Wabash Valley Classic Preview
One of the most recognizable holiday tournaments for years has been the First Financial Wabash Valley Classic (formerly the Pizza Hut Classic). This year it is being hosted by Terre Haute South December 26th-29th and the talent is the highest it has been in a long time.
A host of four players headline the tournament as Cooper Neese (Butler), Jaylen Minnett (IUPUI), Josiah Wallace, and Jensen Kellett (Hanover) are either committed to play at the next level or still searching for a D1/D2 program. Then you have juniors like Walter Sandschafer, Jalen Moore, DeAvion Washington, and Brigham Booe that are all capable of taking over games.
Ethan Gilbert, Kenyon Sholty, and Jake Lautenschlager are sophomores to watch that can play at a high level and Jesse Burdick is a freshman that has mid-major potential.
We breakdown the tournament from the players to watch, Day One matchups, and predictions for the first day.
Players to Watch:
Robinson (Ill.) – Dylan Dirks (6’7 G/F, 2017), Ethan White (6’2 PG, 2017), Joey Wright (6′ G, 2017), Walter Sandschafer (6’5 F, 2018)
Terre Haute North – Jalen Owens (5’10 G, 2017), Braelynn Compton (6’3 G, 2017), Richard Suggs (6’1 F, 2018), JoVann Morris (6’2 G, 2018) Cayman Hayes (5’9 PG, 2019)
Edgewood – Cooper Bybee (6’1 G, 2017), Chayton Howard (6’4 F, 2018), Joe Kido (5’6 PG, 2019)
Owen Valley – Micheal Light (6′ G, 2017), Jonah Arthur (6’4 F, 2017), Ryne Heckman (5’11 G, 2017)
Sullivan – Evan Conner (6′ G, 2017), Trey Powell (6’3 F, 2017), Ty Drake (6’4 G, 2018)
Riverton Parke – Andrew Gregg (6′ G, 2017), Caleb Dickey (6’2 F, 2017), Avery Briddick (5’11 G, 2018)
Rockville – Hunter Michalic (5’11 PG, 2018), Ethan Spence (6′ F, 2018), Landon Newnum (CG 5’11, 2019)
Shakamak – Tanner Yeryar (5’11 CG, 2017), Lane Gilbert (6’2 F, 2018)
Terre Haute South – Jaylen Minnett (6’1 SG, 2017), Jesse Brown (5’9 PG, 2017), DeAvion Washington (6’2 SG, 2018), Kenyon Sholty (6’5 F, 2019)
South Vermillion – Adam Hedden (6’2 G, 2018), Bryce Mcleish (5’6 G, 2019)
Linton-Stockton – Josh Dieball (6’3 SG, 2017), Tyler Meurer (5’11 PG, 2017)
Cloverdale – Cooper Neese (6’4 SG, 2017), Jalen Moore (5’8 CG, 2018)
Casey-Westfield (Ill.) – Kyle Carver (6’4 F, 2018), Logan Hawker (6’4 G, 2018), Ethan Gilbert (6’1 G, 2019)
West Vigo – Austin Sappingfield (6’9 C, 2017), Corey Vickers (5’10 G, 2017), Jake Lautenschlager (6’3 F, 2019)
Marshall (Ill.) – Josiah Wallace (6’3 G, 2017), Brock Finkbiner (6’3 G, 2017), Reid Brown (6’6 F 2017), Spencer Shaffner (6’5 F, 2017), Jesse Burdick (6’5 F, 2020)
Northview – Jensen Kellett (6’8 G, 2017), Dylan Hyatt (6′ G 2017), Drew Lumsdon (6’8 F, 2017), Brigham Booe (6’3 SG, 2018)
Game one: Robinson, Ill. (7-3) vs. Terre Haute North (5-3), 10 a.m.
This is a superb first matchup of the day. Robinson has a ton of size and that size can also shoot the ball really well with Walker Sandschafer and Dylan Dirks. Terre Haute North is coming off a big win and has played some solid teams thus far. Terre Haute North has a few shooters as well and they are tough as nails inside. I wouldn’t call it an upset if Robinson wins, but it also wouldn’t surprise me. I see it being a close game with the resident Terre Haute school coming out on top 59-57.
Game two: Edgewood (5-3) vs. Owen Valley(2-5), 11:30 a.m.
Owen Valley is a little bit down this year but with Micheal Light being a very good scorer it would not surprise me to see them hang with Edgewood. Owen Valley though in the end will pull away behind the Cooper Bybee and Chayton Howard combo. Joe Kido is a solid game manager and Edgewood should use the middle two quarters to pull away. I look for it to be a 62-43 type of game.
Game three: Sullivan (3-3) vs. Riverton Parke (5-2), 1 p.m.
With a win in this game Riverton Parke would tie the amount of wins that they had in the last three seasons combined. But, they don’t have much talent outside of two players who average in the double-digits. Caleb Dickey is averaging a double-double and is a tough kid for a small school. Sullivan also is not that good but have more firepower on offense than Riverton Parke. I see Sullivan taking the win 55-42.
Game four: Rockville (8-2) vs. Shakamak (6-1), 2:30 p.m.
This could be an interesting game with one of the state’s highest scorers Tanner Yeryar running the point for Shakamak and two really good shooters from deep on the wings at Rockville in Landon Newnum and Hunter Michalic. Rockville is coming off a solid win against Crawfordsville and Shakamak has an early season victory against the state runner-ups from last year when they took down Bloomfield. I have it being close and could go either way but I am going to say Rockville will pull it out 57-55.
Game five: Terre Haute South (5-2) vs. South Vermillion (2-4), 4 p.m.
No question that this will be the game that everyone knows will be a blowout. Jaylen Minnett and DeAvion Washington will tear South Vermillion apart, and if they don’t Jesse Brown will. Terre Haute South is the tournament favorite and if they lose this one it would be a catastrophe. I have the hosts in a rout, 80-30.
Game six: Linton-Stockton (3-2) vs. Cloverdale (5-4), 5:30 p.m.
This is another really good game on day one. Linton plays a very tough and physical style of basketball and can score the ball with multiple players. Joshua Dieball is one of the best defenders in the state and he will most likely be tasked with guarding Cooper Neese of Cloverdale. Neese is the second leading scorer in the state and already has a 53 point game this year. I look for Linton’s physicality to outmatch Cloverdale, but it will be close 65-61.
Game seven: Casey-Westfield, Ill. (2-5) vs. West Vigo (4-1), 7 p.m.
This game should be all West Vigo. With the scoring prowess of Corey Vickers and the inside game of Austin Sappingfield it should not be close for long. Casey-Westfield is much improved but West Vigo will be too strong for them. I do not expect a high scoring game but it will be respectable. West Vigo will take this one 61-45.
Game eight: Marshall, Ill. (7-1) vs. Northview (4-1), 8:30 p.m.
Saving the best for last on day one. Marshall and Northview is a matchup made in heaven as both are really, really good. Marshall has a ton of size but Northview can matchup with it. Tons of college players on both sides of the ball headlined by Josiah Wallace and Jensen Kellett. This will be a game to stay and watch because the winner will most likely have the shot to knock off Terre Haute South. This one should be so close I have to say Marshall will take it 79-78 in OT.