>> LEARN HOW YOU CAN JOIN MORE THAN 29,000IU WEST ALUMNI.

VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY IS A PLACE FOR YOU TO GO.

IT'S WHERE PROFESSORS ARE THERE TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR PASSIONS AND IT'S WHERE YOU'LL MAKE CONNECTIONS THAT LAST A LIFETIME.

LEARN MORE AT VALPO.EDU.

>> DOING AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

LIFE IS SHORT.

AND THE EARLIER WE GET STARTED HELPING OUR COMMUNITY THE BETTER OFF OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> ALL RIGHT.

IT IS WEEK FOUR OF LAKESHORE PREP SPORTS, LAKESHORE PBS AND WE'LL GET INTO SOME PREVIEWS OF GIRLS AND BOYS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL, BUT ONE OF THE GAMES THAT I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO LAST WEEK WAS THE VALPO, LIKE CENTRAL GIRLS GAME AND IT LIVED UP TO ALL THE HYPE.

>> IT SURE DID.

TWO OF THE BEST TEAMS IN NORTHWEST INDIANA, CAME DOWN TO THE WIRE AND LAKE CENTRAL END UP TAKING IT.

>> THAT'S WHY THEY'RE RANKED HIGHER THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE REGION.

YOU'LL SEE THOSE GIRLS COMING UP LATER ON.

VERY TALENTED REBOUNDERS.

VERY TALENTED SHOOTERS.

TOUGH TEAM TO BEAT.

>> STILL HAVEN'T LOST TO A NORTHWEST INDIANA TEAM.

ALL THEIR LOSSES WERE FROM TEAMS DOWNSTATE.

>> EXACTLY.

THEY SHOULD NOT TRAVEL AS MUCH.

[LAUGHTER] >> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S FOCUS ON VALPO AND MUNSTER COMING UP THIS WEEKEND IN GIRLS BASKETBALL.

>> VALPO DID LOSE LAST WEEK.

THEY'RE SECOND WEEK BEHIND LAKE CENTRAL.

THEY STILL HAVE WON FIVE OUT OF THE LAST SIX.

>> KRISTIN IS ONE OF BIG REASONS WHY.

SHE'S HAD A TREMENDOUS SEASON FOR 19-2 VALPO.

>> SHE'S THE POINT GUARD THERE AND NOT ONLY ON THE TEAM BUT WHAT DID YOU MENTION LAST WEEK?

>> THE ALL SWEDISH FISH TEAM.

[LAUGHTER] >> EXACTLY.

>> I HAVE NOT FOUND IT AT THE GROCERY STORE.

>> IT'S THERE.

YOU ARE NOT LOOKING HARD ENOUGH.

[LAUGHTER] >> EXACTLY.

>> WITH THE LAYUP AND STARTING TO SHINE AND LATE IN THE SEASON.

>> THE THING ABOUT VALPARAISO, IT MAKES YOU WONDER AND YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IF, BUT WHAT IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THOSE INJURIES-- THE INJURY.

I THEY WOULD BE UP THERE WITH LAKE CENTRAL AND A BETTER GAME WITHOUT THE INJURY.

>> I'M A BIG WHAT-IF GUY AND WHEN YOU HAVE AN INJURY, ALL TEAMS DEAL WITH INJURIES.

I AM DEFINITELY A BIG WHAT-IF GUY WHEN THOSE THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW THEY WERE ON A ROLL RIGHT, 19-0, RIGHT?

>> AND HAD THE TEAM NOT LOST UNTIL THE INJURY CAME UP.

>> OBVIOUSLY, THEY DREW CROWN POINT AT THE SECTIONAL LOWELL.

THEY HAD A TREMENDOUS SEASON.

WE TALKED ABOUT WILLIAM BARNES, THE FRESHMAN, 17 POINTS PER GAME.

>> TWO LOSSES ON THE SEASON.

THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS TEAM GOING INTO THE SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

>> AND BECAUSE OF WHAT HE JUST MENTIONED ABOUT THE BARNES, THE FRESHMAN, THAT YOUNG LADY IS A LEADER AND DARN GOOD BASKETBALL PLAYER.

WE SAW THE POINT GUARD THAT IS A COACH ON THE FLOOR.

