By GREG MENGELT
The Pirates and Lions — along with Corydon Central — are expected to be sectional contenders, should defending state champion and fourth-ranked Silver Creek stumble.
With the Dragons already in possession of the Mid-Southern Conference title, Thursday’s game is a late-season tuneup and a chance for both teams to gain some momentum heading into the sectional in two weeks.
Charlestown is 14-5 and has won four straight games, three of those on the road, the other an easy home win against 4A New Albany. The Pirates won at Madison on Friday and at Brownstown Central in a 16-hour period and passed both tests a couple weekends ago.
“The Mid-Southern Conference is tough,” Charlestown coach Scott Matthews said. “We’ve faced adversity and done pretty well with it.”
Aside from losses in a tournament at Scottsburg, the Pirates’ only losses have been to Silver Creek and Corydon Central, the top two teams in the MSC>
“Charlestown is one of the best teams in the conference and in the sectional,” Salem coach Jerry Hickey said. “They are having a great year, as everyone expected them to. They have been a little overshadowed by the success of Silver Creek and Corydon, but they are an extremely talented team.
Salem (10-7) has dominated the MSC the last half-decade but has had an up-and-down season (thanks in large part to one of Southern Indiana’s toughest schedules). The Lions still have two players who contributed heavily to their 2020 state finals team and four players with a ton of varsity experience. There’s no doubt the Lions will be one of the teams no one wants to see when the sectional fields are announced Sunday.
“Those girls have experienced some stuff,” Matthews said of players like seniors Abigail Ratts, Natalie Noel and Kayla Klinglesmith. “They’re going to have six veterans out there who’ve experienced a lot of success.”
Salem has a 5-game winning streak in its series against the Pirates.
“The past few years we have had successful years and our game with them has always come down to the last few possessions,” Hickey said. “They are well coached and balanced with talented post players surrounded by guards who can shoot the 3 and handle the ball. Should be a great game.”
GAME OF THE NIGHT
CHARLESTOWN AT SALEM
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Brooks Memorial Gymnasium, Salem H.S. (700 N. Harrison St., Salem)
• Records:
Charlestown 14-5, 5-2 MSC. The Pirates are on a 4-game winning streak.
Salem 10-7, 3-3 MSC. The Lions have won two of their last three and four of their last seven.
• Coaches:
Charlestown — Scott Matthews (80-57 in sixth season at Charlestown)
Salem — Jerry Hickey (147-72 in ninth season at Salem)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Charlestown — No. 59, No. 13 Class 3A
Salem — No. 69, No. 16 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Charlestown — Defeated New Albany 46-34 (Jan. 18)
Salem — Lost at Lanesville 43-37 (Jan. 18)
• Last 20 years: Charlestown 15-10. Salem has won the last five games in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 29, 2021 — At Salem 50, Charlestown 46.
• John Harrell prediction: Salem 48, Charlestown 45.
• Sagarin projection: Salem by 2.
• Outlook: My instinct says take Salem at home, but the Pirates keep proving us wrong. So …
• Greg’s pick: Charlestown 53, Salem 51.
SCOTTSBURG AT EASTERN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Eastern H.S. (1100 N. Eastern School Rd., Pekin)
• Records:
Scottsburg 10-8, 2-5 MSC. The Warriorettes have alternated wins and losses over their last 11 games.
Eastern 10-9, 1-5 MSC. The Musketeers have lost three straight and five of their last six.
• Coaches:
Scottsburg — Carrie Daniels (18-23 in second season at Scottsburg, 121-79 in seventh season overall)
Eastern — Michael McBride (229-124 in 15th season at Eastern)
• Rankings:
Eastern — No. 13 AP (Class 2A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Scottsburg — No. 96, No. 26 Class 3A
Eastern — No. 110, No. 19 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Scottsburg — Lost at Salem 71-59 (Jan. 13)
Eastern — Lost to Lanesville 36-25 (Jan. 15)
• Last 20 years: Scottsburg 14-5.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 14, 2021 — At Scottsburg 61, Eastern 44.
• John Harrell prediction: Eastern by 2.
• Sagarin projection: Eastern 46, Scottsburg 44.
• Outlook: A couple of really interesting MSC games on a Thursday evening. Like Charlestown-Salem, this one is a tossup.
• Greg’s pick: Scottsburg 61, Eastern 58.
TRINITY LUTHERAN AT FLOYD CENTRAL
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Joe Hinton Court, Floyd Central H.S. (6575 Old Vincennes Rd., Floyds Knobs)
• Records:
Trinity Lutheran 12-6. The Cougars have won five of their last eight.
