BOYS BASKETBALL: Logan hosts senior night

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Logansport’s Jayson Higgins follows through on a jump shot as teammate Bo Bullard sets a screen during a game this season. The Berries host Rochester tonight. P-T photo | Annette Spear

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February 22, 2013

BOYS BASKETBALL: Logan hosts senior night

Berries face Zebras; No. 4 Panthers are shooting for MWC title outright

by Beau Wicker Pharos-Tribune Pharos-Tribune Fri Feb 22, 2013, 12:11 AM EST

Logansport’s boys basketball team is coming off one of its best performances of the season last weekend at Huntington North.

The Berries (11-8) will see if they can continue their strong play when Rochester (6-13) comes to town tonight, weather permitting.

The Berries will recognize six seniors for senior night in Antonio Penny, Jayson Higgins, Bo Bullard, Nate Bullard, Jacob Snow and Todd Yeoman.

“We have six seniors that have been around for awhile. They’ve been through the wars,” Logan coach Mark Victor said. “They’ve been a good nucleus. They’’re going to be missed. They’ve done a lot of good things and put a lot of time into it and a lot of work, and we hope to send them out with a win.”

Penny is averaging 20.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 3.2 steals per game to lead the Berries. The 6-foot-1 point guard has scored 1,501 points for career and is Logan’s second all-time leading scorer.

Penny scored a season-high 32 points in the win over Huntington North. He has had nine assists in each of his last two games.

“That was a phenomenal game for him,” Victor said. “He’s really going to be missed. He did a great job coming in with Nate Champion and those guys and over the last three years has carried the load.”

Higgins is averaging 14.4 ppg. He’s 68 of 152 from 3-point range (44.7 percent) for the season. He is leading the state in made 3-pointers according to VarVee.com.

The Bullard cousins, Bo and Nate, have been rebounding twins this season, as they’re both averaging 4.7 boards per contest. Bo is the team’s third-leading scorer at 7.7 ppg.

The Zebras have won two games in a row over Peru and North Judson.

“They’re playing well right now,” Victor said. “[Jonathan] O’Dell is their best player. We’ll key on him. They’ve got a freshman come in that can handle the ball and shoot some. It’s senior night and our six seniors I think will be up to the task.”

Looking ahead to next week, the Berries drew a bye at the Lafayette Jeff Sectional and will face the winner of McCutcheon vs. Harrison next Friday.

“We’ll go over and watch the games on Tuesday and get ready for the second game on Friday,” Victor said. “The opportunity is there. We’ve got to make the most of it. I look for Kokomo to come through on the other side of the bracket, but they have to get by Marion and then Jeff playing on their home floor. Kokomo and Marion was a two-point game so that could be kind of interesting. It should be a fun week next week.”

Pioneer (16-3, 6-0 MWC) at Tri-County (12-8, 4-2 MWC)

The red-hot Panthers are looking to secure the Midwest Conference title outright. They enter ranked No. 4 in Class A.

The Panthers have won eight games in a row and are outscoring their opponents by more than 21 ppg this season.

Tri-County has dropped two straight against Benton Central and Caston. The Comets will be rooting for the Cavaliers, as they can grab a share of the league title with a Tri-County win.

“It’s a huge game. Tri-County is having a solid season,” Pioneer coach Pat Skaggs said. “We know it’s going to be a battle over there. They definitely are an excellent 3-point shooting team. Benner and Patton are both kids that can play inside and out.”

The two foes could possibly meet again in the West Central Sectional final. Pioneer defeated Tri-County 52-40 in last year’s sectional final.

“Tri-County is a very dangerous team. Obviously last year we had a hard time with them in the sectional championship game,” Skaggs said. “I know they’ll be ready for us and it’ll be a big battle.”

Winamac (7-12) at Rensselaer (7-13)

The Warriors are coming off back-to-back lopsided losses to Pioneer and Caston following their close game against Logansport.

They’re facing a Bombers squad that has lost five straight, including a 41-34 loss to Twin Lakes last weekend.