> SOUTHERN INDIANA — In Tuesday’s column, I said that we would learn a lot more about Jeffersonville’s boys’ basketball team after facing Kentucky No. 1 Ballard that night.

What we learned was that the Red Devils — even as a size-challenged team against a bigger, equally athletic squad — are going to be really, really good if they can hang on to the basketball.

Now it’s Providence’s turn to be in the spotlight. The Pioneers have waltzed through the first four games of the season against mediocre competition. Nothing against Austin, Scottsburg and Madison and their traditions, but none of those teams are going to challenge anyone any good this season. The Pioneers’ closest game this season is 24 points (three times).

This weekend, the Pioneers face a pair of rivals in Charlestown and Floyd Central on the road. While neither the Highlanders nor the Pirates will likely challenge Providence for the victory, these will be their two toughest challenges yet.

And there are even bigger tests upcoming for the Pioneers. They will likely face cross-town rival and fourth-ranked Clarksville two games in a row. First, odds are the Pioneers and Generals will face off in the Silver Creek Holiday Tournament championship game on Dec. 29, followed by a Jan. 4 showdown at Providence. Then there’s a showdown with Class 4A No. 12 Jeffersonville on Jan. 12.

Like Jeff, there’s no doubt the Pioneers are good. How good? We’ll know soon enough.





GAMES TO WATCH (WEEKEND)



GAME OF THE WEEKEND

BOYS — PROVIDENCE AT FLOYD CENTRAL

• Time/Day: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

• Records: Providence 4-0; Floyd Central 1-2.

• Rankings: Providence No. 8 Class 3A.

• Last year: At Providence 42, Floyd Central 25.

• Last 15 years: Floyd Central 8-7.

• Outlook: While the Providence big men have been doing the bulk of the scoring, Pioneers coach Lou Lefevre has been singing the praises of guards Nano Grantz and Cory Cahalan. If Grantz and Cahalan can handle Floyd’s defensive pressure, the Pioneers should pull away late for a fairly comfortable win. Through two games, it looked like Floyd might be capable of Providence-style defense. After giving up 88 points to New Albany, it doesn’t appear that the Highlanders will be able to lock down Providence enough to pull off an upset — even at home.

• Greg’s Pick: Providence 48, Floyd Central 41.



FRIDAY

BOYS — JEFFERSONVILLE AT SILVER CREEK

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Records: Jeffersonville 3-1; Silver Creek 1-4.

• Rankings: Jeffersonville No. 12 Class 4A, No. 17 Coaches’ Poll.

• Last year: At Jeffersonville 72, Silver Creek 60.

• All-time series: Jeffersonville 69-11.

• Outlook: Silver Creek probably doesn’t have the quickness and defense to force Jeff into 32 turnovers, so it should be an easy win for the Red Devils.

• Greg’s Pick: Jeffersonville 81, Silver Creek 59.



BOYS — BORDEN AT EASTERN (WASHINGTON COUNTY INVITATIONAL, FIRST ROUND)

• Time: Approximately 7:30 p.m. (following Salem vs. West Washington)

• Records: Borden 5-0; Eastern 1-4.

• Rankings: Borden No. 6 Class A.

• Last year: Borden 55, Eastern 41 (tournament semifinal)

• Earlier this year: Nov. 20 — Borden 79, at Eastern 76 (2OT).

• Last 15 years: Eastern 14-8.

• Outlook: The Braves and Musketeers went into double overtime in the season opener. Even with Eastern leading much of the game, it was obvious to those watching that Borden had the better team. I think they’ll show it on Friday night on the Musketeers’ home court. The winner of this game should win the tourney.

• Greg’s Pick: Borden 72, Eastern 63.



BOYS — PROVIDENCE AT CHARLESTOWN

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Records: Providence 4-0; Charlestown 3-1.

• Rankings: Providence No. 8 Class 3A.

• Last year: At Providence 59, Charlestown 46.

• Last 15 years: Providence 21-7.

• Outlook: Strong defense on both sides should keep it close, but even on the road, this should be a game Providence wins with some breathing room.

• Greg’s Pick: Providence 50, Charlestown 43.



