No. 9 Cougars start tourney against strong Jennings team

By GREG MENGELT

Tournament play continues all around Southern Indiana on Thursday, including the one-day Batesville Invitational.

Class 3A No. 9 North Harrison (4-1) will battle Jennings County (5-2) in the opening round at Batesville in the Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Day. That game starts at noon and follows the other Waldron (5-2) and the host Bulldogs (2-5). The Cougars are coming off their first loss, an overtime road defeat at Brownstown Central but haven’t played in almost two whole weeks.

Jennings County, which has also had two weeks off, is off to its best start in years. The Panthers have already had a 5-game winning streak.

In the day’s only non-tournament game, Borden (5-3) can improve to 3-0 in Southern Athletic Conference play with a win over visiting Crothersville (1-7).

Here’s a look at Thursday’s local slate:

GAME OF THE NIGHT
NORTH HARRISON (4-1) VS. JENNINGS COUNTY (5-2)
• Time: Noon.
• Events: Batesville Invitational, first round.
• Location: Batesville H.S. (1 Bulldog Blvd., Batesville)
• Coaches:
North Harrison — Lou Lefevre (40-11 in third season at North Harrison, 305-91 in 18th season overall)
Jennings County — Josh Land (57-71 in sixth season at Jennings)
• Rankings:
North Harrison — No. 9 AP (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
North Harrison — No. 37, No. 7 Class 3A
Jennings County — No. 44, No. 30 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
North Harrison — Lost at Brownstown 63-62, OT (Dec. 17)
Jennings County — Lost at Seymour 72-53 (Dec. 18)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: This is a one-day tournament. Waldron (5-2) and host Batesville (2-5) will await the winner of North Harrison-Jennings County for the 6 p.m. championship. The losers will play at 4 p.m. in the consolation game.
• John Harrell prediction: Jennings County 57, North Harrison 54.
• Sagarin projection: North Harrison by 1.
• Outlook: It’s been a while since either team played. Rust and rest could make the difference in a game between two teams that appear to be so closely matched up.
• Greg’s pick: North Harrison 49, Jennings County 47.

SOUTH CENTRAL (2-6) VS. ORLEANS (7-2)
• Time: 5:30 p.m.
• Event: Baird Winter Classic, consolation game.
• Location: Memorial Gym (412 East 5th Street, Huntingburg)
• Coaches:
South Central — Greg Robinson (175-174 in 16th season at South Central, 197-237 in 20th season overall)
Orleans — Tom Bradley (347-193 in 23rd season at Orleans)
• Rankings:
Orleans — No. 10 AP (Class A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
South Central — No. 317, No. 56 Class A
Orleans — No. 152, No. 13 Class A
• Most recent game:
South Central — Lost to North Knox 52-37 (Baird Winter Classic, second round, Dec. 29)
Orleans — Lost to Evansville Christian 58-49 (Baird Winter Classic, second round, Dec. 29)
• Last 20 years: South Central 2-1.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 6 — Orleans 57, South Central 42.
• News & notes: The Rebels and Bulldogs are both 1-1 in the tournament. On Tuesday, South Central beat host Southridge 45-43 before Wednesday’s 15-point loss to North Knox. Orleans lost to Evansville Christian on Wednesday after starting the tournament with a 51-36 win over Northeast Dubois. North Knox and Evansville Christian will play for the tournament title.
• John Harrell prediction: Orleans 59, South Central 42.
• Sagarin projection: Orleans by 21.
• Outlook: Overall, it’s been a good tournament for South Central. It’s become clear the Rebels are on the level — or they’re at least close — with any team in their sectional.
• Greg’s pick: Orleans 61, South Central 48.

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (5-4) AT SOUTHRIDGE (4-5)
• Time: 3:45 p.m.
• Event: Baird Winter Classic, fifth-place game.
• Location: Memorial Gym (412 East 5th Street, Huntingburg)
• Coaches:
CAI — Hayden Casey (14-21 in second season at CAI)
Southridge — Kyle Swafford (4-5 in first season at Southridge, 79-50 in sixth season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
CAI — No. 263, No. 37 Class A
Southridge — No. 216, No. 41 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
CAI — Defeated Northeast Dubois 46-26 (Baird Winter Classic, second round, Dec. 29)
Southridge — Defeated Princeton 53-52 (Baird Winter Classic, second round, Dec. 29)
• Last 20 years: Southridge 2-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 4, 2019 — At Southridge 53, Christian Academy 42.
• News & notes: The Warriors and Raiders are 1-1 in the tournament, CAI suffered a 2-point loss to Evansville Central Tuesday before Wednesday’s 20-point win over Northeast Dubois. The host Raiders lost to South Central 45-43 in the first round before Wednesday’s 1-point win over Princeton.
• John Harrell prediction: Christian Academy 54, Southridge 50.
• Sagarin projection: Southridge by 6.
• Outlook: I’m guessing it will be close, but this is a game Christian Academy has a great chance for a quality road win.
• Greg’s pick: Christian Academy 62, Southridge 55.

