This weekend's basketball game previews

BOYS

Tonight

Cloverdale (8-5, 1-2) at Owen Valley (3-7, 1-2)

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

History: The Clovers won 69-59 last year on their homecourt and have won the last two meetings between the teams.

So far: The Clovers won the consolation bracket championship of the First Financial Wabash Valley Classic last week with a 3-1 record, while Owen Valley went 1-2 in the tourney. The Patriots have gone 3-3 since a 0-4 start under new coach Roger Fleetwood.

Scouting report: Senior Michael Light leads the Patriots in scoring at 17.3 points per game, while classmate Jonah Arthur averages 11.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

Cooper Neese of Cloverdale is the state’s second-leading scorer at 30.4 points per game, while teammate Jalen Moore is 21st at 22.5 per game. Neese is the 26th leading scorer in state history with 2,129 points, having passed Steve Alford and George McGinnis (among others) last week. If he scores his average this weekend, Neese will move to No. 17 on the career list.

WIC impact: The teams are tied for fourth place at 1-2 in the East Division.

Sullivan (5-5, 2-1) at So. Putnam (3-5, 2-1)

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

History: Sullivan won 58-49 on its homecourt last year in the only recent meeting between the teams.

So far: The Eagles have lost three straight games since a 3-2 start, and have not played since Dec. 16.

Sullivan started the season 0-3, then won five straight games before losing its final two games in the Wabash Valley Classic to Terre Haute North and Northview to finish fourth.

Scouting report: Sophomore guard Ty Drake leads the Golden Arrows in scoring, while sophomore forward Allen Plunkett paces a balanced South Putnam attack.

WIC impact: The teams are in a three-way tie with West Vigo for second place in the West Division.

North Putnam (3-7, 0-3) at West Vigo (6-3, 2-1)

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

History: The teams have not played recently; North Putnam moved into the WIC West Division this year after playing in the East Division last season.

So far: The Cougars went 1-2 in the Monrovia Holiday Classic last week. West Vigo went 2-2 in the Wabash Valley Classic last week, defeating Casey-Westfield and Riverton Parke while losing to Northview and Terre Haute South.

Scouting report: Four senior starters pace the Vikings in 6-8 Austin Sappingfield, 5-9 Corey Vickers, 6-2 Tyler Kernstein and 6-4 Ty Lautenschlager.

WIC impact: West Vigo is in a three-way tie for second in the West Division with South Putnam and Sullivan, while North Putnam is in a fifth-place tie with Greencastle.

Greencastle (0-6, 0-3) at Northview (7-2, 3-0)

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

History: The Tiger Cubs won 67-62 last season in McAnally Center and have won two straight games in the series.

So far: Greencastle had its best offensive output of the season in its most recent game, a 64-56 loss at Cascade on Dec. 20. Northview placed third in the Wabash Valley Classic last week with a 3-1 record and has lost only to Tri-West (59-58) and Linton-Stockton (60-53 in OT).

Scouting report: Junior Colin York paces the Tiger Cubs with a 16.7 scoring average. Seniors Nick Costin (6.0) and J.T. Matthews (5.0) provide support.

Northview is led by senior guard Dylan Hyatt, senior forward Jensen Kellett (a Hanover signee), senior forward Drew Lumsdon and junior guard Brigham Booe.

WIC impact: Northview could clinch at least a tie for the West Division title with a win. Greencastle is tied with North Putnam for fifth place in the West Division.

Saturday

Rockville (8-5) at Greencastle

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

History: Greencastle won 74-73 last year in McAnally Center and has won the last two games in the series.

So far: The Rox are idle tonight, and went 0-3 in the First Financial Wabash Valley Classic last week.

Scouting report: Rockville is without 6-4 senior Lance Hopkins, who is no longer with the team. Guards Landon Newnum and Hunter Michalic are the team’s top scorers.

Cloverdale vs. Franklin County (Ky.)

Game time: 3 p.m. at New Castle Chrysler High School in the Indiana-Kentucky Challenge Cup

Scouting report: The Flyers are 5-9 and have three double-figure scorers in 5-9 sophomore Diablo Stewart (18.2), 6-4 senior Anthony Valentine (12.2) and 6-1 sophomore Kyle Stivers (11.1). Valentine is the team’s tallest player. Franklin County averages 62.7 points per game

Day’s schedule: 11 a.m. — Greenfield-Central girls vs. Mason County, Ky.; 1 p.m. — West Washington boys vs. Bardstown, Ky.; 3 p.m. — Cloverdale boys vs. Franklin County, Ky.; 5 p.m. — Oak HIll boys vs. Louisville Waggener, Ky.; 7 p.m. — Connersville boys vs. Louisville Ballard.

North Vermillion at North Putnam

Game time: 7:30 varsity tipoff

History: North Vermillion won 68-44 at home last year, and has won the last two meetings in the series.

So far: The Falcons are 2-8 going into tonight’s home game with Attica. They have defeated Dugger Union and Georgetown-Ridge Farm (Ill.), and have lost their last five games.

Cloverdale (10-6, 1-2) at O. Valley (13-4, 2-1)

Game time: 6 p.m. varsity tipoff

History: Owen Valley won 48-28 last year in Spencer.

So far: The Clovers won the Monrovia Holiday Tourney before falling 39-31 at Clay City on Monday. The Patriots have gone 2-4 since starting the season at 11-0.

Scouting report: Junior Payton Cattorini leads a balanced Patriot attack with 12.7 points per game, while sophomore Dazia Drake adds 10.6. Sophomore Tori Combs leads the Clovers with 15.3 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, while junior Abby Walker adds 12.1 points per game but has missed the last seven games due to injury.

WIC impact: The Patriots are in second place and the Clovers are tied for fourth in the East Division.

Sullivan (5-11, 1-2) at South Putnam (10-5, 2-1)

Game time: 6 p.m. varsity tipoff

History: Sullivan won 58-42 on its homecourt last year in the only recent meeting.

So far: The Golden Arrows have gone 4-3 since starting the season at 1-8. South Putnam has gone 3-4 since starting the season 7-1.

WIC impact: The Eagles are in third place while Sullivan is in fourth in the West Division.

No. Putnam (1-13, 0-3) at West Vigo (2-11, 0-3)

Game time: 6 p.m. varsity tipoff

History: The teams have not played recently.

So far: The Cougars picked up their first win last week in the Speedway Tourney. West Vigo started the season 2-2, defeating Shakamak and North Central, but has lost nine straight.

WIC impact: The teams are tied for fifth place in the West Division.

Greencastle (8-7, 3-0) at Northview (12-4, 3-0)

Game time: 6 p.m. varsity tipoff

History: Northview won 60-45 at McAnally Center last year

So far: Greencastle had an 8-2 streak broken on Wednesday in an overtime loss at Terre Haute South. Northview went 1-2 in the Vincennes Tourney, losing to the host Alices and Indianapolis Ritter.

Scouting report: Senior Stacy Payton averages 24.4 points per game (seventh best in the state) for Northview. She has scored more than 1,000 career points and set the school single-game record with 51 points in a game last month.

WIC impact: The teams are tied for first place in the West Division.

Saturday

Greencastle at Monrovia (9-9)

Game time: 12:30 p.m. varsity tipoff

History: Greencastle won 48-30 at McAnally Center last year and has won the last four meetings.

So far: The Bulldogs have not won or lost more than three straight this season.