Howard County: Feb. 6 Basketball Predictions
With only a few weeks left in the high school basketball season, players and coaches are focused on fine-tuning their game before sectional play. For fans, that means limited chances to watch their favorite teams in action, adding to the excitement of the final stretch.
Now, let’s break down this week’s matchups and predict the winners.
Kokomo 13-5 vs. Culver Academy 9-5
Kokomo enters Thursday’s game against Culver Academy following a 46-point win over Lewis Cass. While the Wildkats' last game wasn’t competitive, this matchup should be much different.
Kokomo has been strong on the road, posting a 6-2 record, with both losses coming against teams that have a combined 25 wins. Though Culver Academy is undefeated at home, it may struggle to contain the Wildkats’ offense.
Winner: Kokomo
Western 10-7 vs Tippecanoe Valley 11-4
Western enters its first game of the week having lost three of its last four. Every team faces a tough stretch during the season, and the Panthers are in the middle of theirs—adding extra motivation to turn things around in Thursday’s game against Tippecanoe Valley.
Tippecanoe Valley is riding a five-game winning streak and has won nine of its last 10. During that stretch, the Vikings have allowed only one opponent to score more than 50 points. While Western has multiple scoring threats, the Panthers could struggle to find their rhythm against the Vikings’ defense.
Winner: Tippecanoe Valley
Northwestern 10-5 vs 3A #15 Maconaquah 11-4
Northwestern is hitting its stride at the right time. The Tigers enter their matchup with Maconaquah on a four-game winning streak, but that run will be tested on the road.
Maconaquah is one of the hottest teams in Class 3A and boasts the fifth-highest scoring offense in the state. Northwestern has held opponents under 50 points in all but five games this season, but that trend may not continue. Josiah Ball, who averages 30.3 points per game, is a key reason Maconaquah is favored to pick up its first win of the month.
Winner: Maconaquah
Eastern 6-8 vs Wes-Del 6-9
Eastern and Wes-Del are both looking to turn the tide this week. Each team has had moments of brilliance and others that left fans puzzled, making one factor likely to decide the outcome.
Wes-Del has found most of its success at home, while Eastern has struggled on the road. Although the Comets have multiple scoring threats, they aren’t expected to lead the team to victory.
Winner: Wes-Del
1A #8 Clinton Prairie 14-2 vs 2A #8 Taylor 13-2
Taylor has a chance to climb the Hoosier Heartland Conference standings this week, facing a tough test at home against Clinton Prairie.
One thing is certain—Taylor is difficult to beat when at full strength. However, the absence of two key players proved costly in its last game. Despite Clinton Prairie winning 11 of its last 12, the Gophers may struggle to contain a Taylor team capable of attacking in multiple ways.
Winner: Taylor
Jay’s stats:
Last week: 2-2
All-time: 24-8 (75%)
