On The Court Basketball Previews

NORTHWOOD AT WARSAW

Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. Friday in Warsaw

Coaches: Dan Gunn (NorthWood), Al Rhodes (Warsaw)

Records: NorthWood 3-4, 1-1 NLC; Warsaw 9-1, 3-0 NLC

Last game: Northridge 63, NorthWood 49; Warsaw 63, Penn 39

Last year: NorthWood 60, Warsaw 57 OT

Matchup: The Tigers come in averaging 63.4 points per game ... They win by an average of 14.8 points per game ... Steve Siebenmorgen leads Warsaw in scoring at 14.0 points per game ... Siebenmorgen also leads the team in rebounding with 6.2 boards per game.

Gunn: "Warsaw is a very physical team. They do a nice job of getting the ball down to the post. They are also very aggressive offensively. (Chris) Wiggins is one of the best guards we will face this season. He has the ability to drive to the basket. We will try to counteract that, and we will work hard to do so. Shooting well will be important for us in this game, and shooting consistently will be another key."

Rhodes: "One, NorthWood plays solid man-for-man defense, they play some zone, and they do a good job of mixing their defenses. They play extremely physical. Last year they took a way most of our post game. The key for us will be to establish Zach Nelson and Steve Siebenmorgen in the post. If we do that and establish that with an outside game, we will be in good shape. (NorthWood's Darin) Nunemaker has had a big game shooting outside. (Chad) Martin has been a force defensively inside. It's important how we play him."

NORTHRIDGE AT WAWASEE

Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. Friday in Syracuse

Coaches: Jerry Davis (Wawasee), Steve Austin (Northridge)

Records: Wawasee 0-9, 0-1 NLC; Northridge 7-4, 1-1 NLC

Last game West Noble 84, Wawasee 77; Northridge 63, NorthWood 49

Last year: Northridge 49, Wawasee 31

Matchup: Wawasee's offense averages 55.5 points per game ... In their last confrontation the Warriors put 77 points on the board but lost by seven ... Andrew Warner leads Wawasee's scoring attack with 12.3 points per game ... Jeremy High leads the Warriors with 5.4 rebounds per game.

Davis: "I have the utmost respect for Coach Austin and his team. (Aaron) Thomas is the best scorer in the area. He shoots well. Northridge forces their opponents to score points. They are difficult to guard, and they are excellent ball handlers. They put points on the board and make it difficult to set up against them. We'll try to key in on Thomas. We won't be able to stop him from scoring, but we need to slow him down. Northridge is a team that is unselfish and smart. They have a very talented offense that puts pressure on their opponent's offense."

Austin: Austin could not be reached for comment.

TIPPECANOE VALLEY AT NORTHFIELD

Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. Friday in Wabash

Coaches: Bill Patrick (Valley), Brian Tonsoni (Northfield)

Records: Valley 6-3, 2-0 TRC; Northfield 3-5, 0-3 TRC

Last game: Valley 61, Argos 59; Southwood 61, Northfield 48

Last year: Valley 89, Northfield 64

Matchup: Valley's win over Argos, its sixth of the year, equals last year's number of wins ... The Vikings are led in scoring by Brandon Eaton (15.1 ppg.) and Jarvis Shepherd (13.3) ... Eric Prater leads the team in rebounding with 6.1 boards per game. Eaton pulls down 5.8 boards per game

Patrick: "Northfield shot 60 percent against Wabash, and they have been shooting the ball well. They have a size advantage with (Adam) Lynn at 6-6 and (Cory) Brainard at 6-3 and a couple other kids who are 6-3. They have gotten better in the last four or five games. Northfield plays better at home than on the road. They are playing well under a new coach. Rebounding will be a key for us in this game because we are overmatched size-wise. We'll also try to cut down on the turnovers. We want to get back down below 15 a game."

Tonsoni: Tonsoni could not be reached for comment.

NORTH MIAMI AT MANCHESTER

Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. Friday in North Manchester

Coaches: Bill Torgerson (North Miami), Gary Goshert (Manchester)

Records: North Miami 4-5, 1-2 TRC; Manchester 7-1, 3-0 TRC

Last game: Manchester 92, Wabash 34; North Miami 68, North Judson 58

Last year: Manchester 55, North Miami 51

Matchup: The last time the Squires took to the court was Dec. 30 in the county tournament ... Their only loss of the season came in the county tournament to Southwood, but they turned around and humiliated Wabash by 58 points ... Eric Swan leads the Manchester scoring attack with 19.3 points per game ... Chris Betten leads the Squires in rebounding at 5.6 boards per game.

Goshert: "North Miami has a couple experienced players in (Brandon) Wideman and (Kenny) Hanson. Wideman is a 6-3 post player who is a hard worker. Hanson is a perimeter player who can do everything, handle and pass the ball, panetrate and shoot or penetrate and pass the ball. I have seen him play for two years and I have not seen him play a bad game. Northfield also has good role players around Hanson. Over Christmas break, they upset North Judson who was ranked in the state. Northfield is a selective, quality basketball team with quality players who are well-coached. They are a solid defensive team, and we will have our hands full trying to handle their press."

Torgerson: Torgerson could not be reached for comment.

TRITON AT BETHANY CHRISTIAN

Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. Friday in Goshen

Coaches: Jim Buller (Bethany Christian), Joe Bennett (Triton)

Records: Bethany Christian 1-8 , Triton 5-2

Last game: Triton 61, CMA 53; Mishawaka Marian 52, Bethany Christian 27

Last year: Bethany Christian 57, Triton 55

Matchup: The Trojans had a month layoff after they won the Culver Holiday Tournament, and after numerous cancellations, they came back to post a win ... Matt Savill's 14.3 points per game leads Triton's scoring surge ... Brandon Zeider chips in 12.5 points per game ... Austin Unterbrink leads the Trojans with 4.5 assists per game ... Triton's Jim Read pulls down 4.5 boards per game ... Bethany Christian went 17-7 and won a sectional last year, but the Bruins graduated their top three scorers.

Bennett: "(Bethany Christian) is improving. Their strength is probably their guard play. They lost three starters from last year's team. They were pretty good last year, but they are still trying to find a rhythm this year."

Buller: Buller could not be reached for comment.

BISHOP DWENGER AT WHITKO

Tip-off: 7:30 Friday in South Whitley

Coaches: Fred Fields (Whitko), Chris Johnson (Dwenger)

Records: Whitko 3-4, Dwenger 4-3

Last game: Whitko 80, Wabash 67; South Side 59, Dwenger 51

Last year: Dwenger 63, Whitko 48

Matchup: Whitko comes in on the heels of a victory over Wabash, its third win of the season ... Against Wabash, Ben Mohr tallied 26 points and Joe Grant pulled down 14 rebounds ... The extra time off due to bad weather has given some of the Wilcats time to heal

Fields: "We've had zero chance to prepare for them. We've worked on playing teams like them. They're a tough team. All five players on the floor for them take it to the basket. They don't play a traditional post position, and that causes some matchup problems. Against Ft. Wayne South, Dwenger played really tough. They're a hard-nosed, agressive team. Until last week, we were giving up second and third shots early in the season. This is against a team that thrives on that."

Johnson: Johnson could not be reached for comment.