Every boys basketball team in the county has played at least four games so far this season, and plenty have found success and things to work on.
While the season is still very young and there is plenty of time for teams to improve, here’s what I’ve learned so far.
Double-digit wins option for Owls
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Seymour won just three games last year, just a season removed from winning 12 the year before.
That 12-12 season two years ago is the only time the Owls hit double-digit wins this decade, and while the Owls are on a four-game losing streak, there is still plenty of season left to right the ship.
This can be said for all teams, but when the Owls are playing with high intensity, they can compete with anyone on their schedule. They did so for a half against Jeffersonville last Friday and in the second half two weeks ago against Brownstown Central.
The Owls should notch at least one more win before the new year. New Albany is the first chance, a team the Owls have not beaten since 2005.
Jennings County and Whiteland are the next two opportunities. The Owls are ranked ahead of the Panthers according to Sagarin and the Warriors have yet to win this year.
Brownstown will figure it out
You have to go back 13 years to find the last time the Braves started a season 1-3.
The Braves went on to win 13 games that year and finished third in the Mid-Southern Conference.
Growing pains are the biggest reason for the Braves’ early struggles as they work in a plethora of new players to varsity roles. However, with the exception of their opener against the Salem, the Braves have played in close games.
Their last two losses — to Scottsburg and South Ripley — came by 10 points or fewer and the loss to the Warriors was by a buzzer-beater.
The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Braves with three games in four days coming up. They battle MSC rival North Harrison on Friday, Mitchell on Saturday and Class A No. 2 Barr-Reeve on Monday.
How far can Crothersville go?
The Tigers have won 15 games the last two seasons, their highest win totals since a 16-win season in 2011-12.
Crothersville is on pace to the match that and then some if they continue on their current tract.
Through mid-December the Tigers have been the best team in Jackson County albeit in record alone. The Tigers have the pieces to put together something special: Fearless drivers, sharpshooters from 3, length and depth.
The Tigers have two games this weekend against Shawe Memorial and New Washington, teams they’ve beaten pretty easily the last two seasons. Where we’ll see if they’re for real is at the Henryville Tournament, where they went just 1-4 a season ago.
Cougars honing in on defense while offense takes shape
In their last two losses, the Cougars failed to cross the 50-point threshold. That’s not always terrible, especially for a team so focused on playing good defense, but points are obviously going to need to start coming in at a higher rate.
The Cougars have shown flashes of scoring points by the boat load, dropping 72 in a loss to South Decatur to start the season and scoring 78 in their lone win over Austin.
It’s expected for a team to have some struggles under a new coach, that’s true anywhere you go. The Cougars should be a more finished product by the end of the next month.
Blend of youth and experience at Medora
The entirety of the Hornets’ program is made of freshmen and seniors and that makes for an easy split for JV and varsity games.
Medora’s freshmen have shown some promise in their seven games this year, but haven’t had much time on varsity due to the Hornets’ seniors.
There are few chances for the Hornets to notch a win this season, but a Southern Roads Conference game to open up the new year will be the first good opportunity. Medora lost by just 10 points at the start of December.