By GREG MENGELT
In a 7-team conference in which every team plays just six league games, the 12-2 Highlanders have a 2-game lead in the loss column on every team except New Albany and the Bulldogs have only played two games (compared to four for Floyd).
But the 12th-ranked Highlanders haven’t clinched anything yet. A win Wednesday evening against Bedford North Lawrence (6-6, 1-2 HHC) in the Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Night would clinch at least a tie for the conference championship. A Floyd win and a New Albany loss at Jennings County would give Floyd the title outright.
The Highlanders have won the HHC championship three of the last four years.
“Last year Bedford had a lead on us halfway through the third quarter. The fourth quarter just got away from them,” Floyd coach Todd Sturgeon recalled. “We struggled to defend them. Their size isn’t great, but they do a good job defensively. They’re extremely patient own offense and seem to slow it down against us even more. It’s going to be a challenge on their home floor.”
The game has been moved up to 6:30 p.m. due to impending winter weather. It’s a varsity-only contest against a Bedford team that started the season 1-4 but has since won five of its seven games.
If Floyd failed to clinch at BNL, it will get another chance against Columbus East on Feb. 23. The Olympians are currently 2-12 and winless in league play.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
FLOYD CENTRAL AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE
• Time: 6:30 p.m. (varsity only)
• Location: BNL Fieldhouse (595 Stars Blvd., Bedford)
• Records:
Floyd Central 12-2, 4-0 HHC. The Highlanders have won seven games in a row.
Bedford North Lawrence 6-6, 1-2 HHC. The Stars have won five of their last seven.
• Coaches:
Floyd Central — Todd Sturgeon (134-42 in eighth season at Floyd)
BNL — Jeff Hein (35-27 in third season at BNL, 330-233 in 25th season overall)
• Rankings:
Floyd Central — No. 18 AP (Class 4A); No. 12 IBCA (single class).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Floyd Central — No. 8, No. 8 Class 4A
BNL — No. 106, No. 64 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Floyd Central — Defeated Evansville Reitz 58-46 (Jan. 29)
BNL — Defeated Edgewood 56-45 (Jan. 22)
• Last 20 years: BNL 17-7. Floyd has won five of its last six against the Stars.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 4, 2021 — At Floyd Central 61, BNL 38.
• News & notes: This game was moved up a day due to impending winter weather. It will also be varsity only and begin at 6:30 p.m.
• John Harrell prediction: Floyd Central 57, BNL 42.
• Sagarin projection: Floyd by 13.
• Outlook: Bedford is a tough place too play, but the Highlanders are just significantly better than BNL.
• Greg’s pick: Floyd Central 57, BNL 38.
NEW ALBANY AT JENNINGS COUNTY
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Charles Hurley Gymnasium, Jennings County H.S. (800 W. Walnut St., North Vernon)
• Records:
New Albany 8-6, 1-1 HHC. The Bulldogs have won four of their last five games.
Jennings County 10-5, 1-2 HHC. The Panthers have lost their last two games and three of their last five.
• Coaches:
New Albany — Jim Shannon (437-133 in 24th season at New Albany, 602-272 in 38th season overall)
Jennings County — Josh Land (62-74 in sixth season at Jennings)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
New Albany — No. 64, No. 42 Class 4A
Jennings County — No. 38, No. 29 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
New Albany — Lost to Jasper 60-50 (Jan. 29)
Jennings County — Lost at Connersville 66-47 (Jan. 29)
• Last 20 years: New Albany 24-4. Jennings has won its last two meetings with the Bulldogs.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 4, 2021 — Jennings County 66, at New Albany 62 (OT).
• John Harrell prediction: Jennings County 61, New Albany 52.
• Sagarin projection: Jennings by 7.
• Outlook: I’ll believe Jennings is better than New Albany when I see it.
• Greg’s pick: New Albany 64, Jennings County 57.
JEFFERSONVILLE AT ROCK CREEK
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Rock Creek Academy/Restoration Christian Church (8000 Diefenbach Ln., Sellersburg)
• Records:
Jeffersonville 3-8. The Red Devils have lost three of their last four games.
Rock Creek 7-6. The Lions have won three of their last four.
• Coaches:
Jeffersonville — Andrew Grantz (18-15 in second season at Jeff, 106-57 in seventh season overall)
Rock Creek — Chris Brown (355-287 in 26th season at Rock Creek)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Jeffersonville — No. 126, No. 71 Class 4A
Rock Creek — No. 186, No. 17 Class A
• Most recent game:
Jeffersonville — Defeated Columbus East 55-32 (Jan. 22)
Rock Creek — Won at South Central 63-44 (Jan. 25)
• Last 20 years: Jeffersonville 1-0.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 4, 2021 — At Jeffersonville 67, Rock Creek 35.
• News & notes: This is Rock Creek’s first home game since a 67-40 win over Cannelton on Dec. 11. That’s almost two whole months without a game in front of their home crowd. The Lions are 2-1 at home this season.
• John Harrell prediction: Jeffersonville 59, Rock Creek 52.
• Sagarin projection: Jeff by 2.
