Boys face non-conference opponents this weekend

The seven boys basketball games this weekend are non-conference contests, and the five Jackson County teams have already been back on the court in the new year.

Brownstown Central and Crothersville played in tournaments that carried into the new year, and Trinity Lutheran, Medora and Seymour have each played within the past week.

BC and Crothersville both went 1-2 in their respective tournaments, BC at the Graber Post Buildings Classic at North Daviess and Crothersville at the Christian Academy Tournament at Austin and New Albany.

The Braves had a good win over Washington Catholic on the first day of the tourney, but lost to Class 1A ranked Barr-Reeve in the semi-finals and lost to the host, North Daviess, in the third-place game on Saturday.

In the two losses, coach Dave Benter said the Braves lacked energy. Turnovers also were a problem, and the team was outrebounded, which is something the coach said hadn't happened all season. That will all have to change before Friday night's home game with West Washington (4-4), a team the Braves only defeated by four last year. BC is 5-3.

"It's just really disappointing to go from playing as well as we were right before (Christmas) break to as poorly as we did these last two games," Benter said after the loss to North Daviess. "I hope it shows some of our guys some weaknesses in their game and things we've got to shore up as individuals and as a team to be able to get where I think this team could get to by the end of the year."

Crothersville will face a familiar opponent, Christian Academy, on Saturday night. This time, though, it will be on the Tigers' floor.

The Warriors gained an early lead on the Tigers in the fifth-place game of the tourney on Dec. 30.

Tigers coach Jim Stewart said his team should have defeated Christian Academy (3-8), and he said the Tigers (2-8) can't get in a deficit.

"As soon as our mindset changes, we might win 10 in a row," Stewart said after the last game. "It's just a matter of whether we know we are going to win or lose."

Medora and Trinity Lutheran both have back-to-back weekend games.

On Friday, Medora will play host to South Decatur and Trinity Lutheran will travel to Indianapolis Lutheran. Then on Saturday night, Medora will travel to Columbus Christian and Trinity will play host to Henryville.

Medora played its first game of 2009 on Tuesday. The Hornets had a one-point halftime lead over Edinburgh, but the Lancers ran away with the game in the second half.

"We played well in the first half," Hornets coach Marty Young said. "It's the best I've seen us play all year. It's a big leap from where we played the last game before we left for break."

South Decatur comes into Friday's game with a 7-1 record.

"South Decatur is pretty good," Young said. "I think they've played some pretty good teams this year. They beat Jennings County."
Young said Saturday's game "is a very winnable ball game." Six of the Crusaders' last eight losses have been in tournament play, and they are 7-10.

Trinity lost last season's game with Indianapolis Lutheran 70-44. Trinity (4-6) got a solid win against Shawe Memorial last weekend, and that's what it will take against the Saints (5-3).

The Cougars' game with Henryville will be equally tough. The Hornets are 7-4 and are winners of four of its last five games. The Cougars have never defeated the Hornets, and last season, Henryville won 49-44.

Seymour is on a roll after picking up their third straight win last weekend on the road at Scottsburg. The Owls will play a winless Charlestown team at home on Saturday night. Seymour won last year's contest by four. 

The difference in the Scottsburg game, Owls coach Scott Miller said, was the increase of defensive pressure, intensity and physical effort. The Owls are 4-4.

Area Schedule

Friday
6 p.m. - West Washington at Brownstown Central (JV-V)
6 p.m. - South Decatur at Medora (JV-V)
6 p.m. - Trinity Lutheran at Indianapolis International (JV-V)
Saturday
6 p.m. - Charlestown at Seymour (JV-V)
6 p.m. - Christian Academy at Crothersville (JV-V)
6 p.m. - Medora at Columbus Christian (JV-V)
6 p.m. - Henryville at Trinity Lutheran (JV-V)