1. Homestead(11-1)
Conference Record: 3-0
SAC Rank: T-1
Last Game: 49-31 win over Wawasee
Next Game: vs Blackhawk(Jan. 10)
The Spartans have been a dominant force all season as they have only dropped one game which was against Munster and they have done all of this without being at full health yet this season. In their next outing against Blackhawk Christian they will be at full strength for the first time this year as they will pair a top backcourt duo in the conference of Will Jamison and Kyron Kaopuiki with the frontcourt duo of Tucker Day and Grant Leeper for the first time this season. Kaopuiki and Jamison have become proven scorers for this squad combining for over 35 points a game. Even though this team has played very well all season and sits unbeaten in conference its not clear yet if they will be able to run away with the SAC crown as they had near slip ups against both South Side and Dwenger earlier this year. The story of this SAC season coming in was that it might be the most competitive it has been since Homestead and Carroll joined the conference and so far it has lived up to expectations as anyone can compete with anyone on any given night in SAC play.
2. North Side(8-4)
Conference Record: 3-0
SAC Rank: T-1
Last Game: 81-73 win over Wayne
Next Game: vs Canterbury(Jan. 10)
The Legends got a big win last Friday against a Wayne team that was on a roll heading into the game to still control their own destiny in the race for the SAC crown. In the win over the Generals Brashawn Brassett led the way with a very efficient 27 points on 9/12 shooting. Tae Johnson also had another big performance with 21 points and 5 rebounds. Bohde Dickerson was also making some hustle plays for the Legends with 6 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. The Legends slate this upcoming week appears to be two very winnable games with Canterbury on Tuesday and Northrop on Friday but they will need to avoid looking ahead to the game a week from this Friday against Homestead as the Bruins have shown their capabilities this season as they sit with a 2-1 record in conference play.
3. Wayne(8-3)
Conference Record: 2-1
SAC Rank: T-3
Last Game: 52-49 loss against Indy Tech
Next Game: @ Norwell(Jan. 10)
Wayne started off their season strong with an 8-1 record which was the best start this century for a Generals squad. Since they had dropped two straight losses the first being against North Side and the next being what some would consider a let down game the next day falling against Indy Tech. On the year for the Generals they have had three double digit scorers in Jevon Lewis, Chase Barnes, and Monte Smith Jr. HJ Dillard is 0.5 a point shy of double digits with 9.5 PPG but he also is big on the glass with 10.4 rebounds a game. Unfortunately for the Generals the schedule doesn’t get much easier this week as they will have the tough task of snapping their two game slide against Norwell Tuesday before facing Dwenger on Friday for another SAC test.
4. Carroll(4-3)
Conference Record: 1-2
SAC Rank: 7th
Last Game: 51-49 win over Dwenger
Next Game: vs DeKalb(Jan. 10)
A 4-3 record doesn’t look bad but it doesn’t look great either for Carroll it is a complete misrepresentation. This squad has picked up some big wins such as beating Norwell, Hamilton SE, and Dwenger while suffering some close losses. Those close losses were all in a row first they fell to Concordia as Avery Cook buried two free throws with zeros on the clock to win, next they fell to Columbia City as the Eagles got a miracle 3 quarters court heavy from Stratton Fuller to fall in while he has falling down in overtime, finally they fell to Wayne in overtime 66-64 as they couldn’t get a three to fall in the final seconds. So clearly it is unreasonable to judge Carroll as just a 4-3 team as they have been right there with every team they have faced off against so far this season. Since dropping those three straight games they have bounced back with two wins, the first of which was a dominant 69-46 win over Hamilton SE before sneaking past Dwenger 51-49. They will now try and carry the momentum forward against DeKalb.
5. Bishop Luers(5-7)
Conference Record: 2-1
SAC Rank: T-3
Last Game: 49-48 win over Concordia
Next Game: vs Carroll(Jan. 13)
In their last outing the Knights were able to get an impressive win over Concordia to snap a 5 game slide and improve to 2-1 in conference play. In the win over the Cadets Cadell Wallace put up 12 points and 5 assists as Isaac Zay was another key piece with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. On the season it has been Wallace leading the way with 16.5 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.1 steals a game. Now the Knights will face another difficult test in the SAC on Friday against Carroll.
6. Concordia(6-4)
Conference Record: 2-1
SAC Rank: T-3
Last Game: 58-46 loss against Blackhawk
Next Game: @ South Side(Jan. 13)
The Cadets have now played 3 SAC games and those three have been decided by a combined 5 points 3 of which come from a 47-44 win against Dwenger in OT so through regulation their 3 SAC games have been decided by just 2 points. Complete insanity for the Cadets as they have been the perfect example of just how exciting SAC basketball is this season. Outside of SAC play the Cadets have struggled a little bit dropping games against some of the best in the state in a less than pleasurable fashion such as a 70-41 loss against NorthWood or a 66-49 loss against Lawrence North, but they have also got some nice wins in out of conference games such as a 10 point win over New Haven. The Junior guard Ajani Washington has been leading the way with 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals a game. On Friday the Cadets will look to bounce back against a South Side Archers team that as of late has proven they can not be taken lightly.
7. South Side(2-9)
Conference Record: 0-3
SAC Rank: T-8
Last Game: 86-81 win over Marion
Next Game: vs Concordia(Jan. 13)
After an 0-8 start to the year the Archers have been very impressive in each of their last three games going 2-1 in that stretch. The first got a 43-38 win over Blackford which followed up by going into Spartan Arena and giving the Spartans a scare even holding a lead late in the 4th but falling just short 44-41. They then bounced back the next day with a big 86-81 win over Marion. The key to their success over the last three games? Mostly their effort defensively making it difficult for opponents to even get it across half court has allowed them to play with more confidence and aggression leading to more success. Up next is a chance for their first SAC win of the year against Concordia.
8. Dwenger(1-9)
Conference Record: 0-3
SAC Rank: T-8
Last Game: 51-49 loss against Carroll
Next Game: @ New Haven(Jan. 11)
The Saints are another team in this conference that has fallen victim to the fact that their record does not match them as a team. In their three SAC games they lost to both Carroll and Homestead by just 2 points while also suffering a 3 point loss to Concordia in overtime. The Saints squad has been led by Stellan Ruston and Preston Ross this season. They will now look to snap what has become a 7 game slide when they face New Haven on Wednesday and on Friday they will be looking for their first conference win against Wayne.
9. Northrop(3-8)
Conference Record: 2-1
SAC Rank: T-3
Last Game: 74-46 loss against Kokomo
Next Game: @ North Side(Jan. 13)
Even with a rough going so far for the Bruins this season they have managed to have a 2-1 record in conference play which is good for being tied for 3rd in the SAC right now. Those two conference wins came against South Side and Snider. Dalman Alexander and Jayden Schmenk have been the leaders for Northrop this year. The Bruins will next face the North Side Legends on Friday.
10. Snider(1-10)
Conference Record: 0-3
SAC Rank: T-8
Last Game: 61-57 loss against Northrop
Next Game: vs Homestead(Jan. 13)
The Panthers have struggled this season after opening up the year with a win they have dropped 10 straight. They have played some closely contested battles though such as their 4 point loss to Northrop. They will now have the difficult challenge of snapping their streak against the Homestead Spartans on Friday.
