GBB: Week 8 big games

By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

According to the Sagarin power ratings, there are 15 big games (pitting teams rated in their respective class’s Top 20) on tap for Week 8 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):

Monday, Dec. 29
Six biggies …

4A #1 Ben Davis (10-0) vs. Connersville (8-3)
GAME TIME: 10:00 AM EST, Hall of Fame Tournament at New Castle (WBDG, 90.9 FM; WIFE, 100.3 FM, 1580 AM).
COACHES: Stan Benge, 448-125 in 24th year at Ben Davis. Michael Thompson, 50-31 in 4th year at Connersville.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Ben Davis, 103.47, 1st overall, 1st in Class 4A. Connersville, 88.42, 21st overall, 18th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Ben Davis defeated Terre Haute North, 70-22, Dec. 20. Connersville defeated South Dearborn, 73-24, Dec. 20.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Ben Davis 48-44, Connersville 62-49.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: No meetings.
LAST MEETING: Ben Davis, 58-45, semistate, Feb. 24, 2001.

3A #1 Wawasee (9-0) vs. 2A #2 Oak Hill (10-0)
GAME TIME: noon EST, Hall of Fame Tournament at New Castle.
COACHES: Kem Zolman, 173-69 in 11th year at Wawasee. Todd Law, 82-23 in 5th year at Oak Hill.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Oak Hill, 86.39, 28th overall, 2nd in Class 2A. Wawasee, 85.13, 36th overall, 8th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Wawasee defeated Warsaw, 60-41, Dec. 20. Oak Hill defeated Frankton, 76-23, Dec. 20.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Wawasee 37-47, Oak Hill 39-49.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: No meetings.

3A #7 Benton Central (10-1) vs. 3A #4 Crawfordsville (10-0)
GAME TIME: 12:45 PM EST, Zionsville Tournament.
COACHES: Pat Cole, 24-8 in 2nd year at Benton Central. Darren Haas, 95-65 in 8th year at Crawfordsville.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Benton Central, 86.68, 27th overall, 4th in Class 3A. Crawfordsville, 83.28, 43rd overall, 11th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Benton Central defeated Frankfort, 73-55, Dec. 20. Crawfordsville defeated North Montgomery, 62-41, Dec. 19.
VS. COMMON FOES: Benton Central 5-0. Crawfordsville 4-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Benton Central 52-62, Crawfordsville 44-54.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Tied, 1-1.
LAST MEETING: Crawfordsville, 49-42, Dec. 28, 2007.

2A #19 Hagerstown (8-1) vs. 4A #15 Perry Meridian (8-3)
GAME TIME: 11:45 AM EST, Warsaw Tournament.
COACHES: Chris Oliger, 67-68 in 7th year at Hagerstown. Mike Armstrong, 311-189 in 23rd year at Perry Meridian.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Perry Meridian, 90.46, 15th overall, 14th in Class 4A. Hagerstown, 78.79, 66th overall, 8th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Hagerstown defeated Whitko, 48-23, Dec. 27. Perry Meridian defeated Whiteland, 75-45, Dec. 27.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Hagerstown 43-41, Perry Meridian 60-50.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: No meetings.

2A #1 Heritage Christian (11-0) vs. 3A #5 Rushville (9-1)
GAME TIME: 8:00 PM EST, Rush-Shelby Shootout at Shelbyville.
COACHES: Rick Risinger, 89-7 in 4th year at Heritage Christian. Melissa Marlow, 104-90 in 9th year at Rushville.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Heritage Christian, 99.02, 5th overall, 1st in Class 2A. Rushville, 89.94, 17th overall, 1st in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Heritage Christian defeated Indianapolis Roncalli, 55-25, Dec. 27. Rushville defeated Shelbyville, 60-21, Dec. 27.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Heritage Christian 51-41, Rushville 49-50.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Heritage Christian, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Heritage Christian, 65-54, Dec. 28, 2007.

Tri-Central (5-6) vs. 4A #13 Elkhart Memorial (11-0)
GAME TIME: TBA EST, South Bend Riley Classic.
COACHES: Kathie Layden, 149-80 in 10th year at Tri-Central. Larry Fielstra, 105-31 in 6th year at Elkhart Memorial.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Elkhart Memorial, 88.63, 20th overall, 17th in Class 4A. Tri-Central, 65.69, 162nd overall, 14th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: Tri-Central defeated Chicago Julian (Ill.), 63-45, Dec. 27. Elkhart Memorial defeated Mishawaka Marian, 56-40, Dec. 27.
VS. COMMON FOES: Tri-Central 0-1. Elkhart Memorial 1-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Tri-Central 59-42, Elkhart Memorial 56-62.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Elkhart Memorial, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Elkhart Memorial, 69-33, Dec. 28, 2007.

Friday, Jan. 2
Four biggies …

4A #12 Seymour (9-1) at Lafayette Jeff (8-3)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Beth DeVinney, 88-54 in 8th year at Seymour, 129-77 in 12th year overall. Jan Conner, 32-23 in 3rd year at Lafayette Jeff, 474-100 in 26th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Lafayette Jeff, 94.72, 10th overall, 9th in Class 4A. Seymour, 89.77, 18th overall, 16th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Seymour defeated Austin, 72-62, Dec. 23. Lafayette Jeff defeated Chesterton, 83-53, Dec. 22.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Seymour 48-48, Lafayette Jeff 65-48.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Seymour, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Seymour, 84-50, Dec. 29, 2007.

