GBB: Week 9 big games

By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

According to the Sagarin power ratings, there are 14 big games (pitting teams rated in their respective class’s Top 20) on tap for Week 9 of the 2008 Indiana high school girls basketball season.

Here’s a preview of those big contests via the pertinent numbers taken from John Harrell’s Indiana high school basketball site (rankings are from the latest ICGSA polls):

Monday, Jan. 5
One biggie …

1A #12 Lafayette Central Catholic (7-4) at 3A #6 Crawfordsville (12-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Geoff Salmon, 62-48 in 5th year at Lafayette Central Catholic. Darren Haas, 97-66 in 8th year at Crawfordsville.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Crawfordsville, 81.39, 54th overall, 16th in Class 3A. Lafayette Central Catholic, 66.51, 152nd overall, 12th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: Lafayette Central Catholic defeated Tri-Central, 44-34, Dec. 20. Crawfordsville defeated Harrison (West Lafayette), 60-21, Jan. 3.
VS. COMMON FOES: Lafayette Central Catholic 5-1. Crawfordsville 5-0.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: Lafayette Central Catholic 55-74, Crawfordsville 67-77.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: No meetings.

Tuesday, Jan. 6
Four biggies …

3A #1 Fort Wayne Elmhurst (11-0) at 1A #14 Fort Wayne Canterbury (5-3)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Mark Redding, 143-141 in 14th year at Fort Wayne Elmhurst. Scott Kreiger, 161-80 in 11th year at Fort Wayne Canterbury.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Fort Wayne Elmhurst, 91.49, 15th overall, 1st in Class 3A. Fort Wayne Canterbury, 66.7, 150th overall, 11th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: Fort Wayne Elmhurst defeated Fort Wayne South, 60-49, Dec. 27. Fort Wayne Canterbury defeated Bethany Christian, 65-34, Dec. 13.
VS. COMMON FOES: Fort Wayne Elmhurst 2-0. Fort Wayne Canterbury 1-1.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: Fort Wayne Elmhurst 64-59, Fort Wayne Canterbury 43-46.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Fort Wayne Elmhurst, 3-2.
LAST MEETING: Fort Wayne Elmhurst, 70-40, Dec. 12, 2007.

Franklin County (7-4) at 3A #5 Rushville (10-2)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Amber Parker, 23-12 in 2nd year at Franklin County. Melissa Marlow, 105-91 in 9th year at Rushville.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Rushville, 89.71, 18th overall, 2nd in Class 3A. Franklin County, 77.72, 70th overall, 18th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Franklin County lost to Tates Creek (Ky.), 62-59, Jan. 3. Rushville defeated Union County, 73-39, Jan. 3.
VS. COMMON FOES: Franklin County 2-2. Rushville 4-0.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: Franklin County 63-52, Rushville 74-63.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Rushville, 7-1.
LAST MEETING: Rushville, 48-43, Dec. 20, 2007.

4A #4 Hamilton Southeastern (11-1) at Warren Central (9-3)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Chris Huppenthal, 74-11 in 4th year at Hamilton Southeastern, 249-49 in 13th year overall. Michael Brooks, 9-3 in 1st year at Warren Central, 25-27 in 3rd year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Hamilton Southeastern, 102.76, 2nd overall, 2nd in Class 4A. Warren Central, 88.09, 25th overall, 20th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Hamilton Southeastern defeated Hamilton Heights, 59-41, Dec. 30. Warren Central lost to Decatur Central, 61-52, Dec. 30.
VS. COMMON FOES: Hamilton Southeastern 2-0. Warren Central 1-1.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: Hamilton Southeastern 88-52, Warren Central 73-63.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Hamilton Southeastern, 3-1.
LAST MEETING: Hamilton Southeastern, 49-37, Dec. 18, 2007.

