The Mt. Vernon varsity basketball team (Fortville, IN) will host New Castle (IN) for a home conference game on Friday, January 31 at 7:30 PM.

Mt. Vernon vs New Castle Game Info:

What: Indiana High School Basketball
Who: Mt. Vernon (IN) vs New Castle (IN)
When: Friday, January 31, 2025
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch here

Game preview: Mt. Vernon vs New Castle

As the 2024-2025 basketball season progresses, two teams in the Indiana Class rankings, New Castle and Mt. Vernon, have been turning heads with their respective performances. In this article, we’ll dive into the statistics, records, and performance comparisons between these two teams to evaluate where each stands in terms of overall strength and future potential.

Team Overview

New Castle (24-25):

• Record: 7-8 overall, 1-3 in conference play
• Points Per Game (PPG): 54.4
• Rebounds Per Game (RPG): 22.3
• Assists Per Game (APG): 11.8
• Steals Per Game (SPG): 5.3
• Blocks Per Game (BPG): 0.8

Mt. Vernon (24-25):

• Record: 10-3 overall, 3-1 in conference play
• Points Per Game (PPG): 57.2
• Rebounds Per Game (RPG): 21.5
• Assists Per Game (APG): 12.2
• Steals Per Game (SPG): 6.4
• Blocks Per Game (BPG): 0.8

Scoring Breakdown

When it comes to scoring, Mt. Vernon outpaces New Castle with a higher points per game average (57.2 vs. 54.4). Both teams have shown consistency in their scoring across quarters, but Mt. Vernon’s ability to score in the third quarter (16.2 points) highlights their offensive depth. Meanwhile, New Castle has been a bit more dynamic in their fourth quarter play, averaging 14.8 points in the final frame.

Quarterly Scoring Averages:

• New Castle: 12.7 (Q1), 13.3 (Q2), 12.3 (Q3), 14.8 (Q4), 2.0 (OT1)
• Mt. Vernon: 16.2 (Q1), 13.0 (Q2), 16.2 (Q3), 15.6 (Q4)

Individual Leaders

For New Castle, Landon Thompson has been the standout player, leading the team in multiple categories. Thompson averages 16.6 points per game and contributes 8.3 rebounds, in addition to leading in steals and blocks. His all-around presence has been vital to New Castle’s performances.

In contrast, Mt. Vernon has Luke Ertel, who is a dominant force with 20.3 points per game and a significant 6.7 rebounds. Ertel also contributes in assists with 3.8 APG and steals with 1.7 SPG. His leadership on the court has made him an instrumental part of Mt. Vernon’s strong start this season.

Key Player Stats:

• New Castle (Landon Thompson):
  • 16.6 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
• Mt. Vernon (Luke Ertel):
  • 20.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Team Comparison

Team Stat Comparison:

• Points Per Game:
  • New Castle: 53.9
  • Mt. Vernon: 57.2
  • Advantage: Mt. Vernon
• Rebounds Per Game:
  • New Castle: 22.3
  • Mt. Vernon: 21.5
  • Advantage: New Castle
• Assists Per Game:
  • New Castle: 11.8
  • Mt. Vernon: 12.2
  • Advantage: Mt. Vernon
• Steals Per Game:
  • New Castle: 5.3
  • Mt. Vernon: 6.4
  • Advantage: Mt. Vernon
• Blocks Per Game:
  • New Castle: 0.8
  • Mt. Vernon: 0.8
  • Tie

Head-to-Head: Common Opponents

The two teams have faced several common opponents this season, but the results have been markedly different. Mt. Vernon has posted a 4-1 record against shared opponents, while New Castle has struggled with a 1-5 record against the same teams. These differences underscore Mt. Vernon’s stronger performance in high-pressure matchups.

Head-to-Head Performance Against Common Opponents:

• New Castle: 1-5
  • Notable losses include matchups with Marion, Anderson, and Shelbyville.
• Mt. Vernon: 4-1
  • Notable wins include games against Anderson, Shelbyville, and Pendleton Heights.

Looking Ahead

Mt. Vernon’s impressive 10-3 record and strong conference performance (3-1) position them as a serious contender for the remainder of the season. Their ability to perform on the road (7-0 away record) is particularly notable, and they’ll likely be looking to continue their momentum in upcoming matchups.

On the other hand, New Castle has a more balanced approach with several close losses but will need to address their scoring efficiency and defensive consistency to turn their season around. Their 5-4 home record shows potential, but they’ll need to improve their conference play if they wish to contend at a higher level.

Conclusion

In summary, while Mt. Vernon has the upper hand in terms of overall performance and consistency this season, New Castle has shown flashes of brilliance, particularly in individual performances from Landon Thompson. With a few adjustments, New Castle could still make a strong push, but Mt. Vernon looks to be the more complete team at this point in the season.