by Beau Wicker
In an effort to get a big crowd out to the Berry Bowl tonight, Logansport boys basketball fans have organized a “Berry Bowl Blackout” against Muncie Central.
Fans are encouraged to wear black clothing to the game.
“It would be nice to see the Berry Bowl full for a big game, a big conference game,” Logan coach Mark Victor said. “We want to come out and take care of business on our home court if we can.”
The Berries (13-2, 3-1 North Central Conference) are coming off just their second loss of the season and first NCC setback last week at New Castle, 65-58. The good news for them is Kokomo also lost, so there’s a four-team logjam for first place in the conference with New Castle and Anderson joining Logan and Kokomo at 3-1.
The Berries are seeking their first NCC title in 33 years.
“The conference is still up for grabs,” Victor said. “We’ve got three more conference games, two at home. We’ve got to be ready to go [tonight].”
As for getting back to their winning ways, Victor said the Berries need to be “solid on the defensive end and get good looks and be more patient on the offensive end. I think we’re ready and looking forward to the challenge.”
Muncie Central (7-8, 1-3 NCC) is led by Jeremiah Davis, a junior who averages 14.4 ppg and leads the NCC in 3-point attempts per game (5.7).
“Jeremiah Davis committed to Kentucky his freshman year,” Victor said. “They now have a new coaching staff, so I’m not sure about his status.
“He’s a tough player. He has great quickness and he’s very strong.”
Nick Osborne averages 10.7 ppg and 6.2 rpg, and Adam Botts adds 8.9 ppg.
“With [Davis], Osborne and Botts, that gives them a nice combination.”
Osborne is a 6-foot-8 sophomore post player.
“He’s got nice range from about 15 feet, and we’ll have to guard him in the post,” Victor said. “He can pose a lot of problems.”
Victor added the Bearcats “are much better than their record indicates.
“They’re very young, they have just one senior.”
The Berries have just three home games remaining including Muncie Central.
“For our six seniors, this is their last go-around,” Victor said.
Nate Champion is second in the NCC in scoring (18.3), eighth in rebounding (5.8), third in assists (4.2) and second in steals (2.9). Jared Jennings adds 11.3 ppg and Antonio Penny averages 10.2 ppg. Tyler Raisor leads the NCC in blocked shots (2.5).
Peru (13-1, 4-0 MIC) at Cass (4-10, 0-4 MIC)
The Kings host the Class 3A No. 2-ranked Bengal Tigers in a matchup of the first- and last-place teams of Mid-Indiana Conference.
“It’s a tough matchup. They’re a good team,” Cass coach Matt Carver said. “They’re playing well and they’re second in the state for a reason. We’re just trying to continue to get better and keep working hard daily in practice to improve. The main thing is we’ve got to make sure not only are we ready to play, but also sustain our intensity on the offensive and defensive ends for four quarters.”
Brody Edgerly is averaging 18 ppg to lead the Kings. Evan Depew averages 11 ppg and 8.5 rpg, and Andrew Troutman adds 9 ppg and 4 assists per contest.
N. White (1-13, 1-4 MWC) at Pioneer (6-8, 2-1 MWC)
The Panthers enter having won two straight, and with just one loss in the Midwest Conference, they’re still within striking distance of first-place West Central (4-0 MWC), which has Tri-County, Caston and North White left on its league slate.
North White is coming off back-to-back losses to South Newton and Clinton Prairie last weekend after its win at Caston the week before.
“It’s a big conference game,” Pioneer coach Pat Skaggs said. “North White was able to beat Caston in overtime, and we obviously had to go to overtime to beat Caston last week as well. We’re expecting a battle. Throw North White’s record out the window. We need to make sure we’re ready to play. We’re not good enough to look past anybody.”
Caston (0-13) at Argos (9-5)
The Comets will try to pick up their first win of the season, but they’ll have to do so with a short-handed squad.
“We’re plagued by sickness,” Caston coach Andy Firth said. “I can’t tell you who I’m starting, I can’t tell you who I’m playing. We could have Wes [Rigney] and three freshmen out there and maybe a junior.”
With the team dealing with various illnesses, Firth is just hoping to get his squad healthy in time for sectionals in about four weeks.
“We’ve had a bunch of kids hacking all over the place, and lately if I’ve seen a kid coughing, I just send them home,” he said. “We have to get healthy before sectionals, have to. I’ve never been in this situation as a coach or an assistant coach. It’s quite awkward.”
Firth said Argos is a strong team.
“Argos is a team that has played well, and their record shows it,” he said. “The Sanders kid is one of the best players I’ve seen in the area since I’ve been here. I’m excited to see some kids at the varsity level that have never played varsity basketball before and how they play. They’ll probably have a big smile and be excited and want to be out there. It’ll be interesting to see how kids adjust to a varsity basketball game. They may bring excitement, I don’t know.”
Winamac (3-10) at N. Judson (11-3)
It’s a rematch from three weeks ago between the rivals, which the Bluejays took 58-36.
“Like our last game last weekend [against West Central], the last time we played Judson we struggled handling the ball and had way too many turnovers, and we didn’t shoot very well,” Winamac coach Bill Ball said. “When we beat Tri-County in between those games, we took care of the ball and shot the ball with confidence.”
Andrew Malott leads the Warriors at 9.1 ppg. Zach Shidler adds 7.2 ppg.
Steven Wagner (6.4 ppg) is set to return this week after missing about a month with a severe foot/ankle sprain.
“He’ll definitely help us out with strength and size at the guard position,” Ball said.
Frontier (12-2, 5-1 MWC) at Pioneer, Saturday
The game is a makeup game from a game that was snowed out earlier this winter.
Skaggs has looked at the forecasts and wonders if the game might be called off again.
“If we get 4-6 inches of snow, it might not be played Saturday night,” he said. “Frontier is obviously returning an experienced and very explosive offensive team that likes to utilize a fullcourt press and halfcourt traps. We’ll definitely have our hands full with them. On the other hand, it’s a good game to help us get ready for the tournament next month.”
Caston at Wabash (2-12), Saturday
The Apaches have avenged earlier losses to Northfield and Manchester for their lone two wins of the season. They enter on a four-game losing streak.
“I want to make it clear, we’re not giving up on these games. I think we have a chance,” Firth said. “Wabash is a lot like us. They’re trying to get momentum started. They’re playing extremely hard. They do a nice job in the system they run. They’re not going to give anything to us.
“I think we have a shot in both these games. It’s gonna be on the defensive end is what’s going to win these games.”
Cass at Winamac, Saturday
The Warriors will try to break a nine-game losing streak against the Kings. The last time they beat them was in 2000.
