For the first time this season, boys basketball games get underway for most of the 260 area schools in the state of Indiana. From here on out, what I will do is I will showcase the 5 best area girls and the 5 best boys’ basketball games in the Fort Wayne area. These games will have me talking briefly about each matchup, select players to watch, and give out a fun but educated prediction. To make things more interesting, I will take a page out of the playbook, and use the “undercard”.
As I talk about these games, I ask that you think of Homestead’s Will Jamison in your thoughts and prayers.
Girls’ Basketball
Tonight
2A #13 Eastside (5-0) @ 2A #6 Bishop Luers (3-0)
Series: 3-1 Luers
This is the NECC Game of the Week across the area, and on Around the Northeast Corner as the Blazers and Knights square off in Fort Wayne. The key matchup coming into this game is Eastside’s press against the size and athleticism of Bishop Luers.
Odds are that Addie Shank will have a solid performance just because it is Addie Shank. But for Luers to be successful tonight, they will need her to be the best player on the floor, they will need Miley Wareing to continue her strong sophomore season with an average of 13 points and 14 rebounds per game, and they will need Annika Davis to have a solid game shooting and facilitating the basketball.
For Eastside, they will need a solid night defending the rim and shooting the basketball due to fact that Luers is by far Eastside’s toughest test of the season in terms of defending and scoring around the rim. I think Luers has improved this season as well and will do just enough to get by with a win.
Players to Watch
Eastside: Paige Traxler Junior Shooting Guard
Luers: Addie Shank Senior Power Forward (Huntington U. Commit)
Luers by 3
Tues: Carroll (1-4) @ East Noble (5-1)
Series in the last 20 Years: 26-4 Carroll
While the records look drastically different, this is 100% a trap game for East Noble. You cannot take Carroll lightly in this matchup due to the high potential of shooting the basketball led by Ava Myers and Jersey Paul, and the tremendous post presence from sophomore Lily George. I am excited to see how freshman Elli Will matches up with George down low.
East Noble had a nice week where they beat Concordia in OT 64-58 (thanks to 19 points from Averi Amstutz, and a buzzer beating 3 from Will to force OT), as well as a 56-42 win @ North Side. The Big Blue Pit should be rocking tonight in Kendallville. But for me, it really comes down to which team makes the fewest mistakes and who can make their shots. I think Carroll, despite their issues with depth and some inexperience, has a little more upside in shooting the basketball. But I think East Noble’s defense does just enough to preserve a close win.
Players to Watch
Carroll: Ava Myers Sophomore Shooting Guard
EN: Rian David Freshman Shooting Guard
East Noble by 2
Friday
3A #15 Jay County (3-2) @ Woodlan (4-0)
Series: 12-2 Jay County
ACAC play will get underway on Friday with this classic post-Thanksgiving matchup in Woodburn. The Lady Patriots have owned the ACAC since joining the conference nearly a decade ago. In fact, Jay has not lost a conference game since all the way back to Nov. 29, 2019, a 55-51 Woodlan home win (That does not include ACAC Tourney play).
While we expect the Patriots to still be in the hunt, this is not the same team from a year ago. Woodlan is off to their best start in a decade, and Coach Dave Randall has helped this program pick things up right where they left off last season under now-retired Head Coach Gary Cobb.
For Woodlan to win this game, they need a strong defensive showing led by Alyssa Anderson who is averaging a double-double as a sophomore (15.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game). The Kneubuhler sisters (Taylor and Brooke) combine for 22.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 5 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game.
However, stopping Jay County will require containing the freshman sensation Hallie Schwieterman (Sister of Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodon, the ACAC’s all-time leading scorer, and Jay County Grad Renna Schwieterman). Until someone beats them, you can’t ever rule them out.
Players to Watch
Jay: Hallie Schwieterman Freshman Combo Guard
Woodlan: Brooke Kneubuhler Junior Guard
Jay County by 2 in a SuperSam Upset Special!
Saturday
Fishers (4-2) @ 4A #7 Snider (6-1)
Series: 2-1 Snider
In a rematch of last year’s 67-66 loss to Fishers in semistate, Snider wants to come with a sense of something to prove to let the rest of the state know that they are in the mix for a run at a state title. Despite the 54-40 loss at Columbia City, Snider led by 22 points from Zyann Phinezy dominated to an 82-32 win over North Central (Indianapolis).
