Today, we preview the 2nd to last game of the week preview of the entire winter season, and it’s the 2nd one this week.
We don’t discuss a lot about the NLC in this blog, but this week has allowed us to preview Goshen, plus the fans really want me to preview this game either way. Now, there was a tie between this game and the CN-Lakewood Park game. However, since CN will get a game of the week preview for Friday’s game @ Fairfield, we’ll mainly highlight this game, but we will mention the other game as well.
The Goshen RedHawks (10-10) have suffered some hard times in recent memory. After starting the season 5-0, they’re just 5-10 since including their active 3-game skid. Goshen finished the season 2-5 in NLC play, which only Concord finished worst than them (1-17 overall and 0-7 in conference). 8 of their 10 losses have come by 10 points or less which is why they’re record is only 5-8 in these games.
Goshen will come into this week as favorites to win both this game and the senior night game vs Marquette Catholic before they face Warsaw in the brutal Elkhart sectional.
For the West Noble Chargers (6-14), the struggles continued last week as they come into this week losers of 7 of their last 9 games since the NECC tourney. But, some may argue that the Chargers are starting to put together a string of good performances.
However, the finish is still not there, and it was evident Saturday against Angola where they led 24-23 going to the 4th before a 10-0 run by Angola put the Chargers in a much tougher position to come back and win that game. West Noble’s final 2 home games will come at a time where they’ve won half of their games this season.
In the all time series, Goshen leads the series 29-5. From 1979-1998, Goshen took 17 of the first 20 meetings. Since the series renewed in 2005, Goshen has taken 12 of 14 meetings. Last year, West Noble won 55-53 to snap an 11-game losing streak @ Goshen.
3 keys for each team to win
Goshen
1. Take care of the basketball
Goshen has had a pretty big problem about turnovers as they’ve recorded 10 or more turnovers in nearly half of their games. Ironically, they’re 5-4 in these games, but it’s starting to catch up to them.
West Noble does a really good job of defending the perimeter and applying enough pressure to frustrate opponents despite the lack of wins. In their last meeting, the Chargers forced Goshen to turn the ball over 10 times. However, there are a few new faces at West Noble which makes this one very interesting.
2. Get their perimeter offense rolling
The irony of some of Goshen’s struggles is the RedHawks have shot 45% as a team this season with 4 guys shooting 40% or better. Goshen is 10-5 when they shoot 40% or better from the field and they’re 7-3 when they shoot 35% or better from the perimeter. In their last 3 games, Goshen is shooting 53% or better in each game from 2-point range. The problem is their 3-point offense has went a combined 13 of 50 from downtown for only 26%. When you have 4 of their 5 starters shooting 30% or better from the triple, this is an area they should be better and they need to get better at because their sectional has a ton of really good teams that will put traffic in the paint and take away their scoring options.
3. Win on the road
Goshen hasn’t played a ton of road games this season. But since the 5-0 start, their road record is just 2-5 compare to their 3-5 home record. Goshen has scored 40 or more points on the road just once during this 15 game span and that’s only because Concord is so young and so bad.
West Noble
1. Make Goshen Earn their baskets
While the Chargers are still one of the better defensive teams in the area, they’ve struggled a bit defensively in their recent stretch. In 3 of their last 5 games, opposing teams have shot 40% or better overall and close to 40% at least from the perimeter. And I know the Hornets only scored 38 points in that game but remember this is Angola and scoring 38 to them is like scoring 50 due to their style of play.
I know you’re going to say “well they need to shoot the ball better. They shot 19% from the triple Saturday night.” True, but let’s also understand that this team lost a lot of depth and firepower from last season’s team. We need to admit that this West Noble team has been adjusting to what they have this season. Goshen can shoot the ball really well, so I do think it’s important to make some improvements defensively and don’t give them easy buckets.
2. Correct the Little Things
To this day, I can still recall Ethan Marsh telling the players on doing well on the little things. It’s a very common thing when you have a team that isn’t as deep or as experienced as the past teams they’ve had. Consistency has been an issue in some capacity all season whether it’s not shooting the ball well or not getting the key stops or missing key free throws. But, that’s how teams grow and I do think they’re starting to turn it around.
