1. Bowman Academy (1-3)
Previous rank: 2
Last week’s results: Defeated Thornton Fractional North (IL), 100-57
Upcoming games: vs. Southport (3-3), Friday (at Indianapolis Marshall)
Remarks: Bowman lost by three to North Central, which just beat Hamilton Southeastern. Hamilton Southeastern buried Lake Central. Sure, Bowman is only 1-3, but two of the losses were against top-level Chicago teams and the third was against one of the top programs in Indiana. This is the Region’s top team. Period.
2. Andrean (5-0)
Previous rank: 4
Last week’s results: Defeated Wheeler, 87-51; defeated Kankakee Valley, 66-38
Upcoming games: vs. Lebanon (5-0), Jan. 2
Remarks: Andrean hasn’t beaten anybody by less than 15 points, and the 59ers move up because they flattened Merrillville, which took Lake Central to overtime last week. The 59ers get a real test after New Year’s when they take on a similarly impressive Lebanon team. The site of the contest is still in flux due to uncertainty over whether the game can be played on Valparaiso University’s court.
3. Munster (5-0)
Previous rank: 3
Last week’s results: Defeated Penn, 64-51
Upcoming games: #4 Lake Central (5-1), Tuesday
Remarks: Another year, another beatdown against Penn. The Mustangs get another chance to prove themselves when they host Lake Central.
4. Lake Central (5-1)
Previous rank: 1
Last week’s results: Defeated Chesterton, 66-47; defeated Merrillville, 66-60 (OT)
Upcoming games: at #3 Munster (5-0), Tuesday; Portage (1-5), Thursday
Remarks: The Indians have a pretty good club, but comparing their results with Bowman’s, there is not much room for doubt that Bowman is the stronger team. And that shaky win over Merrillville drops the Indians’ stock as well.
5. Hammond Noll (5-0)
Previous rank: 9
Last week’s results: Defeated #10 Lake Station, 84-83 (OT)
Upcoming games: vs. Guerin Catholic (5-1), Thursday (at Indianapolis Chatard)
Remarks: Noll survives a strong test from Lake Station and gets two more tough ones coming up — against Guerin this week, and against North Judson Jan. 2. If Noll is 7-0 after those games, the Warriors will make another major move up.
6. Lake Station (2-1)
Previous rank: 10
Last week’s results: Lost at #9 Hammond Noll, 84-83 (OT)
Upcoming games: vs. Hammond Gavit (0-5), Dec. 27 (at Calumet Tournament)
Remarks: Folks, if you didn’t believe it before, believe it now. The Eagles went over to Noll and played the Warriors to a 1-point game in overtime, and did it while running with Noll; no slowdown game in that one. Lake Station isn’t just one of the best small-school teams in the Region. Lake Station is one of the best teams in the Region, period.
7. Valparaiso (6-1)
Previous rank: 5
Last week’s results: Won at Crown Point, 61-50; won at LaPorte, 49-46
Upcoming games: Chesterton (2-4), Dec. 27
Remarks: The young Vikings look pretty good so far. This year, pretty good might be good enough for second place in an unusually weak Duneland Athletic Conference. But it’s not enough to keep Valpo from dropping two spots after a shaky win over LaPorte.
8. Merrillville (3-4)
Previous rank: Not ranked
Last week’s results: Defeated #8 Michigan City, 48-47; lost at #1 Lake Central, 66-60 (OT)
Upcoming games: Crown Point (1-4), Dec. 27
Remarks: Merrillville had a pretty impressive week, knocking off snakebitten Michigan City and nearly pulling the stunner at Lake Central. Merrillville should have won that game, blowing a big lead late. When these young Pirates come of age, watch out.
9. Gary West Side (3-2)
Previous rank: 6
Last week’s results: Did not play
Upcoming games: vs. Indianapolis Howe (2-2), Friday (at Indianapolis Marshall)
Remarks: Howe just played Fort Wayne Luers to a six-point game. That game will tell us quite a bit about West Side.
10. East Chicago (2-2)
Previous rank: 7
Last week’s results: Did not play
Upcoming games: at Mishawaka (3-1), Tuesday; at Indianapolis Marshall (4-1), Friday
Remarks: East Chicago stays in because it is hard to believe that the Cardinals don’t have enough talent to beat Kouts. But they need to kick it up a notch to stay here.
Top 10 Small Schools (2A or smaller)
1. Bowman Academy (1-3)
2. Hammond Noll (5-0)
3. Lake Station (2-1)
4. Kouts (6-0)
5. Hebron (6-1)
6. Gary 21st Century (2-1)
7. Whiting (7-0)
8. Marquette Catholic (5-2)
9. Boone Grove (2-2)
10. South Central (2-4)
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