GBB: Week 6 big games

By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

According to the Sagarin power ratings, there are 11 big games (pitting teams rated in their respective class’s Top 20) on tap for Week 6 of the 2008 Indiana high school girls basketball season.

Here’s a preview of those big contests via the pertinent numbers taken from John Harrell’s Indiana high school basketball site (rankings are from the latest ICGSA polls):

Tuesday, Dec. 16
Five biggies …

Centerville (6-2) at 2A #19 Hagerstown (5-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Jason Searcy, 25-25 in 3rd year at Centerville. Chris Oliger, 64-68 in 7th year at Hagerstown.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Hagerstown, 78.29, 69th overall, 8th in Class 2A. Centerville, 73.14, 103rd overall, 13th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Centerville defeated Union City, 53-35, Dec. 10. Hagerstown defeated Daleville, 45-9, Dec. 11.
VS. COMMON FOES: Centerville 2-0. Hagerstown 2-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Centerville 30-31, Hagerstown 26-21.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Centerville, 6-4.
LAST MEETING: Hagerstown, 42-23, sectional, Feb. 8, 2008.

3A #14 Franklin County (6-2) at 3A #8 Batesville (9-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Amber Parker, 22-10 in 2nd year at Franklin County. Jason Slopsema, 26-25 in 3rd year at Batesville.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Batesville, 86.29, 28th overall, 5th in Class 3A. Franklin County, 79.73, 60th overall, 16th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Franklin County defeated Richmond, 61-37, Dec. 9. Batesville defeated East Central, 56-49, Dec. 11.
VS. COMMON FOES: Franklin County 4-1. Batesville 5-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Franklin County 35-30, Batesville 32-41.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Franklin County, 10-0.
LAST MEETING: Franklin County, 67-37, Dec. 11, 2007.

Greensburg (8-1) at 1A #13 Waldron (5-3)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Mike Miller, 50-46 in 5th year at Greensburg, 236-263 in 24th year overall. Brad Gossett, 57-38 in 5th year at Waldron, 67-72 in 7th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Greensburg, 83.65, 43rd overall, 10th in Class 3A. Waldron, 66.78, 157th overall, 15th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: Greensburg lost to Rushville, 64-40, Dec. 13. Waldron defeated Morristown, 76-45, Dec. 12.
VS. COMMON FOES: Greensburg 1-0. Waldron 1-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Greensburg 32-39, Waldron 33-35.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Greensburg, 3-2.
LAST MEETING: Greensburg, 54-43, Dec. 11, 2007.

Twin Lakes (8-1) at 3A #7 Benton Central (8-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Brad Bowsman, 95-31 in 6th year at Twin Lakes. Pat Cole, 22-8 in 2nd year at Benton Central.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Benton Central, 84.03, 41st overall, 9th in Class 3A. Twin Lakes, 79.19, 63rd overall, 17th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Twin Lakes defeated Tipton, 51-42, Dec. 13. Benton Central defeated West Lafayette, 91-56, Dec. 11.
VS. COMMON FOES: Twin Lakes 4-1. Benton Central 4-1.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Twin Lakes 40-41, Benton Central 35-47.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Twin Lakes, 5-4.
LAST MEETING: Twin Lakes, 50-45, Dec. 11, 2007.

Wabash (5-2) at 2A #2 Oak Hill (8-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Scott Bumgardner, 63-52 in 6th year at Wabash, 92-91 in 10th year overall. Todd Law, 80-23 in 5th year at Oak Hill.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Oak Hill, 84.51, 36th overall, 2nd in Class 2A. Wabash, 70.66, 119th overall, 17th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Wabash defeated Rochester, 45-42, Dec. 13. Oak Hill defeated Mississinewa, 93-38, Dec. 13.
VS. COMMON FOES: Wabash 1-0. Oak Hill 1-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Wabash 27-30, Oak Hill 24-36.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Oak Hill, 3-2.
LAST MEETING: Oak Hill, 57-38, Dec. 11, 2007.