• Outlook: There’s already reason for concern at Jeff. A loss to a Class A team would certainly add to it.
• Greg’s pick: Jeffersonville 56, Rock Creek 45.
EASTERN AT HENRYVILLE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Furnish Gym, Henryville H.S. (213 N. Ferguson St., Henryville)
• Records:
Eastern 13-2. The Mustangs have won 12 of their last 13 games.
Henryville 4-10. The Hornets have lost three straight.
• Coaches:
Eastern — Chandler Prible (25-15 in second season at Eastern)
Henryville — Jared Hill (95-86 in eighth season at Henryville)
• Rankings:
Eastern — No. 12 AP (Class 2A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Eastern — No. 124, No. 17 Class 2A
Henryville — No. 301, No. 73 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Eastern — Defeated Charlestown 55-47 (Jan. 21)
Henryville — Lost at Edinburgh 71-57 (Jan. 29)
• Last 20 years: Eastern 11-9. Henryville has a 6-game winning streak in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 4, 2021 — Henryville 43, at Eastern 40.
• John Harrell prediction: Eastern 60, Henryville 45.
• Sagarin projection: Eastern by 17.
• Outlook: The records are much different, but this Henryville team is no pushover. Expect the Hornets to stay fairly close for most of the game, particularly if the Musketeers are rusty at all from two weeks off.
• Greg’s pick: Eastern 61, Henryville 50.
SOUTH CENTRAL AT CROTHERSVILLE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Crothersville H.S. (109 S. Preston St., Crothersville)
• Records:
South Central 5-9, 1-1 SAC. The Rebels have won three of their last five.
Crothersville 1-11, 0-2 SAC. The Tigers have lost nine in a row.
• Coaches:
South Central — Greg Robinson (178-177 in 16th season at South Central, 200-240 in 20th season overall)
Crothersville — Bryant Layman (1-11 in first season at Crothersville)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
South Central — No. 307, No. 54 Class A
Crothersville — No. 393, No. 93 Class A
• Most recent game:
South Central — Defeated Clarksville 63-55 (Jan. 29)
Crothersville — Lost at Columbus Christian 61-49 (Jan. 29)
• Last 20 years: South Central 13-9. The Rebels have won three of their last four against Crothersville.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 22, 2021 — At South Central 61, Crothersville 47.
• News & notes: Robinson won his 200th career game with the Rebels’ 63-55 win over Clarksville last Saturday.
• John Harrell prediction: South Central 71, Crothersville 40.
• Sagarin projection: South Central by 22.
• Outlook: South Central is definitely the better team and has a chance to start gaining some momentum heading into March.
• Greg’s pick: South Central 63, Crothersville 41.
CRAWFORD COUNTY AT WEST WASHINGTON
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Tower Gymnasium, West Washington H.S. (8028 W. Batt Rd., Campbellsburg)
• Records:
Crawford County 2-14, 0-4 PLAC. The Wolfpack have lost seven of their last eight games.
West Washington 4-10, 0-3 PLAC. The Senators have won two of their last three.
• Coaches:
Crawford County — Jerry Hanger Jr. (5-13 in second season at Crawford)
West Washington — Clayton Sullivan (43-46 in fourth season at West Washington)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Crawford County — No. 341, No. 87 Class 2A
West Washington — No. 318, No. 58 Class A
• Most recent game:
Crawford County — Lost to Perry Central 52-25 (Jan. 29)
West Washington — Lost to Springs Valley 63-51 (Jan. 25)
• Last 20 years: Crawford County 14-6. West Washington has won its last two matchups with the Wolfpack.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 22, 2021 — West Washington 79, at Crawford County 66.
• John Harrell prediction: West Washington 54, Crawford County 49.
• Sagarin projection: West Washington by 9.
• Outlook: Someone’s getting their first conference loss. I’m guessing it’s the Senators.
• Greg’s pick: West Washington 61, Crawford County 49.
SWITZERLAND COUNTY AT CLARKSVILLE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Clarksville H.S. Main Gymnasium (800 Dr. Dot Lewis Drive, Clarksville)
• Records:
Switzerland County 6-10. The Pacers have lost four of their last five games.
Clarksville 4-11. The Generals have lost five in a row.
• Coaches:
Switzerland County — Travis Wrightsman (9-31 in second season at Switzerland County, 273-190 in 19th season overall)
Clarksville — Kyle Hankins (4-11 in first season at Clarksville)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Switzerland County — No. 294, No. 68 Class 2A
Clarksville — No. 315, No. 77 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Switzerland County — Lost to Milan 77-72, 2 OT (Jan. 29)
Clarksville — Lost at South Central 63-55 (Jan. 29)
• Last 20 years: Clarksville 4-0.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 4, 2021 — Clarksville 52, at Switzerland County 39.
• John Harrell prediction: Clarksville 58, Switzerland County 56.
• Sagarin projection: Clarksville by 2.
• Outlook: Little doubt in my mind the Generals end their losing streak. The Pacers are improved but probably not enough to hang with Clarksville.
• Greg’s pick: Clarksville 62, Switzerland County 49.
