Best State Finalists to Repeat
With the 2016-17 high school basketball season commencing tomorrow, we decided to take a look at the teams that made it to Bankers Life last year and which had the best chance to make it back this year. There was…
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Continue ReadingWith the 2016-17 high school basketball season commencing tomorrow, we decided to take a look at the teams that made it to Bankers Life last year and which had the best chance to make it back this year. There was a lot of turnover with some of the finalists last year but a few may be improved over last year.
4A: McCutcheon and New Albany
This was one of the better state games last year and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the same match up this year. Both teams return their top players from last year and play tough schedules. New Albany will be tested early and often in the season and McCutcheon has to run through the Lafayette Hoops Classic gauntlet. There are a few other teams in 4A that can make it to state but these teams led by their star players definitely have the best shot in their respective sides of the state.
3A: Marion and Evansville Bosse
Marion loses a lot from last year including four of their top five scorers which will really hurt them. Tim Leavell returns with his 18.6 points per game average but the next highest returning scorer sits at just 3.2 points a game. Marion should be competitive but Bosse has the edge in the chance to return to Banker’s Life. Bosse loses some big contributors as well graduating players that averaged 11.6 and 8.0 points a game. Bosse will actually improve though come tournament time with a transfer from Kentucky that stands 6’7 and a freshman incomer who is 6’8. These factors will lead to another run in the tournament by Bosse.
2A: Lapel and Indianapolis Howe
Both of these schools will be a bit down this year losing their best players. Howe may have taken the biggest hit though losing Brian Warren. Anthony Hopkins will be key for Howe this year if they want to make another run to state. It will be tougher though this year for them since they play such a tough schedule and do not have the firepower they had last year. Lapel on the other hand only lost one major contributor and returns all but two players so the pieces are there but they have a tough road.
1A: Liberty Christian and Bloomfield
Both of these teams will take a step down this year. Liberty Christian loses four of their top five scorers but return maybe their best player in Ronny Williams. Despite returning Williams, Liberty Christian will struggle this year as they did not have much in terms of depth last year and not much coming up the ranks. Bloomfield is in the same boat though this year as they lose four of their starters including their inside difference makers. A lack of size will hurt Bloomfield this year and now they transfer into being a more inexperienced squad this year.
Best Overall Chance To Get Back To State
- Evansville Bosse
- New Albany
- McCutcheon
- Lapel
- Howe
- Marion
- Liberty Christian
- Bloomfield