Ranking the Regional Finals
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It is officially the most exciting time of the year in the IHSAA basketball season with the Sectional tournaments commencing tomorrow! 399 teams across the state have had their chance to compete for a state championship, and this allows the…
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Continue ReadingIt is officially the most exciting time of the year in the IHSAA basketball season with the Sectional tournaments commencing tomorrow! 399 teams across the state have had their chance to compete for a state championship, and this allows the best players in the state to have a chance to compete on the biggest stage. After this morning’s games, we are down to just 32 teams with 8 in each class. Let’s take a look at all of the Regional championship games across the state!
1. #8 Indianapolis Cathedral vs #5 Ben Davis – Southport Regional at 8:00 (4A)
Cathedral snuck past a pesky Terre Haute North team in the morning session, 52-47. Ben Davis completed a come-from-behind victory over Mt. Vernon (Fortville), 52-50. Ben Davis won in a three-point thriller earlier in the season, and this one should come down to the wire as well. So much star power. Ben Davis looking for their third Regional title in 6 years. Cathedral looking for just their second since 1998. This is a must-watch game!
2. #4 Fort Wayne Blackhawk vs #3 Central Noble – North Judson Regional at 8:00 (2A)
Two of the best remaining teams in 2A collide here in the Regional finals. Blackhawk cruised past the hosts, North Judson, 55-27, in the early morning game. Central Noble had a tougher fight against Hammond Bishop Noll but pulled away late for an 80-61 win. The big matchup here is going to be Gage Sefton Gage Sefton 6'4" | SG Blackhawk Christian | 2023 State IN and Connor Essegian Connor Essegian 6'4" | SG Central Noble | 2022 State #170 Nation IN , the Wisconsin commit. Fort Wayne Blackhawk looking for their fourth straight Regional title. Central Noble looking for just their second ever and first since 2001.
3. #11 Lafayette Central Catholic vs Liberty Christian – Frankfort Regional at 8:00 (1A)
Both of these teams are evenly matched, and I struggled to even pick one when previewing this Regional. LCC cruised past Southwood 75-56 in the morning, while Liberty Christian cruised to a 70-56 win over Blue River. This is going to be a battle with Clark Barrett Clark Barrett 6'5" | SF Lafayette Central Catholic | 2022 State IN and Clark Obermiller against Zack Jeffers Zack Jeffers 6'1" | PG Liberty Christian | 2022 State IN and Adonis House Adonis House 6'7" | PF Liberty Christian | 2022 State IN . LCC looking for its third Regional title in five years. Liberty Christian looking for their first since they won three in a row from 2014 to 2016.
4. #8 Leo vs #3 NorthWood – New Castle Regional at 8:00 (3A)
Leo got past Norwell in a tough matchup early in the day, and NorthWood survived against a pesky Jay County team on free throws with just 5 seconds remaining. Leo is led by a pair of big men with DJ Allen and Caedmon Bontrager Caedmon Bontrager 6'8" | PF Leo | 2022 State IN who will look to dominate the paint. Meanwhile, NorthWood is led by a stellar junior guard in Cade Brenner Cade Brenner 6'3" | SG NorthWood | 2023 State IN . Both teams are looking for their second-ever Regional title as Leo is looking for back-to-back and NorthWood looking for its first since 2007.
5. #1 Chesterton vs #6 Penn – Michigan City Regional at 8:00 (4A)
Chesterton survived a scare against South Bend Adams while Penn also seemingly survived against Munster. Now, these teams will meet with a combined 51-2 record on the year. Chesterton is led by senior guard Travis Grayson Travis Grayson 5'10" | PG Chesterton | 2022 State IN who was putting together a Mr. Basketball campaign this season. Penn is led by breakout star, Markus Burton Markus Burton 5'11" | PG Penn | 2023 State #190 Nation IN , who has been phenomenal all year. This guard matchup will be top-notch. Penn looking for its second Regional title since 2006, and Chesterton looking for its first-ever.
