Thursday’s Daily Dive: Crown Point Rolling, Larkin’s Leading Winamac
The season is going to head into a fever pitch starting Friday but before that, one last partial day of games that brings with it a whole lot of notes. Our red into Crown Point’s case for a top team…
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Continue ReadingThe season is going to head into a fever pitch starting Friday but before that, one last partial day of games that brings with it a whole lot of notes. Our red into Crown Point’s case for a top team in the Region, Larkin Brothers leading Winamac, and tons of notes.
Crown Point Making A Case
Heading into the season, was easy to kind of dismiss Crown Point. They graduated some key pieces and some of their best talent could be their young core. But, the senior trio of Sam Snodgrass, Sam Decker, and Elias Gerodemos seem to be enough to make them one of the more compelling teams in the Region.
Now sitting at 5-1 after a 68-59 win over Kankakee Valley in overtime last night, they seem to have some pieces to compete. Their wins over Munster and Warsaw have been the highlights. This roster is made to shoot the ball at a pretty good clip but what seems to stand out so far is Crown Point’s defense. Holding opponents to just 52.2 ppg is really solid for having played all but one 4A team.
Still, hard to tell just how far this team can go but having taken down Munster is a huge win. But, if they are going to win their case as one of the best in the Region, it will come starting January 4th as they have a slew of games against Michigan City, Merrillville, Griffith, and Chesterton. That four game stretch will be tough but it’s their chance to shine.
Larkin Brothers Leading Winamac
One of the best 2A teams in the state this season is Winamac who picked up a convincing 49-28 win last night over Hebron. They are now 6-2 on the season with good wins over Plymouth and Manchester. The Warriors are being led by a set of brothers who are having big seasons so far.
Calvin Larkin, a 6’1 guard and senior and his younger brother Will, a 5’11 lead guard and a junior. Those two have been very consistent this season. Last night, they combined for 29 of their teams 49 points. Calvin is a little taller and more of an all-around scorer that can play off the ball more. Will, a better on-ball guard but just as capable of a scorer.
Those two in the backcourt, where even last season where they produced 11.9 points from Will and 18.5 points from Calvin and won 14 games, is looking to have a much better finish to the year. Last season they finished with back-to-back losses to end the year. This season, in Calvin’s last season, will be looking to find a way to get at Marquette Catholic, the team that knocked them out last year. If they are going to do it, it will be from their familial backcourt.
Quick Hitters:
- Center Grove is moving back in the right direction after back-to-back losses two weeks ago. They are now 7-2 after some easier contests. They get one more tuneup game before the big showcase at the Hall of Fame Tournament next week.
- Danville got a 68-46 win over South Vermillion last night. Not a terribly difficult team this season but a win nonetheless. They now sit at just 4-4 which has to be looked at as a disappointment to start the year. Their results have been all over the map but still have yet to get that marquee win and right the ship. Next chance will be the Hendricks County Tournament.
- Fishers took down a really good Lafayette Jeff team on the road last night. They now have back-to-back-to-back wins over Columbus North, Hamilton Southeastern, and Lafayette Jeff. Likely their best three game winning streak in a few years. At 5-3, this team is hitting on all the right gears.
- Fort Wayne Snider keeps on trucking as they move to 6-0 after beating New Haven 71-61. They have taken care of business but will be looking at the next two weeks as defining for them as they get Brownsburg on Friday and then the SAC tournament next week. Best team in Fort Wayne? We will see.
- Outside of an early loss to Center Grove, Franklin Community has been perfect. They are 5-1 with solid wins over Shelbyville, Decatur Central, and Indian Creek. With a core made up of seniors, this is their last chance to make a run for a Sectional Championship.
- Crispus Attucks moves to 6-1 after a win over Bedford North Lawrence last night. They look like a team that has enough pieces to make a run at another state championship in 3A this year. They have speed, size, athleticism, and shooting. Although last night their shooting wasn’t as solid as it could be. If they are going to make it, they will need to shoot the ball better from distance but not sure another 3A team is as deep or talented.
- And Plainfield keeps doing it. They are now 8-0 with one of their best starts, if not their best ever, to a season. Taking down Terre Haute North last night was a solid win and they did so by 18 points. The biggest thing so far, because they haven’t played superior talent yet, is that they have been doing it convincingly. They are holding opponents to 45.6 ppg and only one game has been within 10 points and that was Batesville, at exactly 10 points.