Lost to Corydon Central 61-52, OT (Dec. 21)
Chatard — Defeated Mt. Vernon (Fortville) 51-43 (Dec. 18)
• Last 20 years: First meeting
• John Harrell prediction: Charlestown 55, Chatard 40.
• Sagarin projection: Charlestown by 12.
• Outlook: Chatard is a pretty good 5-6 team. This will be a challenge, but the Pirates have been meeting tough challenges all season.
• Greg’s pick: Charlestown 61, Chatard 55.

BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (1-11) AT SCOTTSBURG (8-5)
• Time: 6:45 p.m.
• Event: Donna Cheatham Classic, first round.
• Location: Charles E. Meyer Gymnasium (1 Jim Barley Way, Scottsburg)
• Coaches:
South — Larry Winters (314-186 in 23rd season at South)
Scottsburg — Carrie Daniels (16-20 in second season at Scottsburg, 119-76 in seventh season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
South — No. 180, No. 71 Class 4A
Scottsburg — No. 93, No. 25 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
South — Lost at Castle 59-29 (Dec. 18)
Scottsburg — Won at Mitchell 51-43 (Dec. 16)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• John Harrell prediction: East Central 63, Scottsburg 29.
• Sagarin projection: Scottsburg by 13.
• Outlook: This could be the Warriorettes third win over a 4A team already this season.
• Greg’s pick: Scottsburg 51, Bloomington South 44.

CORYDON CENTRAL (12-1) VS. TECUMSEH (7-4)
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Event: Niehaus Lumber Classic, first round.
• Location: Holscher Gymnasium (210 Barnett St., Vincennes)
• Coaches:
Corydon Central — Josh Conrad (22-12 in second season at Corydon Central, 141-105 in 11th season overall)
Tecumseh — Adam Lubbenhusen (101-71 in eighth season at Tecumseh)
• Rankings:
Corydon Central — No. 10 AP (Class 3A).
Tecumseh — No. 7 AP (Class A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Corydon Central — No. 53, No. 10 Class 3A
Tecumseh — No. 75, No. 3 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Corydon Central — Won at Charlestown 61-52, OT (Dec. 21)
Tecumseh — Defeated South Knox 81-48 (Dec. 20)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: The Panthers will face either Evansville Memorial (7-3) or Jasper (4-8) later Tuesday. With a win over Tecumseh, they will play at 8:30 Tuesday night. With a loss, the second game will be played at 8:30 p.m. The final round will be played Wednesday with Corydon battling either Lafayette Central Catholic (10-2), Evansville Mater Dei (6-5), MSC-rival Eastern (8-3) or the host Patriots (10-1) at 1 p.m. (seventh-place game), 2:45 p.m. (fifth place), 5 p.m. (consolation game) or 7 p.m. (championship game). All 12 games will be played at Vincennes University.
• John Harrell prediction: Corydon Central 54, Tecumseh 51.
• Sagarin projection: Corydon Central by 7.
• Outlook: Corydon is the better team, but the Panthers need to play well to win this one.
• Greg’s pick: Corydon Central 68, Tecumseh 61.

EASTERN (8-3) VS. EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (6-5)
• Time: 11:30 a.m.
• Event: Niehaus Lumber Classic, first round.
• Location: Holscher Gymnasium (210 Barnett St., Vincennes)
• Coaches:
Eastern — Michael McBride (227-118 season at Eastern)
Mater Dei — Chad Breeden (73-56 in sixth season at Mater Dei)
• Rankings:
Eastern — No. 15 AP (Class 2A).
Mater Dei — No. 16 AP (Class 2A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Eastern — No. 102, No. 17 Class 2A
Mater Dei — No. 89, No. 14 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Eastern — Defeated New Washington 56-28 (Dec. 16)
Mater Dei — Lost at Bedford North Lawrence 56-36 (Dec. 18)
• Last 20 years: 1-1. The teams split two games in 2018-19, with the Musketeers winning 41-39 in the regular season and Mater Dei winning the regional, 37-32.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 27, 2018 — Eastern 41, Mater Dei 39.
• News & notes: All 12 games in this 8-team tournament will be played at Vincennes University. The Musketeers will play Lafayette Central Catholic (10-2) or the host Patriots (10-1) in the second round. If Eastern wins the opener, it will play its second game Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. If it loses, it will play in the consolation bracket at 4 p.m. The final round is Wednesday and will be played at 1 p.m. (seventh-place game), 2:45 p.m. (fifth place), 5 p.m. (consolation game) or 7 p.m. (championship game). The Musketeers will face Evansville Memorial (7-3), Jasper (4-8), Tecumseh (7-4) or MSC-rival Corydon Central (12-1) in the final round.
• John Harrell prediction: Mater Dei 44, Eastern 41.
• Sagarin projection: Mater Dei by 3.
• Outlook: This game — more than any local game Tuesday — could go either way. It will probably be decided by one or two possessions.
• Greg’s pick: Eastern 51, Mater Dei 50.