THEY'RE GOING TO A TOUGH TEAM TO BEAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

BECAUSE THEY REALLY HAVE A COUPLE OF POINT GUARDS.

IF YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF DEPTH, THAT'S HUGE.

>> YEAH.

EXACTLY.

>> TAKING ON ANOTHER OUTSTANDING GIRLS' TEAM AND CAME OFF A HUGE WIN ON THE WEEKEND.

THEY PUT IT TO HIGHLAND THE MUNSTER GIRLS.

>> I ACTUALLY PICKED THAT CORRECTLY.

I'LL PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU SHOULD BECAUSE OVER HERE WE BOTH THOUGHT YOU WERE WAY OFF.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU GUYS THINK THAT WAY ANYWAY.

>> WE ROLLED OUR EYES BUT THE MUNSTER GIRLS ARE PLAYING WELL.

THEY'RE 16-6 ON THE SEASON AND WON 2 OF THE LAST 4.

THEY'RE LOOKING GOOD IN THE LAST FEW OUTINGS AND THAT'S ONE REASON WHY THE LEADERSHIP OF GILLIARD.

>> THEY OUTSCORED HIGHLAND.

THAT WAS KIND OF A SURPRISE THAT THEY HAD THAT MUCH OFFENSE.

WE CAN SEE IN THE HIGHLIGHTS, WHOA, THAT THEY DO HAVE BALANCE SCORING.

>> YEAH.

LET'S ALSO MENTION THIS NAME RIGHT NOW, ODOLUGA, THAT YOUNG LADY ALWAYS COMES TO PLAY.

GOOD BASKETBALL PLAYER AND YOU MENTIONED LEADERSHIP, ONE OF THEIR TOP LEADER IS A FRESHMAN.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

HODGE WITH THE SHOT, NUMBER 20.

THERE'S ANOTHER BASKET BY MONTGARY.

>> THAT'S A NICE PASS.

THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT HIGHLAND.

THEY PASS THE BALL.

THE FRESHMAN WHO JUST SCORED.

SHE WAS MAD AT HERSELF BECAUSE HE HAD A TOUGH FREE THROW GAME AGAINST VALPARAISO AND SHE MADE UP FOR IT.

THERE IS ODOLUGA AGAIN >> SHE'S EXCELLENT PLAYER.

>> AVERAGED 76 POINTS AND THEY HAD AN OFFENSIVE NIGHT AGAINST HIGHLAND.

THIS IS ANOTHER HUGE TEST, ANOTHER MATCH-UP, A BIG MATCH-UP FOR MUNSTER WITH TAKING ON VALPO.

>> I THINK IT'S MORE OF A BIG MATCH-UP OF VALPO BECAUSE VALPO IS THE TEAM STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THE INJURY THAT THEY SUFFERED EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG TEST FOR THEM.

>> IT COULD BE.

NOW THIS WAS MY PICK HERE.

MY PICK IS VALPO BOUNCES BACK FROM THE TOUGH LOSS.

OFTENTIMES THESE SKILLED TEAMS REBOUND BETTER OFF A LOSS.

THEY'RE WELL-COACHED AND THERE'S A LOT OF TALENT.

THEY HAVE MOTIVATION TO PROVE THAT THEY CAN STILL SUCCEED.

>> I LIKE THAT >> HMM?

>> I LIKE THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO A LITTLE PORTAGE-K.B.

GIRLS.

PORTAGE ON A LITTLE BIT OF A RUN.

THEY WON FOUR OF THE LAST FIVE GAME.

RECORD AT 13:10, BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO SHOW SOME LIFE HERE.

>> DID YOU SEE HOW SHE DROVE PAST THE DEFENSE, NUMBER ONE, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED FROM THE POINT GUARD.

>> ANOTHER QUICKNESS FROM AVA AND ANOTHER EXAMPLE GETTING DOWN THE FLOOR AND GETTING AN EASY LAYUP.

>> THAT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO DO AGAINST VALPARAISO.

>> VALPO HAS A TOUGH DEFENSE BUT THIS PORTAGE TEAM IS PUTTING UP SOME NUMBERS.

13-10 AND A REALLY GOOD SCHEDULE.

