Arabians ready to battle North Central

My ballot in this week’s Associated Press boys’ basketball poll (listed in order 1-10 for each class):

4A — Hamilton Southeastern, North Central, Pendleton Heights, Cathedral, Carmel, Richmond, Warren Central, Kokomo, Indianapolis Tech, Roncalli.

Former No. 2-ranked Homestead (19-1) lost its first game of the year, 71-66 in overtime to Fort Wayne Snider (7-10), and dropped completely off my ballot. Seems harsh, but such is life this season in an extremely deep and talented Indiana 4A field. … North Central (19-4) and Pendleton Heights (19-2) square off tonight in Indianapolis. It will be interesting to see if the Arabians garner any No. 1 votes in next week’s final poll if they beat North Central tonight. I’ll stick with HSE, which has wins this season over North Central and Pendleton Heights, unless the Royals fall to Lafayette Jeff Friday in the regular season finale. … HSE and North Central will meet soon enough to battle it out where it really counts — on the court and not in the polls. They’re matched up in the first round of the Noblesville Sectional Feb. 28.

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