With maybe the Region’s most intense rivalry, it’s safe to say the Ingots and Eagles won’t be sharing much time together this holiday season, but for the time being they have split the #10 spot in the RSN rankings. It’ll be a short-lived tie however, as their annual matchup takes place Friday night with the winner securing their spot in the poll while simultaneously knocking their rival out.
9.
KOUTS MUSTANGS
6-0/3-0
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LAST WEEK: NR
The first team in the RSN Top 10 that has “No-L” this season, the Kouts Mustangs have dominated their schedule for the first six outings, with an average margin of victory of 24.4 points and no team coming within 10 of the ‘Stangs. Seven of their next 10 are on the road, with the PCC Tournament thrown in that stretched as well, so Kouts will be well tested through January.
#8.
MICHIGAN CITY WOLVES
5-2/0-0
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LAST WEEK: #8
After handing Penn their first loss of the season, City gets to settle in for a long winter’s nap as the Wolves don’t hit the court again until the Rich South tournament which begins on December 26. Despite losses to EC Central and West Side, City’s resume is very solid as it includes wins over Penn, Andrean and Washington Twp. – teams all ranked in the top 11 of their classes in the AP poll.
#7.
WEST SIDE COUGARS
6-1/3-0
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LAST WEEK: NR
There’s no place like home for the holidays and West Side is making themselves right at home in their first season as members of the GLAC. The Cougars are one of only two teams in the conference that currently has a winning record and they already have win over the other team, Hammond High.
#6.
ANDREAN 59ERS
3-2/1-0
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LAST WEEK: #6
In some games, like the 72-36 win over KV, it looks like the Niners belong right at the top of the nice list. In others, like the back to back losses to Michigan City and Merrillville, it looks like they deserve coal in their red and gold stockings. This is a talented team that needs to develop some consistency, which will be easier said than done with a trip to face Indy Howe followed by the Noblesville Tournament on deck.
#5.
CROWN POINT BULLDOGS
4-1/0-0
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LAST WEEK: #8
Like waiting until Christmas Eve to go shopping, the Bulldogs are cutting it a bit closer than ideal with each of their four wins coming by single digits, but wins are wins, and for Crown Point, the victories are stacking up like boxes under the tree. Those “W’s” may be a bit tougher to come by as four of their next six games feature opponents such as New Albany, Michigan City, Merrillville and Chesterton.
#4.
MERRILLVILLE PIRATES
4-2/0-0
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LAST WEEK: #4
With nine of their next 11 games on the road, the Pirates won’t need three ships sailing in, but some gas cards won’t be turned away as presents. While Merrillville is 2-1 away from home so far this season, with the only blemish being a nine point loss to undefeated FW Snider, running the table against this stretch on the road is going to be a tall order.
#3.
MUNSTER MUSTANGS
6-1/0-0
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LAST WEEK: #2
While Munster’s streak of (sing it with us now) “fiiiiive successive wins” came to an end with an over time defeat at the hands of Crown Point, the Mustangs only drop one spot in the rankings thanks to their best start since the 2012-13 campaign. Munster has a good shot to get back on track starting with the revenge win over Lake Central on Tuesday and then the Highland tournament right after Christmas.
#2.
CHESTERTON TROJANS
7-0/0-0
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LAST WEEK: #3
Like Rudolph driving Santa’s sleigh through a foggy Christmas Eve, Jake Wadding leads the way for the Trojans as he’s first on the team in points (16.0 per game), rebounds (8.8 per game) and assists (17). The only remaining item on the docket for Chesterton in 2018 is a trip to the stacked Noblesville Tournament before returning home to take on Merrillville – the team that knocked the Trojans out of the tournament a year ago.
#1.
VALPARAISO VIKINGS
7-0/0-0
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LAST WEEK: #1
With his bright green jacket, Vikings coach Barak Coolman looks like he’s always filled with festive holiday spirit, and why wouldn’t he be with one of the best rosters in the state. With last year’s controversial regional loss to Elkhart Memorial now avenged, Valpo can look forward to bigger things – namely the huge showdown against Warren Central on December 29 – a late Christmas present for all Hoosier hoop fans.