Thursday, Dec. 18
One biggie …

Knightstown (5-4) at 2A #16 Triton Central (6-2)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Dawn Basicker, 77-79 in 8th year at Knightstown. Bryan Graham, 6-2 in 1st year at Triton Central.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Triton Central, 76.86, 78th overall, 10th in Class 2A. Knightstown, 73.58, 95th overall, 12th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Knightstown defeated Greenfield-Central, 63-60, overtime, Dec. 11. Triton Central defeated Southwestern (Shelbyville), 60-43, Dec. 12.
VS. COMMON FOES: Knightstown 1-0. Triton Central 0-1.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Knightstown 43-27, Triton Central 32-36.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Triton Central, 5-0.
LAST MEETING: Triton Central, 54-34, Dec. 13, 2007.

Friday, Dec. 19
Three biggies …

3A #8 Batesville (9-0) at Greensburg (8-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Jason Slopsema, 26-25 in 3rd year at Batesville. Mike Miller, 50-46 in 5th year at Greensburg, 236-263 in 24th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Batesville, 86.29, 28th overall, 5th in Class 3A. Greensburg, 83.65, 43rd overall, 10th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Batesville defeated East Central, 56-49, Dec. 11. Greensburg lost to Rushville, 64-40, Dec. 13.
VS. COMMON FOES: Batesville 4-0. Greensburg 4-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Batesville 32-41, Greensburg 32-39.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Greensburg, 6-5.
LAST MEETING: Greensburg, 58-49, sectional, Feb. 8, 2008.

2A #6 Fort Wayne Luers (6-2) at Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran (5-2)
GAME TIME: 6:15 PM EST.
COACHES: Greg Friend, 22-10 in 2nd year at Fort Wayne Luers, 35-38 in 4th year overall. David Miller, 73-45 in 7th year at Fort Wayne Concordia, 253-137 in 19th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Fort Wayne Luers, 84.47, 38th overall, 3rd in Class 2A. Fort Wayne Concordia, 77.21, 76th overall, 20th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Fort Wayne Luers defeated Fort Wayne South, 46-33, Dec. 12. Fort Wayne Concordia defeated Fort Wayne Dwenger, 61-34, Dec. 12.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Fort Wayne Luers 33-27, Fort Wayne Concordia 27-30.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Fort Wayne Luers, 11-1.
LAST MEETING: Fort Wayne Luers, 44-31, Dec. 14, 2007.

4A #6 Mooresville (8-0) at Decatur Central (6-3)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Mark Hurt, 175-63 in 11th year at Mooresville, 237-118 in 16th year overall. David Cupp, 40-55 in 5th year at Decatur Central.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Decatur Central, 91.83, 13th overall, 11th in Class 4A. Mooresville, 91.77, 14th overall, 12th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Mooresville defeated Edgewood, 67-45, Dec. 13. Decatur Central lost to Ben Davis, 60-44, Dec. 13.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Mooresville 28-37, Decatur Central 38-34.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Mooresville, 5-0.
LAST MEETING: Mooresville, 57-50, Dec. 14, 2007.

Saturday, Dec. 20
Two biggies …

Center Grove (5-2) at 4A #3 Terre Haute South (10-0)
GAME TIME: 1:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Joe Lentz, 251-81 in 15th year at Center Grove. Dave Cassell, 10-0 in 1st year at Terre Haute South.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Terre Haute South, 99.77, 3rd overall, 3rd in Class 4A. Center Grove, 90.24, 18th overall, 16th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Center Grove lost to Bloomington South, 53-41, Dec. 11. Terre Haute South defeated Lafayette Jeff, 81-78, Dec. 13.
VS. COMMON FOES: Center Grove 1-1. Terre Haute South 2-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Center Grove 34-25, Terre Haute South 38-33.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Terre Haute South, 3-2.
LAST MEETING: Terre Haute South, 55-53, Dec. 29, 2007.

Tri-Central (3-4) at 1A #14 Lafayette Central Catholic (6-4)
GAME TIME: 11:30 AM EST.
COACHES: Kathie Layden, 147-78 in 10th year at Tri-Central. Geoff Salmon, 61-48 in 5th year at Lafayette Central Catholic.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Lafayette Central Catholic, 69.16, 129th overall, 8th in Class 1A. Tri-Central, 66.85, 156th overall, 14th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: Tri-Central lost to Lapel, 60-38, Dec. 13. Lafayette Central Catholic defeated Delphi, 61-32, Dec. 13.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Tri-Central 34-21, Lafayette Central Catholic 39-51.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Tri-Central, 4-3.
LAST MEETING: Lafayette Central Catholic, 56-49, sectional, Feb. 9, 2008.