Basketball Game Preview: Valparaiso Vikings vs. Hamilton Southeastern Royals

Valparaiso hasn't had much luck against Hamilton Southeastern recently, but that could start to change on Saturday. The Valparaiso Vikings will challenge the Hamilton Southeastern Royals at 10:00 a.m. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Valparaiso comes in on ten and Hamilton Southeastern on 26.

Valparaiso is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Saturday. They strolled past Hammond Central with points to spare, taking the game 55-37.

Lillian Barnes

Assists

02/15/25 vs Hammond Central	9
02/08/25 vs Chesterton	3
02/07/25 vs Portage	5
02/04/25 vs Hobart	4
01/30/25 @ Munster	5
+ 20 more games

Valparaiso's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Lillian Barnes led the charge by almost dropping a triple-double with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists. That's the most assists Barnes has posted since back in November of 2024. Delilah Kincaid was another key player, going 6-for-9 to rack up 18 points and seven boards.

Meanwhile, Hamilton Southeastern faced Homestead in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Saturday. Hamilton Southeastern took down Homestead 65-48.

Hamilton Southeastern's win came from a few key players Valparaiso will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Kennedy Holman, who went 7-for-8 on her way to 24 points in addition to six assists and six rebounds. Another player making a difference was Maya Makalusky, who went 6-for-15 en route to 24 points and eight boards.

Hamilton Southeastern smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least ten offensive boards in three consecutive contests.

Valparaiso's record now sits at 19-7. As for Hamilton Southeastern, their record is now 26-0.

Valparaiso was dealt a bruising 73-22 loss at the hands of Hamilton Southeastern when the teams last played back in November of 2019. Can Valparaiso avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.