SOUTH CENTRAL (1-8) AT WHITEFIELD ACADEMY (KY.) (9-2)
• Time: 5 p.m.
• Event: Ray Zeller Christmas Classic, first round.
• Location: Whitefield Academy (7711 Fegenbush Ln., Louisville)
• Coaches:
South Central — Lynne Thomas (4-42 in third season at South Central)
Whitefield Academy — Glenn Wathen (Coaching record unavailable)
• Most recent game:
South Central — Lost at Borden 53-32 (Dec. 22)
Whitefield Academy — Lost to Baylor (Tenn.) 36-26 (Dec. 22)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: The Rebels will play Prestonburg (Ky.) (7-2) in their second game of the tournament Wednesday. Game time is unknown.
• Outlook: Whitefield used to be one of those teams local programs added for a sure win. Apparently not anymore.
• Greg’s pick: Whitefield Academy 49, South Central 33.

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (4-8) VS. PRESTONBURG (KY.) (7-2)
• Time: 6:30 p.m.
• Event: Ray Zeller Christmas Classic, first round.
• Location: Whitefield Academy (7711 Fegenbush Ln., Louisville)
• Coaches:
CAI — Carson Casey (12-43 in third season at CAI)
Prestonburg — Brandon Kidd (Coaching record unavailable)
• Most recent game:
CAI — Won at Cannelton 55-30 (Dec. 16)
Prestonburg — Defeated Wolfe County by forfeit (Dec. 22)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: The Warriors will play Whitefield Academy (Ky.) (9-2) in their second game of the tournament Wednesday. Tip time is unknown.
• Outlook: It’s hard to know, but based on results, it appears the two Kentucky teams are the better teams in this tournament.
• Greg’s pick: Prestonburg 40, Christian Academy 35.

AUSTIN (4-8) AT BORDEN (9-5)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Borden Junior-Senior H.S. (301 West St., Borden)
• Coaches:
Austin — Jared Petersen (235-172 in 17th season at Austin)
Borden — Matt Vick (43-61 in fifth season at Borden)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Austin — No. 200, No. 44 Class 2A
Borden — No. 309, No. 55 Class A
• Most recent game:
Austin — Won at Clarksville 65-18 (Dec. 16)
Borden — Defeated South Central 53-32 (Dec. 22)
• Last 20 years: Austin 1-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 3, 2004 — At Austin 63, Borden 41.
• John Harrell prediction: Austin 51, Borden 34.
• Sagarin projection: Austin by 14.
• Outlook: Austin is better than its record and playing much better basketball.
• Greg’s pick: Austin 49, Borden 40.

CRAWFORD COUNTY (4-10) AT HENRYVILLE (5-7)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Furnish Gym, Henryville H.S. (213 N. Ferguson St., Henryville)
• Coaches:
Crawford County — Christopher Broughton (115-92 in ninth season at Crawford County)
Henryville — Tuesday Guernsey (20-34 in third season at Henryville)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Crawford County — No. 212, No. 48 Class 2A
Henryville — No. 334, No. 84 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Crawford County — Lost at Floyd Central 49-28 (Dec. 23)
Henryville — Defeated South Decatur 28-27 (Dec. 22)
• Last 20 years: Crawford County 7-5. The Wolfpack have won 6 in a row over Henryville.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 5 — Crawford County 68, Henryville 37 (Paoli Sectional semifinal)
• John Harrell prediction: Crawford County 52, Henryville 27.
• Sagarin projection: Crawford County by 19.
• Outlook: Crawford should continue its dominance of the Hornets.
• Greg’s pick: Crawford County 55, Henryville 39.

WEST WASHINGTON (9-4) AT SHOALS (3-9)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Shoals H.S. Auxiliary Gym (7900 US Hwy. 50, Shoals)
• Coaches:
West Washington — Matthew Myers (17-19 in second season at West Washington)
Shoals — Kyle Turpin (11-46 in third season at Shoals)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
West Washington — No. 263, No. 38 Class A
Shoals — No. 314, No. 57 Class A
• Most recent game:
West Washington — Defeated Springs Valley 41-40 (Dec. 21)
Shoals — Defeated Borden 52-40 (Dec. 16)
• Last 20 years: West Washington 10-6. The Senators have won 10 consecutive games against Shoals.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 30 — At West Washington 51, Shoals 22.
• John Harrell prediction: West Washington 42, Shoals 35.
• Sagarin projection: West Washington by 5.
• Outlook: The Jug Rox are dangerous. They just beat Borden 12 days ago. But West Washington should win this if it plays well.
• Greg’s pick: West Washington 49, Shoals 38.

→ Discuss this postCategory: Game Previews