This game will come down to defense and converting on high percentage scoring chances, which was something they were not able to do in the CC game. Fishers is coming off a heartbreaking 52-51 road loss at the hands of Westfield. Junior Allison Scheu does a little bit of everything for the Tigers averaging 12.5 points, 5.2 boards. 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Knowing what happened last season, I have Snider avenging their loss.
Players to Watch:
Fishers: Morgan Roberts Senior Shooting Guard
Snider: Jordyn Poole Senior Point Guard (Purdue Commit)
Snider by 6
4A #5 Columbia City (5-0) vs 4A #1 Hamilton Southeastern (5-0) @ Brownsburg
Series: First Meeting
For those that don’t know, Columbia City is taking part in the 4th annual Sneakers-4-Santa Shootout where 12 schools across the entire state will take part in a slate of 6 games that will be played throughout that day.
Because of this, they will get to play the almighty Hamilton Southeastern Royals that are led by the Indiana Hoosier commit Maya Makalusky who is averaging all-star numbers with 29.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.4 steals per game shooting 55% from the floor and 44% from 3.
Columbia City despite impressive wins over Snider and Valparaiso will be heavily tested like they haven’t had all season long to this point. HSE is a state contender for a reason, and with that I give the edge to the Royals.
Players to Watch
Columbia City: Addison Baxter Junior Point Guard (Butler Commit)
HSE: Maya Makalusky Junior Shooting Guard/Small Forward (Indiana Commit)
HSE by 5
Undercard (Girls)
Tues: Blackhawk (4-2) @ Bishop Dwenger (3-3): Blackhawk by 5
Tues: Garrett (2-2) @ Angola (1-3): Angola by 6
Tues. Wayne (2-4) @ Fremont (1-4): Wayne by 8
Tues: Norwell (4-2) @ Concordia (1-3): Norwell by 18
Friday: Northrop (3-1) @ DeKalb (5-0): Northrop by 20
Boys’ Basketball
Wednesday
Carroll @ Norwell
Series in the last 35 Years: 24-15 Carroll
A strong matchup to open the season between an experienced Carroll team that has Jaxon Pardon and Cannen Houser, and a young but talented Norwell team that has Cohen Bailey and Ashton Federspiel (both having 3 years of varsity experience). Federspiel is a guy that can really dominate the paint and Bailey can let it fly from deep.
The key here is Adam McBride who will be promoted from JV to varsity in his junior season, and it should be interesting to see how he performs on a much larger role this season. Norwell loses a deep Senior class led by the now Bethel Pilot Luke McBride (Norwell’s all-time leading scorer), but they should still be a solid team.
But in this contest, I think Carroll sort of like last season takes care of business in a close one.
Players to Watch
Carroll: Jaxon Pardon Senior Combo Guard (Bowling Green Commit)
Norwell: Ashton Federspiel Senior Power Forward/Center
Carroll by 6
Columbia City @ Whitko
Series in the last 35 years: 24-22 Columbia City
This is the NE8 Game of the Week on Around the Northeast Corner for boys’ basketball and it’s a strong traditional rivalry in the Eel River rivalry series between two Whitley County rivals. Columbia City is coming off a successful 22-23 season going 13-11 led by now Bethel Pilot Andrew Hedrick.
Despite graduation eating up some of that offensive talent from a year ago, they do have some guys back that can be big time performers. Obviously Stratton Fuller is a start, but they do have a nice group with the likes of Aiden Denning, Brady Hartman, Matt Mulligan, Cayden Kauffman, and Owen Marshall.
Whitko under former Columbia City Coach Chris Benedict was extremely young in 2022-23 as they were just 5-18 that season. But as I mentioned, they were young so they bring most of that team back led by the talented senior shooting guard Kyler Krull who averaged 18.9 points and 6.7 boards. They also add a transfer from Central Noble in senior forward Sam Essegian, who averaged roughly 8 points per game last season as a junior in Albion.
While he is the younger brother to the star player of the Wisconsin Badgers Connor Essegian, Sam plays a different style of game that makes him stand out and should be a nice addition on both ends of the floor for the Cats.
