By GREG MENGELT

The Hoosier Hills Hoops Boys’ Power Poll is a weekly feature each Sunday, ranking the top girls’ teams in Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott and Washington counties.

1. Floyd Central (10-2, Last week: 1). Anyone with a vote care to explain to me why the Highlanders are getting zero votes in the AP poll? This week: At Seymour (Friday), hosts Reitz (Saturday).

2. North Harrison (10-3, 2). The Cougars bounced back from a loss to No. 1 Floyd by beating two opponents on the road by a combined 86 points. This week: Hosts West Washington (Friday), at Madison (Tuesday).

3. Eastern (13-2, 3). The Musketeers have already surpassed last year’s win total. This week: At Springs Valley (Friday), hosts Salem (Saturday).

4. New Albany (7-5, 4). The Bulldogs are suddenly hot, having won five of their last six games. This week: At Evansville North (Friday), Jasper (Saturday).

5. Silver Creek (6-7, 5). The Dragons have five straight home games. This is a chance for Creek to start putting fear into postseason opponents’ hearts like they did the last three years. This week: Hosts Madison (Friday), hosts Bloomington South (Saturday).

6. Corydon Central (10-6, 8). Pretty easy week for the Panthers. It gets much tougher from here. This week: At Paoli (Friday), hosts Brownstown Central (Saturday).

7. Scottsburg (9-6, 6). It’s been a tough stretch for the Warriors. Perhaps it’s good they have two weeks off. Next game: At Bloomington South (Feb. 3).

8. Rock Creek (6-6, 9). The Lions beat Providence on the road. Now that’s a quality win. This week: At South Central (Tuesday), hosts Highlands Latin (Ky.) (Friday).

9. Providence (11-4, 7). So the Pioneers lost a game they were expected to win. Happens to good teams from time to time. This week: At Christian Academy (Friday).

10. Borden (10-5, 11). The Braves already clinched their first SAC title since 2015 with a win at Henryville. They finished at the very bottom of the standings the last two years. It’s their first conference title since 2015. This week: Hosts Orleans (Friday), hosts Christian Academy (Saturday).

11. Jeffersonville (3-8, 10). Jeff really, really needed that win over East on Saturday. This week: Hosts Bedford North Lawrence (Friday).

12. Christian Academy (6-8, 12). The young Warriors are going through some ups and down. This week: Hosts Providence (Friday), at Borden (Saturday).

13. Austin (3-8, 13). Just when the Eagles started playing better, the rug was pulled out from under them. This week: At Brownstown Central (Tuesday), at Salem (Friday).

14. West Washington (4-9, NR). We were pretty sure the Senators were a top-15 team, but the results hadn’t showed it till recently. This week: At North Harrison (Friday), hosts Shawe (Saturday).

15. South Central (4-8, NR): The Rebels have a chance to climb the poll (or fall out of it) with games against three Clark County teams this week. This week: Hosts Rock Creek (Tuesday), at Henryville (Friday), hosts Clarksville (Saturday).

NOTE: The Hoosier Hills Hoops Power Poll is not only based upon which teams beat which teams but is a combination of play on the floor, how teams match up with their current class and what expectations are for a team’s postseason run.

By GREG MENGELT

The Hoosier Hills Hoops Girls’ Power Poll is a weekly feature each Sunday, ranking the top girls’ teams in Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott and Washington counties.

1. Silver Creek (20-1, Last Week: No. 1). Another phenomenal regular season for the Dragons, even if they lose to East on Tuesday. This week: At Columbus East (Tuesday).

2. Corydon Central (18-2, 2). The Panthers have been the surprise success story of 2021-22. Not a surprise that they were good. It is a surprise that they’re THIS good though. This week: At Crawford County (Thursday), at Madison (Friday).

3. Lanesville (21-1, 3). Looks like some special days are in the Eagles’ near future. This week: At Scottsburg (Friday).

4. Charlestown (16-5, 4). Seriously, is there another area in the state (besides Indy, obviously) where the fourth-best team is as good as the Pirates? This week: At Seymour (Tuesday).

5. Salem (10-67, 5). The Lions are certainly battle-tested by this point. Incredibly tough schedule they faced. This week: At Bedford North Lawrence (Tuesday), hosts Austin (Thursday).

6. Scottsburg (10-9, 6). Last week, the Warriorettes lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. This is a program on the rise back to the top. This week: At Jeffersonville (Tuesday), hosts Paoli (Thursday), hosts Lanesville (Friday).

7. Eastern (11-10, 7). The Musketeers are playing well and look like sectional favorites next week. This week: At Paoli (Tuesday), at Henryville (Thursday).

8. Jeffersonville (9-7, 8). Road wins on back-to-back days is exactly what the Red Devils needed. This week: Hosts Scottsburg (Tuesday).

9. Floyd Central (7-13, 10). The Highlanders have been quite good since late December. This week: Hosts Jennings County (Tuesday), at Providence (Thursday).

10. New Washington (11-9, 15). The Mustangs had their 6-game winning streak snapped, but they played awfully well against Jeff. Up five sports for New Wash. This week: At Crothersville (Tuesday), hosts South Central (Thursday).

11. West Washington (12-6, 9). After a 6-game winning streak, the Senators did not have a good week last week. This week: At Borden (Tuesday).

