It’s the first boys hoops Top 10 for the 2016-17 campaign!

 

#10	MICHIGAN CITY WOLVES 1-1

Is this the year City turns the corner? We’ve heard for a couple of years that is the group that will take the Wolves where they want to go. Now’s the time.

#9	ANDREAN 59ERS 2-0

This program has been through a lot over the past year, but that hasn’t stopped them from getting off to a 2-0 start. How long can they keep it going is the question. Morton and Lake Central were nice wins, but wins over Bowman and/or Merrillville would really be an eye opener.

#8	LAPORTE SLICERS 0-0

In high school sports, very few things beat out returning varsity experience early in the season and the Slicers have plenty of it to go around. Seniors Ben Dermody, Owen Strieter, Scott Cooper, Andy Samuelson, Nik Ormsby & Jerry Fulton all appeared in each of LaPorte’s 23 games a season ago. Replacing the scoring production of Ben Walker won’t be easy, but the Slicers have the veteran weapons needed to make up for it.

#7	HAMMOND HIGH WILDCATS 0-1

Larry Moore Jr. has his most talented team yet, as the Wildcats are athletic and tenacious on defense. An early season loss to Merrillville shouldn’t dissuade Hammond High fans – the Pirates are a weight class above most teams in the Region. The ‘Cats haven’t won a sectional championship since the 2004-05 season, but they may be considered the favorites this year.

#6	BOWMAN EAGLES 1-2

The Eagles are reloaded and ready for the season, so expect them to keep flying high, no matter who comes and goes. This team’s goals are post season related, so disregard the slow start. They’ll be battle tested come tournament time. Until then, the fans on Fifth Ave. should be entertained as always.

#5	VALPARAISO VIKINGS 2-0

With the graduation of Steve Helm, Conner TenHove & Evan Walls, the Vikings lost three of their top four scorers from last season’s 20-7 club. So far this year, Valpo seemingly hasn’t missed a beat, having scored 77 against Boone Grove & 57 against Hobart, but the level of competition jumps up big time in the next couple of weeks, including dates with both EC Central and Lowell.

#4	EC CENTRAL CARDINALS 2-0

The Cardinals don’t have Damien Jefferson this year. Last year they didn’t have Hyron Edwards, the year before they didn’t have…you get the idea.This year, it’s Jermaine Cousinard’s turn to be Batman. The question is, who will come out of the shadows to be this year’s Boy Wonder?

#3	LOWELL RED DEVILS 1-0

The Red Devils return a lot of experience and talent. They’re also very well coached and motivated to play more games than they did last year – a lethal combination all the way around. Expectations for Joe Delgado’s team are very high – here, there and everywhere.

#2	MERRILLVILLE PIRATES 2-0

Like most teams, the Pirates lost some key pieces from last season – but they return more than they lost, so look for the Bucs to hang around the top of the poll all season. And if the early returns are any indication, the Purple Gang will be fun to watch.

#1	CROWN POINT BULLDOGS 1-0

The Bulldogs lost Grant Gelon, who’s now at IU, to graduation and their four-year starting point guard Blake Bonin has also moved on, yet the goals remain the same for the two-time defending sectional champions, as they should. Happy times appear to be ahead in the county hub.