Floyd Central 7-11. The Highlanders have won four of their last six.
• Coaches:
Trinity Lutheran — Mike Lang (179-84 in 11th season at Trinity Lutheran)
Floyd Central — Randy Gianfagna (27-58 in fourth season at Floyd)
• Rankings:
Trinity Lutheran — No. 8 AP (Class A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Trinity Lutheran — No. 161, No. 13 Class A
Floyd Central — No. 116, No. 55 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Trinity Lutheran — Defeated Brown County 71-58 (Jan. 14)
Floyd Central — Defeated Borden 49-32 (Jan. 17)
• Last 20 years: Trinity Lutheran 2-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 21 — At Trinity Lutheran 67, Floyd Central 38.
• John Harrell prediction: Floyd Central 52, Trinity Lutheran 41.
• Sagarin projection: Floyd by 10.
• Outlook: This is a tough challenge for the Floyd, but the Highlanders are playing well and have the homecourt advantage. They should pull away for a fifth win in their last seven games.
• Greg’s pick: Floyd Central 54, Trinity Lutheran 41.
HENRYVILLE AT BORDEN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Borden Junior-Senior H.S. (301 West St., Borden)
• Records:
Henryville 8-9, 2-2 SAC. The Hornets have won six of their last eight.
Borden 11-8, 4-1 SAC. The Braves won two of their last three.
• Coaches:
Henryville — Tuesday Guernsey (23-36 in third season at Henryville)
Borden — Matt Vick (46-64 in fifth season at Borden)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Henryville — No. 329, No. 83 Class 2A
Borden — No. 319, No. 60 Class A
• Most recent game:
Henryville — Defeated Orleans 31-25 (Jan. 8)
Borden — Won at South Central 53-41 (Jan. 18)
• Last 20 years: Borden 17-11. The Braves have won the last two in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 21, 2021 — Borden 38, at South Central 29.
• John Harrell prediction: Borden 42, Henryville 36.
• Sagarin projection: Borden by 7.
• Outlook: Another conference game that should be interesting. This one has one-possession game written all over it.
• Greg’s pick: Henryville 47, Borden 46.
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AT SPRINGS VALLEY
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Springs Valley H.S. (326 S. Larry Bird Blvd., French Lick)
• Records:
CAI 6-10. The Warriors have won four of their last seven.
Springs Valley 10-8. The Blackhawks have lost four of their last five.
• Coaches:
CAI — Carson Casey (14-46 in third season at CAI)
Springs Valley — Marty Niehaus (70-43 in fifth season at Springs Valley, 442-231 in 30th season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
CAI — No. 353, No. 74 Class A
Springs Valley — No. 255, No. 34 Class A
• Most recent game:
CAI — Lost to Henryville 40-28 (Jan. 18)
Springs Valley — Won at Cannelton 59-20 (Jan. 17)
• Last 20 years: Springs Valley 17-4. The Blackhawks have beaten CAI nine consecutive times.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 21, 2021 — Springs Valley 48, at CAI 9.
• John Harrell prediction: Springs Valley 52, CAI 25.
• Sagarin projection: Springs Valley by 26.
• Outlook: This is a pretty good Springs Valley team. The Blackhawks could contend for a sectional title.
• Greg’s pick: Springs Valley 45, CAI 27.
PAOLI AT WEST WASHINGTON
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Tower Gymnasium, West Washington H.S. (8028 W. Batt Rd., Campbellsburg)
• Records:
Paoli 12-7, 3-0 PLAC. The Rams have won four in a row.
West Washington 12-5, 3-2 PLAC. The Senators have won six of their last seven.
• Coaches:
Paoli — Donavan Crews (22-13 in second season at Paoli)
West Washington — Matthew Myers (20-20 in second season at West Washington)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Paoli — No. 157, No. 35 Class 2A
West Washington — No. 277, No. 41 Class A
• Most recent game:
Paoli — Defeated Crawford County 55-35 (Jan. 15)
West Washington — Lost to Crawford County 44-26 (Jan. 13)
• Last 20 years: Paoli 19-1. The Rams have a 19-game winning streak against West Washington.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 21, 2021 — At Paoli 45, West Washington 30.
• John Harrell prediction: Paoli 48, West Washington 31.
• Sagarin projection: Paoli by 14.
• Outlook: The Senators should be able to keep this one fairly close at home.
• Greg’s pick: Paoli 45, West Washington 37.