WE'VE SEEN THEM BE REALLY COMPETITIVE THIS YEAR.

SCORE THE BASKETBALL WELL, 48 POINTS PER GAME.

>> I THINK THAT WAS ALANTE, RIGHT, BEAUTIFUL SHOT.

>> THIS IS A GOOD MATCH-UP.

K.B.

IS A VERY GOOD BASKETBALL TEAM.

I DON'T KNOW.

I DIDN'T CHECK THE RATINGS, BUT THIS MIGHT BE KIND OF AN EVEN MATCH-UP.

>> K.B.

VALLEY, 16-6, I HAVE TO BE HONEST, I DIDN'T EXPECT THEM TO HIT THAT HIGH A DOUBLE FIGURE.

GIVE THE COACHING CREDIT AND THERE'S NUMBER ONE GETTING THE BASKET AND YOU HAVE PORTAGE IN A GOOD MATCH-UP AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT MATCH-UP.

>> THEY DREW HOLBERT IN THEIR FIRST GAME OF THE SECTIONAL.

WIN OF A BALL GAME.

THEY GOT SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO AS THEY PREP FOR THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

.

HOW ABOUT THE LADY COUGARS?

16-6.

THREE OF THE LAST FOUR, THOUGH.

THEY ARE PLAYING GOOD BALL.

THEY PLAYED GOOD BALL ALL SEASON LONG.

THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF SMALL BLIPS.

THEY ARE GETTING IT DONE.

LILY TOPPING HAVING HERSELF A GOOD SEASON.

>> THAT LAYUP THERE WAS BY LANENY CAPILLARY.

EXCELLENT WAY TO GET DOWN THE FLOOR AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE WIDE OPEN LAYUP.

>> THAT'S THE KEY.

IF YOU CAN GET TO THE BASKET AND YOU GET BASKETS OR DRAW FOULS.

>> I THINK THIS WAS THE ONLY CONFERENCE LOSS.

THEY'RE SECOND IN THE CONFERENCE TO ANDREAN, TOP IN 13 POINTS PER GAME.

THEY DREW-- >> I DON'T MEAN TO KIT YOU THERE, IT YOU SEE THOMAS WITH THE SWITCH GOING TO THE BASKET.

THAT WAS REALLY SLICK.

VERY NICE.

>> NICE PLAY THERE.

>> THAT'S FAITH WITH THE LEFT-HANDED LAYUP.

EXCELLENT PLAY THERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DYNAMIC OFFENSE HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHO DID YOU PICK?

>> IT WASN'T MY PICK.

THIS WAS YOUR PICK.

>> OH, NO.

OH!

>> FINALLY GOT TOMMY.

>> WHY DID I GO QUIET?

[LAUGHTER] I'M STILL HERE, PEOPLE.

I'M JUST KIND OF-- I'M FINE NOW.

ANYWAY, I HAVE TO PICK VALLEY ON THIS.

PORTAGE HAVING A GOOD SEASON.

STRUGGLING.

KV IS HAVING A GOOD YEAR.

EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT KNOW IT AT THE TIME, I'M PICKING KV TO WIN THIS BALL GAME.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU MUST HAVE BEEN DREAMING THEN.

LET'S GO TO THE BOYS SIDE.

>> HUH?

>> LET'S-- [LAUGHTER] LET'S GO TO THE BOYS SIDE.

EVER SINCE THAT STRETCH WHERE LC WAS KNOCKING 3s DOWN ALL OVER THE PLACE, THINGS HAVE GOTTEN DOWNWARD.

>> THEY'RE BATTING .500.

3 OF 6-- THREE OF THEIR LAST SIX.

IT'S A STRUGGLING POSITION, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF TALENT HERE.

I THINK THEY CAN REBOUND FROM IT.

>> THEY GOT MALARCY KID WHO IS AVERAGING 10 POINTS PER GAME.

OF COURSE, DAVE IS ALSO HAVING A GOOD YEAR AS A HEAD COACH.

>> THAT WAS ESPOSITO WITH AN EXCELLENT TAKE.

>> YOU SEE HIM POUNDING IT AGAINST VALPO.

THEY LOST A HEARTBREAKER HERE IN OVERTIME.

THEY WERE LEADING I THINK EARLY IN THIS GAME.

