1. Andrean (8-1)
Previous rank: 1
Last week’s games: Defeated Hobart, 78-40; won at Lafayette Central Catholic, 68-64
Upcoming games: Chesterton (4-7), Tuesday; at Highland (7-5), Saturday
Remarks: Andrean has been consistently impressive all season, and racked up two more impressive wins last week. Hobart is greatly improved this season, and Central Catholic is always tough.
2. Lake Central (11-2)
Previous rank: 2
Last week’s games: Defeated #8 Highland, 80-51; defeated Crown Point, 74-54
Upcoming games: at #8 Merrillville (6-5)
Remarks: The loss at Michigan City a couple weeks ago seems to have lit a fire under the Indians, who have won their last three games by 26, 29 and 20 points.
3. Munster (8-2)
Previous rank: 3
Last week’s games: Defeated #8 Highland, 61-43
Upcoming games: Michigan City (6-5), Tuesday; at Hobart (6-6), Saturday
Remarks: Munster had an impressive win over arch-rival Highland and has continued to decisively beat everybody it is supposed to beat.
4. Bowman Academy (7-5)
Previous rank: 4
Last week’s games: Defeated #9 Lake Station, 93-46; won at Detroit Consortium, 40-27
Upcoming games: at Culver Military (0-10), Tuesday; vs. Chicago Morgan Park (at Chicago Whitney Young), Saturday
Remarks: The Eagles more than doubled a good Lake Station team, and they have won seven of their last nine games against Indiana’s toughest schedule.
5. Hammond Noll (11-0)
Previous rank: 8
Last week’s games: Won at River Forest, 69-31
Upcoming games: North Newton (1-10), Tuesday, Greater South Shore Conference Tournament first round; TBA Friday in GSSC second round
Remarks: Noll has played down in some games this season (against Morton and Lake Station), but also played very well against good teams (such as Guerin Catholic). We’ll have a better idea where the Warriors rate when they play late-season games against Andrean and Valparaiso.
6. Valparaiso (10-2)
Previous rank: 6
Last week’s games: Won at Portage, 62-32; won at Kankakee Valley, 56-39
Upcoming games: #7 LaPorte (6-5), Friday
Remarks: It’s hard to put Valparaiso ahead of Merrillville considering its 15-point loss at home against the Pirates, but Merrillville’s up-and-down struggles make Valpo’s relative consistency look good.
7. LaPorte (6-6)
Previous rank: Not ranked
Last week’s games: Defeated #5 Merrillville, 71-69 (OT); defeated Plymouth, 59-45
Upcoming games: at #6 Valparaiso (10-2), Friday
Remarks: It’s hard to get a fix on the Slicers. They are only 6-6, yet they just swept Merrillville for the season and also beat Plymouth. They seem to play down against the lesser teams on their schedule (losing to Crown Point, New Prairie and Chesterton) and play up against the better ones. But it’s impossible to ignore the fact that LaPorte had two very impressive wins last week.
8. Merrillville (6-5)
Previous rank: 6
Last week’s games: Lost at LaPorte, 71-69 (OT)
Upcoming games: #2 Lake Central (11-2), Saturday
Remarks: Young Merrillville continues to perplex. After playing well for a few games, the Pirates lost for the second time to LaPorte. Will they bring their A game against Lake Central, as they did the last time they played (an overtime loss on the road)?
9. Hebron (9-1)
Previous rank: 10
Last week’s games: Did not play
Upcoming games: #10 Kouts (10-2), Thursday, Porter County Conference Tournament, first round
Remarks: Aside from Bowman and Noll, Hebron has emerged as the Region’s most consistent small-school team. The Hawks get a rubber match against Kouts in the opening round of the PCC Tourney.
10. Kouts (10-2)
Previous rank: Not ranked
Last week’s games: Defeated Washington Township, 66-46; won at Rensselaer, 57-43
Upcoming games: at #9 Hebron (9-1), Thursday, Porter County Conference Tournament, first round
Remarks: Kouts’ losses have been against North Judson and Hebron, a pair of very good class 2A schools. Otherwise, the Mustangs have been untouchable.
Top 5 Small Schools (2A or smaller)
1. Bowman Academy (7-5)
2. Hammond Noll (11-0)
3. Hebron (9-1)
4. Kouts (10-2)
5. Lake Station (6-3)
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