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Holiday hoops guide: Here's where Bloomington area teams will be this week

Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times
·8 min read

Ready for some holiday hoops?

Bloomington North, South, Edgewood, Eastern Greene and Owen Valley boys will be busy this week as will the North, Edgewood, Eastern Greene and Owen Valley girls, with South competing in the Whiteland Tournament last Friday.

Here's what to look for and when local high school teams start Tuesday:

Center Grove’s Gabe Baxter (20) and Bloomington North’s Luke Lindeman (22) chase after a loose ball during their game at Center Grove on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.
Center Grove’s Gabe Baxter (20) and Bloomington North’s Luke Lindeman (22) chase after a loose ball during their game at Center Grove on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.

Boys tournaments

First Financial Wabash Valley Classic

SCHEDULE — Tuesday: Casey-Westfield, Ill. (8-2) vs. Marshall, Ill. (4-6), 4 p.m.; Edgewood (3-5) vs. Shakamak (5-3), 5:30 p.m. Wednesday: Losers play at 4 p.m., winners at 7. Thursday: consolation and winners bracket games starting at 10 a.m. Friday: Finals starting at 3:30 p.m.

OUTLOOK — 16-team tournament at Terre Haute South guarantees at least three games for the Mustangs. Shakamak is led by JT May and, for comparison, the Lakers played Sullivan to a 62-59 loss and beat Bloomfield 48-47. Edgewood will be the first 3A team on their schedule. Casey-Westfield has three double-digit scorers, led by 6-4 junior Ryan Richards (15.7 ppg) and blasted Marshall 47-28 on Nov. 24. The rest of the bottom bracket includes two of the tourney favorites in Terre Haute North (4-3), which opens with Greencastle, and South Vermillion (5-1), which drew Cloverdale. The Wildcats beat TH South 65-62 on Dec. 15. Parke Heritage (6-2) will be a tough out in the top bracket and likely meets Linton in Round 2, with Sullivan and TH South in the other matchup.

Bloomington South’s Alex Shaevitz is fouled by Edgewood's Jacob Boggs as he drives to the basket during their boys’ basketball game at South on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023.
Bloomington South’s Alex Shaevitz is fouled by Edgewood's Jacob Boggs as he drives to the basket during their boys’ basketball game at South on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023.

Monrovia Tournament

SCHEDULE — Wednesday: Eastern Greene (1-5) vs. South Putnam (2-6), noon; Mooresville Christian (4-0) vs. Monrovia (2-5), 1:30 p.m. Third place, 6 p.m.; Championship, 7:30 p.m.

OUTLOOK — Eastern's young team will end a 12-day gap between games, look to shake off the rust and end a three-game losing streak. South Putnam's only wins are against Eminence (1-7) and Cloverdale (1-6). Both teams played Brown County, EG winning 57-54 in overtime, SP falling 73-66. The host Bulldogs have wins over Eminence and Cascade but did play 4A squads Martinsville and Mooresville tough, losing by only four and nine, respectively. Mooresville Christian, a future IHSAA member, has not played since Dec. 7.

Fishers Tournament

SCHEDULE — Thursday: Evansville Bosse (2-4) vs. Portage (5-1), 2 p.m.; Bloomington North (1-6) vs. Fishers (7-0), 3:45 p.m. Losers play again at 7:15 p.m. Friday: Winners play at 12:15 p.m. Finals start at 2 p.m.

OUTLOOK — North's rebuilt lineup will be thrown into a really hot fire. Eight-team tournament also includes Lawrence Central (4-3), Chesterton (4-2), Jeffersonville (3-2) and South Bend Riley (7-1). Fishers is ranked No. 1 in 4A and that's without last year's star sophomore Jalen Haralson, who moved on to La Lumiere. The Tigers opened the season with a 74-61 win at No. 9 Ben Davis and went on to beat No. 5 Noblesville 66-59 and No. 8 Kokomo (77-55). They have three in double figure scoring, led by 6-6 senior Keenan Garner (17 ppg, 7 rpg) and a tough freshman in Cooper Zachary. Bosse lost one of its better players from last year but does have junior All-Star Taray Howell back. Portage is led by 6-5 Michael Wellman (17 ppg, 5 rpg) and 6-7 senior Jaelyn Johnson (11.7 ppg, 8 rpg). Jeff will be well tested, having faced Evansville Harrison and also competed in the Kokomo Tournament last Friday and Saturday. Riley's only loss is by one point to 7-1 Northridge.

Richmond Tournament

SCHEDULE — Thursday: Greensburg (4-2) vs. Indianapolis Scecina (2-3), noon; Bellmont (7-1) vs. Bloomington South (4-3), noon. Winners and losers play each other at 6 p.m. Friday: Two more games follow, with South's opener at 9:30, 11 or 12:30. Finals start at 2 p.m.