THERE'S THE 3 BALL BY JAKE SMITH.

>> I WANT TO SEE XMAN, I WANT TO SEE NUMBER 24 GETTING IT DONE.

THAT'S NUMBER 30, JAKE SMITH WITH THE BASKET AND OF COURSE, THE MID-RANGE JUMPER IS VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> X WILLIAMS, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM.

>> HE'S GOT A SHOT.

>> OKAY.

>> HE'S GOT SOME SKILLS.

HE CAN RUN THE BALL.

>> WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM A GUY WITH WINGS?

[LAUGHTER] HE CAN RUN THE PITCH AND SHOOT IT FROM DEEP.

>> I DIDN'T REALIZE HE WAS A WELL-ROUNDED ATHLETE LIKE THAT.

>> X OR ME?

>> NO, X.

[LAUGHTER] >> ONE OF THE KEY POINTS FROM LAKE CENTRAL IS TO GET THE OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS AND IF YOU SAW IN THIS FOOTAGE, THEY'RE GETTING THE SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM.

THAT'S KEEPING THEM GOING.

LOOK AT THAT BOTTOM LINE.

BOX OUT ON OFFENSE.

YOU HAVE TO BOX OFF AND YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAIT EXTRA REBOUNDS AND THAT'S SOMETHING LAKE CENTRAL IS GOING TO WORK ON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THEIR MATCH-UP IS AGAINST-- I WILL ISSUE AN APOLOGY.

I DON'T KNOW.

THEY PLAYED DEFENSE LIKE THEY WERE WATCHING THIS PROGRAM.

>> THEY DO.

OH!

>> THERE'S A REASON WHY THEY'VE WON THE LAST FIVE GAMES.

THEY'RE STARTING TO GET IT ON THE DEFENSIVE END.

YOU HAVE JUSTIN SIMMS DRAINING THE THREE.

THERE'S A LOT OF TALENT ON THIS OFFENSE AS WELL.

>> WE TALKED LAST WEEK ABOUT A TEAM TRYING TO ADJUST FROM LOSING SO MUCH FROM LAST YEAR WHEN THEY MADE IT TO THE STATE FINALS AND THEY'RE ADJUSTING.

IMAGINE, FIVE GAMES IN A ROW GETTING A W. AT THIS TIME OF THE MONTH, PRETTY GOOD.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> YEAH.

THEY'RE STARTING TO HIT THEIR STRIDE.

THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT GETTING INTO THE MID-SEASON.

>> THEIR HEAD COACH IS A DARN GOOD ONE, TOO >> YES.

I GOT A TEXT FROM A COACH OVER THE WEEKEND THANKING ME FOR THE KIND WORDS ABOUT HIS TEAM, AND I CAN TELL YOU IT WASN'T COACH URBAN FROM CHESTERTON.

[LAUGHTER] >> THERE'S SNYDER.

TAKING BUSINESS FROM THE CORNER THERE.

HE PROBABLY WAS MOTIVATED BY YOUR WORDS AS WELL.

>> I'M TELLING YOU.

THEY PLAYED LIKE IT.

THEY PUT THE CLAMPS DOWN ON MR. LUX IN THE FIRST HALF.

WHAT A DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE AGAINST CROWN POINT AND CHESTERTON.

IF THEY CAN START DUPLICATING THAT DEFENSIVE EFFORT, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GET HOT.

>> YOU GOT TO PICK.

THIS IS JOE'S PICK.

>> THIS IS MY PICK.

I'M NOT MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE.

I GOT THEM HOLDING LC TO 40 IN THE MATCH-UP THIS WEEKEND.

I THOUGHT THEY WERE STRUGGLING FOR A WHILE AFTER THE HOLBERT WIN.

HOW MUCH DID THEY HOLD CROWN POINT TO LAST WEEK?

>> YOU GOT ME ON THAT ONE >> IT WAS NOT A LOT.

>> NO.

THEY DID A GREAT JOB.

I DO BELIEVE, AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU GOT AN EMAIL FROM SOMEBODY SAYING, HEY, THANKS, JOE, WE REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> YEAH.

THAT MAKES IT MUCH BETTER >> LET'S MOVE ON TO MERRILLVILLE AND VALPO.

