This weekend's basketball previews

Thursday, December 14, 2017

FRIDAY

Boys

Brown County (1-5, 0-2) at Cloverdale (4-2, 1-1)

Media coverage: WREB-FM 94.3 will broadcast the game live.

The coaches: Chuck Hutchins is in his fourth year at Brown County. Patrick Rady is in his third year at Cloverdale.

So far: Cloverdale lost 93-65 to Terre Haute South and 78-60 to Edgewood and has beaten Southmont 69-61, Indian Creek 77-75, Monrovia 48-45 and South Putnam 72-53.

Opponents’ records: Brown County 17-15, Cloverdale 20-12.

Per-game averages: Offense – BC 44.8, Cloverdale 65.2. Defense – BC 56.8, Cloverdale 67.5.

The history: Cloverdale won 67-51 at Nashville last year and has won the past two meetings.

WIC impact: Cloverdale is in a four-way tie for second place in the East Division, while Brown County is in sixth.

Key players: Cloverdale’s Jalen Moore leads the state in scoring at 36.7 points per game and tied his career high with 48 points on Tuesday against South Putnam.

Greencastle (3-2, 2-0) at No. 20 Sullivan (4-0, 2-0)

Media coverage: The game will be telecast online at wabashvalleysports.com.

The coaches: Bryce Rector is in his second year at Greencastle. Jeff Moore is in his 28th year at Sullivan.

So far: Greencastle beat Crawfordsville 51-44, lost 60-42 at No. 12 Danville, beat West Vigo 53-43 and South Putnam 51-43 and lost 50-49 to Southmont. Sullivan has beaten South Know 50-49, Northview 70-56, Shakamak 59-45 and North Putnam 83-42.

Opponents’ records: Greencastle 15-13, Sullivan 7-10.

Per-game averages: Offense – Greencastle 49.2, Sullivan 65.5. Defense – Greencastle 48.0, Sullivan 48.0.

The history: Sullivan won 49-37 at Greencastle last year, and has a 9-6 series record over the past 30 years.

WIC impact: The winner will be the only undefeated team in the West Division.

Key players: Greencastle is led in scoring by Colin York (18.2), Brody Whitaker (13.0) and Gavin Bollman. Sullivan also has three double-figure scorers in Ty Drake (20.3), Ike Chastain (12.0) and Kevin Figg (10.3).

North Putnam (2-2, 1-1) at Northview (0-3, 0-2)The coaches: Collin McCartt is in his fourth year at North Putnam. Michael Byrum is in his first year at Northview.

So far: North Putnam lost 62-55 at Southmont, beat South Putnam 47-41 and Covenant Christian 73-68 and lost 83-42 to Sullivan. Northview has lost 66-53 to Vincennes Lincoln, 70-56 to Sullivan and 45-43 to West Vigo.

Opponents’ records: North Putnam 13-11, Northview 9-6.

Per-game averages: Offense – NP 54.3, Northview 50.7. Defense – NP 63.5, Northview 60.3.

The history: Northview won 74-56 at Bainbridge last year in the only meeting between the teams.

WIC impact: North Putnam is tied for third in the West Division, while Northview is tied for fifth.

West Vigo (1-4, 1-1) at South Putnam (3-3, 0-2)The coaches: Joe Boehler is in his 10th year at West Vigo. Greg Dean is in his fourth year at South Putnam.

So far: West Vigo lost 27-26 to North Vermillion, 64-56 to Casey-Westfield (Ill.), 53-43 to Greencastle and 41-37 to Owen Valley before defeating Northview 45-43. South Putnam beat Clay City 53-40 and Turkey Run 55-45, lost 47-41 to North Putnam, beat Eminence 77-45 and lost 51-43 to Greencastle and 72-53 to Cloverdale.

Opponents’ records: West Vigo 9-8, South Putnam 12-21.

Per-game averages: Offense – WV 43.4, SP 53.7. Defense – WV 47.6, SP 50.0.

The history: West Vigo won 53-41 at West Terre Haute last year and has won all nine meetings in the past 30 years.

WIC impact: West Vigo is tied for third in the West Division, while Northview is tied for fifth.