3. Stay composed especially in the 4th quarter
Again, the Chargers May be starting to turn things around a little, but they’ll need to stay composed especially late in games when the score might be tight. I do think some of that lack of experience on some of their players does have an effect on the outcome of some of their games. Sometimes, from what I’ve seen, they get a little tense and they don’t play as comfortable in these situations. Again, for a team that’s 6-14, this is a dangerous 6-14 team when they get hot despite the fact the Chargers are 0-9 in games decided by 10 points or less.
Players to watch
Goshen
Drew Hogan
He has shown significant growth and playing time in his sophomore season going from 5.2 points 1.7 boards and 2.7 assists a game as a freshman to 15.8 points 3.1 boards and 2.3 assists a game this season. Hogan is a prolific scorer at all areas of the court and is a strong all around player. He’s got a bright future over the next couple seasons for Goshen.
West Noble
Colton Cripe
I know Josh Gross is a stud of an athlete regardless of sport and Austin Cripe is a walking bucket as a freshman, Colton’s return on the court has brought an immediate presence to the Chargers during these 3-4 games.
Cripe is averaging just under 10 points and about 4 boards a game since his return. With senior night fast approaching Friday against Garrett, let’s also not forget that Colton overcame what could have been a career and even life threatening scenario and he is not only a Grand Valley State commit for cross country after a solid career for a powerhouse program, but he even returns to help a younger roster compete right now.
Conclusion: Much like with the Angola-EN preview, this gets both teams prepared for the state tournament. Goshen will have a very tough matchup with Warsaw in sectional play so this game and the next one are going to be very important games for them.
As for West Noble, you want to send your seniors on a high note and get the home crowd excited for the future. Most of the remaining future of West Noble basketball is either in JV or on the middle school teams. But, it’s equally important to be playing their best ball of the season right now to carry them into the sectional and next season no matter the outcome.
Bonus preview
Central Noble vs Lakewood Park
The Central Noble Cougars (18-4) will look to achieve the most wins in a season in program history as they travel to Auburn tonight to face the 10-10 Lakewood Park Christian Panthers that’s starting to show how much noise they could bring in the 1A state tournament
Key headlines here
1. Star Players
There are a ton of stars on both teams. For the Central Noble Cougars, you have the greatest shooter to ever wear the burgundy and white in the lethal guard: Connor Essegian who’s on pace to not only become the youngest Cougar to 1000 but become the first basketball player from Noble County to score 600 points in a season. That speaks volumes
Sawyer Yoder shouldn’t be left out as well as he’s having a breakout season at a 16.5 point per game average and a poised player on the glass much like Connor is. Sawyer all of the sudden is peaking 800 points in his career as a junior. Then, you have a rising center in Logan Gard who has taken his lumps early in the season but it has paid dividends for him that is especially on defense where he has been a help for them and let’s not forget Ryan Schroeder who’s quietly having a nice tear himself.
For Lakewood Park, you have one of the most dynamic players in the area in Caedmon Bontrager who plays nothing like a sophomore because he can play with the big dogs, and his impact gives the Panthers a lot of confidence and hope of winning titles in Auburn. A future college track star in Josh Pike has been a big time help for Caedmon these past couple seasons. If they can build a strong supporting cast around Bontrager in the future, they can be legit as soon as next season. Sophomores Carter Harman and Aiden Fetters are a good place to start.
2. Getting ready for the playoffs
As we get ready for the state tournament, both teams will come in not just as extremely talented teams with excellent sophomore classes, but two teams that will be legit contenders in their respective sectionals, so it’s going to be interesting to see how these two finish their regular seasons.
Key players to watch
Central Noble
Logan Gard
Outside of Bontrager, size will be a challenge for the Panthers against a bigger athletic front court CN has. Gard may not be the most dangerous offensive player right now, but if he plays well enough, his play on defense could be more than enough in this game
Lakewood Park
Caedmon Bontrager
This one is obvious as this kid can play against a team as talented as CN is. In fact, he can play with most talented players in this area with his ability to attack the glass, be extremely versatile, rebound a ton of boards, block shots, and of course he can dunk. CN better have their homework done on this kid because he ain’t no typical sophomore from the middle of nowhere.
Around the NorthEast Corner 