BOYS — FLOYD CENTRAL AT COLUMBUS EAST

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Records: Floyd Central 1-2, 0-1 Hoosier Hills Conference; Columbus East 3-0, 2-0 HHC.

• Last year: At Floyd Central 62, Columbus East 56.

• Last 15 years: East 10-5.

• Outlook: This is East’s best team in some time. The Olympians have more experience and the homecourt advantage and should win handily.

• Greg’s Pick: Columbus East 68, Floyd Central 59.



BOYS — NEW ALBANY AT SEYMOUR

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Records: New Albany 3-2, 1-1 HHC; Seymour 0-5, 0-1 HHC.

• Last year: At New Albany 68, Seymour 36.

• Last 15 years: New Albany 20-3.

• Outlook: Total mismatch. It should get out of hand early.

• Greg’s Pick: New Albany 78, Seymour 49.



BOYS — CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AT SOUTH CENTRAL

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Records: Christian Academy 3-3; South Central 3-2.

• Last year: At Christian Academy 59, South Central 42 (regular season); South Central 52, Christian Academy 50 (sectional)

• Last 15 years: South Central 12-5.

• Outlook: It’s gut check time for the Warriors, who were upset at home by Rock Creek on Friday then dropped a tough one on the road Saturday at Paoli. At this point, it’s tough to take CAI in what should be a close one on the road.

• Greg’s Pick: South Central 61, Christian Academy 59.



BOYS — NEW WASHINGTON AT RISING SUN

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Records: New Washington 2-2; Rising Sun 1-4.

• Last year: Rising Sun 49, at New Washington 46.

• Last 15 years: Rising Sun 4-3.

• Outlook: After winning one game a year ago, New Wash has an excellent opportunity to go on the road and win its third straight game to get above .500 early in the season.

• Greg’s Pick: New Washington 58, Rising Sun 55.



SATURDAY

BOYS — SILVER CREEK AT NEW WASHINGTON

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Records: Silver Creek 1-4; New Washington 2-2.

• Last year: At Silver Creek 59, New Washington 36.

• Last 15 years: Silver Creek 13-2.

• Outlook: Silver Creek will likely fall to 1-5 after Friday’s game against Jeffersonville. This will be a road win the Dragons need.

• Greg’s Pick: Silver Creek 69, New Washington 59.



BOYS — ROCK CREEK AT NORTH HARRISON

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Records: Rock Creek Academy 4-2; North Harrison 2-2.

• Last year: Did not play.

• All-time series No meetings.

• Outlook: Rock Creek upset Christian Academy on the road last week. I don’t think it’s the Lions’ last road upset.

• Greg’s Pick: Rock Creek 59, North Harrison 57.



GIRLS — BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL AT SILVER CREEK

• Time: 1:30 p.m.

• Records: Brownstown Central 4-3, Mid-Southern Conference; Silver Creek 5-2, 3-1 MSC.

• Last year: At Brownstown Central 55, Silver Creek 41.

• Last 10 years: Brownstown Central 8-2.

• Outlook: A win would keep Creek in the MSC title hunt. A loss would probably end all hope. Brownstown stopped Silver Creek’s seven-game winning streak to start the 2011-12 season. It’s time for a little payback.

• Greg’s Pick: Silver Creek 45, Brownstown Central 42.



GIRLS — NEW ALBANY AT CASTLE

• Time: 1:30 p.m.

• Records: New Albany 4-3; Castle 7-2.

• Last year: At New Albany 56, Castle 33.

• Last 10 years: New Albany 7-5.

• Outlook: Temple Ricke is New Albany’s latest injury casualty. The loss of their second-leading scorer to a broken hip makes this road game a very tough one for the Bulldogs against a Castle team off to its best start in five years.

• Greg’s Pick: Castle 57, New Albany 52.



GIRLS — MITCHELL AT CHARLESTOWN

• Time: 1:30 p.m.

• Records: Mitchell 6-1; Charlestown 2-6.

• Last year: At Mitchell 48, Charlestown 36.

• Last 10 years: Tied, 3-3.

• Outlook: Charlestown’s last two outings — down-to-the-wire losses to Silver Creek and Floyd Central — may have been its two most impressive performances of the season. The Pirates are ready for a breakthrough.

• Greg’s Pick: Charlestown 50, Mitchell 49.