12. Austin (6-10, 11). The Eagles were playing well. Then another pause. Tough year, especially for the seniors. This week: Hosts Orleans (Tuesday), at Salem (Thursday).

13. North Harrison (9-10, 12). This is not a good time for a 6-game losing streak. This week: Hosts Brownstown Central (Thursday), at Evansville North (Saturday).

14. Rock Creek (7-8, 13). Hopefully the Lions get to play this week. The virus has cost them any semblance of momentum. This week: At St. Francis (Ky.) (Monday), hosts South Central (Thursday).

15. Borden (12-8, 14). The Braves have a chance to have a 4-game winning steak heading into the sectional. This week: Hosts West Washington (Tuesday), hosts Springs Valley (Thursday).

NOTE: The Hoosier Hills Hoops Power Poll is not only based upon which teams beat which teams but is a combination of play on the floor, how teams match up with their current class and what expectations are for a team’s postseason run.

By GREG MENGELT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Romeo Langford scored three points and the Boston Celtics snapped a 3-game losing streak with a 116-87 win at the Capital One Center on Sunday afternoon.

Langford, a former New Albany and Indiana University standout, hit a 3-pointer on his on field goal attempt in 8 minutes. His basket came with 28.3 left in the contest.

Jayson Tatum had the third-highest point total of his career with 51 points. He also had 10 rebounds and seven assists in the win. Jaylen Brown added 18 points and 10 boards as Boston returns to .500 at 24-24.

Bradley Beal (23-24) led Washington, which shot just 35.5 percent (33 of 93), with 19 points. The Celtics are currently a half-game ahead of Washington and the New York Knicks for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Boston hosts Sacramento (18-30) on Tuesday.

By GREG MENGELT

LOUISVILLE — Bellarmine outscored Jacksonville 13-10 in overtime Saturday for a 76-73 victory at Freedom Hall. The win is the Knights’ fifth straight and ninth victory in their last 11 games.

The Dolphins led 73-70 with 36 seconds left in OT before senior guard Dylan Penn hit a 3-pointer, was fouled and completed his 4-point play at the free throw line with 23.5 seconds remaining.

Senior Juston Betz’s deflection — and CJ Fleming’s subsequent free throws — with 5.7 seconds left sealed the victory. The Knights are now 11-8 overall and 5-0 in the Atlantic Sun.

Penn (Evansville/Memorial), who also tied the game with a floater in the lane with 21.3 seconds left in regulation, finished with 29 points and five assists. Fleming added 25 and seven rebounds. Betz, a Providence graduate, had four points, seven rebounds and the key defensive play of the contest.

Kevion Nolan had 21 points, four rebounds and four assists for Jacksonville, which is now 11-6 overall and 3-2 in the conference.

The Knights have a big showdown for first place Monday when they go to Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks are 12-6 overall and, like Bellarmine, are 5-0 in the A-Sun. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the contest can be seen on ESPN Plus. It’s the first of three straight road games for Bellarmine.

By GREG MENGELT

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Former New Albany star Josh Jefferson had a bit off an off night shooting, but it didn’t matter. His Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders outscored Southern Mississippi 44-27 in the second half of Saturday’s 74-60 victory at the Murphy Center.

Jefferson, a senior and Middle Tennessee’s leading scorer at 13.1 points per game, went 6 for 15 from the field and missed all eight of his 3-point attempts. He also had four rebounds and a steal as the Blue Raiders won their third straight game.

Middle Tennessee (12-6, 3-2 C-USA) was led in scoring Saturday by senior guard Donovan Sims with 16 points. Led by freshman guard Teafale Lenard’s 12, the Raider bench outscored the Golden Eagles’ 33-4.

Southern Miss junior forward Tyler Stevens was the game’s high scorer with 20 points. He also had 11 boards for the Eagles, who are 6-12 after suffering their fourth loss in their last five games.

Jefferson and his teammates will look to stay hot Thursday when they go to Marshall (7-12, 0-6). The Thundering Herd, who have lost nine streak games, feature on the nation’s most prolific scorers in Taevion Kinsey. The game can be seen on ESPN Plus at 7 p.m.

By GREG MENGELT

BLUFFTON, Ohio — Hanover pulled away from host Bluffton (Ohio) in the second half to stay on top of the Heartland Conference with a 67-57 victory Saturday evening at the Sommer Center.

The Panthers shot 50 percent from the field (27 of 54) and won for their sixth straight game.

Trailing 40-38 early in the second half, Hanover (13-2, 9-1 HCAC) went on a 16-6 run to take control of the contest. The Panthers increased the lead to 66-53 with 1:47 left after a 3-pointer by junior forward Ty Houston (Union, Ky./Cooper).

The Panthers were led by sophomore forward Matt Munoz (Indianapolis/Southport), who had a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds. Houston added 13 points and senior guard Isaac Hibbard (New Albany) contributed 10 points, four rebounds and four assists to the victory. Senior guard Noah Williams, a Christian Academy graduate, scored six points by going 2 for 2 from behind the 3-point arc.

Senior guard Jameel Cosby led Bluffton with 18 points. Junior guard Kegan Owen (Indianapolis/Greenwood) added 14 points off the Beavers’ bench.

The Panthers will try to make it seven in a row Wednesday when they host Rose-Hulman at 7:30 p.m. Hanover defeated the Fightin’ Engineers 73-66 on Dec. 15 in Terre Haute.