On The Court

HOMESTEAD AT MANCHESTER

Tip-off: 6 p.m. today in North Manchester

Coaches: Tony Lavorata (Homestead), Gary Goshert (Manchester)

Records: Homestead 10-8; Manchester 15-4

Last Game: Homestead 76, New Haven 73; Marion 76, Manchester 67

Last Year: Homestead 54, Manchester 45

Matchup: The Homestead Spartans are coming off a win over New Haven to earn a portion of first place in their conference, the NHC ... Mike Rhinehart leads the Spartans with 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game ... Ryan Moyer chips in 8.5 points and pulls down 5.5 rebounds per game ... Pete Lohman scores 9.0 points per game for the Homestead squad ... Manchester is coming off a loss to a tough Marion team ... Eric Swan averages nearly 20 points per game, pulls down 5.7 rebounds and has 1.6 steals per contest for the Squires ... Manchester's Rex Reimer also averages in double-figure scoring with 11.4 points per game and leads the team in assists with 5.2 per game.

Lavorata: "Manchester is an execellent ball club. They have a collection of three, if not four, of the finest guards in Northern indiana in (Eric) Swan, (Rex) Reimer, (Michael) Hendrix and (Lee) Shafer. They are well coached, and we look forward to the challenge of playing a team as great as them right before sectional to help us improve. To be successful, we need to control the tempo of the game and control turnovers. We will focus on defensive intensity."

Goshert: "This week is a difficult situation as far as preparing for the game goes. We'll make sure to correct things relevant to us and give an overall view of their offense and defense. We've seen them play and we know their go-to man is a 6-foot-6, 215 pound player (Rhinehart). He is an excellent player who is their offensive rebounder. They also have an excellent point guard and some very good shooters. They can be a very deliberate basketball team. We will need to put pressure on their post player as well as their perimeter players. We'll play an inside-outside combination defense against them."

WAWASEE AT COLUMBIA CITY

Tip-off: 6:15 p.m. today in Columbia City

Coaches: Jerry Davis (Wawasee), Chris Benedict (Columbia City)

Records: Wawasee 0-18; Columbia City 7-11

Last Game: Westview 71, Wawasee 60; Norwell 40, Columbia City 38

Last Year: Wawasee 48, Columbia City 45

Matchup: At 0-18, Wawasee still remains one of the most dangerous teams in the area ... The Warriors have lost their last two games by a combined total of 14 points ... Andrew Warner leads the Warrior offense with nearly 13 points per game. He also pulls down nearly five rebounds per game ... Chris Wilson, R.J. Nethaway and R.J. Wilson all average right at 8.0 points per contest ... Jason Elkins leads the Eagles with 10.3 points and 7.0 rebounds ... Eric Heuer adds 9.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

Davis: "They are a deliberate team that plays patiently. We have contrasting styles. They would prefer to score in the 40s or 50s, while we would prefer the 60s or 70s. They are a defensive team, and they are led by their post man (Jason) Elkins and (Eric) Heuer. We will pay attention to Elkins and play at our tempo."

Benedict: "Wawasee is a team that is really scrapping to come up with a win. They play a tough, rugged schedule, and this year, it seems to have caught up with them this year. We are not playing our best basketball right now. Tonight we will try to stop Wawasee from penetrating and scoring easy baskets. We'll have our hands full with (Chris) Lambert and (Jeremy) High and the big kid in the middle Warner. Right now we are struggling offensively, we are struggling to score points here of late. The key for us will be creating opportunities for easy baskets."

TRITON AT OREGON-DAVIS

Tip-off: 6 p.m. today in Hamlet

Coaches: Joe Bennett (Triton), Bruce Hirschy (Oregon-Davis)

Records: Triton 9-9, Oregon-Davis 4-13

Last Game: Knox 68, Triton 53; Oregon-Davis 49, Culver 43

Last Year: Triton 67, Oregon-Davis 40

Matchup: With a win, Triton could go into the sectional with no worse than a .500 record ... In Oregon-Davis' last game, the Bobcats narrowly escaped from winless Culver ... Matt Savill's near 14 points per contest leads the Trojan offens. He also snares three rebounds per game ... Brandon Zeider adds 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest ... Triton's Jim Read contributes right at 5.0 rebounds per game ... Colin Miller leads the Bobcats in scoring with 11 points per game ... Brandon Frazier adds 6.0 rebounds ... Drew Rannells also contributes 6.0 rebounds per contest.

Bennett: "Oregon-Davis is a big team. Across the starting lineup, they are 6-1 or taller. They rebound well and play a lot of zone defense. We will try to negate their size by being active on the boards. Aggressive rebounding will be the key for us."

Hirschy: "Triton is small and quick. We are trying to really pull our team together and try to play good basketball at this time of year. When you are this close to sectional, you really want to play well. Hopefully, we can stop their penetration and contain them in the game."

WHITKO AT NORTHWOOD

Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. today in Nappanee

Coaches: Fred Fields (Whitko), Dan Gunn (NorthWood)

Records: Whitko 6-12, NorthWood 9-9

Last Game: Southwood 66, Whitko 57; Bremen 60, NorthWood 55

Last Year: NorthWood 55, Whitko 41

Matchup: Both of these teams enter tonight's contests after losing their last game ... Whitko's scoring charge is spearheaded by Ben Mohr and his 15.1 points per game ... Teammate Ben Ryan comes in averaging about 9.0 points per game as well as 7.0 rebounds per contest ... Joe Grant also pulls down 7.0 rebounds per game ... Darin Nunemaker leads the Panthers with 13 points per game ... Charlie Roeder adds nearly 11 points and 7.0 caroms per contest.

Assistant coach John Strayer: "We've scouted them with three tapes, and I've seen them play once in person. They have (Chad) Martin, who is about 6-4 and 225. He has really nice post moves. Nic Bradley is a good point guard. He can pass the ball and take good shots. He doesn't force it. They are very strong and physical. You can tell they come from a good football school. They're not exceptionally tall, but they're very strong. We have to be concerned about their defensive pressure and take advantage of their help-side. They've been weak at that in a few games. The kids understand now that we need them to take the big shots. We're gonna go to the go-to guys."

Gunn: "(Ben) Mohr and (Shane) Henderson score well for Whitko. They play a predominantly man-to-man defense, but of course that can change at any time. Tonight we will focus on playing well without the services of Chad Martin. We will have to assert ourselves on rebounding because Whitko has good size. As always, shooting well will be a key. We will also focus on avoiding turnovers."