Opening tips

Unblemished Westview

heads into The Pit

A glance at some of this week’s notable boys basketball matchups ...

Tonight

Westview at NorthWood

Warriors’ monster margin

Westview’s 87-26 win last week at Churubusco, improving the Warriors to 3-0, marked the program’s largest margin of victory in nearly 40 years. In fact, all three of the margins that exceed it came in the same 1972-73 season, when a 21-3 Westview club under Denny Foster beat Mentone by 62, Hamilton by 65 and Howe Military by 73. The Panthers, meanwhile, are looking for their first 2-0 start since 2006. They topped Triton 66-62 last week at The Pit. This is the 12th straight year that NorthWood has begun its season facing Triton and Westview.

Howe at Bethany

Buller tries for 365 again

Bethany Christian coach Jim Buller shoots again for his elusive 365th win — the one that would set an Elkhart County boys record — this time against the school that denied him in his initial such try during last season’s Fort Wayne Blackhawk Sectional. The Bruins have lost their first three games this season, while Howe is 1-2. Bethany also plays Saturday at Lakeland.

Friday

SB Riley vs. Central

Blazers open NIC season

The Blue Blazers (2-2) lost two games last weekend by a combined five points, including an OT. They’ll be at North Side Gym for a fourth straight contest here, this one their Northern Indiana Conference opener as well as the nightcap to a girl/boy doubleheader, then off until a Dec. 22 trip to Indianapolis Arlington. The Wildcats (2-1) were nipped 64-63 last week at Northridge after winning their first two outings.

SB Clay at Marian

Jackson in action

This game’s the first of a doubleheader home weekend for the Knights and Mr. Basketball contender Demetrius Jackson. The Notre Dame recruit began his senior season last week with 70 points over two games, earning a share of Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week honors. After Marian (1-1) plays its NIC opener against Clay (2-1), the Knights also play at home Saturday when Triton (2-2) and Valparaiso recruit Clay Yeo visit. Yeo and Jackson were summer teammates.

By Anthony Anderson