1. Andrean (5-0)
Previous rank: 2
Last week’s games: Did not play
Upcoming games: vs. Lebanon (9-1), Monday (at Hammond Civic Center); at Rensselaer (3-5), Friday
Remarks: Andrean moves to #1 due to a series of events, including the fact that Munster slightly outperformed Bowman at the Marion Tournament, and Lake Central won at Munster. In their one comparison point with Lake Central, Andrean dominated Merrillville; Lake Central barely escaped the Pirates. So Andrean goes to #1, just in time for its showdown with 3A power Lebanon.
2. Lake Central (8-1)
Previous rank: 4
Last week’s games: Defeated LaPorte, 60-45
Upcoming games: at Michigan City (3-4), Tuesday; at Menominee Falls (WI), Saturday
Remarks: Lake Central won at Munster over the holidays, so the Indians move up.
3. Munster (6-2)
Previous rank: 3
Last week’s games: Lost to Warren Central, 58-51 (at Marion); won at Marion, 65-54
Upcoming games: at Kankakee Valley (3-6), Saturday
Remarks: Munster played a closer game against Warren Central than Bowman Academy did, and beat Marion by a bigger margin.
4. Bowman Academy (4-4)
Previous rank: 1
Last week’s games: Won at Marion, 68-63; lost to Warren Central, 67-55 (at Marion); defeated Indianapolis Cathedral, 49-46 (at East Chicago)
Upcoming games: Lawrence Central (5-1), Tuesday; at Romulus (MI), Saturday
Remarks: Munster slightly outperformed Bowman at the Marion Tournament, so Bowman drops to fourth — for now.
5. Valparaiso (7-1)
Previous rank: 7
Last week’s games: Defeated Chesterton, 51-39
Upcoming games: #7 Merrillville (4-4), Tuesday; at Michigan City (3-4), Friday
Remarks: The young Vikings have been the surprise team of the Region so far, and their win over South Bend Clay puts them ahead of a couple of teams that lost to Clay.
6. LaPorte (4-5)
Previous rank: Not ranked
Last week’s games: Lost at #4 Lake Central, 60-45
Upcoming games: at Chesterton (2-5), Tuesday
Remarks: It may look odd to have a 4-5 team rated sixth in the Region, but this team won decisively at Merrillville, handed Michigan City its only loss of more than one basket, and nearly knocked off Valparaiso. The Slicers are improving greatly as the season goes on.
7. Merrillville (4-4)
Previous rank: 8
Last week’s games: Defeated Crown Point, 65-64
Upcoming games: at #5 Valparaiso (7-1), Tuesday; Portage (1-10), Friday
Remarks: Merrillville almost won at Lake Central over the holidays and held off a dangerous Crown Point team that has had a number of near-misses against good teams. Additionally, Merrillville won at Highland.
8. Highland (7-2)
Previous rank: Not ranked
Last week’s games: Defeated Whiting, 68-37; lost to South Bend Clay, 59-55; won at Calumet, 71-50
Upcoming games: at Lowell (3-7), Saturday
Remarks: Although Lake Station advanced to the final of the Calumet Tournament, and Highland placed third, Highland actually came closer to South Bend Clay and beat Calumet by a larger margin than Lake Station. Only the draw placed Lake Station ahead of Highland. Highland’s four-point neutral-court loss to Clay trumps East Chicago’s four-point home loss to Clay.
9. East Chicago (5-4)
Previous rank: 10
Last week’s games: Lost to Fishers, 62-44 (at North Central Tournament); lost to Castle, 68-64 (at North Central Tournament); defeated Crown Point, 62-56 (OT)
Upcoming games: Thornton Fractional North (IL), Saturday
Remarks: East Chicago edges out Noll by virtue of a four-point overtime loss to South Bend Clay; Clay beat Lake Station by nine, and Noll needed overtime to beat Lake Station.
10. Hammond Noll (6-0)
Previous rank: 5
Last week’s games: Did not play
Upcoming games: vs. North Judson (6-0), Monday (at Hammond Civic Center); Wheeler (4-4), Wednesday; at Marquette Catholic (6-4), Saturday
Remarks: Noll needed overtime to beat Lake Station, at Noll. Because the performances of Highland and East Chicago bettered Lake Station’s results against South Bend Clay, and Noll and Lake Station can be considered about even on head-to-head results, Noll has to be behind Highland and EC.
Top 5 Small Schools (2A or smaller)
1. Bowman Academy (4-4)
2. Hammond Noll (6-0)
3. Lake Station (4-2)
4. Hebron (8-1)
5. Kouts (7-1)
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