Preview: Marion Basketball Classic
The first annual Marion Basketball Classic gets underway this coming Tuesday in Marion, Indiana. The 16-team event gets underway at 10:00 AM ET. It showcases the #1 team in 1A, the #7, #10, and #12 in 3A, and #7, #8,…
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Continue ReadingThe first annual Marion Basketball Classic gets underway this coming Tuesday in Marion, Indiana. The 16-team event gets underway at 10:00 AM ET. It showcases the #1 team in 1A, the #7, #10, and #12 in 3A, and #7, #8, and #9 in 4A. We breakdown each matchup in the event.
- 10:00 AM – Columbus North (1-6) vs. Harrison (West Lafayette) (3-4)
Top Players: Alex King (CN), Stephon Peters-Smith (CN), Trey Vincent (CN), Dominic Trapp (H), Benito Munoz (H), Aidan Hannon (H)Overview: Columbus North has struggled to start the year but they have a trio of players that, if they come together, can be really powerful. King and Peter-Smith give them legit size and create matchup problems. Harrison got off to a slow start but just annihilated Benton Central. They are scrappy and can score some points.
- 11:30 AM – #10 Danville (5-1) vs. #7 NorthWood (7-1)
Top Players: Zach Callahan (D), Ryan Cloncs (D), Jake Davis (D), Vincent Miranca (NW), Braxton Linville (NW), D.K. Fox (NW)Overview: The battle of Top 10 ranked 3A opponents will be quite interesting. NorthWood has already been challenged pretty well this season with a narrow loss to Fishers. Danville had the same against Mooresville where they went into 3OT before losing. They are looking for signature wins and how becomes victorious on Tuesday will get one.
- 1:00 PM – Covington (6-3) vs. #12 Tri-West (4-1)
Top Players: Griffin Spring (C), Ryan Fletcher (C), Halen Noble (C), Tyler Watson (TW), Peyton Hendershot (TW), Cameron Cole (TW)Overview: Covington is a different team this year than last, losing quite a few seniors. But, they have shown they can win some games. Tri-West is their biggest test of the year, though. Led by Hendershot and Watson, Tri-West will try and stay on track after losing a heartbreaker to Park Tudor 9 days ago.
- 2:30 PM – #1 Liberty Christian (7-0) vs. Warren Central (4-3)
Top Players: Franklin Nunn (LC), Ben Cotton (LC), Ronny Williams (LC), Bishop Smith (WC), Trequan Spivey (WC), Paul Minor (WC)Overview: Warren Central isn’t often going to get matchups that favor them against high-end teams but against LC they might just get that. Liberty has some athletes and a ton of guards but no size. That is good for 1A but not against a team like Warren Central, a team who is starting to find it’s stride after wins over Fishers, Crown Point, and Ben Davis.
- 4:00 PM – Gary Roosevelt (3-5) vs. Lawrence North (2-2)
Top Players: DaKei Hines (GR), Deon Moore (GR), Joe Lipscomb (GR), Kevin Easley (LN), Djimon Henson (LN), Ra Kpedi (LN)Overview: Gary Roosevelt travels down south this week for a couple of games. The toughest is easily LN. Roosevelt has already beaten East Chicago Central and that is a highlight but Lawrence North is a different monster. Could be a high scoring matchup, but probably a little one-sided.
- 5:30 PM – Columbus East (2-2) vs. #9 Lawrence Central (6-1)
Top Players: Kevin Williams (CE), Parker Chitty (CE), Zach Sanders (CE), Kyle Guy (LC), Mekhi Biffle (LC), Daveon Bell (LC)Overview: Lawrence Central is quickly becoming one of the best teams in the state. They have probably the most high profile wins with games against Carmel, Lawrence North, Cathedral, and Pike. They did slip up against Howe in OT so there is a chance but Columbus East will have to get a lot out of it’s best players to have a shot.
- 7:00 PM – Arsenal Tech (5-1) vs. #8 Southport (5-2)
Top Players: C.J. Walker (AT), Chris King (AT), Ernest Myles (AT), Paul Scruggs (S), Joey Brunk (S), Eli Walton (S)Overview: Southport has struggled to start the season, not something that many expected as they were the favorite maybe to get to the State Championship game. Now, they are going to have to gain confidence and they get a shot to do that against Arsenal Tech. Tech has a good one-two punch with Walker and King but this game might come down to that third scorer for each team. Who shows up?
- 8:30 PM – #6 Marion (5-2) vs. #7 Indianapolis Pike (6-2)
Top Players: Vijay Blackmon (M), Reggie Jones (M), Tim Leavell (M), Justin Roberts (P), Justin Thomas (P), Derek Hawthorne (P)Overview: The surprise team of the first couple weeks has probably been Marion who started off 4-0 with wins over Richmond and Lawrence North. Zionsville and Kokomo gave them issues but this is a team that when all things are going well, they can score the ball. Pike, however, is one of the toughest teams to get a win against. They are always good and Marion will have their hands full.