4A Regional Roundup
If you liked close and exciting finishes, the 4A Regional round was the one for you. There were three overtimes in the first round games, but eventually some of the favorites came through. The No. 1, 4, 5 and 9…
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Continue ReadingIf you liked close and exciting finishes, the 4A Regional round was the one for you. There were three overtimes in the first round games, but eventually some of the favorites came through. The No. 1, 4, 5 and 9 teams all made it out of regionals. And arguably, that No. 9 in Southport with Joey Brunk making a late push for Mr. Basketball could be a top five team. That means lot of great action at semi-state, but first we take a look at how these four teams emerged from their regionals.
New Albany survives OT, then jumps out quickly in final
This regional overall had two great opening games. Bloomington South’s Tucker Blackwell did his best to upend the No. 1 team in the state, but instead it was Romeo Langford’s 34 points that kept New Albany alive. Langford continues to show why he is one of the best prospects in the state of Indiana with his play. Then Evansville Reitz looked absolutely done in the first half against Franklin Central before turning an 18-point halftime deficit around. The final was a bit more subdued as New Albany jumped out quickly to an 11-point lead and never really faltered behind Isaac Hibbard to win the school’s first regional since 2008.
Southport beginning to look like favorite everyone expected
Another great opening game in this regional saw likely the biggest upset all day. Terra Haute South behind a spectacular game from Jaylen Minnett took down the team many saw as the state title favorite in North Central in OT. On the other side, Connersville put up a great effort against Southport, being within three points in the fourth quarter, but didn’t have enough to come all the way back. Then, Southport went and dominated the final against TH South. That game is the realization of the team everyone thought Southport would be in the beginning of the season when it started the year No. 1 in the state.
McCutcheon pulls off stunner
Homestead and Carroll was a solid first game. The Spartans winning that and advancing to the regional final for a third consecutive year is quite the feat. Homestead-McCutcheon wasn’t as exciting as the Mavs just simply played nearly flawless basketball in the first half to win the regional in that final. The game everyone is going to remember is the regional semifinal between Carmel and McCutcheon. The Mavs forced OT with Eddy Collins drilling a long 3-pointer after Carmel had controlled most of the game. Then with just 2.1 seconds left in OT, Darnell Butler hit a contested jumpshot to win the game by two points. It was a classic game and an gutsy win by McCutcheon.
Warsaw gets by in double OT thriller, controls pace to advance
The Tigers trailed by 11 in the third quarter and then came all the way back to take a lead in the fourth quarter against South Bend Riley. Then Paul Marandet tied the game not once, but twice in the final 20 seconds to force the first OT. Marandet finished with 37 points including going 21-for-21 from the foul line. South Bend Riley made two free throws in the final 30 seconds to force a second OT, until eventually Warsaw controlled the second overtime period in an opening game win. Crown Point kept its strong run going in the opening game, but then ran into a Tigers team who controlled the pace and played their style in the regional final. Warsaw built a 13-9 halftime lead and never trailed in the second half to make it to semi-state.