>> MERRILLVILLE STRUGGLED AND THERE IS A LOT OF TALENT ON THIS TEAM.

AS EVIDENCED RIGHT THERE BY BROWN WITH THE NICE TAKE ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE.

>> AND IT SHOCKS ME.

I MEAN, THE HEAD COACH OVER THERE IS GOOD AT WHAT HE DOES.

THEY GOT TALENT OVER THERE, BUT WHY CAN'T THEY PUT LYNCH TOGETHER.

LAST YEAR, THEY STARTED OFF SLOW AND ENDED OFF MUCH BETTER.

THIS YEAR, STRUGGLING AND IT MAKES YOU WONDER, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

>> IT TAKES SOME TIME TO GET INTO THE FLOW OF THE SEASON AND SOME TEAMS ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THAT.

>> AND DEFENSE HAS LET THEM DOWN.

>> BRYCE PETERS AND THAT WASN'T A FLUKE.

>> JOE, IS THERE A CHANCE THAT THE DEFENSE IS A MAJOR REASON THEY'RE NOT DOING WELL?

>> ROBERT KENNEDY TO THE GOAL.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO PICK UP THE DEFENSE HERE, WHETHER IT BE FULL COURT PRESSURE AND YOU KNOW, WHATEVER YOU'RE PLAYING.

>> YOU GOT TO STOP THE OPPONENTS.

>> LEWIS HUNTER.

>> WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED THERE AT THE VERY BOTTOM, DEFENSE WILL BE IMPORTANT.

>> WOW.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY READ OUR MINDS.

>> SO THIS IS DEFINITELY A SITUATION WHERE MERRILLVILLE, THERE'S A LOT OF TIME.

THEY'RE WELL COACHED AND ONCE THINGS START TO CLICK, THEY CAN BE PRETTY DANGEROUS IN THE DANCE.

>> THIS IS A CREDIBLE GAME.

WE HAVE SEEN VALPO BE UP AND DOWN AS WELL THIS SEASON.

HAD THE BIG OVERTIME WIN AT HOME OVER LAKE CENTRAL, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'VE HAD ISSUES WITH CONSISTENCY.

LET'S SEE HOW THEY DO THIS WEEKEND AGAINST MERRILLVILLE.

8-9 ON THE SEASON ARE THE VALPARAISO VIKINGS.

>> AGAIN, STRUGGLING.

THEY ONLY WON ONE OF THE LAST THREE.

THAT'S A STRUGGLE.

WE'LL SEE HOW THIS MOMENTUM CONTINUES >> WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE SAW MERRILLVILLE AND VALPO STRUGGLING AT THE SAME TIME.

>> NOT RECENTLY.

>> JACK SMILEY THERE.

>> MATT THERE WITH THE OFFENSIVE REBOUND.

>> YES, IT IS.

>> HE'S A TREMENDOUS OFFENSIVE LINEMAN.

>> YES, HE IS.

>> HE'S A TREMENDOUS CENTER FOR THIS SEEM TEAM.

>> AND GOT OFFERS FOR MATT.

>> YOU CAN TELL BY LOOKING AT HIM, HOW BIG HE IS AND AGILE ENOUGH TO PLAY BASKETBALL.

THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

>> WESTERN MICHIGAN MAYBE.

>> VALPO DOES A GOOD JOB WITH FOOTBALL.

JUST A LITTLE BIT.

>> THERE YOU GO, MATT.

>> MASON JONES GOING TO STATE.

>> ANOTHER DIVISION I PLAYER.

THAT SHOWS YOU WHY.

HE HAS TREMENDOUS UPSIDE.

HE SLAMS IT HOME.

GOING TO PLAY FOR MIKE LEWIS.

>> WAS THAT A HOOK SHOT I JUST SAW?

>> THAT WAS A RUNNER.

>> WOW.

>> WHATEVER IT WAS, IT WAS CREATIVE AND IT WORKED.

>> OLD SCHOOL BUT VERY CREATIVE.

>> MAYBE VALPO IS DEVELOPING A LITTLE CHEMISTRY HERE.

>> I THINK THAT-- THAT WOULD BE BIG FOR THEM.