3A #12 Plymouth (7-2) at 3A #9 Norwell (8-1)
GAME TIME: 10:00 AM EST, Norwell Shootout.
COACHES: Dave Cox, 262-116 in 17th year at Plymouth. Eric Thornton, 132-118 in 12th year at Norwell.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Norwell, 85.9, 31st overall, 6th in Class 3A. Plymouth, 82.81, 49th overall, 14th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Plymouth defeated NorthWood, 56-51, Dec. 20. Norwell defeated Heritage, 66-30, Dec. 26.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Plymouth 54-36, Norwell 37-48.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Plymouth, 3-0.
LAST MEETING: Plymouth, 48-43, Dec. 22, 2007.

3A #1 Wawasee (9-0) at 3A #9 Norwell (8-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST, Norwell Shootout.
COACHES: Kem Zolman, 173-69 in 11th year at Wawasee. Eric Thornton, 132-118 in 12th year at Norwell.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Norwell, 85.9, 31st overall, 6th in Class 3A. Wawasee, 85.13, 36th overall, 8th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Wawasee defeated Warsaw, 60-41, Dec. 20. Norwell defeated Heritage, 66-30, Dec. 26.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Wawasee 37-47, Norwell 37-48.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Wawasee, 2-1.
LAST MEETING: Norwell, 58-46, Dec. 22, 2007.

3A #14 Franklin County (7-2) vs. 4A #5 Fishers (9-1)
GAME TIME: 1:30 PM EST, Rumble on the River at Southwestern (Hanover).
COACHES: Amber Parker, 23-10 in 2nd year at Franklin County. Michael Gaines, 37-18 in 3rd year at Fishers.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Fishers, 99.67, 4th overall, 4th in Class 4A. Franklin County, 78.62, 68th overall, 18th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Franklin County defeated Jennings County, 56-54, Dec. 20. Fishers defeated North Central (Indianapolis), 82-40, Dec. 22.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Franklin County 43-42, Fishers 52-47.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: No meetings.

Saturday, Jan. 3
Five biggies …

Centerville (6-3) at New Castle (7-2)
GAME TIME: 1:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Jason Searcy, 25-26 in 3rd year at Centerville. Curt Bell, 154-43 in 9th year at New Castle.
SAGARIN RATINGS: New Castle, 87.89, 24th overall, 20th in Class 4A. Centerville, 70.68, 121st overall, 17th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Centerville lost to Hagerstown, 41-26, Dec. 16. New Castle defeated Tri, 50-47, Dec. 27.
VS. COMMON FOES: Centerville 1-0. New Castle 1-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Centerville 45-38, New Castle 43-47.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: New Castle, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: New Castle, 52-37, Dec. 29, 2007.

Greensburg (9-1) at 1A #13 Waldron (6-3)
GAME TIME: 1:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Mike Miller, 51-46 in 5th year at Greensburg, 237-263 in 24th year overall. Brad Gossett, 58-38 in 5th year at Waldron, 68-72 in 7th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Greensburg, 82.85, 48th overall, 13th in Class 3A. Waldron, 65.8, 158th overall, 13th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: Greensburg defeated Batesville, 55-50, Dec. 19. Waldron defeated Shelbyville, 68-55, Dec. 20.
VS. COMMON FOES: Greensburg 2-0. Waldron 2-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Greensburg 48-46, Waldron 44-48.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Greensburg, 3-2.
LAST MEETING: Greensburg, 54-43, Dec. 11, 2007.

4A #2 South Bend Washington (10-0) at 4A #13 Elkhart Memorial (11-0)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Maurice Scott, 10-0 in 1st year at South Bend Washington. Larry Fielstra, 105-31 in 6th year at Elkhart Memorial, 120-68 in 9th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: South Bend Washington, 96.33, 6th overall, 5th in Class 4A. Elkhart Memorial, 88.63, 20th overall, 17th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: South Bend Washington defeated Detroit M.L. King (Mich.), 70-35, Dec. 27. Elkhart Memorial defeated Mishawaka Marian, 56-40, Dec. 27.
VS. COMMON FOES: South Bend Washington 3-0. Elkhart Memorial 3-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: South Bend Washington 38-57, Elkhart Memorial 56-62.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: South Bend Washington, 8-0.
LAST MEETING: South Bend Washington, 73-56, regional, Feb. 16, 2008.

3A #3 Vincennes Lincoln (10-0) vs. 4A #10 Plainfield (10-0)
GAME TIME: 10:00 AM EST, Ben Davis Tournament (WZDM, 92.1 FM).
COACHES: Jason Lane, 55-24 in 4th year at Vincennes Lincoln. Curt Benge, 214-93 in 14th year at Plainfield.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Plainfield, 91.56, 13th overall, 12th in Class 4A. Vincennes Lincoln, 86.22, 30th overall, 5th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Vincennes Lincoln defeated Evansville Reitz, 54-31, Dec. 20. Plainfield defeated Martinsville, 62-53, Dec. 19.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Vincennes Lincoln 56-45, Plainfield 46-52.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Plainfield, 3-1.
LAST MEETING: Bloomington South, 61-55, Dec. 29, 2007.

4A #11 Bloomington South (8-1) at 4A #1 Ben Davis (10-0)
GAME TIME: 11:30 AM EST, Ben Davis Tournament (WBDG, 90.9 FM).
COACHES: Larry Winters, 130-77 in 10th year at Bloomington South. Stan Benge, 448-125 in 24th year at Ben Davis.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Ben Davis, 103.47, 1st overall, 1st in Class 4A. Bloomington South, 96.02, 7th overall, 6th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Bloomington South defeated Indianapolis Tech, 56-19, Dec. 27. Ben Davis defeated Terre Haute North, 70-22, Dec. 20.
VS. COMMON FOES: Bloomington South 1-0. Ben Davis 1-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Bloomington South 47-43, Ben Davis 48-44.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Ben Davis, 3-1.
LAST MEETING: Ben Davis, 54-28, Dec. 29, 2007.