Class 3A Semi-State Preview

<p>We are down to just 16 teams still competing in the 112th annual IHSAA Boy’s Basketball State Tournament. That means we are into the semi-state round which will take place this Saturday. Our staff at Prep Hoops Indiana will be previewing each semi-state game this week where the winners will be playing in the state finals next week. First up, we have Class 3A. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>The Matchup: Mishawaka Marian (23-3) vs. Leo (21-5)</strong></p> <p><strong>Location: Elkhart</strong></p> <p><strong>The Favorite: Leo</strong></p> <p><strong>Player to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="870232" first="Caedmon" last="Bontrager"] (2022) - Leo</strong></p> <p><strong>Breakdown: </strong>If you go back to the regular season with how both of these teams performed, you probably would have expected to see this game. Both teams are pretty evenly balanced and are led by forwards each with Leo having Bontrager and Mishawaka Marian having [player_tooltip player_id="870217" first="Kaleo" last="Kakalia"]. Leo has pretty much ran through every team they have faced this post season and Mishawaka Marian has had a few close calls. Other guys to watch out here in the game are [player_tooltip player_id="769703" first="Richard" last="Brooks"], [player_tooltip player_id="870240" first="D.J." last="Allen"], [player_tooltip player_id="870237" first="Luke" last="LaGrange"], [player_tooltip player_id="870252" first="Ayden" last="Ruble"], [player_tooltip player_id="870300" first="Brody" last="Hiteshew"], [player_tooltip player_id="1049162" first="Deaglan" last="Sullivan"], [player_tooltip player_id="1151081" first="Trey" last="Hiteshew"], and others. Just think the supporting cast of Leo is going to help push the Lions to the state championship game again.   </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>The Matchup: Beech Grove (20-6) vs. Sullivan (25-2)</strong></p> <p><strong>Location: Washington</strong></p> <p><strong>The Favorite: Sullivan</strong></p> <p><strong>Player to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="868242" first="Anthony" last="Ball"] (2023) - Beech Grove</strong></p> <p><strong>Breakdown: </strong>This is a matchup that not many would have probably expected in semi-state. Beech Grove has kind of went on a somewhat magical with an easier road here with the beast of a power forward ball carry them. [player_tooltip player_id="870312" first="Randy" last="Kelley"] and Sullivan can make the same case due to the incredible game winning shots that Kelley has made this post-season but overall the Golden Arrows have been a pretty consistent team this season. This will easily be the best team that Beech Grove will play this post-season by far and honestly I strongly feel that they do not have the talent to keep up with Kelley, [player_tooltip player_id="1168250" first="Jackson" last="Hills"], and [player_tooltip player_id="870315" first="Rocco" last="Roshel"]. Really good see this on being a blow out in favor of Sullivan.       </p>