>> YEAH WE DON'T SEE ANY NEGATIVES TOWARD DEFENSE AS FAR AS THEY'RE CONCERNED SO WE KNOW THEY WILL DO THE D. AS YOU WILL SEE-- >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, MASON JONES THERE, 2 POINTS PER GAME.

THAT'S A HEAVY LOAD FOR ONE PLAYER.

WHO ELSE CAN PICK IT UP?

SMILEY CAN PICK IT UP WITH 15 POINTS PER GAME.

>> DEFINITELY.

YOU REALIZE THAT WHEN MASON HAD BIG GAMES.

>> EXACTLY.

>> SO OF COURSE, I HAD TO MAKE MY PICK.

AS A VALPO ALUMNI, I HAD TO PICK THE VALPARAISO VIKINGS, A, BECAUSE THEY'RE HOME.

BOTH TEAMS ARE KIND OF STRUGGLING AND TRYING TO FIND THEIR IDENTITY.

VALPO AT HOME.

IT'S GOING TO BE A CLOSE GAME BECAUSE I THINK MERRILLVILLE IS GETTING MOMENTUM BEHIND THEM AS WELL.

>> NOT A GREAT WEEKEND FOR VALPO.

THEY FOLLOW UP MERRILLVILLE.

THIS THEIR MERRILLVILLE-MUNSTER WEEKEND.

>> IS THAT A TOUGH GAME TO GO INTO THE MUNSTER MATCH-UP?

>> I MEAN, USUALLY, THEY WERE PLAYING A GAME THAT WOULD DETERMINE THE DULAN.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE DOWN A LITTLE WAYS IN THE DULAN STANDINGS.

>> NOW, IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING MOMENTUM GOING INTO THE SEASON.

>> IT IS.

>> YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW IT UP WITH MUNSTER WHO IS GOING TO BE AN OUTSTANDING OPPONENT ON SATURDAY AS WELL.

>> THIS IS A VERY BIG WEEKEND >> UH-HUH >> FOR THEM WITH BACK-TO-BACK GAMES AND TRYING TO HAVE SOME CONSISTENCY.

THEY SHOULD BE-- YOU WOULD WANT THEM ROUNDING INTO SHAPE NOW.

>> YEAH.

SO LET'S SEE HOW THEY DO THIS WEEKEND.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE BIG.

ALL RIGHT.

TIME FOR OUR FEATURE.

YOU KNOW, THE LAKE CENTRAL GIRLS HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU ALL YEAR THEY HAVEN'T LOST A GAME IN THE REGION.

WE WERE LOOKING TO THE BIG MATCH-UP LAST WEEK WITH VALPO.

AND LC GOT A BIG WIN.

>> THAT'S THING, YOU PICK UP THE BIG WINS AND TAKE THEM WITH THE MOMENTUM INTO THE TOURNAMENT.

WE'RE NOT THAT FAR >> GIRLS ARE NEXT WEEK >> YEAH, NEXT WEEK.

THAT'S A BIG WIN FOR LAKE CENTRAL.

>> GET CONFIDENCE.

LET'S MEET THE LAKE CENTRAL INDIANS.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THIS IS THE PLAYOFF AT THIS POINT OF THE SEASON?

>> I THINK YOU CAN ALWAYS GET BETTER.

YEAH, I THINK WE'RE AT THE SPOT THAT WE NEED TO BE.

I PREACH TO THE KIDS AND YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH 14, 15, 16-YEAR-OLD KIDS, YOU KNOW.

SOMETIMES A LOSS IS EARTH-SHATTERING.

IT'S NOT.

THE LOSS THAT IS EARTH-SHATTERING IS YOUR LAST LOSS OF THE TOURNAMENT.

AND TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING READY AND WE'RE TRYING TO PLAY OUR BEST BASKETBALL WHEN IT COMES TO THE TOURNAMENT.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE PLAYING YOUR BEST BASKETBALL IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.

YOU WANT TO PEAK AT THE RIGHT TIME.

I TOLD THEM THE OTHER DAY AND THIS HAS BEEN ABOUT THE LAST THREE GAMES.

I SAID I'M FEELING IT.

WE'RE STARTING TO PEAK AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND THAT MATTERS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT ANIYA BISHOP.

WHO IS THE TOP SCORER.

