1. Northrop(9-1)
Conference Record: 4-0
SAC Rank: T-1
Last Game: 62-49 win over Mishawaka Marion
Next Game: @ South Side(Dec. 16)
Last week the Bruins got the signature win of the year so far in the conference dominating the Carroll Chargers 81-52. In the game the Bruins had five players reach double digits including all three Jackson sisters as Saniya, Nevaeh, and Swynn combined for 39 points. Niya Bell and Alexis Castator were the other two to reach double digits with 15 and 12. The freshman Swynn Jackson wasn’t only big scoring the ball but she also had 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 4 blocks. The Bruins then got past the Bishop Dwenger Saints with ease winning 60-15. It was the Jackson sisters once again leading the way this time combing for 36 points. After getting their third win of the season in conference play the Bruins dropped their first game of the year overall against the Noblesville Millers 59-52. They then bounced back dominating the East Noble Knights in a 50-point win in which they led 20-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Bruins then kept rolling by staying unbeaten in conference play beating the Bishop Luers Knights 67-18 along with beating one of the top teams in Class 3A the Mishawaka Marian Knights.
2. Homestead(9-2)
Conference Record: 4-0
SAC Rank: T-1
Last Game: 47-41 win over Notre Dame Academy(OH)
Next Game: @ Luers(Dec. 16)
Last week the Spartans got a big win in SAC play beating rival Carroll 60-55 in which they trailed by double digits in the first half but clawed their way back into the game. Ali Stephens stepped up big in the win with 27 points and 6 rebounds. The freshman Myah Epps was another double-digit scorer with 11. The Spartans then followed that game up with another SAC win this time much more dominant beating the Saints 57-21. The Lady Spartans then traveled out of state to Ohio to take on Notre Dame Academy in which they escaped with a win late as Stephens once again had a great performance to lead the way for Sparty.
3. Snider(9-3)
Conference Record: 3-0
SAC Rank: 3rd
Last Game: 57-51 win over Carmel
Next Game: @ East Noble(Dec. 13)
After a slow 2-3 start the Panthers have completely turned it around winning each of their last 7 games. The Panthers rolled past South Side, Merrillville, and Wayne winning each of those games by 24 points or more before being tested by Carmel in a 57-51 victory. In the win over the Greyhounds, the Panthers had four scorers with 9 points or more as Ciara Sims led the way with 19, Johnea Donahue had 14, Tia Phinezy with 10, and Jordyn Poole with 9. On the season Poole has been the leading scorer for the Panthers with 14.8 PPG with Donahue and Sims also being double-digit scorers on the year. The Panthers have also had some players come up big defensively as Donahue is averaging 5 steals a game while Phinezy gets 3.8 blocks a game. This Panthers squad had a little bit of a rough start to the season losing some close games to some solid squads but now on a seven-game win streak, they are looking like true threats in the SAC title race along with Homestead and Northrop.
4. Carroll(7-4)
Conference Record: 1-2
SAC Rank: 7th
Last Game: 68-41 win over Concordia
Next Game: @ Wayne (Dec. 16)
The Chargers opened up SAC play by playing two of the best in the conference, the Northrop Bruins and Homestead Spartans. Neither of those games went the Chargers’ way as they fell to Northrop 81-52 before dropping one to Sparty 60-55. The tough stretch of the schedule for Carroll didn’t end there as they fell to Northridge and Warsaw. After a 6-0 start to the year, the Chargers took a tough 4-game slide before turning it around with a dominant win over Concordia. In the win, Kayla Gibbs had an outstanding performance with 20 points and 6 boards. Taylor Fordyce, Lily George, and Jersey Paul also got to double digits for the Chargers. Jaidyn Fuller also had a big impact in the game doing a little bit of everything with 4 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals. The Chargers will now look to carry their momentum forward and get a second straight SAC win when they face the Wayne Generals.
5. Wayne(7-4)
Conference Record: 2-2
SAC Rank: T-4
Last Game: 67-43 loss against Snider
Next Game: vs Carroll(Dec. 16)
The Generals have had a season of streaks so far this season as they started 0-3 before going on a 7-game win streak that was just snapped by the Snider Panthers. In their win streak they weren’t just winning games they were dominating them through and through winning by an average of 25.6 points through those 7 games. The Generals’ scoring attack all year has been very balanced with six scorers averaging 6.8 PPG or more and their leading scorer Sydney Gorman averaging 11.1 PPG. The Generals have also played pretty aggressively defensively and for the most part, it has worked as both Aniah Hill and Emilia Diaz are averaging over 3 steals a game. The Generals now try to avoid going on another streak as they will face the Carroll Chargers in a chance to get a bounce-back win.
6. Bishop Dwenger(5-6)
Conference Record: 1-3
SAC Rank: 8th
Last Game: 57-21 loss against Homestead
Next Game: vs Huntington North(Dec. 14)
The Saints have struggled their last couple of games as they are currently on a four-game slide with their latest loss coming against the Homestead Spartans. The Saints will now move on and try to snap their streak against the Huntington North Vikings.
7. Bishop Luers(4-7)
Conference Record: 1-1
SAC Rank: T-4
Last Game: 67-18 loss against Northrop
Next Game: @ Homestead(Dec. 16)
The Knights are in a rough stretch right now dropping 6 out of their last 7 games after a 3-1 start to the year. On the season Addie Shank has been the leading force for this squad with 12.6 PPG and 9.1 RPG. Annika Davis has also been big for the Knights with 9.2 points a game. The Knights’ schedule doesn’t get any easier now as they will head to Spartan Arena on Friday to face off against the Spartans before heading to Snider to play the Panthers.
8. Concordia(4-8)
Conference Record: 0-4
SAC Rank: T-9
Last Game: 64-43 loss against Hamilton Heights
Next Game: @ Garrett(Dec. 15)
The Cadets have lost their last 4 games with two of those games coming down to the final seconds. The first one was a one-point loss at Wayne 60-59. Lauren Goodman and Annaka Nelson led the effort in that one combining for 33 points. The next game for the Cadets was another heartbreaker, this one coming in double overtime in a 50-47. The freshman Alivia Bolinger was the leading scorer with 15 points as Cailyn Bolinger put up 10 points.
9. North Side(2-7)
Conference Record: 1-1
SAC Rank: T-4
Last Game: 55-32 win over South Side
Next Game: vs Leo(Dec. 14)
The Legends have started to pick up some momentum now with two straight wins after an 0-7 start to the year. The first win was over New Haven 35-31 Kaleah Williams put up 14 points 4 steals and 3 rebounds to lead the way. The Legends then carried that momentum forward into a win over rival South Side. This time the Legends had 4 different double-digit scorers as Jaliyah Paige got 12 while Williams, Aubrey Bleeke, and Aniya Woodson all got 10. Once again the Legends created some havoc defensively getting 30 steals on the night with 7 from Paige along with 5 from Woodson and Williams. On the year they have averaged an impressive 22 steals a game including 6.8 a game from Williams. The Legends will try to extend the win streak to three games when they face the Leo Lions.
10. South Side(1-7)
Conference Record: 0-4
SAC Rank: T-9
Last Game: 55-32 loss against North Side
Next Game: vs Northrop(Dec. 16)
The Archers have been playing very difficult competition as of late as they find themselves on a 6 game skid. In their next outing, it won’t get any easier as they are set to face the Northrop Bruins who have been on a tear all year long.