Key players: Allen Plunkett leads South Putnam in scoring at 21.7 points per game.

Girls

Brown County (5-5, 0-2) at Cloverdale (8-2, 1-1)

Media coverage: WREB-FM 94.3 will broadcast the game.

The coaches: Matt Roberts is in his fourth year at Brown County. Matthew Langdon is in his seventh year at Cloverdale.

Season recap: Brown County won three of its first four games, and has lost four of six since that time. Cloverdale won eight of its first nine games.

Opponents’ records: Brown County 52-62, Cloverdale 43-68.

Per-game averages: Offense – BC 50.3, Cloverdale 65.2 (15th best in state). Defense – BC 44.4, Cloverdale 33.9 (23rd best in the state).

The history: Cloverdale won 57-42 at Nashville last year to break a six-game Brown County winning streak.

WIC impact: Cloverdale is in fourth place in the East Division, while Brown County is tied for fifth.

No. 17 Greencastle (8-3, 2-0) at Sullivan (4-6, 1-1)The coaches: Bradley Key is in his ninth year at Greencastle. Julie Meeks is in her 15th season at Sullivan.

Season recap: Greencastle lost its first three games, then won its next eight. Its last win was an overtime victory over South Putnam last Friday. Sullivan has won its last two games after losing six of its previous seven.

Opponents’ records: Greencastle 66-55, Sullivan 68-46

Per-game averages: Offense – Greencastle 45.5, Sullivan 45.6. Defense – Greencastle 40.6, Sullivan 46.2.

The history: Greencastle won 58-42 on its homecourt last year and has won three of the past five meetings.

WIC impact: Greencastle is tied for first in the West Division, while Sullivan is tied for third.

Key players: Jalyn Duff leads Greencastle with 12.6 points per game, followed by Rose White at 10.0.

12.6 points per 12.12.6

North Putnam (4-7, 0-2) at Northview (10-2, 2-0)

The coaches: Jarrod Duff is in his second year at North Putnam. Zack Keyes is in his third year at Northview.

Season recap: The Cougars broke a six-game losing streak by beating International School 36-27 on Tuesday. Northview has won four straight games, and has only lost to Mooresville and Terre Haute South.

Opponents’ records: North Putnam 58-60, Northview 55-80.

Per-game averages: Offense – NP 30.2, Northview 49.5. Defense – NP 46.5, Northview 37.8.

The history: Northview won 66-26 at Bainbridge last year in the only meeting between the teams in the past 15 years.

WIC impact: North Putnam is tied for fifth in the West Division, while Northview is tied for first.

West Vigo (2-10, 0-2) at South Putnam (7-3, 1-1)

The coaches: Jonathan Kirchoff is in his first year at West Vigo. Brian Gardner is in his third year at South Putnam.

Season recap: The Vikings lost their first eight games before winning two of their last four. South Putnam has only lost to Class 3A No. 5 Owen Valley and twice to Class 3A No. 17 Greencastle.

Opponents’ records: West Vigo 71-63, South Putnam 70-44.

Per-game averages: Offense – WV 28.8, SP 51.7. Defense – WV 50.3, SP 46.5.

The history: South Putnam won 53-47 at West Terre Haute last year and has won 11 of the past 15 meetings.

WIC impact: West Vigo is tied for fifth place in the West Division, while South Putnam is tied for third.

SATURDAY

Boys

Greencastle at Cloverdale

The history: Cloverdale won 65-48 at Greencastle in the county tourney finals last year. Greencastle has a 32-21 lead in the series over the past 30 years.

Girls

South Putnam at Cascade

The coaches: Brian Gardner is in his third year at South Putnam. David Carpenter is in his third year at Cascade.

Season recap: Cascade lost its first six games but has won three of its past four. South Putnam has only lost to Class 3A No. 5 Owen Valley and twice to Class 3A No. 17 Greencastle.

Opponents’ records (not including Friday game): South Putnam 70-44, Cascade 64-47.

Per-game averages (not including Friday game): Offense – SP 51.7, Cascade 50.3. Defense – SP 46.5, Cascade 55.7.

The history: South Putnam won 63-52 in the sectional semifinals last year. Cascade has won 14 of the last 20 games.

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