WHAT DOES SHE BRING TO THE TABLE?

>> SHE'S A TREMENDOUS ATHLETE, LEADING US IN REBOUNDING.

THE OTHER DAY I TOLD HER, SHE HAD 13 REBOUNDS AND 7 ASSISTS.

I FORGET WHAT GAME IT WAS.

I PRAISED HER FOR THE LITTLE THINGS THAT SHE DOES.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE HER TO SCORE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

IT'S GOING TO COME AND THE THING ABOUT THIS TEAM IS, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE OFFENSIVE PUNCH FROM THE PERIMETER AND TRYING TO GET HER TO SHOOT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

BUT SHE'S BEEN GREAT FOR US.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S GETTING CLOSE TO GET A THOUSAND POINTS AND YOU KNOW, PROBABLY THE BEST ATHLETE ON OUR TEAM, YOU KNOW, IN THE ATHLETIC LEAGUE AND GIVE US GREAT ATHLETICISM AND VANESSA AT THE POINT.

ATHLETICALLY, SHE'S AS GOOD AS THERE IS.

WE'RE HAPPY WITH IT.

>> ANOTHER NAME THERE, RONI AND TALK ABOUT HER CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> SHE BROKE OUR SCHOOL RECORD AND MADE THREE-POINTERS AND THE GIRL CAN FLAT OUT SHOOT THE BALL AND WHAT I LIKE ABOUT HER IS HER DEFENSIVE GAME IS GETTING BETTER.

THAT'S WHAT WE TALK ABOUT CONSTANTLY AND I THINK SHE'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD ON THE BALL AND ALL OUR KIDS ARE.

AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POSITIVES OF THIS BASKETBALL TEAM.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE SO FAR THIS YEAR?

>> OBVIOUSLY, I LOVE PLAYING WITH MY TEAM.

WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING SINCE FOURTH GRADE.

WE'RE OBVIOUSLY SUPER CLOSE.

I LOVE HOW CLOSE OUR TEAM IS AND BEING ON THE COURT WITH THEM IS JUST GREAT.

>> YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THE PLAYOFFS ARE AROUND THE CORNER AND LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO.

WHAT'S THE ONE THING YOU WANT TO IMPROVE ON AS A TEAM GOING INTO THE SECOND SEASON?

>> I MEAN, GOING INTO A SECOND SEASON WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE ON EVERYTHING.

I MEAN LIKE DEFENSE, LIKE WE NEED TO GET A LITTLE BETTER AT THAT I THINK.

I THINK WE'RE DOING A LOT BETTER AT MOVING THE BALL, GETTING A BETTER SHOT AND TRANSITION.

WE CAN PROBABLY GET MORE FROM TRANSITION AND RUNNING UP THE COURT.

>> WHAT MAKES THIS TEAM SO GOOD?

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THIS TEAM?

>> I LOVE THAT WE ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GAME IN DIFFERENT ASPECTS AND WE KNOW HOW TO PLAY OUR ROLE.

IT MAKES US A GOOD TEAM.

ESPECIALLY AROUND HERE >> WHAT'S GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND KNOWING THAT THE PLAYOFFS ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER?

>> I'M ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE AND THE CHEMISTRY THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN AROUND THIS TIME.

IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD TIME.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MOMENTUM YOU ARE TAKING INTO THE PLAYOFFS.

YOU WON FIVE OF THE LAST SIX GAMES.

TALK TO ME HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GO INTO THE SECOND SEASON WITH MOMENTUM?

>> STAYING CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE DO.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ALL THE NERVES OUT AND WE'RE ALL READY TO, AGAIN, CONTRIBUTE TO THE PARTS THAT WE KNOW WELL ABOUT OURSELVES.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GREAT SEASON AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> DO YOU SEE THEM DOING THE GRITTY?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING >> THEY'RE HAVING A IF TIME AND DANCING.

THEY SHOULD BE.

BECAUSE THEY'RE AN EXCELLENT TEAM.

I REALLY THINK THIS TEAM HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MARCH.

>> DID THEY DO THAT GRITTY WHEN THEY WON THE DAC ON FRIDAY?

>> I IMAGINE THEY DID.

[LAUGHTER] >> I THINK SO.

