Boys Basketball
SAC BOYS BASKETBALL POWER POLL (Week 4)
1. Homestead(4-0)
Conference Record: 1-0
SAC Rank: T-1
Last Game: 60-43 win over New Haven
Next Game: @ Luers(Dec. 16)
Through the early going of the season, the Spartans have been able to take care of business fairly quickly except for their SAC opener as the Saints gave them a scare at Spartan Arena. The latest of the Spartans’ victories may have been the most impressive as the Spartans were without both Grant Leeper(on a college visit for football) and Tucker Day(foot injury) and still were able to cruise past New Haven 60-43. Alex Graber stepped up big against the Bulldogs with 9 first-quarter points that helped establish an early lead for Sparty. Kyron Kaopuiki and Will Jamison once again were big, scoring the ball as they combined for 34 points for the Spartans.
2. North Side(3-2)
Conference Record: 1-0
SAC Rank: T-1
Last Game: 60-53 win over Warsaw
Next Game: @ Snider(Dec. 16)
The Legends have quickly bounced back from an 0-2 start as they are now on a three-game win streak. The most recent came against the Warsaw Tigers as Jordan Green led the way with 30 points on 12of17 shooting. Tae Johnson also had a big impact in many ways for the Legends with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 6 steals, and 2 blocks. On the year it has been both Green and Johnson leading the way averaging 17 and 16.3 points a game. The Legends have another tough test coming up when they play the Snider Panthers on Friday.
3. Wayne(3-0)
Conference Record: 1-0
SAC Rank: T-1
Last Game: 62-57 win over Snider
Next Game: vs Fremont(Dec. 12)
The Generals program has gone through some struggles in the past couple of seasons only winning four games a year ago and being below .500 each of the last 3 seasons but that does not appear to be the case this season with a 3-0 start for the first time since 2013. There are many players contributing to the early success this season for the Generals with Jevon Lewis(15.3 PPG), Monte Smith Jr(14 PPG), and HJ Dillard(12.5 PPG and 11.5 RPG) leading the way for the Generals. In their 5-point win over Snider, Jevon Lewis led the way with 18 points and 5 boards.
4. Concordia(3-1)
Conference Record: 1-0
SAC Rank: T1
Last Game: 52-51 win over Carroll
Next Game: @ Dwenger(Dec. 16)
After suffering a 70-31 loss against NorthWood over Thanksgiving weekend the Cadets have since bounced back with two straight wins. The most recent being a big one to open up SAC play as they barely escaped against the Chargers 52-51. Avery Cook was the hero in the game for the Cadets as he knocked down three free throws with zeros on the clock to win it. On the year so far Cole Hayworth, Ajani Washington, and David Speckhard have been leading the way all averaging double-digit points on the year. The Cadets will have another SAC challenge in their next outing when they face the Saints.
5. Carroll(2-2)
Conference Record: 0-1
SAC Rank: T6
Last Game: 62-60 loss against Columbia City
Next Game: @ Wayne(Dec. 16)
The Chargers have had some thrillers just 4 games into the year with 3 games decided by 2 or less points. The Chargers have been on the wrong side of each of the last two thrillers as they fell to the Cadets 52-51 at the buzzer and fell to Columbia City in overtime on a three-quarter court buzzer beater. They will now look to bounce back from the close losses against a solid Wayne team.
6. Bishop Dwenger(0-2)
Conference Record: 0-1
SAC Rank: T6
Last Game: 50-48 loss against Homestead
Next Game: @ DeKalb(Dec. 13)
The Saints have had a very difficult schedule to start the year playing two of the best teams in the area, the Norwell Knights and Homestead Spartans. In the game against the Spartans, they battled it out even holding onto a lead late in the 4th quarter but it just wasn’t enough late as the Spartans escaped with the win. The Saints will now look to bounce back against the Barons before having another SAC test on Friday against the Concordia Cadets.
7. Bishop Luers(3-2)
Conference Record: 1-0
SAC Rank: T1
Last Game: 80-49 loss against Lawrence North
Next Game: @ Culver(Dec. 13)
The Knights have had a pretty solid start to the season overall with wins over Canterbury, Leo, and Northrop while losing to Mishawaka Marian and Lawrence North. Cadell Wallace has been the leading force with 15.4 PPG along with 4.2 assists and 2.4 steals a game. Isaac Zay is the other double-digit scorer for this squad putting up 10.8 PPG. Sophomores Danny Kelly and Demarcus Barr have also stepped up each putting up over 7.5 points a game. Kelly not only has brought in some scoring production as a sophomore but also is averaging over 7 boards a game. Now the Knights will face Culver Academy on Tuesday before going up against the Homestead Spartans on Friday.
8. South Side(0-3)
Conference Record: 0-1
SAC Rank: T6
Last Game: 77-63 loss against North Side
Next Game: vs Blackhawk(Dec. 13)
The Archers have had a difficult start to the year as they opened up their season with an overtime loss against Leo. They then fell to the South Bend Washington Panthers before dropping another one against the North Side Legends. In their next outing, the schedule doesn’t get much easier as they face Blackhawk.
9. Snider(1-2)
Conference Record: 0-1
SAC Rank: T6
Next Game: vs North Side(Dec. 16)
The Panthers started the season strong with a win over DeKalb in which Ke’ron and Ke’drell Billingsley led the way combining 31 points. The Panthers then dropped two close ones against Wayne and Mooresville. They will look to bounce back against the Legends on Friday
10. Northrop(1-3)
Conference Record: 0-1
SAC Rank: T6
Last Game: 66-54 loss against Bishop Luers
Next Game: @ Leo(Dec. 13)
The Bruins opened up the year with a close win over DeKalb 45-42. Since then the Bruins have gone on a three-game slide with losses to New Haven, Culver Academy, and Bishop Luers. They now will try and snap that streak against the Leo Lions on Tuesday.