6. #1 Monroe Central vs #6 Carroll (Flora) – Lapel Regional at 8:00 (2A)
Monroe Central comes in as one of two remaining unbeaten, and they had to survive against Tipton with a big fourth quarter. Carroll (Flora) has just one loss on the year and took down Rensselaer Central earlier in the day. The big matchup to watch will be between the duos of Jackson Ullom Jackson Ullom 5'11" | PG Monroe Central | 2022 State IN and Josiah Ullom Josiah Ullom 5'10" | PG Muncie Central | 2023 IN for Monroe Central and Owen Duff Owen Duff 6'2" | SG Carroll (Flora) | 2023 State IN and Jake Skinner Jake Skinner 6'4" | SF Carroll (Flora) | 2023 State IN for Carroll (Flora). Monroe Central seeking just their second Regional title in school history, the last in 2010, and Carroll (Flora) is looking for their first-ever.
7. #9 Indianapolis Lutheran vs #10 Jac-Cen-Del – Martinsville Regional at 8:00 (1A)
Indianapolis Lutheran took down Indianapolis Metropolitan in a dogfight this morning while Jac-Cen-Del shot lights out to take down the favorite, Bloomfield. Montasi Clay led the way for Lutheran this morning with 21 points in the win, while the duo of Caleb Simon and Wyatt Day Wyatt Day 5'11" | PG Jac-Cen-Del | 2022 IN is tough to stop for Jac-Cen-Del. Indianapolis Lutheran looking for their first title since 2008 and Jac-Cen-Del for their first since 2009.
8. #2 Mishawaka Marian vs Culver Academy – South Bend Washington Regional at 8:00 (3A)
Mishawaka Marian cruised to a 25 point win over Lighthouse CPA this morning while Culver Academy won a battle over Peru. Marian led by the duo of Deaglan Sullivan Deaglan Sullivan 6'2" | PG Mishawaka Marian | 2023 State IN and Richard Brooks Richard Brooks 6'3" | SF Mishawaka Marian | 2022 State IN while CMA is led by Cooper Farrall Cooper Farrall 6'5" | SF Culver Academy | 2023 State IN and Thomas Collins Thomas Collins 6'1" | SG Culver Academy | 2023 State IN . Mishawaka Marian seeks its second-ever Regional title, the last in 2012, and Culver Academy looking for its third title in four years.
9. #9 Eastern Hancock vs University – Greencastle Regional at 8:00 (2A)
Eastern Hancock cruised by Southmont this morning, while University won a nailbiter over Triton Central this morning. Eastern Hancock led by their guard trio of Silas Spaulding Silas Spaulding 6'0" | SG Eastern Hancock | 2023 IN , Jacob Spaulding Jacob Spaulding 6'0" | SG Eastern Hancock | 2023 State IN , and Landon O’Neal Landon O’Neal 6'1" | SG Eastern Hancock | 2022 State IN . University is led by Sabien Cain Sabien Cain 6'2" | CG Millennium | 2024 State AZ and Larry Pierce Larry Pierce 6'5" | SF University | 2022 State IN . Both teams come in seeking their second-ever Regional titles, Eastern Hancock’s first since 2003 and University’s first since 2013.
10. #4 Sullivan vs Evansville Bosse – Washington Regional at 8:00 (3A)
Sullivan has survived three straight games with buzzer-beating shots from Randy Kelley Randy Kelley 6'0" | PG Sullivan | 2022 State IN , and they did it again this morning. Evansville Bosse pulled away late from Lawrenceburg to get here. Sullivan is led by their duo of Kelley and Jackson Hills Jackson Hills 6'5" | PF Sullivan | 2022 State IN while Bosse is led by Matt Wagner Matt Wagner 6'2" | SG Evansville Bosse | 2022 State IN and Jameer Ajibade Jameer Ajibade 6'4" | SF Evansville Bosse | 2022 State IN . Sullivan looking for its first Regional since 2001, and Evansville Bosse looking to win their first since winning three in a row from 2016 to 2018.
