Ramsey’s Notebook – Bobcat of Daviess County Classic
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After attending the opening round games of the Bobcat of Daviess County Classic on Wednesday afternoon and evening at North Daviess High School in Elnora, Indiana, I watched Thursday’s semifinal matchups via livestream. This annual holiday tournament featured a great…
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Continue ReadingAfter attending the opening round games of the Bobcat of Daviess County Classic on Wednesday afternoon and evening at North Daviess High School in Elnora, Indiana, I watched Thursday’s semifinal matchups via livestream. This annual holiday tournament featured a great field of eight teams including some excellent individual prospects, state championship contenders in three different classes, and five teams ranked in the Top 5 of their respective classes in the Prep Hoops Indiana polls. Incoming inclement weather through a wrench into the schedule of this year’s tournament. Games were moved up earlier in the day on Thursday to beat the snow and frigid temperatures and Friday’s games were postponed to Tuesday, December 27th.
Now that I’ve taken in six games in the last 24 hours from the Bobcat of Daviess County Classic, it is time to empty out the notebook with some prevailing thoughts. For some additional content, make sure you check out the top performers from Wednesday night. Let’s dive on in to this edition of Ramsey’s Notebook.
- Blackhawk Christian is set take over the #1 spot in the Prep Hoops Indiana Class 2A poll next week. It doesn’t really seem fair to punish Brownstown Central for losing without Jack Benter Jack Benter 6'4" | SG Brownstown Central | 2024 State #121 Nation IN , plus fellow starter Parker Hehman Parker Hehman 6'0" | PG Brownstown Central | 2024 IN , but Blackhawk has been impressive enough they deserve to take over the #1 position. They are now 8-0 on the season after taking down Class 1A #1 Evansville Christian 66-54 on Wednesday and then Class 2A #1 Brownstown Central 68-56 on Thursday. Kellen Pickett Kellen Pickett 6'9" | PF Blackhawk Christian | 2025 State #108 Nation IN led the way in the opening round with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds while Grace College signee Gage Sefton Gage Sefton 6'4" | SG Blackhawk Christian | 2023 State IN added 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Josh Furst Josh Furst 6'6" | C Blackhawk Christian | 2023 State IN was excellent in both games as well scoring 15 on Wednesday followed by a team-leading 19 on Thursday.
- Speaking of Kellen Pickett Kellen Pickett 6'9" | PF Blackhawk Christian | 2025 State #108 Nation IN , the 6’8″ sophomore forward is solidifying himself as a Top 15 prospect in Indiana’s very talented Class of 2025. If I was an assistant coach in the MAC, and I wanted to look smart a year or two from now, I’d walk into my head coach’s office Friday morning and tell them we should offer Pickett. He is a surefire Division I prospect.
- Doubling back to Jack Benter Jack Benter 6'4" | SG Brownstown Central | 2024 State #121 Nation IN , the Purdue commit was excellent down the stretch on Wednesday night in the Braves win over Class 1A #2 Loogootee. Benter struggled shooting the ball early on and was just 1-7 from beyond the arc midway through the third period. However, he quickly rattled off three straight from deep and punctuated his individual run with a steal and two-hand slam. He finished with 33 points on the evening while battling sickness and subbing out of the game often. Unfortunately, that sickness would keep him out of Thursday’s game.
- I continue to believe Evansville Christian is the best team in Class 1A this season. At first glance, a 5-4 record doesn’t seem like what you would expect from a #1 ranked team. However, those losses game against Owensboro (KY), to North Daviess by one-point in double overtime, to Class 4A Jeffersonville by 7, and Class 2A #2 Blackhawk Christian by 12. After Thursday’s game, they have also now knocked off Class 1A #2 Loogootee twice this season. Junior point guard Josiah Dunham Josiah Dunham 6'0" | PG Evansville Christian | 2024 State IN is playing at a high level for the Eagles. He scored 23 points on Wednesday night and followed it up with 28 on Thursday.
- North Daviess, the host of this holiday tournament, just continues to take care of business and do so in impressive fashion. They jumped out to a 33-9 first quarter lead over Forest Park while not missing a shot. They cruised to a 74-48 opening round win Oakland City commit Jaylen Mullen Jaylen Mullen 6'0" | PG North Daviess | 2023 State IN scoring 29 points and dishing out 7 assists. The Cougars then backed it up with a 49-29 win over South Knox who entered the afternoon 6-1 on the season. North Daviess is now 8-0 and playing at a really high level going into Tuesday’s championship matchup with Blackhawk Christian.