1. Wayne (16-4)
Conference Record: 8-1
SAC Rank: 1st
Last Game: 55-51 win over Concordia
Next Game: vs Canterbury (Feb. 23)
Sectional: New Haven (Feb. 28)
To start off the new year this Wayne Generals squad had a very rough stretch doing three straight games including a 22-point loss to Norwell. At that point, some questions were raised on whether or not the Generals could meet expectations this season. Well, they haven’t lost since, winning each of their last eight contests and claiming their first outright conference title since 1976. And to just show how remarkable this eight-game winning streak is, the Generals had not won more than a total of eight games in each of their past three seasons. In fact, their 16 wins match their best win total since 2000(the other season being 2017-18), and with one regular season game still to play and the postseason looming they still can add to that total. This outstanding season has been led by a core group of guys with some elite scorers in Jevon Lewis(16 PPG), Chase Barnes(13.6 PPG), and Monte Smith Jr(11.2 PPG). There have also been guys who get it done in so many different ways both scoring and rebounding the basketball with HJ Dillard(9.7 PPG & 9.6 RPG) and Preston Comer(6.5 PPG & 7.6 RPG) making big impacts. But overall it’s pretty clear Jevon Lewis has been the most impactful player on this squad not just with his 16 points a game but also how he facilitates the offense so well with 6.5 assists a game and he can create some havoc defensively with 1.9 steals a game. Next week Lewis and this Generals squad will be chasing their first sectional title since 1984.
2. Concordia (15-6)
Conference Record: 7-2
SAC Rank: 2nd
Last Game: 51-46 win over Homestead
Next Game: vs Columbia City (Feb. 24)
Sectional: Leo (Mar. 1)
After taking back-to-back close losses last week the Cadets bounced back very well beating two of the best teams in the area in Norwell and Homestead. The win over Norwell was led by Ajani Washington as he put up 28 points for the Cadets in a 62-52 victory. Then against Homestead the Cadets had a very balanced attack with Joe Tapp, Cole Hayworth, Grant Hayworth, Ajani Washington, Avery Cook, and Alan Ter Molen scoring five points or more. Tapp led the Cadets in scoring with 13. The win gave the Cadets second place in the SAC this season. They will now look to close out the regular season strong against Columbia City before entering the postseason.
3. Homestead (16-5)
Conference Record: 7-2
SAC Rank: 3rd
Last Game: 51-46 loss against Concordia
Next Game: @ Norwell (Feb. 24)
Sectional: Huntington North (Feb. 28)
Last week the Spartans got two wins including a win over rival Carroll, each of those wins was led by Will Jamison as he scored 33 against East Noble and 26 against the Chargers. Then earlier this week the story flipped for Jamison as he was faced with foul trouble with three fouls in just the first six minutes against Concordia. Without Jamison, the Spartans very much struggled from the field as they shot 35% overall and just 14% from beyond the three-point line. Even through the loss, John Parent played possibly his best game of the year scoring 11 points at a perfect 5/5 clip while also getting six rebounds along with having an impressive impact defensively. The Spartans will get a chance to get back on the right track before the postseason when they face Norwell.
4. Carroll (12-9)
Conference Record: 6-3
SAC Rank: 4th
Last Game: 74-62 loss against North Central
Next Game: @ Warsaw (Feb. 24)
Sectional: North Side (Feb. 28)
The Chargers have had a rough going their last three outings falling in each by double-digit points but to give them credit the three losses are to some very talented squads. The lone SAC loss in the bunch was to the Homestead Spartans as the Chargers fell 69-55. For about the first half and half of the third quarter, Carroll was in control of the ball game but the Spartans just took over in the last 12 minutes. In the first half of that game, Jaxon Pardon scored 20 points but then was held to just seven in the second half which even still adds up to an incredible 27-point performance. The Chargers’ schedule won’t get much easier for the remainder as they face Warsaw to close out the regular season before facing North Side next week in sectionals.
5. North Side (12-8)
Conference Record: 6-3
SAC Rank: 5th
Last Game: 58-55 win over Luers
Next Game: @ SB Washington (Feb. 23)
Sectional: Carroll (Feb. 28)
The Legends closed out SAC play with back-to-back wins that they were able to close out down the stretch. Jaxon Fugate had an impressive game against the Knights as he scored 21 points along with six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Tae Johnson also had another great game with 19 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Bohde Dickerson was another impact player with 12 points and eight boards. The Legends will now close out the regular season by taking on South Bend Washington which is currently ranked within the top 40 in the state according to Sagarin.
6. Bishop Luers (9-14)
Conference Record: 3-6
SAC Rank: 7th
Last Game: 84-58 win over New Haven
Sectional: Bye (Will play the winner of Adams Central and Whitko on Mar. 3)
The Knights closed out their regular season strong with two straight wins this past week. First, they beat Bellmont by 7 and then followed that up with an impressive 26-point win over New Haven. Demarcus Barr had a great game against the Bulldogs as he put up 27 points in the win. Danny Kelly and Nic Thompson also got to double digits. Isaac Zay was big on the glass with nine rebounds along with six points and five assists. The Knights now move to the postseason as they will face the winner of Adams Central and Whitko next Friday.
7. Bishop Dwenger (9-13)
Conference Record: 3-6
SAC Rank: 6th
Last Game: 49-41 win against Bellmont
Sectional: Angola (Feb. 28)
The Saints had a very strong finish to the regular season winning each of their last three games. The first was a 10-point win over Leo that was then followed up by a three-point win in overtime against Northrop. To close out the regular season the Saints beat Bellmont by 8 points. The Saints will now move towards the postseason as their journey starts against Angola next Tuesday.
8. Northrop (4-17)
Conference Record: 2-7
SAC Rank: 8th
Last Game: 54-51 OT loss against Dwenger
Next Game: @ Blackhawk (Feb. 23)
Sectional: Bye (Will play the winner of Dekalb and East Noble on Mar. 3)
The Bruins took a tough loss in their last outing falling to Bishop Dwenger by just three points in overtime. They will now face Blackhawk to close out their regular season before getting set for the postseason which they will have a bye and will await the winner of Dekalb versus East Noble.
9. South Side (4-18)
Conference Record: 2-7
SAC Rank: 9th
Last Game: 92-46 loss against Lawrence North
Next Game: @ New Haven (Feb. 23)
Sectional: Bye (Will play winner of Wayne and New Haven on Mar. 3)
Last week South Side picked up a SAC victory beating the Snider Panthers in a high-scoring affair 80-78. That feeling though was short-lived for the Archers as they ran into the Lawrence North Wildcats the next day. The Archers will now face New Haven to close out the regular season before gearing up for postseason play.
10. Snider (3-18)
Conference Record: 1-8
SAC Rank: 10th
Last Game: 80-78 loss against South Side
Next Game: vs Marion (Feb. 24)
Sectional: Bye (Will face the winner of North Side and Carroll on Mar. 3)
The Panthers took a tough loss in their last SAC regular season game falling to the Archers by just two points. Next, they will get the Marion Giants to close out their regular season. As for the postseason the Panthers have a bye and no matter what will be playing a SAC opponent on March 3rd as they will await the winner of North Side versus Carroll.