11. #1 Gary 21st Century at Triton – Triton Regional at 8:00 (1A)
Gary 21st cruised over North White in the morning session, and Triton survived in a three-point thriller over Fremont. Ashton Williamson Ashton Williamson 6'2" | PG Gary 21st Century | 2023 State #287 Nation IN leads the way for Gary 21st along with Quintin Floyd Quintin Floyd 6'4" | SG Gary 21st Century | 2023 State IN and DJ Moss. For Trion, Ashton Oviedo Ashton Oviedo 5'10" | PG Triton | 2022 IN and Cole Shively Cole Shively 6'1" | SG Triton | 2024 IN lead the way. Gary 21st looking for its first title since 2017, and Triton is looking to win its first since 2013.
12. Westfield vs Kokomo – Logansport Regional at 8:00 (4A)
Westfield capped off their comeback over Homestead with a 25-6 run to end the game as they went from down 8 to an 11 point win. Kokomo also finished off a comeback win over Fort Wayne Snider. Westfield is led by a pair of D1 commits with Braden Smith Braden Smith 6'2" | PG Woodlan | 2024 State IN (Purdue) and Cameron Haffner Cameron Haffner 6'3" | SG Westfield | 2022 State IN (Eastern Illinois), and Kokomo is led by the #1 player in the 2024 class, Flory Bidunga Flory Bidunga 6'9" | C Kokomo | 2024 State #7 Nation IN , and a pair of brothers with Zavion Bellamy Zavion Bellamy 5'10" | PG Kokomo | 2023 IN and Zion Bellamy Zion Bellamy 5'8" | PG Kokomo | 2025 State IN . Westfield is playing in their first-ever Regional, and Kokomo is looking for their 35th Regional title but just their second since 1997.
13. Beech Grove vs Danville – Greenfield-Central Regional at 8:00 (3A)
In a surprising matchup for the Regional title, Beech Grove got here by upsetting Brownstown Central, and Danville got here by upsetting Brebeuf Jesuit. Beech Grove is led by their big man inside, Anthony Ball Anthony Ball 6'6" | PF Decatur Central | 2023 State IN , and Danville is led by Air Force commit, Brady Ruggles Brady Ruggles 6'6" | SG Danville | 2022 State IN . Beech Grove looking for their first Regional title ever, and Danville is looking for their fourth ever.
14. Providence vs Forest Park – Southridge Regional at 7:30 (2A)
Providence upset the clear favorites, Linton-Stockton, this morning while Forest Park cruised past Paoli. Providence is led by their junior guard, Casey Kaelin Casey Kaelin 6'2" | SG Providence | 2023 State IN , while Forest Park is led by their senior guard, Drew Howard Drew Howard 5'11" | PG Forest Park | 2022 State IN . Providence comes in looking for their second Regional title since 2012, while Forest Park is going for their second since 2011.
15. #2 North Daviess vs #16 Borden – Loogootee Regional at 8:00 (1A)
North Daviess survived against Edinburgh this morning in a game that they trailed for almost all of. Borden also took down Springs Valley in a game that came down to the wire. Each of these teams are led by a young guard, Jaylen Mullen Jaylen Mullen 6'0" | PG North Daviess | 2023 State IN for North Daviess and Kasym Nash Kasym Nash 6'0" | SG Borden | 2024 State IN for Borden. North Daviess is looking for the first Regional title since 2011, and Borden looking for their first since 2013.
16. #12 Bloomington North vs Franklin – Seymour Regional at 8:00 (4A)
Bloomington North pulled away earlier and then withstood a late comeback attempt by Evansville North in the morning. Meanwhile, Frankllin continued their improbable run with a win over the Regional favorite, Floyd Central. Bloomington North is led by one of the top players in the 2023 class, JaQualon Roberts JaQualon Roberts 6'8" | PF Bloomington North | 2023 State IN , as well as guards, Nick Klaiber Nick Klaiber 6'1" | PG Bloomington North | 2022 State IN and Marco Fitch Marco Fitch 6'0" | PG Bloomington North | 2022 State IN . Franklin is led by one of the top 2024 players, Micah Davis Micah Davis 6'0" | PG Franklin | 2024 State #184 Nation IN . At 12-14, Franklin is the only team remaining in the state with fewer than 15 wins on the year. Bloomington North is looking for just its second Regional title since 2004, and Franklin is looking for their first since 1997 and second in nearly 50 years.