2A #10 Jimtown (9-2) at Fairfield (7-3)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Gene Johnson, 274-270 in 27th year at Jimtown. Steve Proctor, 64-34 in 5th year at Fairfield.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Fairfield, 70.23, 119th overall, 18th in Class 2A. Jimtown, 69.84, 121st overall, 20th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Jimtown defeated Bethany Christian, 70-24, Dec. 23. Fairfield defeated White Pigeon (Mich.), 50-30, Jan. 3.
VS. COMMON FOES: Jimtown 0-1. Fairfield 0-1.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: Jimtown 47-72, Fairfield 47-51.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Fairfield, 3-2.
LAST MEETING: Jimtown, 47-39, Dec. 28, 2007.

Thursday, Jan. 8
Two biggies …

Tri-West (8-3) at 3A #6 Crawfordsville (12-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Brad Acton, 58-64 in 6th year at Tri-West, 75-68 in 7th year overall. Darren Haas, 97-66 in 8th year at Crawfordsville.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Crawfordsville, 81.39, 54th overall, 16th in Class 3A. Tri-West, 70.04, 120th overall, 19th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Tri-West defeated Indianapolis Scecina, 62-46, Dec. 20. Crawfordsville defeated Harrison (West Lafayette), 60-21, Jan. 3.
VS. COMMON FOES: Tri-West 6-1. Crawfordsville 7-0.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: Tri-West 59-60, Crawfordsville 67-77.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Crawfordsville, 5-0.
LAST MEETING: Crawfordsville, 82-47, Jan. 3, 2008.

1A #15 Southwestern (Shelbyville) (7-3) at 2A #16 Triton Central (9-2)
GAME TIME: 6:00 PM EST, Shelby County Tournament at Triton Central.
COACHES: P.J. O'Malley, 20-13 in 2nd year at Southwestern (Shelbyville). Bryan Graham, 9-2 in 1st year at Triton Central.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Triton Central, 75.31, 82nd overall, 10th in Class 2A. Southwestern (Shelbyville), 65.19, 169th overall, 15th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: Southwestern (Shelbyville) defeated Indianapolis Lutheran, 63-58, Dec. 19. Triton Central defeated Lawrence Central, 51-42, overtime, Dec. 30.
VS. COMMON FOES: Southwestern (Shelbyville) 4-0. Triton Central 4-0.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: Southwestern (Shelbyville) 42-64, Triton Central 55-63.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Triton Central, 10-1.
LAST MEETING: Triton Central 60, Southwestern (Shelbyville) 43, Dec. 12, 2008.

Friday, Jan. 9
One biggie …

3A #15 Greensburg (10-1) at Franklin County (7-4)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Mike Miller, 52-46 in 5th year at Greensburg, 238-263 in 24th year overall. Amber Parker, 23-12 in 2nd year at Franklin County.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Greensburg, 82.52, 44th overall, 12th in Class 3A. Franklin County, 77.72, 70th overall, 18th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Greensburg defeated Waldron, 73-55, Jan. 3. Franklin County lost to Tates Creek (Ky.), 62-59, Jan. 3.
VS. COMMON FOES: Greensburg 4-0. Franklin County 4-0.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: Greensburg 61-60, Franklin County 63-52.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Franklin County, 11-3.
LAST MEETING: Greensburg, 57-48, Dec. 2, 2008.

Saturday, Jan. 10
Six biggies …

4A #8 Carmel (9-2) at 1A #14 Fort Wayne Canterbury (5-3)
GAME TIME: 2:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Scott Bowen, 84-22 in 5th year at Carmel, 92-35 in 6th year overall. Scott Kreiger, 161-80 in 11th year at Fort Wayne Canterbury.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Carmel, 94.2, 10th overall, 9th in Class 4A. Fort Wayne Canterbury, 66.7, 150th overall, 11th in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: Carmel defeated North Central (Indianapolis), 76-55, Dec. 19. Fort Wayne Canterbury defeated Bethany Christian, 65-34, Dec. 13.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: Carmel 76-56, Fort Wayne Canterbury 43-46.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Carmel, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Carmel, 65-48, Jan. 5, 2008.