ROCK CREEK (4-3) VS. SOUTH KNOX (4-4)
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Event: Daviess County Classic, seventh-place game.
• Location: Cougar Den, North Daviess H.S. (5494 E. State Road 58, Elnora)
• Coaches:
Rock Creek — Chris Brown (352-284 in 26th season at Rock Creek)
South Knox — David Burkett (47-34 in fourth season at South Knox)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Rock Creek — No. 187, No. 18 Class A
South Knox — No. 148, No. 26 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Rock Creek — Lost to Paoli 62-54 (Daviess County Classic, second round, Dec. 29)
South Knox — Lost at North Daviess 33-29 (Daviess County Classic, second round, Dec. 29)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: The two teams that have beaten Rock Creek in the tournament at North Daviess are a combined 13-1. Wednesday’s opponent, Paoli, suffered its only loss Tuesday against Loogootee. … Brownstown Central will play defending Class 2A state champion Blackhawk Christian in the tournament championship Thursday.
• John Harrell prediction: South Knox 51, Rock Creek 43.
• Sagarin projection: South Knox by 5.
• Outlook: Few games this year will prepare Rock Creek for the postseason like this tournament has.
• Greg’s pick: Rock Creek 62, South Knox 60.

NEW WASHINGTON (2-6) VS. SOUTH RIPLEY (4-4)
• Time: 1 p.m.
• Event: Hoosier Shooting Academy Holiday Tournament, fifth-place game.
• Location: The Hive, Morristown H.S. (223 Patterson St., Morristown)
• Coaches:
New Washington — Kyle Brown (11-21 in second season at New Wash)
South Ripley — Tyler Theising (49-29 in fourth season at South Ripley)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
New Washington — No. 353, No. 67 Class A
South Ripley — No. 203, No. 38 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
New Washington — Lost to Morristown 43-39 (Hoosier Shooting Academy Holiday Tournament, second round, Dec. 29)
South Ripley — Defeated Randolph Southern 64-51 (Hoosier Shooting Academy Holiday Tournament, second round, Dec. 29)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: New Wash dropped a pair of games Wednesday. The Mustangs were beaten 66-38 by South Dearborn before their 4-point loss to the host Yellow Jackets. … South Dearborn and Covenant Christian will play for the tournament championship Thursday at 5 p.m.
• John Harrell prediction: South Ripley 69, New Washington 39.
• Sagarin projection: South Ripley by 21.
• Outlook: The Mustangs are going through some growing pains — against a really tough schedule — but they’ll be better for it.
• Greg’s pick: South Ripley 59, New Washington 42.

WEST WASHINGTON (2-6) VS. NORTH VERMILLION (3-7)
• Time: 4:30 p.m.
• Event: Clay City Invitational, fifth-place game.
• Location: Eel Dome, Clay City H.S. (601 Lankford St., Clay City)
• Coaches:
West Washington — Clayton Sullivan (41-42 in fourth season at West Washington)
North Vermillion — Cody Wright (7-44 in third season at North Vermillion)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
West Washington — No. 310, No. 54 Class A
North Vermillion — No. 334, No. 61 Class A
• Most recent game:
West Washington — Defeated Benton Central 57-55 (Clay City Invitational, second round, Dec. 29)
North Vermillion — Defeated Riverton Parke 51-46 (Clay City Invitational, second round, Dec. 29)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: The Senators are 1-1 in the tournament after a 13-point loss to Traders Point Christian and Wednesday’s 2-point win over Benton Central. They’ve won two of their last three after an 0-5 start. … Martinsville and Fort Wayne North will play for the tournament championship Thursday at 8 p.m. at Clay City.
• John Harrell prediction: West Washington 53, North Vermillion 47.
• Sagarin projection: West Washington by 3.
• Outlook: We’ve been saying all along West Washington was better than its record showed early in the season. The Senators are starting to prove it.
• Greg’s pick: West Washington 55, North Vermillion 48.

CROTHERSVILLE (1-7, 0-1 SAC) AT BORDEN (5-3, 2-0)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Borden Junior-Senior H.S. (301 West St., Borden)
• Coaches:
Crothersville — Bryant Layman (1-7 in first season at Crothersville)
Borden — Doc Nash (209-152 in 16th season at Borden)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Crothersville — No. 399, No. 98 Class A
Borden — No. 174, No. 15 Class A
• Most recent game:
Crothersville — Lost to Shawe 57-52, OT (Dec. 27)
Borden — Defeated Tecumseh 75-56 (Dec. 21)
• Last 20 years: Borden 18-4. The Braves have won their last two games vs. Crothersville.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 12, 2020 — Borden 65, at Crothersville 44.
• News & notes: Borden can improve to 3-0 in conference play. The Braves have SAC games left at New Washington (2-6, 1-0 SAC) on Jan. 7 and at Henryville (3-7, 1-0) on Jan. 22.
• John Harrell prediction: Borden 88, Crothersville 31.
• Sagarin projection: Borden by 51.
• Outlook: This one will be one-sided.
• Greg’s pick: Borden 76, Crothersville 44.