This week's basketball previews

BOYS

Today

North Putnam (1-5) at Riverton Parke (4-1)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. varsity tipoff.

So far: The Panthers have only won six games over the past three seasons, but are much improved under second-year head coach Mitch Simmons. Their only loss came to Rockville in the championship game of the Banks of the Wabash tourney, and the Panthers have defeated Turkey Run twice, White River Valley and Eminence.

North Putnam’s only win came over Eminence on Dec. 6.

History: North Putnam won 49-47 at home last year and has won the last three meetings between the teams.

Scouting report: Riverton Parke has three double digit scorers in senior Andrew Gregg (12.6), junior Avery Briddick (12.0) and senior Caleb Dickey (10.6).

Tuesday

Greencastle (0-5) at Cascade (5-3)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. varsity tipoff.

So far: The Cadets have lost to Tri-West, Edgewood and Danville and have defeated Delphi, Covington, Monrovia, Brown County and Owen Valley.

History: Greencastle won 62-47 at home last year.

Scouting report: Junior Dalton DuBois (6-5) leads the Cadets in scoring at 16.6 points per game and in rebounding at 10.6. Senior Evan Burch averages 13.6 points and 3. 6 assists per game. Junior Colin York is the only double-figure scorer for Greencastle.

Wednesday

Monrovia (2-3) at Cloverdale (4-4)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. varsity tipoff.

So far: The Bulldogs have wins over Eminence and Clay City, and lost to Cascade, Plainfield and Speedway. Cloverdale has won its last two games to get back to the .500 mark.

History: Cloverdale won a pair of meetings last year and has won the last four meetings between the teams.

Scouting report: The Bulldogs have good size in 6-6 senior Luke Seber (7.7 ppg) and 6-7 sophomore Max Newman (8.7 ppg). Luke Smith (a 6-0 senior guard) is the team’s leading scorer at 19.0 points per game.

Jalen Moore has led the Clovers in scoring in their two recent wins, getting double-figure support from Cooper Neese in both games and from Jake Wilkes in Friday’s win at Brown County,

GIRLS

Cloverdale (8-4) at Greencastle (7-6)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. varsity tipoff.

So far: The Clovers have won two of their last three games, while Greencastle has won three of its last four.

History: Greencastle won by 27 and 26 points in two meetings last year, and has won the last 14 meetings between the schools. Cloverdale’s last win over the Tiger Cubs was on Dec. 17, 2007.

Riverton Parke (9-2) at N. Putnam (0-11)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. varsity tipoff.

So far: The Panthers have lost only to Northview and to Rockville. The Cougars will be closing out the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule, and will play next in the Speedway tournament on Dec. 29.

History: Riverton Parke won 47-28 last year in Mecca.

Scouting report: Senior guard Tayler Vauters, who will play for Division II Purdue-Northwest next year, is the school’s career scoring leader and hit nine 3-pointers in a game earlier this season.