>> WAS THE GRITTY WORTH IT?

>> WAS GRITTY-WORTHY.

DID YOU GET A PATCH ON YOUR JACKET?

>> DID THE GRITTY.

THAT'S WHAT THE KIDS CALL IT.

I DON'T HAVE THAT PATCH ON MY JACKET THAT I DON'T WEAR ANYMORE.

>> BEN, JOE AND I WILL DO THE GRITTY AFTER WE'RE DONE WITH THE PROGRAM.

>> CAMERAS WILL BE OFF, THOUGH.

[LAUGHTER] >> LET'S GET TO THE TOP 10, FIRST ON THE GIRLS' IDEA.

>> WELL, YEAH-- [LAUGHTER] THERE IS HIGHLAND, KV, MUNSTER, EAST CHICAGO.

IS WADE STILL DOING THE POLL?

HIGHLAND ABOVE MUNSTER EVEN THOUGH MUNSTER TOOK THEM TO THE WOODSHED?

TOP FIVE VALPO NUMBER ONE, AND LAKE STATION DID BEAT THEM ON FRIDAY.

>> IS LAKE STATION DOWN?

>> I THOUGHT I MISSED ONE.

>> MAYBE THERE'S SOME ARGUMENTS TO BE MADE HERE.

BUT DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, VALPO, ANDREAN, SOUTH CENTRAL AND LAKE STATION AND LAKE CENTRAL, ALL OF THESE TEAMS ARE EXCELLENT.

>> YEAH, THEY ARE.

>> AND LAKE STATION IS GOING TO BE HOPEFULLY INTO IT.

>> SOUTH CENTRAL GIRLS IS ONE OF THE PCC TOURNAMENT, I BELIEVE.

>> LAKE STATION WON THAT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WEEK OR SO.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.

THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

NOW THE EVEN BETTER NEWS, YOU PLAY ANDREAN IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE TOURNAMENT.

>> LET'S GO TO THE BOYS' SIDE.

YOU KNOW, WESTVILLE MADE A GREAT RUN IN THE PCC TOURNAMENT, BUT THEY DID LOSE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

THAT WAS AFTER THEY WON IT LAST YEAR.

THEY WERE GOING FOR THE REPEAT.

GOING FOR THE REPEAT.

AND PUT IT TOGETHER QUIETLY A NICE RUN HERE BEHIND JAMI HODGES.

HEARD THEM TALKING ABOUT LC, 21st CENTURY, 13-4.

I THINK 21C LOST TO EAST CHICAGO.

LET'S LOOK AT THE TOP FIVE.

MORGAN WON THE PCC CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE BOYS.

BIG WEEKEND FOR THEM.

>> AND HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT TOP?

>> I LIKE THE TOP THREE.

>> LAKE STATION, I HAVE TO PROMOTE THEM.

THEY'RE DOING GOOD AT NUMBER TWO.

HAMMOND CENTRAL, WHAT'S ONE THEM?

>> THEY'RE PLAYING A REGION TEAM TONIGHT.

THEY'RE PLAYING NICOLE.

THEY HAVE CHESTERTON ON THE SCHEDULE.

WHO ELSE?

THEY HAVE ANOTHER REALLY GOOD TEAM ON THE SCHEDULE.

>> GOOD TO HAVE A TOUGH SCHEDULE IN THE FINAL MONTH.

>> YES.

>> BECOMING YOUR BEST AT IU NORTHWEST.

WITH MORE THAN 70 HIGH QUALITY DEGREE PROGRAMS.

A CONVENIENT LOCATION AND AFFORDABLE TUITION.

LEARN HOW YOU CAN JOIN MORE THAN 29,000 IU NORTHWEST ALUMNI AT IUN.EDU.

VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY IS THE PLACE FOR YOU TO GROW.

IT'S WHERE PROFESSORS ARE THERE TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR PASSIONS AND IT'S WHERE YOU'LL MAKE CONNECTIONS THAT LAST A LIFETIME.

LEARN MORE AT VALPO.EDU.

>> DOING AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

LIFE IS SHORT AND THE EARLIER WE GET STARTED HELPING OUR COMMUNITY, THE BETTER OFF OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE.

[ THEME MUSIC ]