The Fort Wayne South Side varsity basketball team will play a home conference game against Fort Wayne Northrop today at 7:30 PM.

Fort Wayne South Side vs Fort Wayne Northrop Game Info:

What: Indiana High School Basketball
Who: Fort Wayne South Side (IN) vs Fort Wayne Northrop (IN)
When: Friday, December 20, 2024
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch here

Game preview: Fort Wayne South Side vs Fort Wayne Northrop

As the 2024-2025 basketball season continues, Fort Wayne Northrop and Fort Wayne South Side have shown contrasting performances, with Northrop facing challenges while South Side remains undefeated. Here’s an in-depth look at both teams’ records, team stats, leaders, and their common opponents.

Team Records and Performance Overview

Fort Wayne Northrop has posted a 3-4 overall record, with a 0-1 conference performance so far. While they are strong at home with a 3-1 record, they have struggled on the road, currently at 0-3. Their scoring output is lower, averaging 47.7 points per game. Northrop’s overall performance has been hindered by defensive lapses, as they’ve allowed 397 points across seven games.

Fort Wayne South Side, on the other hand, is enjoying a perfect start to the season with a 6-0 overall record and a flawless 2-0 conference mark. South Side has dominated both at home and on the road, with a 4-0 record away from home. The team has averaged an impressive 66.2 points per game, showcasing their offensive power. South Side’s defense has been relatively solid, allowing 287 points across six games.

Team Scoring Averages

• Fort Wayne Northrop: The team averages 9.0 points in the first quarter, which increases to 13.3 in the second quarter. They experience a slight dip in scoring in the third quarter (14.3) before finishing strong with 10.0 points in the fourth. Their overall scoring average is 47.7 points per game.
• Fort Wayne South Side: South Side starts strong with 15.5 points in the first quarter and then ramps up to 24.5 points in the second quarter. They maintain a solid 13.0 in the third and 17.0 in the fourth, leading to an overall average of 66.2 points per game.

Statistical Comparison

• Points Per Game: Fort Wayne Northrop (44.7) trails Fort Wayne South Side (66.2), showcasing South Side’s high-scoring capabilities.
• Rebounds: South Side outrebounds Northrop with 30.5 boards per game, compared to Northrop’s 23.1.
• Assists: South Side also dominates assists, with 19.2 per game compared to Northrop’s 9.9.
• Steals: Northrop edges South Side in steals, averaging 11.6 per game to South Side’s 7.0.
• Blocks: South Side has a stronger presence in the paint with 5.0 blocks per game, while Northrop averages 2.3.

Key Players

• Fort Wayne Northrop:
  • Marshawn Warfield leads with 11.9 points per game.
  • James Browning is the top rebounder with 7.1 rebounds per game.
  • Merseigne Mingashanga dishes out 3.0 assists per game.
  • Donlaray Reese averages 2.4 steals per game, while Browning also contributes 1.3 blocks per game.
• Fort Wayne South Side:
  • Demarcus Barr leads with 16.0 points per game.
  • Zacariah Belcher dominates the boards with 9.0 rebounds per game.
  • Jayvon Irby leads in assists with 4.5 per game.
  • Jarius Timberlake-Johnson has contributed 1.5 steals per game, and Belcher also leads in blocks with 4.2 per game.

Common Opponents

The two teams have faced several common opponents, but their results have been quite different:

• Fort Wayne Northrop has a 1-2 record against common opponents, with wins over New Haven (64-52) and losses to Bishop Luers (81-35) and Leo (73-43).
• Fort Wayne South Side has dominated their common opponents with a perfect 3-0 record, defeating New Haven, Leo, and Snider with impressive margins.

Upcoming Matchups

Looking ahead, both teams have several key games on their schedules. Northrop will need to rebound against strong teams like Snider and North Side to improve their overall and conference records. South Side, meanwhile, will look to maintain their undefeated streak with games against Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Homestead, and Carroll.

Conclusion

The 2024-2025 basketball season has been a tale of two contrasting teams in Fort Wayne. Northrop has struggled with consistency, particularly on the road, while South Side has proven to be a formidable force in both their conference and non-conference matchups. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if Northrop can turn things around and if South Side can maintain their perfect record.