Center Grove (6-4) at 3A #5 Rushville (10-2)
GAME TIME: 1:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Joe Lentz, 252-83 in 15th year at Center Grove. Melissa Marlow, 105-91 in 9th year at Rushville.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Rushville, 89.71, 18th overall, 2nd in Class 3A. Center Grove, 88.35, 24th overall, 19th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Center Grove lost to Mooresville, 60-45, Dec. 29. Rushville defeated Union County, 73-39, Jan. 3.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: Center Grove 77-41, Rushville 74-63.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Center Grove, 4-1.
LAST MEETING: Center Grove, 68-53, Jan. 5, 2008.

2A #1 Heritage Christian (12-0) at 4A #6 Fishers (13-1)
GAME TIME: 7:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Rick Risinger, 90-7 in 4th year at Heritage Christian. Michael Gaines, 41-18 in 3rd year at Fishers, 90-38 in 6th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Heritage Christian, 100.53, 3rd overall, 1st in Class 2A. Fishers, 99.27, 5th overall, 4th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Heritage Christian defeated Rushville, 53-49, Dec. 29. Fishers defeated Austin, 77-48, Jan. 3.
VS. COMMON FOES: Heritage Christian 1-0. Fishers 0-1.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: Heritage Christian 72-52, Fishers 94-76.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Heritage Christian, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: Heritage Christian, 54-48, Jan. 5, 2008.

NorthWood (7-4) at 3A #4 Wawasee (11-2)
GAME TIME: 7:45 PM EST.
COACHES: Steve Neff, 544-151 in 32nd year at NorthWood. Kem Zolman, 175-71 in 11th year at Wawasee, 175-71 in 12th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Wawasee, 86.33, 30th overall, 6th in Class 3A. NorthWood, 79, 63rd overall, 17th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: NorthWood defeated Fairfield, 60-40, Dec. 23. Wawasee lost to Norwell, 50-46, Jan. 2.
VS. COMMON FOES: NorthWood 2-0. Wawasee 2-0.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: NorthWood 73-55, Wawasee 78-74.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Tied, 5-5.
LAST MEETING: Wawasee, 48-33, sectional, Feb. 5, 2008.

4A #14 Seymour (9-2) at 3A #16 Mitchell (9-2)
GAME TIME: 2:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Beth DeVinney, 88-55 in 8th year at Seymour, 129-78 in 12th year overall. Frank Decker, 21-12 in 2nd year at Mitchell.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Seymour, 89.29, 20th overall, 16th in Class 4A. Mitchell, 82.04, 50th overall, 14th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Seymour lost to Lafayette Jeff, 85-79, Jan. 2. Mitchell defeated Charlestown, 66-59, Jan. 3.
VS. COMMON FOES: Seymour 1-0. Mitchell 1-0.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: Seymour 68-60, Mitchell 63-61.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Seymour, 4-1.
LAST MEETING: Seymour, 59-39, Jan. 5, 2008.

4A #3 Terre Haute South (11-0) at Warren Central (9-3)
GAME TIME: 1:30 PM EST.
COACHES: Dave Cassell, 11-0 in 1st year at Terre Haute South. Michael Brooks, 9-3 in 1st year at Warren Central, 25-27 in 3rd year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Terre Haute South, 99.66, 4th overall, 3rd in Class 4A. Warren Central, 88.09, 25th overall, 20th in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Terre Haute South defeated Center Grove, 52-38, Dec. 20. Warren Central lost to Decatur Central, 61-52, Dec. 30.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS' RECORDS: Terre Haute South 64-49, Warren Central 73-63.
SERIES LAST 5 YEARS: Terre Haute South, 3-2.
LAST MEETING: Terre Haute South, 66-57, Jan. 5, 2008.