It’s a snowy Friday here in Central Indiana and there’s nothing more I’d rather do than sit here at my desk in the HSSTM offices and pound out a few hundred words on local boys and girls basketball. And off we go…

• Tough to see one of the players featured on the Nov. cover, Walter Offutt of Warren Central, go down with a knee injury last night. Our CEO, Phil Temple, sent me an e-mail around 8 o’clock last night to pass on the news. Walter’s a great kid, a hard working player and is certainly a Mr. Basketball candidate. From the reports, it sounds like they’re going to examine the injury today – let’s all hope it’s not too serious.

• With that in mind, it certainly makes No. 4 Warren’s showdown with No. 1 and defending state Class 4A champion East Chicago Central a different match-up if Offutt is out. Our reader poll this week saw nearly 60 percent of you respond that this game was the best game on the boys schedule this week. Anytime two top five teams collide in the regular season, it’s special – because it just doesn’t happen that often. Certainly Warriors standouts Jarrin Forte and Josh Jones will be looking to pick up the scoring slack left by Offutt (again, should he not play).

• Speaking of that game, the Challenge of Champions, a premier basketball event, takes place tomorrow beginning at noon. HSSTM will be at Hinkle Fieldhouse throughout the day with magazines. For more details on the games, click HERE. 

• Several great area games taking place tonight, if you’re venturing out to find some solid hoops action: No. 7 North Central is at No. 10 Carmel in a meeting of past sectional rivals. Charlie Hanson is leading the Greyhounds at 15.3 points per game and you can bet that Jordan Brewer and Morgan Newton, two members of Carmel’s state championship football team, are just getting their basketball legs and getting used to the round ball – instead of the pigskin.

• Other games of note tonight: No. 8 Cathedral hosts Tech, No. 20 Plainfield travels to Martinsville and No. 17 Pike hosts Lawrence Central. Whiteland (2-1) hosts Roncalli in the Rebels first game of the season and HSSTM will be present with copies of the new Dec. issue at Franklin for the Grizzly Cubs battle with Greenwood.

• Moving to girls basketball, I’ve certainly taken notice of what the No. 2 Ben Davis Giants have accomplished in the last ten days. The 6-0 Giants topped Lawrence North for starters, defeating the then No. 4 Wildcats by 23 on Nov. 29. Then, last night, Ben Davis looked rather dominant in a 62-50 win over No. 5 North Central in the Marion County Tournament. Tonight, the Giants take on now No. 7 LN again. If they can win this game, I’d have to say Ben Davis has been playing some of the best ball against the toughest competition this season.

• Great road win for Center Grove last night. The Trojans went down to No. 9 Bloomington South and came out with a hard fought, overtime victory. Jordan Price’s layup with about 6 seconds provided the winning margain in the 38-36 win. Head coach Joe Lentz had told me, in an interview for “Grill” in the Nov. issue, that he “liked the intangibles and versatility of Jordan.” Certainly sounds like she came through last night.

• Lastly, I’ll have copies of the Dec. issue with me as I head to Fishers High School tonight for the Santa Claus Classic, a swimming meet that has drawn teams from North Carolina and Ohio.
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Have a safe and enjoyable weekend!