OUTLOOK — Tournament, which had been 12 teams with pool play the past two years, is now back to a 16-team format with a straight bracket and all 16 places played out, guaranteeing four games for each team. It will still be played at two different sites, Richmond High School and the middle school gym, which is where South will play its opener. Bellmont, a 3A school, is off to its best start since 2004-05; its only loss is to Concordia. Long time Zionsville coach Shaun Busick now in charge at Greensburg, which comes in off a 49-48 win over Columbus East. Rest of the bottom bracket has defending champ Richmond (7-0), which beat South, 50-41 in the 2022 final, playing Indianapolis HomeSchool. The Red Devils are off to their best start since 2013-14, with a 75-61 win over Floyd Central, and are averaging 77 ppg. East Central (3-2) gets another non-IHSAA school, Phalen Academy from Indianapolis. Up top, Heritage Christian (3-1), Seton Academy (5-2), FW North (6-0), Shortridge (3-5), North Decatur (5-2), Tindley (6-1) and Centerville (3-5) are grouped with last year's 3A state champ, sixth-ranked NorthWood (3-2), ND (5-2), Tindley (6-1), Centerville (3-5).

Clay City Tournament

SCHEDULE — Thursday: North Vermillion (5-4) vs. Owen Valley (2-4), 11 a.m.; Owen Valley vs. Tri-West (6-1), 5 p.m. Friday: Fifth place, 4 p.m.; Third place, 5:30; Championship, 7 p.m.

OUTLOOK — The other pool includes North Central (Farmersburg), Riverton Parke and the host Eels (5-2). Tri-West and Clay City will be the pool favorites. Owen Valley has losses to Bloomfield, South Vermillion and Indy Metropolitan and will face another strong test in the second round. Tri-West's only loss is to Plainfield (6-1). The Bruins are led by 6-2 senior Max Robertson (15 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg), but have five players averaging 7.7 ppg or more.

Bloomington North’s Mia Robbennolt (23) saves the ball from going out of bounds during the game against Bloomington South at North on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.
Bloomington North’s Mia Robbennolt (23) saves the ball from going out of bounds during the game against Bloomington South at North on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.

Girls tournaments

Lebanon Tournament

SCHEDULE — Wednesday: Bloomington North (8-4) vs. Lowell (9-5), 4 p.m.; Mooresville (12-2) vs. Greenfield-Central (10-3), 6 p.m. Thursday: Winners meet in main gym and losers in auxiliary gym, both at 9 a.m. Final game at either 2:30 or 4:30 p.m.

OUTLOOK — North will have a tough road to the finals, starting with Lowell, which has lost three straight, including a 76-29 hammering at the hands of undefeated perennial power 3A No. 2 Rensselaer Central. The Red Devils are led by 5-8 senior Kirstin Summers (13.8 ppg, 5 rpg) and 6-2 junior Elysia Laub (7 ppg, 7 rpg). A rematch awaits if Mooresville (a 59-38 winner over North's Cougars) can make it nine wins in row when it faces G-C's Cougars. The host Tigers are averaging just 39 ppg, making Evansville North (9-3) the favorite in the top bracket with Lafayette Jeff (2-10) and Perry Meridian (2-12) struggling.

Eastern Greene Toby Yoho Classic

SCHEDULE — Thursday (pool play): Springs Valley (12-1) vs. Eastern Greene (8-3), 9:30 a.m.; Tecumseh (7-5) vs. Eastern Greene, 4:30 p.m.; Owen Valley (4-9) vs. Brownstown Central (8-4), 2:45. Friday: Semifinals and finals.

OUTLOOK — All games played in the middle school and elementary school gyms. Loogootee declared it was not participating just a month ago, so there's an empty spot in Pool C. The winner between OV and BC makes the first-place bracket and the loser goes to the fifth place bracket. Eastern Greene has its hands full with the 1A No. 6 Springs Valley and a Tecumseh program just two seasons removed from a state title. Four of the Braves' losses are to 3A-4A schools. OV has dropped six straight as it still searches to hand head coach Trace Temples his 100th career win. The Patriots have not played since Dec. 12. Brownstown has won 14 straight games in this tournament. Other teams are Bloomfield (1-12), Martinsville (3-10) and Southwestern (Hanover) (8-7) in Pool B and 2A No. 1 North Knox (12-1), Jasper (7-5) and Trinity Lutheran (5-4) in Pool D.

Bloomington South’s Abbie Lucas rebounds the ball over Edgewood’s Ava Laroche (25) during the game against Edgewood at Bloomington South on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.
Bloomington South’s Abbie Lucas rebounds the ball over Edgewood’s Ava Laroche (25) during the game against Edgewood at Bloomington South on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.

North Decatur Tournament

SCHEDULE — Edgewood (8-5) vs. North Decatur (8-5), 10:30 a.m.; Madison (7-5) vs. Shelbyville (7-6), noon. Third place, 6 p.m.; Championship, 7:30 p.m.

OUTLOOK — Edgewood heads to a new tournament and will look to get rid of the sting of two lopsided losses to Paoli and North Decatur. The defense will be looking to get back on track in slowing the Chargers' 5-9 junior Madi Allen (15.3 ppg, 8 rpg) and 5-11 senior Ella Kunz (15.3 ppg, 9 rpg). North Decatur is coming off a 45-36 win at 4A Columbus East after a 53-43 loss to 1A power Jac-Den-Del. Shelbyville has played a strong schedule that includes Columbus North, 3A No. 5 Greensburg, Greenfield-Central and Franklin. Madison is 1-5 after a 6-0 start.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington area basketball teams' holiday basketball tournaments