The question will be can the Cats improve defensively against an athletic and quick Columbia City team that can rebound, and they are capable of making some threes. I say Columbia City finds a way to start the season 1-0, but it should be closer this time.
Players to Watch
CC: Aiden Denning Senior Shooting Guard
Whitko: Kyler Krull Senior Shooting Guard
Columbia City by 8
Woodlan @ New Haven
Series in the last 35 years: 24-15 Woodlan
Last season’s meeting went down to the wire resulting in a last-second bucket from Trey Yoder to beat the Bulldogs 68-66. Woodlan returns most of that team from last season’s 19-6 squad and should be one of the 2 front runners in that ACAC conference race. Him and Braden Smith are one of the area’s best duos that we have for this season.
New Haven still has a lot of talent. However, graduation did take a hit with the loss of the program’s number 2 all-time leading scorer in Darrion Brooks, as well as JoJo Robertson, and sophomore Korbyn Hammel transferred to Kokomo.
James Hardy IV will be a strong help in the post, especially with his abilities that he showed on the football field as a tight end and linebacker. Concordia transfer Ajani Washington will obviously be the main vocal point of this offense and is a big time talent. Sophomore Jadrien Ezell and Seniors Chris Stewart and Devin White are other players the coaching staff is excited.
With that being said, I see the Woodlan Warriors coming out with a hard-fought victory.
Players to Watch:
Woodlan: Trey Yoder Junior Combo Forward
New Haven: Ajani Washington Senior Combo Guard
Woodlan by 4
Saturday
East Noble @ Lakeland
Series in the last 35 years: 33-12 East Noble
This is the NECC Game of the Week for boys’ basketball, and this should be a good one deep in the heart of LaGrange as the Lakers will actually open their season in this game due to NorthWood playing at Lucas Oil Stadium in football. While the Lakers graduated a good senior class led by Ben Keil (who is now a student athlete playing golf at UIndy), they bring back a boat load of talent to choose from led by Nate Keil, the senior shooting guard for Lakeland. This sophomore class is extremely talented in case you have not figured that out on the football field.
But so is East Noble with the likes of Mason Treesh, Landon Swogger, Kobe Ritchie, and Ryker Quake. This EN team has the pieces to really ascend into contention in 2023-24, but they will need to play well and get stops consistently on defense. Staying healthy will also be a crucial point for EN as Brandon Durnell’s program wants to be 7-8 man deep on the varsity roster.
This game will either be a defensive battle or an offensive clinic. Either way, I give the slight edge to Lakeland.
Players to Watch:
EN: Mason Treesh Sophomore Shooting Guard
Lakeland: Kyle Hartsough Sophomore Point Guard
Lakeland by 2
Westview @ Northridge
Series in the last 35 years: 21-17 Northridge
This is a tremendous rivalry over in Middlebury between two basketball powerhouses. Chandler Prible did a remarkable job in his first season at Westview leading the Warriors to a 17-9 record and a sectional championship.
Despite the graduation of 1000-point scorer Brady Yoder, Westview returns a plethora of talent including the likes of Wiley Minix, who could be an early candidate for NECC Player of the Year, Luke Helmuth (Westview’s Swiss Army Knife), Owen Brill, and Wade Springer. They also add two transfers in Karl Grau’s son Kaden Grau (Bluffton Transfer) and Wyatt Zepp (Northridge transfer).
But as you know, the Raiders are always talented and will be a tough team to beat on their home floor. They’re going to be young this season but with talent. 6’5 center Brady Scholl, point guard Cole Miller, forward James Cranston, point guard Mason Bales, and point guard Kam Radeker. But, in Westview fashion, I see the Warriors ending this week on an unbeaten streak.
Players to Watch
Westview: Wiley Minix Senior Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Northridge: Kam Radeker Junior Point Guard
Westview by 4
Undercard (Boys)
Tues: DeKalb @ Northrop: Northrop by 5
Tues: East Noble @ West Noble: EN by 1
Tues: Wawasee @ Fairfield: Wawasee by 2
Wed: Central Noble @ Canterbury: Canterbury by 6
Sat: Prairie Heights @ Garrett: Garrett by 3
